Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 115

115.

In the living room, where all the members had gathered after a long time, we took turns reading the synopses one by one.

“Wow, but just looking at the synopses, both seem fun.”

“I agree. Neither seems bad!”

I listen carefully to the conversation between Chae Ha-min and Lee Hyun-jae, who watch dramas more often than I do.

Both think the synopses seem interesting.

In other words, they will be neck and neck in the early stages. In the end, the battle will be decided by the strength of the later story and direction.

I quietly looked at Lee Hyun-jae and asked.

“…Do these people have statistics on their previous success rates?”

I didn’t have enough time to investigate this far, so I need to get help from the high-performance computer called Lee Hyun-jae.

“Um… there’s no data on this synopsis because it’s from a rookie. The other one… is someone with a decent track record of success, but the later scenario in their previous work had some major issues?”

Hmm, there’s no easy choice.

Let’s consider the circumstances. The drama currently in progress is a Wednesday-Thursday drama. It’s a very important time slot in the drama industry. Although, with the popularity of various OTT [Over-the-top media service] platforms these days, it’s become quite free from weekday restrictions.

Moreover, since it’s winter when people have more time to watch dramas, it becomes even more important.

To put a script by an experienced writer in such an important position is actually a relatively safe choice. Even if they faltered recently, it was only once.

On the other hand, the other synopsis. A script by a complete rookie.

If I were a producer, what elements would I need to put a rookie’s drama on Wednesday-Thursday?

‘…The completeness of the scenario.’

Or, as a facet of a dirty society, it could have been placed through connections.

“Dong-hwa, what do you think? Do you have a feeling about anything?”

Ryu Iden looks at me with expectant eyes. Probably because of something I told him before.

I should have watched dramas in my previous life. I regret how uncultured my past has been.

“…Since it’s not an urgent issue, wouldn’t it be good for each of us to think about it for a day?”

Personally, I want to analyze it a bit more.

“Okay, let’s do that. Let’s all think about it and then vote.”

Ryu Iden immediately agreed to my words.

* * *

By looking at the synopsis, you can predict how the plot will unfold.

Dramas inevitably require a story structure that a large number of viewers find appealing.

From that point of view, clichés are essential. Stories that are only unfamiliar make viewers uncomfortable. That’s why there are theorists who say that the repetition of familiarity and unfamiliarity is the formula of a play.

Therefore, I need to predict the plot and compare it with the ‘Father’s Favorite List’ secured from Chae Ha-min’s mother. It’s important to choose the one that’s more popular, but since I’ll be working for a rookie’s pay anyway, it wouldn’t be bad if I caught Chae Ha-min’s father’s eye, even if it’s less popular.

I first check Synopsis A, which is said to be the work of a writer with a track record of success. The genre is romance. A genre I don’t watch often. Love is ultimately just a signal in the brain, but it’s a topic that’s treated excessively.

‘One day, when I was struggling with an all-night assignment, I ran into a man on the street! His unpleasant impression, the clothes he was wearing, I didn’t like any of it.’

I read up to that point and put it down. It’s easy to predict that it’s a college campus love story about a conglomerate’s [large business enterprise] son and an enemy becoming lovers.

Next, Synopsis B, written by a rookie. I skim through the synopsis.

……Hmm.

A story based on the idea that the Korean Empire did not perish during the Japanese colonial period, in which a girl who was an illegitimate child of the family challenges the throne. It is a cliché-like storyline with a strong tendency as a political piece.

If so, let’s calculate.

Genre, predicted plot, etc., which one is ‘more likely’ to be watched by Chae Ha-min’s father. And which work will be more popular with the public.

I took out a table summarizing the trends in the recent drama market and the elements of popular stories, which I made with the help of Lee Hyun-jae. I distributed weights according to the importance of each element and calculated the total score considering the weights. It would have been easier to work if I knew how to use Excel, but unfortunately, I’m analog, so I put a pencil to paper.

And finally, after calculating all the scores, I wrote only two letters on the paper and got up from the studio.

‘Plan B.’

* * *

The next day, everyone gathered at the living room table, probably with their own opinions in mind. Everyone is grinning as if they have some amazing ideas.

And the moment everyone sits down and the meeting begins, everyone’s eyes are on me. ……Um, what are you looking at, you bastards.

I barely suppressed the expression that was about to turn sour and stayed still.

“First, shall we hear what our Dong-hwa has to say!”

At Ryu Iden’s first words, my expression had no choice but to rot.

“The intention is impure.”

It’s obvious that everyone is trying to suppress the order of the meeting. Democracy must be based on the free expression of opinions, and this freedom is basically based on equality between people. Showing excessive trust in my opinion is nothing more than an act of destroying this equality.

In short, Blossom may return to my dictatorial system, a situation I never wanted.

“I don’t want to be a dictator.”

When I said firmly, Ryu Iden smiled brightly like Chae Ha-min and shook his head before speaking.

“In your hands.”

Ryu Iden points to my fingertips with his finger.

“The moment I saw the pile of paper, I threw away everything I had been thinking.”

And at the same time, the other members nod their heads.

I look down at my hands. After leaving the studio yesterday, I stopped by the library and, with the help of books, wrote a ‘short’ report on the topic of ‘Why Plan B is more likely to be successful with the public.’

“Dong-hwa, wait a minute, is that short?”

Chae Ha-min asks back with an incomprehensible expression while listening to my story. It’s short because it’s only about 30 pages.

“No, Dong-hwa. People can’t write more than 30 pages of paper in a day to have a meeting. Even my workaholic sister would be fed up.”

This time, Ryu Iden has a seizure at my words. It’s a waste of time to argue about the right and wrong of relative concepts, so let’s skip it.

“…Still, since it’s my personal opinion, I think it would be possible to form a healthy public sphere by sharing opinions together.”

I slowly turn over one page of the paper’s cover and look around at everyone. Seeing the slightly fearful expressions on their faces, I smiled faintly.

“Listen to everything I have to say and then give me your opinions.”

“I’ve already been persuaded by the amount of paper!”

“It’s a dictatorship, a dictatorship!”

Seok-joon said as if he was wronged, and Ryu Iden took over with a smile, but I suppressed it by looking at them quietly. This is clearly an effort to ‘form a healthy and reasonable communication culture,’ not a dictatorship.

“Everyone, will you listen to me?”

Even if it takes some time, I need to get feedback.

Eventually, about 40 minutes later, my story ended. Lee Hyun-jae and Ryu Iden were the only ones who maintained their concentration until the end. As expected, they are excellent figures who can be called my disciple and my leader.

In contrast, Chae Ha-min tried to concentrate by widening his eyes as much as possible when half of the story had passed, but he failed to keep his soul in his body. It’s a human-like appearance of a person with a good character.

And,

“…Hyung, it’s all over, wake up and come to your senses.”

Seok-joon, who was already dozing off. Really… he’s a consistent human being.

“Wow, Dong-hwa hyung, when did you prepare all this? To be honest, I’m almost convinced?”

Ryu Iden takes the paper I had and slowly reviews it again with Lee Hyun-jae. Chae Ha-min’s body is turned in that direction, but his desperate eyes asking to be killed are impressive.

“Jun-hyung, you should wake up and take a look too.”

Lee Hyun-jae tries to wake up Seok-joon, but he closes his mouth as if he’s about to take a sigh for a moment, and he breathes out through his nose and suppresses it inside.

Everyone is reading the article together, and one early morning when a dinosaur is nodding off.

Really, it’s a peaceful day.

* * *

Jane is reading the script. A drama called ‘Pomegranate Will Bloom Again.’ It is a script written by two new rookie writers in collaboration. As it is Jane’s first starring drama, there is both pressure and anticipation.

“Jane. Good news~”

“What is it, unnie?”

At her manager’s bright voice, Jane puts down the script she was reading for a moment and turns her head.

“Blossom’s OST has been confirmed. They’re gaining popularity recently, so we can see some marketing effect? You said you’d like to have their OST too.”

“Ah, but more than popularity, they’re kids I met when I was a rookie, so you know, I kind of care about them.”

“You’re really. It’s a problem that you like taking care of your juniors too much.”

“Jun-sung is also a junior. We did Detection together. The actors are fiercely competitive, but when I see idol juniors, they’re cute, you know.”

“Oh, really. That’s what I’m talking about. That kid, who is it? The one who’s coming out on the same time slot as us this time. The one who was a bit rude.”

Jane is startled by her manager’s unfailing rhetoric.

“Unnie, watch your words.”

“What does it matter when it’s just the two of us? Anyway, he was terribly jealous of you when you were entering your rising period.”

In fact, Jane understands. Due to the nature of the entertainment industry, the number of the public is limited, and the space to appear is also limited, so unless they are a few people with excellent personalities, there is bound to be some degree of jealousy, only with differences in degree. Idols are probably the same, so Blossom will also follow the same path.

“Since we’re doing it anyway, I hope they have fun working too, right, unnie?”

“Um, but they’ll probably be making a cameo appearance too… If they don’t make any acting NGs [No Go’s, or mistakes], wouldn’t it be fun?”

Well, since that’s the biggest problem when idols act for the first time. Jane can only resolve to take care of the atmosphere properly if she’s there.

* * *

“Ha-min-ssi! Our proud Blossom! Cameo! How about a cameo!”

A meeting with the director. I wasn’t paying attention because I had more to talk about with the sound director later, but this director is more bizarre than expected. As soon as he comes in, he holds out his hand to Chae Ha-min and shouts.

‘……Is that how casting usually proceeds?’

The entertainment industry is a very interesting place in that it always presents new situations when you think you know it. I’m still far from enough.

While watching Chae Ha-min’s flustered appearance and enjoying the new aspects of the entertainment industry, I suddenly meet the director’s eyes as he turns his head.

“No! Dong-hwa-ssi is here too! The one who will make our OST number one in music charts! The composer of Sorry!”

What is this.

“At the same time, he is also a benefactor who will make a cameo appearance in our drama!”

I was a little embarrassed by the director’s leap, who seemed to be a habitual speeder.

“Director Lee, who said it’s confirmed to say such things.”

Team Leader Jang Hae-jin comes in, sits down, and smirks.

“Hey, Hae-jin, we also have a connection as classmates, right?”

“I don’t believe in classmates after being badly burned by one, Director Dong.”

After that, he mutters briefly with a shape of his mouth—probably in an expression that he believes we can’t see—’You bastard.’ Wonderful, really.

“Oh, still, it’s a relief. I really wanted to cast you after seeing Ha-min-ssi and Dong-hwa-ssi, but it just so happens that it’s my classmate’s agency there!”

The man called Director Lee takes out the script and other documents as if he’s too excited and starts grinning.

I wonder what’s going on.