Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 35

035. First Broadcast (2)

2021.12.05.

More than anything, the need to reshoot scenes increased due to Lee Deok-chun’s departure. “Alright, alright! I know you’re all excited after watching yesterday’s broadcast, but let’s not let our guard down yet! While we’re at it, let’s make a perfect piece of work worthy of all the attention we’re getting!” I thought he was going to be dispirited and down, but he’s sparkling back to life again. At Director Heo’s words, the staff’s eyes also began to fill with vitality instead of worry. “That’s right! While we’re at it, let’s make it so amazing that we sweep all the awards at the end of the year!” “We have Kwon Seong-hyun and Min Ye-rin, and the rising rookie Grim Reaper, so all that’s left is us. The actors are no problem, so let’s just do well!” “Writer Min, cheer up. Would you like me to bring you an Americano with four extra shots, the way you like it?” The production costs are빵빵 [substantial]. The cast is solid. All that’s left is a great production and an engaging story. “It’s okay. I don’t need that. The revision work is finished, and now we just need to move forward, so don’t worry.” Writer Min looked back at Yeon-woo and smiled brightly. “Ever since Yeon-woo joined, I’ve been getting so much inspiration! Thanks to you, I can add a lot of MSG [metaphor for adding exciting or dramatic elements]. Seong-hyun and Yeon-woo, look forward to it. I’m going to make it incredibly 쫄깃 [suspenseful and engaging].” Then Writer Min smiled again. Is it just my imagination, or does that smile feel uneasy? The vibrant atmosphere that rebounded from the gloomy mood filled the set as filming continued. No one was half-assing their work. And two weeks later, the drama’s first broadcast began amidst the expectations of many.

***

“Ah… we still need the viewership ratings to come out.”

“It’ll be okay, right? When I checked the internet, there were a lot of SNS posts saying they were waiting to watch.”

달달달달 [sound of nervous trembling]. A large conference room. People are huddled in front of the beam projector placed inside. Except for a few, everyone’s complexion was not good, and their faces were a mess, as if they hadn’t slept well. Some were shaking their legs so hard that they made a sound, looking like 폐인 [zombies or addicts]. Of course, there were shining figures among them.

“Are you very nervous, Yeon-woo?” That representative figure asked Yeon-woo.

“Not really.”

“You refused to monitor it with us last time.”

“I experienced it once then, so now it’s like…”

“That’s amazing. It must be difficult to be so detached already. Are you really not worried?”

“I’m not.”

“It’s okay. If you’re worried, I’ll hold your hand.”

“……”

A large hand with impressive straight and long fingers is extended. ‘As expected, Kwon Seong-hyun is out of his mind.’ How old is he to be holding hands because he’s nervous? [Actor! Me! Hug me! I’m nervous!]

The hamster jumped out of Yeon-woo’s pocket.

“Dong-ja, you don’t look good. Are you very nervous?” Kwon Seong-hyun asked, accepting the soft and smooth body. [This is the first time I’ve been so nervous. I feel like I’m going to die?]

“Would you like some water? That will calm you down a bit.”

[Yes. I’ll drink it!]

“……”

Yeon-woo, who was watching, was dumbfounded.

‘Has he really forgotten that he’s a ghost? More than that, why is he nervous instead of me?’ He was busy teasing me until the special video, but now that the main broadcast is starting, it feels different. The person in question was just taking it for granted. ‘What’s the point of being nervous? The result is out of my hands anyway.’ There’s no need to waste energy on useless things. There are many things in this world that are more valuable than wasting energy on being nervous.

“The broadcast starts in 10 minutes!” A staff member shouted after checking the time.

“Oh, Lord!”

“Hey. Our drama is about 무속신앙 [Korean shamanism].”

“Then 천지신명님! 옥황상제님! 염라대왕님! [various deities in Korean folklore] Please make it a big hit!” Something strange seems to be included at the end. In any case, starting with that notification, an increasingly anxious energy filled the conference room.

“Broadcast 5 minutes before!” The conversation decreased noticeably. Everyone was staring at the clock with zombie-like eyes.

“The opening intro has started. Commercials are starting.”

“Broadcast 1 minute before!”

The screen turned dark after the product advertisements of the company sponsoring the drama. The beginning was Min Ye-rin’s narration. [Where is this…? Who am I…?] A concise but somewhat desperate line. The OST tailored to Min Ye-rin’s theme plays softly in the background. A pale-faced woman wakes up in a hospital room and slowly gets up. 터벅… 터벅… [sound of footsteps] The screen moves dizzyingly, following her weak and staggering steps. It follows the female lead’s perspective. The place she heads to with anxious gestures is right in front of the mirror. A woman in a patient gown is reflected in the clean mirror. [No… no…] The screen shakes unstably again and moves back. However, the focus is fixed on the person in the mirror. Following the effect of zooming in as if sucking in the screen, the scene changes. [How tiresome.] A man looking out the window in a tall building with a bored expression. It’s Kim Tae-hoon, the main character of the drama played by Kwon Seong-hyun. His gaze, which scanned the surroundings as if looking at something, turns back to the window. “The CG team worked hard. It really looks like a ghost even when I see it again?” Kim Tae-hoon’s back view as he leaves the office zooms out, showing the empty scenery of the office. However, as if the space Kwon Seong-hyun left was never empty, pale-colored humans gradually appear and fill the space. Their actions and appearances are all different, but they all had one thing in common. Unlike ordinary people, they all lacked vitality. “Pushing the color to one tone is better after all. It’s easy to distinguish and good.” As if he was never nervous, the staff was frighteningly focused on the screen. ‘Until now, it was nothing short of a roller coaster.’ Expectations rose with the casting of an amazing cast, but then a scandal broke out and the atmosphere turned into a 초상집 [funeral home]. Then, like a miracle, the atmosphere rebounded with Kwon Seong-hyun’s SNS, and he made a comeback. ‘It’s either a jackpot or a bust!’ The current atmosphere was due to that thought being firmly embedded in everyone’s minds. We must firmly grasp the favorable public opinion and lead to viewership ratings.

“What are the current viewership ratings?” Director Heo, who tried to remain calm but failed, asked into the walkie-talkie. [The current viewership rating is 13.2 percent!]

The first start was very good. “Oh oh oh!” “It’s over 10 percent?!” “천지신명님! 옥황상제님! 염라대왕님! [various deities in Korean folklore] Thank you! Thank you!” The atmosphere in the conference room came alive with the answer from the situation room. In the past, viewership ratings for highly anticipated works were easily 10 percent, of course, 20 percent, and even 30 percent. But these days were different. In addition to public broadcasting channels, there were dozens, even hundreds, of cable channels. Since the number of people splitting the pie had increased, it was only natural that the viewership ratings would be split as well.

“Wow. 10 percent is a really good start. These days, most highly anticipated works don’t even start with double digits.”

“I remember the drama from the 저저번 [way before last] quarter. They did so much 언플 [media play], but the final viewership rating was 9 percent…”

The drama’s performance wasn’t very bad. However, the problem was that it didn’t even hit 중박 [moderate success] considering the cast and the production costs that went into it. “Still, it’s a relief that the start is successful.” The atmosphere of the people who were acting so anxiously like they were about to die changed. But that atmosphere didn’t last long.

“It’s too early to be relieved. The start was good, but we can’t be relieved yet,” Director Heo’s pointed remarks silenced them.

“What did it start with?”

[It was 11.2 percent.]

“Since it’s 13.2 percent now, it seems like there are no dropouts yet, thankfully.” The drama is broadcast for about 50 minutes. During that time, you can’t let your guard down. You never know when and where viewers will feel bored and change the channel. Moreover, it was the first episode to be shown, so it was inevitable that they would be nervous. [Viewership ratings are maintaining around 12 percent.] Every time a certain amount of time passed, or when there was a change, the situation room contacted them immediately. [We’ve surpassed 13 percent!]

That call came just as Yeon-woo was kneeling before the King of Hell with a cold, expressionless face. [I’m sorry. King of Hell.] The Grim Reaper bowed deeply in front of the scolding King of Hell. There was no expression on his icy face, and his downward-cast eyes were as cold as if they had reached the freezing point. [I will definitely take responsibility and fix the 명부 [ledger of the dead].] [You must take responsibility for your words! A Grim Reaper’s promise is never light! You must put your name on the line. Do you understand?!] After the King of Hell, who had scolded in a thunderous voice, turned around and disappeared as if displeased. The Grim Reaper rose like a ghost without a sound. One name was clearly written on the 명부 [ledger of the dead] he was holding. 뿌득 [sound of crushing]. Unlike his face, which showed no change, the 명부 [ledger of the dead] in his hand was crumpled without hesitation. Amidst all the stillness, only the crumpled 명부 [ledger of the dead] reveals the Grim Reaper’s emotions. But soon, when his long, white hand moved slightly, the crumpled 명부 [ledger of the dead] was back to its original state as if nothing had happened. His jet-black eyes look down at the name again. Like he had told the King of Hell, the obsession to find him at all costs flickers in his eyes. “Oh, this part always gives me goosebumps no matter how many times I see it.” At the same time as Yeon-woo’s scene passed, some of the staff shuddered. “I edited this scene and had 가위 눌렸었잖아 [sleep paralysis]. I think I told you that?” “Did you say that the Grim Reaper appeared and was just staring at you?” “I thought I was used to it now, but it feels new again when I see it again.” After that, the viewership ratings gradually increased. “First episode final viewership rating 15.4 percent!” Director Heo shouted loudly the news from the situation room. Director Heo, who had put the brakes on the atmosphere that was burning with the need to keep watching. But since the first episode had already finished with 15 percent, there was nothing more to hold back. “Wow! How long has it been since we smelled such a jackpot?!” “Oh. We’re number one in the same time slot!” It wasn’t just the filming team that was paying attention to the start of the drama Dima Corporation. It was a drama that had two actors boasting huge salaries and 팍팍 [heavily] supported production costs. It was only natural that the higher-ups would pay attention to it. “Director. The director’s office just called! They said we’re having a 회식 [company dinner] today!” “Oh!” “Woo-hoo!” There is no guarantee that the first start will continue until the last episode ends. “If we just keep going like this, just like this!” But unless we make a pointless mistake, there shouldn’t be any major problems since the first start was smooth. “This is the taste of pre-production. 크으 [sound of satisfaction]!” Although the filming of the second half has not been completed yet, the possibility of the quality of the play being ruined by 남발 쪽대본 [last-minute script changes] like other dramas is very low. Final viewership rating 15.4 percent. It was a smooth start to the first broadcast, which recorded the highest viewership ratings when Kwon Seong-hyun and Min Ye-rin appeared, and when Yeon-woo appeared.

***

After the first broadcast, the reaction on the viewers’ bulletin board was 뜨거웠다 [heated]. The reactions on various communities and SNS were also 우호적이었다 [favorable].