Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 152

Former Hero is a Ten Million Actor – Episode 152 (152/199)

Summer Harvest Festival (2)

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What is the significance of entertainment shows in South Korea?

On a small scale, they serve as a gateway for idols and newcomers, and on a larger scale, they act as a promotional platform for actors showcasing their upcoming projects.

Among these, the influence of large-scale entertainment shows is undeniable, even for artists with high standards.

Since terrestrial broadcasting began, countless entertainment programs have aired and concluded.

MBS’s ‘Dinner Time,’ YTS’s ‘Running Crew,’ and KBC’s ‘Fishing Village Diary’ are among the longest-running and most popular programs currently on air.

Usually, celebrities eagerly seek appearances on shows like these, but… of course, there are exceptions.

Top stars are often beyond consideration.

We’re talking about celebrities who are more than just successful; they’re black chips [irreplaceable assets], not just blue chips [valuable but replaceable assets].

“Wow, they turned this down.”

YTS headquarters, cafeteria.

Park Su-han, the PD [Producer Director] in charge of planning and overseeing ‘Running Crew,’ clutched his head.

The music show PD, who was eating next to him, chuckled.

“Our Park Pro, I thought you were boasting about a 100% casting success rate? Your nose is broken [your pride is hurt]. Jong-woo, take him to a plastic surgeon for surgery.”

“No, listen. How can they say they can’t come because they can’t work hard enough?”

“What, did Park Geon say that?”

PD Park Su-han muttered despairingly.

“Yeah. Last time on ‘Goal Guys,’ he caused a ruckus all by himself on that soccer show and graduated early [left the show]. He said he’s worried our show will be the same, that he’s interested but doesn’t think he can get enough screen time, so he’s sorry.”

“Huh, really. Does he have those kinds of worries because he’s too physically fit?”

“If it were someone else, I’d think they were being cleverly sarcastic, but since it’s Park Geon saying that, it’s believable.”

The PDs sitting around the table each added a comment.

That’s because YTS’s ‘Running Crew’ is literally a running entertainment show. While playing various games, the objective is to steal each other’s tails attached to their waists.

What if Park Geon appears there? Ace or not, he’ll dominate everything in a few minutes and end the game.

“But, can’t he just run a little slower? It seems like he just turned it down because he didn’t want to do it…”

When one of the assistant directors offered an opinion, PD Lee Seong-woon, who once tried hard to scout Park Geon, cut him off.

“You don’t know because you don’t know. Park Actor’s fan club name is ‘Fervent Geon,’ why do you think that is?”

“…I wouldn’t know.”

“It’s because he’s a fervent person. He never says empty words and always keeps his promises.”

Nods of understanding spread. Isn’t this the place most sensitive to rumors in the broadcasting industry?

Whether it’s the entertainment department or the drama department, even PDs with their eyes glued to viewership ratings will admit what they have to admit.

Now in his third year since debut.

The actor Park Geon is as honest a person as you can find in this industry.

“Hey, Park Su-han. You’re close with Na Jong-mo from JNBC, right? Ask him to poke around and make contact.”

CP [Chief Producer] Lee Yong-soo, who had been silent until then, opened his mouth heavily.

PD Park Su-han shook his head.

“I already contacted him. He said it’s not going to happen.”

“Why? I heard Park Geon takes care of his people like crazy.”

“That’s why he said it’s not going to happen. He said, ‘How can I push him to another broadcasting station when he hasn’t even been on my drama yet?'”

“Ugh, that guy is hopeless.”

The MBS people all know CP Lee Yong-soo’s quick-to-give-up nature. While the PDs were holding back their laughter, Park Su-han clicked his tongue as if he was still disappointed.

“But really, it would be a huge hit if he just appeared…”

It’s understandable to be frustrated. Isn’t Park Geon the one who has no connection with MBS?

He’s done dramas on other broadcasting stations, and even entertainment shows on KBC, which used to be at odds with him, so it’s only natural to feel left out if he doesn’t come here.

“So, where is he going to go? ‘Dinner Time,’ or ‘Fishing Village Diary’? Even if he filmed a movie overseas, he has to promote it domestically first.”

“He’s not going.”

“What?”

“He said he’s not going on any of them. After getting rejected, I called all the big entertainment show runners to check, just in case I could start a fight out of spite.”

“Man, why are you so hot-tempered…”

While CP Lee Yong-soo was clicking his tongue, a debate began among the other PDs.

“All no-shows? That’s crazy. Does he have that much confidence?”

“Other actors come out a lot, though. Jin Ji-yu, Gu Shin-seung, and even Baek Ha-ni went on entertainment shows before starting their projects.”

“Come on, even if it’s Park Geon, would he give up all domestic promotions? He’s probably waiting to pick the one that suits him best.”

In the end, they couldn’t figure out the ‘Son of Cannes’ movements, and lunchtime ended.

As they were getting up for their next schedules, the youngest PD, who was known for his good instincts, muttered to himself.

“Maybe he really got a foreign entertainment show. Like the ‘Jesse McKinnon Show’ or ‘SNL [Saturday Night Live],’ something like that.”

“No way. Would he have been cast that far already?”

.

.

.

And far across the sea,

In a large studio in New York, the name of that Asian actor was actually being mentioned.

“What, who’s the next host?”

“Machine Gun! The actor’s name is literally a gun, Director. It’s only been a year, have you already forgotten?”

The current director of NBS, Rick Owin, glared at the black-haired man in front of him with narrow eyes.

Tobey Lee. The producer and executive producer of SNL, this eccentric genius, it’s already been over a year since he went to Cannes.

‘Director, I’ve finally found him! A new mask, a tough comedian! This is the talent to transfuse red blood into our stagnant show!’

At that time, he made a fuss after seeing that Asian actor who won the Best Actor award or the Palme d’Or.

He said he would definitely cast him someday, and it seemed like he had finally made contact.

Rick Owin crossed his arms.

“But, he’s Asian?”

Sunday Night Live, commonly known as SNL, is a popular American comedy show.

Depending on the season or the hosts that change every week, the main content is currently parodying politics and culture.

Tobey has full authority over casting and program planning, but as the director of the large broadcasting station that airs it, he can’t help but pay attention.

Toby replied nonchalantly.

“Yes, I told you.”

“I’m just asking in case, is he Chinese?”

“He’s Korean.”

“I’m just asking in case…”

“He’s South Korean, not North Korean, so you don’t have to ask the rest. It’s not 10 years ago anymore.”

Rick Owin, who had his words read, cleared his throat.

“Ahem, well… anyway… you’re going to do whatever you want no matter what I say. Why are you reporting it now when you’ve always done that?”

Unlike Korea, where the director exercises strong authority over the CP, and the CP over the PDs, the director’s influence is still strong.

Toby scratched his ear as if he had heard something strange. Rick Owin asked in a playful tone.

“You’re saying something different. Why, when Rosalia came out last season, you got angry because I didn’t tell you in advance. Just three weeks ago… you complained about changing the schedule for John Ewing’s episode, and last week…”

“…Let’s skip the minor issues. By the way, why are you so fixated on that actor?”

The producer of SNL was known as the ‘Human Encyclopedia,’ answering any question about current affairs, trivia, or art in three seconds.

Uncharacteristically for his nickname, Toby paused for a moment. Rick Owin asked in a playful tone.

“Our genius planner is speechless. That guy’s movie has a pretty solid backing. Did you get something from 42Pictures, huh?”

“What would I get! I just had a feeling from the moment I saw him.”

“A feeling? What kind of feeling?”

“The damn racism that’s rampant throughout Broadway, Hollywood, and the art world in general. He’s the talent to give them the middle finger right in the face.”

Now it was Rick Owin’s turn to be speechless.

Even though SNL is a program that makes fun of the president, whenever that eccentric makes that expression, there’s always a strong hook waiting.

Surely, this time too, he has prepared a script that is so spicy that it brings tears to your eyes. Packed with experiences of being treated unfairly as the same Asian.

“Tell me the week it airs. I’ll have to turn off my phone.”

“Why? You should get calls saying it was good. It’s going to be a legendary show.”

“…No, I’m fine.”

*

“SNL?!”

Roman Entertainment headquarters lounge.

When a female employee of the PR team, who was drinking coffee, widened her eyes, team leader Gong Gi-hyeong calmed her down.

“Shh, it’s not official yet, so don’t leak it.”

“So that’s why you didn’t accept the incoming entertainment shows. I thought you were adjusting the schedule…”

“I’m telling you, we don’t know yet. Ms. Seon and the head of the department are going into final coordination today, with a remote meeting.”

Late afternoon. Except for a couple of A&R team employees talking over there, the lounge is deserted.

This time, a male employee asked.

“How far has the discussion gone? Is it at the level where we just need to stamp the seal?”

Team leader Gong crossed his arms.

“The executive producer contacted him first, so you should see it as more than 90% confirmed.”

“Hey, then it’s practically okay. Pretending not to know again and then leaking it narrowly.”

“It’s hard to do anything since Actor Park got involved with foreign productions. I guess this is the inconvenience of being world-class.”

Team leader Gong shrugged at his subordinates’ complaints.

It’s an unavoidable story. Now, Park Geon has become the most influential actor within the company, an actor whose promotional activities cannot be thrown around carelessly.

In the past, there were times when they bet their fate on time-attack public opinion warfare, but… the situation changed with Cannes.

“Don’t grumble like that. Are you going to leave him as an actor that only I know forever? You should support him more as he expands to the world.”

“Oh, Park Geon became famous from his debut season.”

Team leader Gong ruthlessly cut off the tactless male employee’s words.

“That’s enough. Let’s think of this month as dead. Actor Park’s overseas schedule may not be just one.”

“Ah…”

“Please save me… I couldn’t go home for five days last week…”

Groans leaked out at the declaration of the PR team’s highest authority.

That’s because the past few months have been called Roman’s golden age, with many activities of affiliated artists.

Unfortunately, the representative actors all entered projects at once, and the idols’ summer season comeback overlapped, so the PR team had to burn the midnight oil and give up going home.

A female employee with a dark complexion asked.

“Are our artists having some kind of competition? Did they have to do it all at once like this?”

“It was a competition. It’s easier to do one thing at a time when Actor Park isn’t around.”

As a result, Roman rose to a position threatening DG and Joinus, and the employees became busier.

There were also rumors that this year, internal employees such as the PR team, road managers, trainers, and A&R team would be hired on a large scale.

“Anyway, if Actor Park visits the PR office, I should ask for a few autographs. He won’t be in Korea often in the future.”

“Time it well. He’s been busy with company dinners every day lately.”

The male employee who said he would ask for an autograph blinked.

“Company dinners? With whom?”

“Well… people he’s been grateful to so far, I guess.”

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