I dragged my tired body back home.
"Oppa, you're home?"
"Yeah."
I really have one amazingly good sister.
She greets me as if she saw me yesterday, even though it's the first time in two weeks.
"Is that all?"
"What."
"Your theater company... never mind."
"Huh?"
I was about to say the name of the audition participant from today but gave up.
It wasn't a pleasant sight to recall.
"Ah, while you were gone, people came looking for our house."
"From where?"
"Tempest Entertainment and Rainbow Entertainment and..."
Rainbow Entertainment means.
"Semi-ssi? Or CEO Jang?"
Having rushed back from Jeju Island, I was only just now remembering.
I had been putting off contacting them for later.
Tiring—
At that moment, Director Sung Kihoon sent me a message.
［Let's stop by JTBS for a bit. I think we need a meeting.］
It's obviously about the production budget.
The broadcasting station is an investor as much as—no, more than—any investment company.
They have to cover almost half of the production costs.
The head of the department is probably not pleased.
At that moment, Heejung spoke up from beside me.
"Your drama's schedule is confirmed. There's an article about 'Pure-hearted Macho' on the news right now."
"What?"
"JTBS's New Drama 'The Chaebol Heir is a Pure-hearted Macho', Is It Courage? Or Recklessness?"
Is the article title crazy?
If you don't like it, just say so.
"Oppa, you're really filming a drama with Semi?"
"Yeah. It just happened."
"But isn't a rookie actor for the male lead too much of a gamble?"
"Nope. It's not."
"Almost all drama viewers are women. The male lead is the most important."
"...Ji Seongho is in it."
"Then I'm watching."
Honestly, as Heejung said, in others' eyes, it just looked like a gamble.
A doomed drama, with a rookie writer, a rookie actor, and competition with a blockbuster all overlapping.
If you were in your right mind, there was no reason to throw expensive advertising money at such a drama.
The news article pegged the estimated viewership rating at 0.5%, or 1% at most.
Still, JTBS has some influence among the cable channels.
On top of that, how many dramas has Director Sung had hits with on public broadcast?
And what about me?
'Ah, I'm a total nobody.'
No. I have the King God System.
"Oppa, you have really bad luck. How did you end up going against 'Shoot the Sun'?"
"I know... At first, my mindset was just to get it scheduled."
"Don't be too discouraged. Director Sung Kihoon is famous."
With Director Sung's skills, he could probably film the drama almost exactly as I saw it with the system.
"Cheer up. It'll definitely be called a well-made drama."
"That's a given, but it has to be a hit."
"People usually download cable dramas or watch the reruns anyway."
"That's true, but..."
"Having short clips circulate on YouTube will also help raise buzz."
Heejung, who wasn't usually like this, kept trying to comfort me.
It seemed that even in her eyes, there was no chance of winning.
"Still, it's not like it needs a lot of capital."
"I guess so. Since there are two rookie actors."
"So I think we'll be fine if we can just land one decent company."
However, in the case of "Pure-hearted Macho," the appearance fees were extremely low.
A rock-bottom lineup where the per-episode guarantees for all the lead actors combined didn't exceed 40 million won.
But right now, that was acting as a major weakness rather than an advantage.
No one would invest in a drama whose leads were a rookie actor and a girl group member.
As expected, the biggest problem was investment and sponsorship.
They needed money for a staff of over 100 people to struggle together for three months.
"Heejung, I'm going out for a bit."
"Okay. You're sleeping at home tonight, right?"
"Probably."
I headed straight to JTBS.
On the way, I sent a message to Director Sung.
［I'm on my way to see you now］
The residence of the Vice-Chairman of Cheonseong Group.
Roughly twenty family members were gathered, eating together.
The vice-chairman's direct line, grandchildren, his younger brother's family, and their children sat at a large dining table.
Adding the number of employees serving and cooking, it was a considerable scale.
"Saerom, why don't you show your face more often?"
"I know, right. Seeing our youngest is like plucking a star from the sky."
Her older brother and sister, putting on a hypocritical show of closeness in front of their father.
Saerom scoffed at her half-siblings' pretense and said.
"Do you even know my contact information?"
"..."
At that moment, the vice-chairman's 'current wife' threw a comment at Saerom.
"You're showing your lack of breeding."
Vice-Chairman Jung Taechul looked at the two with a displeased expression.
If anything, it was her uncle and his wife who were getting restless at their conversation.
"I'm taking good care of Saerom, so please don't worry..."
"About Tempest Entertainment."
The vice-chairman cut off his younger brother and opened his mouth.
"Are you managing to make a living with the money you earn raising entertainers?"
For a first remark to a daughter he hadn't seen in a long time, it was quite aggressive.
However, Saerom met her father's gaze head-on and responded.
"You also do business by sucking the marrow from the people's spines. Are you making a decent living?"
"H-how dare you!"
"How can you say such a thing?"
Saerom ignored the surrounding reactions and spoke bluntly.
From food and home appliances to mobile phones, petrochemicals, and automobiles.
Due to the nature of Cheonseong Group, companies that had to be mindful of consumers were the mainstream.
It could have sounded like a sarcastic remark aimed at her father, who had recently withdrawn from the heavy industry business.
However, the vice-chairman spoke to his youngest daughter as if it were nothing.
"It's time you wrapped up that entertainment business."
"By what right do you say that?"
"I am your father. Is that not enough?"
Normally, Saerom would have cut him off sharply.
However, she paused for a moment and then continued.
"...How about you invest."
"What? As far as I know, Tempest Entertainment is running just fine without investment funds."
"No. Invest in the drama, Father."
"Hoho..."
The vice-chairman burst out laughing at the sudden proposal.
"I told you to wrap up your work, and instead you propose an investment."
"The investment funds for the drama I'm currently pushing for aren't coming in well. How about you invest."
Saerom, who usually wouldn't even listen to her father.
At her unusual reaction, the vice-chairman's eyes lit up as he asked.
"Are you serious?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
She was probably the only person who would tell the vice-chairman of Cheonseong Group to invest in a drama.
"What will you do if I can't recoup my investment?"
"I'll pay you back next time."
"No. Don't pay it back, just quit. I'll leave a managing director position open for you in the electronics division."
Saerom seemed to contemplate for a moment, then she opened her mouth.
"Six months after the drama ends. If I can't pay you back by then, let's do that."
"No, just one month. And the money you earn from other projects is void."
"...Let's do that."
It seemed Jung Saerom had come with a purpose from the beginning.
The CEO of Tempest, Jung Kitae, stared at his niece with his mouth agape.
'No, what is wrong with her today.'
Losing Manager Jung was a great loss for the company as well.
It would have been enough to just give up on one drama.
However, CEO Jung could only groan inwardly.
JTBS Broadcasting Station.
Director Bang, who had made Director Sung Kihoon wait for two hours.
He appeared late but was the one to raise his voice.
"Director Sung, how many times are you going to call during an executive meeting?"
"Director-nim! How could you do this to me!"
"Are you saying the scheduling is my fault?"
"Then is it my fault?"
Director Bang sighed, looking at Director Sung's blazing eyes.
"The drama that was scheduled before is like a funeral home right now. The actor fell from a horse and might need major surgery."
"...Why should we have to take responsibility for that?"
"Hey, Director Sung, I didn't see you that way. That's too harsh. Someone got hurt."
He ignored the director's attack and continued.
"Still, how can you film a drama in just two months!"
"In the old days, everyone filmed with last-minute scripts."
"How can you say that now...!"
At that moment, a new person appeared and greeted Director Bang.
"Hello, Director-nim. I'm Kim Jinwoo."
"Ah, you're the writer... I'm Director Bang Hyungtae."
"Yes. I've seen you from afar. When I was working as Writer Lee Minjoo's assistant."
"Ah... was that so. Haha."
Kim Jinwoo smiled slightly and continued.
"Director-nim, honestly, I don't really mind if we start filming in two months."
"Writer Kim!"
Director Sung called out loudly, but Jinwoo kept his eyes fixed only on the director.
"If we start after I've finished writing all 16 episodes, there will be no wasted movement in filming."
"Wh-what did you say?"
"My script doesn't need revision. As you've seen."
"It's been less than a month since you wrote up to Part 2. What are you talking about right now..."
"I'll finish it within a month."
"Hah, my. Is that even possible?"
"Of course. But there's a separate problem."
Director Bang and Director Sung swallowed hard and listened intently to Jinwoo's words.
"I heard you're providing production funds after seeing up to episode 6."
"That was already discussed with Manager Jung..."
"Move it up. 100 million won per episode."
Even though it was obvious that the money going to the lead actors was only 40 million, Jinwoo confidently demanded 100 million.
"My goodness, you must think I'm a fool."
"Don't you provide that much production support for other dramas as well?"
"Are you planning to eat lobster every day or something?"
"Not really... we need to cast the supporting roles lavishly."
"Using rookies for the lead actors, and now this!"
Director Bang frowned at Jinwoo's bold demand.
"Come on, Director-nim, you don't want filming to be canceled either, do you?"
"...Let's go with 80 million."
"90 million, deal?"
"No, this isn't some flea market...!"
"It's not an easy job for me either, to be negotiating on behalf of the production company, for the sake of my reputation as a main writer."
"You... what are you going to do if it fails?"
"I'll think about that when the time comes."
Jinwoo maintained the attitude of a writer who had succeeded numerous times.
Even if you succeed once, it's hard to earn the title of a popular writer.
But he was pecking at the director as if he were living only for today.
On the outside, it might look like the audacity of a confident rookie, but in reality.
'Fuck. I'm so fucking scared.'
If I get on Director Bang's bad side here, it's goodbye to JTBS dramas forever.
SBC is Writer Lee Minjoo's main base, so if I exclude that, how many stations are left?
"Let's go with 90 million per episode. I truly hope this drama succeeds. Sincerely."
In the end, Director Bang wished him success in a dejected voice.
It was a capitalist blessing that sounded suspiciously like a curse.
Scrape—
Soon, Director Bang stood up from his chair and left the room.
Even at a glance, he was clearly showing his discomfort.
"Writer Kim, will you be okay?"
Director Sung asked, looking at Jinwoo cautiously.
Is he looking out for the writer because he's a director?
"Yes. I have to succeed one way or another."
"Hmm?"
"Director Bang's anger will probably cool down if the drama succeeds."
"No, that's not what I mean..."
"Pardon?"
"I was asking if you can really finish the script in a month."
Are you a sociopath?
That evening,
Director Sung hastily arranged a meeting with the lead actors.
He must have wanted to save even a single day.
Im Jaejun, who had received the acceptance notice right after the audition.
I gave a bitter smile and welcomed Jaejun, who had come to a funeral home.
"Jaejun, did you decide to sign with Tempest Entertainment?"
"Yes. I auditioned there, and..."
Why would he sign a contract for a reason like that.
"You're also with Tempest, Writer-nim. Haha."
"Hmm, I'm not on an exclusive contract."
"Huh? No, that can't be..."
He has a surprisingly naive side to him.
"Still, you did well. Tempest's treatment of rookies isn't bad."
"Ah, yes."
It seemed I would also be working only with Tempest for a while.
A moment later,
the other people arrived one by one, on time.
I responded with a smile to Semi, who greeted me with her eyes.
Manager Jung Saerom blocked the space between me and Semi.
"Writer Kim, did you really get the production budget confirmed yourself?"
"Yes. Well, it's a verbal agreement, but."
Saerom looked at me with surprised eyes.
"The director really approved the production budget? He's not the type of person to do that..."
"Hmm, it just happened that way."
"That's great. We've solved the investor issue, and we've covered the production costs."
"Pardon? Investors? Who are you talking about...?"
"I'll tell you again next time."
"Ah, yes."
I don't know the reason, but Manager Jung Saerom seemed cold.
She wasn't a warm person usually, but today she was particularly chilly.
Soon after, confirming that everyone had gathered, Director Sung Kihoon opened his mouth.
"As you all know, the first episode will air in two months."
The room was engulfed in silence as they watched his lips.
"From now, within a month, we will finish casting the supporting roles, setting up the directing team, and go straight into filming."
That would also include schedules that must be completed before the first shoot.
In the breathtakingly busy schedule, the person with the most important role was.
"Writer Kim Jinwoo, can you finish the script within a month?"
Director Sung Kihoon asked, his eyes fixed on me.
"Hmm, well, let's see...?"
"No, just a moment ago, you clearly..."
"Three weeks is all I need."
The people looked at me with questioning gazes.
It was understandable to be surprised by the unconventional writing speed.
"Since we're all gathered, should we just hammer out the supporting cast right away?"
I said it to break the awkward atmosphere, but I shouldn't have.