Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 798



Only Noblemtl

Episode 798

Two months ago.

Blurry picture quality, as if playing a videotape, and a texture reminiscent of the past.

Two children argue. They push, they cry, they grow cold, and one of them hides in a corner of the playground.

The child who had been pushed approached me hesitantly and offered me some snacks.

Would you like to eat this?

The child stares blankly, but soon the two reconcile by sharing their homework.

Maybe!

“It’s bad.”

Yoon Hee-yeon threw the advertising planning story document down on the table.

“That’s why I hear the sound of grandparents eating snacks. Doesn’t Amanogawa have a branding team?”

One of Amanogawa’s men, sitting across from him at the conference table, timidly raised his hand and stood up.

“I am the general manager.”

“… … .”

Yun Hee-yeon glanced away and banged her palm on the table.

“Do you think people will want to buy and eat Amaibol like this? Huh? How long are you going to sell it only to older people? In 10 years? In 20 years? Aren’t you being too complacent just because of the title of one of the oldest snacks in Japan?”

Yun Hee-yeon looked at the tea bowl in front of her. Inside were various kinds of amaibol.

She picked up one of them.

“This shows the current state of Amanogawa. Amaiball green tea flavor. What on earth is it? Who thought of adding bitterness to a snack that you buy and eat?”

The head of food development raised his hand with tears in his eyes.

“It’s me, it’s me… … .”

“… … .”

Yoon Hee-yeon avoided eye contact again. She was just trying to be pessimistic about the current situation, but people in charge popped out here and there and made sad faces.

“Hey!”

The person next to the food development team leader suddenly stood up and scolded Yun Hee-yeon.

“Since a while ago… … !”

“Who are you?”

“The marketing manager is coming!”

“Yes? The head of branding over there is… … .”

“I’m under that person. Okay? Anyway, haven’t you been being too harsh since earlier? Amaibol Green Tea Flavor is the filial son who brought us a 5% increase in sales! In the first place… … .”

The conference room of Amanogawa, a confectionery company that makes Amaiball. In a place where all the company’s executives are gathered, only Yoon Hee-yeon stands out like a color in the middle of chaos.

“Why did you come here all of a sudden! We asked you to be our promotional model, not to plan our television commercial? By the way, you look young, but you’ve been acting like this since a while ago… … .”

“stop.”

The old man sitting in the center of the conference room raised his hand.

“Let me tell you a story.”

“president!”

“Amaibol is a candy that contains my blood and sorrow.”

The old man in the grass closed his eyes.

“The post-war period was truly hell. Even as a child, I could feel it. Everyone, like those who were being punished, resigned themselves to the idea that ‘there was nothing we could do.’ They gave up hope, thinking that it was the price they deserved. A life without a future… … . In it, I… … .”

The president’s explanation of his past went on for over 20 minutes. Yoon Hee-yeon felt like she was going to lose consciousness during the middle of it.

In contrast, Amanogawa’s employees listened to the president’s story with sparkling eyes.

“Amaibol was hope.”

“Ugh, kekekeke… … You’re amazing, boss… … .”

This is a mess.

When Jeong Ho-hwan brings up old stories while drinking, it’s like a joke.

When Jeong Ho-hwan tells a story from the past, it ends with, “Yes, yes, that’s right,” but the Amanogawa employees are on their knees and sobbing.

What the… … .

“But there’s a problem. People don’t enjoy Amaibol anymore. Especially young people, they only look for things like onion butter honey cheese Nutella latte cookies.”

“Do you have that kind of candy?”

“This is the boss’s jade voice, listen carefully!”

“… … .”

“Amaibol is sweet but light. That is its strength. It is a tranquility that people these days, accustomed to stimulating things, cannot understand. I want to show you that tranquility. But, I don’t know anymore.”

The president held up a draft of a television commercial story.

“This commercial story brings back memories. It reminds me of my childhood when I bought and shared amazon balls with my friends at a candy store. It resonates with me, but it doesn’t seem to resonate with young people. Yes, that’s right.”

The president struggled to get up. In an instant, five people came to support him, but it seemed more like restraint than support.

Even Abu is artistic to that extent.

“I guess I can’t keep selling green tea flavored amazon to people my son’s age (old people). So, would you show me?”

“Boss! Are you going to entrust work to a woman you don’t even know?”

“I am the executive producer of KS Entertainment, and KS Entertainment’s sales are several times higher than Amanogawa’s.”

“Are you going to entrust this work to a person who has lived a life without any connection to sweets?”

“I don’t have anything to lose anyway. I’m asking for publicity anyway. What’s that, what’s the name… …”

“Samurai Girls.”

“Yes, Samurai Gals. Unfold your dreams, Yuuka-san.”

“My name is Yun Hee-yeon.”

“Huh? You’re a foreigner?”

* * *

A month and a half ago.

A set that recreates an ordinary village street.

It’s mainly used as a location for filming movies, but today’s guest was a little special.

It’s the advertising filming team.

The set, which was filled with ordinary houses, was bustling with filming crews. A van pulled in and a star appeared.

“Far away… … .”

Rika took a deep breath and entered the set. There, Yubin and Yoon Hee-yeon greeted her.

While Yoon Hee-yeon was busy talking to the staff, Yubin welcomed Rika.

“Welcome, junior.”

“Atashi (I) am busy filming a program that will turn Japan upside down! Is it true that it will end today?”

“Oh, I’m watching it too. Did you know it’s famous in Korea too?”

“Oh, really?”

“Miyoko is cute. Is she really full of fighting spirit?”

“You shouldn’t ask about the back of an idol!”

“Yes, well, you can go over there and get your makeup done. I’m still preparing, so you can rest when you’re done.”

“You seem like a staff member, not a producer!”

Rika moved into the styling vehicle, following the guidance of staff member Yubin.

Rika was in a daze after getting her makeup done.

“Atashi (I) am a total high school student… … .”

The inhumanly beautiful Rika can seem cold at first glance if she doesn’t have a smile.

But the makeup erased all of Rika’s characteristics. With clean, clear makeup and blurred outlines, she gave off a fresh, student-like vibe.

In addition, she wore a sailor uniform.

“High school student Rika appears!”

“Here, put on your coat and scarf too.”

“Office worker Rika appears!”

After saying that, Rika looked around and sighed again.

“If Director Park were here, he would have given me a heads up… … .”

“came?”

Yun Hee-yeon appeared late, waving her hand to Rika. She looked at Rika from top to bottom and nodded.

“Okay, then let’s go in.”

Rika crossed her arms and took on an overbearing attitude. It was something she had learned from Seiko.

When I faced Seongpil’s rival, Yun Hee-yeon, I felt an inexplicable sense of hostility.

“Huh, what should I do?”

After a while.

“Keeeeeek!”

Rika was flying through the sky, hanging from a wire. As she floundered in the air, the staff desperately tried to reassure her.

“You don’t know this! You don’t know this! Bring Hayang unnie instead of me!”

Jang Ha-yang has performed 3D wire flying at concerts, flying for long periods of time at heights ranging from several meters to several dozen meters.

It seemed fun to watch, but it was unbearably scary to see it happen to me.

Yoon Hee-yeon’s voice, amplified by a megaphone, was heard from below.

“Are you calmed down now?”

“Does this look real?!”

“Okay, I’ll film a little later.”

After a while, after Rika calmed down, the real filming began.

One cold winter day, Rika finds an amaibol at a convenience store on her way home from school. She buys one with eyes longing for the past and eats it with a sigh.

Then the scenery changes in an instant.

The cloudy sky cleared, the coat disappeared, and summer clothes were revealed.

A strong spring breeze blows along with hundreds of cherry blossom petals, and Rika floats upward as if she were in weightless space.

Below, a large fan sent up countless flower petals along with the wind. It was an artificially created spring breeze.

‘cold!’

Rika was immersed in her acting, but it was killing her to be directly exposed to the winter wind while wearing her summer uniform.

Even so, the fact that his expression didn’t break was truly professional.

A close-up shot of Rika in the spring breeze was taken by a Jimmy Jib camera. Rika then turned her head and the camera lens also turned in that direction.

“Cameras on!”

The camera accelerates forward along the rails installed on the ground. The scenery depicted beyond the spring breeze is of the past.

A child not yet ten years old takes a bite of an amaibol with a bright face.

A cherry blossom fell onto her nose.

“Back again!”

The camera moves back along the rail again. The viewpoint shifts back to Rika in her school uniform, and then further back in time.

Rika, who was floating in the air, hurriedly put on her coat. Then, the spring wind that seemed to blow her away disappeared without a trace, and she came down gently to the ground.

Just like the first time we took the picture, Rika is holding an amazon in front of a convenience store.

A cherry blossom petal falls onto her nose.

“okay!”

As soon as Yoon Hee-yeon gave the okay sign, Rika took off the wire safety equipment that was wrapped around her body. Then she collapsed on the floor.

“Oh, is it over?”

Yoon Hee-yeon let out a ‘hmm’ groan as she looked at the results.

“I think I’ll have to do it about 20 more times.”

“… … Split it up?”

“No, in one take.”

“This is strange! Each of these are independent scenes, so why do we have to film them all at once? And in analog!”

The film moves through three stages: from the present, which is winter, to spring when I was a student, and to memories of my childhood.

Instead of dividing it and taking pictures separately, take it all at once.

This is a photography technique that borders on art. It also seems like a waste.

“Because it’s better that way.”

Yoon Hee-yeon dismissed Rika’s protest.

“It’s hard to explain exactly, but it’s better that way. I’ll edit it in cuts, but I’ll film it all in one go. Trust me and follow along.”

CG is minimal and analog.

Filming was done in one take without any unnaturalness.

Yubin, who was watching from the side, sensed a kind of madness in Yun Hee-yeon’s behavior. She recorded that madness in detail in her phone’s notebook.

‘Is Erica and Noah doing this too?’

It will be interesting to see the reaction.

At that time, Yubin began to wonder about something.

“Director Yoon.”

“why?”

Perhaps because she was working, Yoon Hee-yeon’s tone of speech was sharp.

“Are you filming a commercial behind the scenes or something?”

“Behind the scenes of the shoot?”

“yes.”

Yubin saw Rika dangling from the wire again.

“I think it would be good to reveal it, even if it’s brief.”

“……hmm.”

Yoon Hee-yeon called the staff and asked if there were any extra cameras. When they said there were not, Yoon Hee-yeon put her hand on Yoo-bin’s shoulder.

“What model phone do you have?”

“The latest Apple phone… … .”

“I’m going to rent a camera from now on. Please do it until then.”

“Me, me? I’m taking pictures of the set?”

“yes.”

Yun Hee-yeon clapped her hands to gather attention. She was no longer interested in Yu-bin.

“Okay, then this time I’ll play a song to liven up the mood. Samurai Girls’ ‘SWEET’, play it to coincide with the start of filming. Here we go, one, two, three!”

* * *

A month ago.

Yubin’s last day at the idol training center as Bugbug’s dance instructor.

Yubin shared a drink with Seongpil.

The location was inside Seongpil’s dorm, with yellow floorboards that somehow felt intimate.

“Bugbug is cuter than when you see him on TV. He looks like a trainee… … .”

“It’s not wrong to call him a trainee.”

“haha.”

Yubin fidgeted with her hands and then suddenly nodded her head.

“Thank you, Director. Please think of me and invite me to the broadcast… … .”

“What? You must be having a hard time with the music video work, but I’m grateful you came.”

“No. This is supposed to be a 6% viewer rating. I know that showing your face even once is a huge deal. Thank you so much… … .”

“Why is he like this?”

Seongpil let out a snicker.

“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve had a drink with you. Is this what it’s like when you’re drunk? You’re a special person.”

“… … Director.”

Yubin held her left chest, where her heart was, with her hand.

“Is this how it is? I feel sick all day and my heart feels stuffy. I can’t sleep easily.”

“Because of Samurai Girls?”

“yes.”

“The weight of responsibility.”

Seongpil took a sip of his drink.

“And that’s also the burden of being an artist. The thought that what I like might not be liked by others drives me crazy.”

Yubin let out a sigh of relief.

“That’s right, that’s true. I overcame PD Yoon Sang-yeol’s opposition and ended up coming to Kawaii Base, but I wonder if it will really work… … . It’s a place where I saw potential, but in reality, it’s just a ruin… … .”

“At that time… … Let’s hold hands and have a drink with the people who said they wanted to do Kawaii Bass.”

“Haha, then it’ll be a company dinner without PD Yoon Sang-yeol and Noah… … .”

“Well, you know, if you could go back in time, would you change anything?”

If you could go back a few months, would you choose something other than the Kawaii Base?

Surprisingly, Yubin’s answer was quick.

“no.”

“Then that’s fine. It’s a path you haven’t taken yet, and one you can’t take. Just focus on the path you’re walking. And to comfort you, I like it. It’s so embarrassing that I was against it at first.”

“Sweet?”

“Yeah. Yubin, you seem to have good insight.”

Yubin waved her hand and denied it.

“Ah, no, I got help from the best producers in K-pop, so it has to be good to some extent! Ji-eum hyung, Dong-hyun hyung, and PD Yoon Sang-yeol… … .”

“And there’s me, and Director Yoon. The members are Rika, Erika, and Noah. That’s how we got together. All of those people are following you. No one forced us to do it, but they agreed and did it voluntarily.”

Seongpil put his hand on Yubin’s shoulder and massaged it.

“Don’t be discouraged even if the results aren’t good. An artist’s life can’t be judged by just the moment. It’s only when a long time has passed and someone in the distant future looks at it in chronological order that its true value is revealed. ‘This is what this person was pursuing.’”

If you are shaken by the wind of a moment or a period, you cannot take deep roots or grow high.

“No one knows what’s in your head. No one knows how it will bloom in the end. Only you know. Since only you know the future you, don’t worry about the direction others point you toward and just run towards it.”

“… … .”

Yubin emptied her glass.

“Director, your experience… isn’t that right?”

“That’s right. The first group I produced is doing really well. As an artist, I’m still a baby.”

“In the distant future, in a chronological order… … Is there anyone who can help me? That, it’s really comforting… … .”

“Well, if you’re talking about world-famous people, there’s Brian from the Beach Boys. You know, he’s famous for ‘Surfing in the USA.’ His other album is ‘Pet Sounds.’ You know?”

“This is my first time hearing about it.”

“You should take a music history class too. Then, who are the people you should know in Korea… .”

Jeong Ho-hwan.

“Is that the person at KS Entertainment?”

“huh.”

Seongpil rolled the glass in his palm. His eyes, looking at the rolling glass, were filled with an incomprehensible sadness.

“It was only after nearly 20 years that people finally began to understand what Director Jeong Ho-hwan wanted to do and what his dreams were.”

And how you tried to change the world.

How it changed.

“How did you change it?”

Seongpil half-lying down on the floor, let out a drunken laugh.

“Think about how you got here.”

How can Yubin, a K-pop idol, be in Japan?

“Your very existence is proof of Director Jeong Ho-hwan’s achievements. Who could have imagined the dreamscape he saw when he first became a producer?”

Right now.

“Who could have thought of that?”

Seongpil sat up straight and looked straight into Yubin’s eyes.

“If this moment is absolutely necessary for the future you envision, then accept everything and move forward.”

* * *

3 weeks ago.

In the KS Enter conference room, the executive producer Yoon Hee-yeon and the TF team in charge of Erica are all gathered.

Erica and Kang Dong-hyun sat side by side and waited for the title song ‘Blue Shirt’ to end.

As the song ended with a single melody from the piano, Yoon Hee-yeon straightened her bent back as if she had been waiting for it.

“Yes, good. Then let’s finish the final evaluation. We will proceed with the plan as is. I hope we will come back next month and have good results.”

Just as everyone was about to end the event with applause.

“wait a minute.”

Erica stopped her. She spoke each word in a voice that was filled with resentment. Her eyes covered Yun Hee-yeon with resentment.

“You said you would help me.”

“… … I helped you, didn’t I?”

“What is this… … .”

Erica clenched her fists and barely managed to keep her voice from rising.

“You only said ‘good’ at every meeting and evaluation. If that was going to happen, why didn’t you just say it was annoying? Why did you say you would help? Not just the director, but all the employees!”

Erica finally managed to scream. The staff looked at her in confusion.

Erica asked, her lips trembling.

“It’s miserable, it’s miserable. Why don’t you just say you’ll help me? Do you really have to push people like this? Tomorrow will be different, next week will be different, you’ll give me advice, even if it’s just a little thing. But you just ignore it all, why the hell… ?”

Erica covered her eyes with her palms. She pressed down on her eyelids as if massaging them, then crouched forward as if collapsing.

It was pitiful, like an attacked caterpillar curling up.

“Are you that upset with me?”

“Uh, Erica.”

Kang Dong-hyun, sitting next to her, grabbed her shoulder and tried to lift her up.

“You, don’t be like that… … .”

“Don’t comfort me!”

Erica roughly shook off Kang Dong-hyun’s hand.

“This is enough of the misery!”

She jumped up from her seat. At that moment, Kang Dong-hyun grabbed Erica’s wrist. Erica looked back at him in surprise.

Kang Dong-hyun asked the staff without looking at her.

“Can you play ‘Blue Shirt’ one more time?”

Finally, as if she had some breathing room, the staff started playing music. The conference room was filled with Erica’s voice.

Erica slapped away Kang Dong-hyun’s hand that was grabbing her wrist.

“What are you doing?”

“Erika, look around.”

I looked around.

Everyone is watching Erica.

“What do you want me to see? Are you ignoring me?”

“I’m not ignoring you. I just have nothing to say.”

“yes?”

“The reason Director Yoon Hee-yeon and her team said ‘it’s good’ is because they really just liked it.”

“… … .”

Erica looked around again. There were stars scattered here and there, with daunting eyes focused on her.

An atmosphere where one cannot dare open one’s mouth. Like subjects looking up at the king in the main palace.

“Erika, you’ve been learning composition from Director Jeong Ho-hwan for over four years.”

Kang Dong-hyun pulled her arm and made her sit back down. ‘Blue Shirt’ went towards the final highlight.

Two melodies that were entangled differently compete precariously as if they would devour each other, and finally become one.

The counterpoint that may seem unpleasant at first glance is in perfect harmony, rising to the heavens with the percussion that appears like a comet.

That was the starting point for Erica’s sensual voice to explode.

“Erica.”

Kang Dong-hyun suppressed his emotions. This composition method, the way the song progresses, the emotion and philosophy, all resembled someone he admired.

“Don’t you know how great you are?”

* * *

A few days ago.

The K-pop scene was buzzing with Erica’s solo debut.

The popular love song, which you wouldn’t think was sung by a member of KARA, swept the music charts in an instant.

It is expected that Jin So-yu will once again break the record for the first week sales of a female solo artist.

Although there was a sort of festive atmosphere, Noah found it difficult to be purely happy about his colleague’s success.

“Eri is truly amazing… … .”

Yoon Sang-yeol, who was playing the guitar, turned his gaze to Noah. Noah seemed to be losing his presence like moss, enveloped in the darkness of the studio.

“Who is Eri?”

“I mean, Erica. I can’t help but think of myself shining brightly next to Erii.”

“Your stage is not ‘Sweet.’”

Yoon Sang-yeol tuned the guitar strings.

“There’s your song, ‘Lotus.’ It’s on the album and has a music video, so just focus on that.”

“… … .”

Noah shook his head slightly.

“The song is good. It’s thanks to Yoo Hyun and PD Yoon. But, that’s only because the song is good. If there weren’t enough singers, there wouldn’t be a fight… … .”

“… … Noah.”

Noah’s eyes, which had been tilted, turned to Yoon Sang-yeol. Yoon Sang-yeol opened his mouth, but no words came out.

‘I saw a light similar to Jang Ha-yang in you.’

I was going to say that.

Jang Ha-yang’s ‘Song for People’ broke Yoon Sang-yeol’s common sense. In it, Jang Ha-yang’s individual personality, not her character as an idol, clearly came out.

The moment when Yoon Sang-yeol’s beliefs were shattered.

It was the moment when the egg broke.

Yoon Sang-yeol felt that feeling again when he listened to Noah’s ‘Lotus’.

‘I guarantee it. You will succeed. You will shine.’

I want to say.

But he just opened his mouth.

“PD Yoon, where does it hurt?”

“… … You, you, f*ck, I’ve listened to you whine for two months now, how long are you going to act like that?”

“Why, why are you suddenly swearing… … . It’s scary… … .”

“Why are you so gloomy when you’re called a star even if it’s just a penny? You haven’t really stood out so far, so what if you do it again? Just go ahead and beat the shit out of it.”

“… … .”

Noah dropped his gaze again.

Yoon Sang-yeol’s heart sank in an unusual way.

‘Hey, was that too much? I should have said something like, ‘This is a piece of shit… ‘

Noah’s shoulders shook.

“Star… … Yes, I am. But not all stars are the same. No matter how bright a star is, it disappears when the sun rises. How much worse is it for me, a shooting star that is worse than a star… … I disappear quickly before I can even survive the night… … . I just disappear in an instant… … .”

“It seems I have failed to become a highly intelligent person.”

“… … ?”

“Stars don’t disappear. They just seem to disappear because the Earth rotates. If you don’t see them, they’ve just turned their backs. Stars are still there. They won’t disappear.”

“Yoo, PD Yoon… … .”

A light appeared in Noah’s eyes. Yoon Sang-yeol clicked his tongue and focused his attention on the guitar for no reason.

“So stop whining… … .”

“It’s not me who is the one who is eliminated from the high-intelligence category, it’s PD Yoon.”

“……what?”

“Stars revolve. Stars don’t stay still; they revolve around galaxies. They don’t stay still forever. Are you talking about something like the sun revolving around the earth from the geocentric era? Did you fall asleep in science class?”

“This fucking (omission)… … .”

* * *

And now.

“Oh, there it is. Hey Rika! Hey Team Leader Park!”

Noah ran towards Rika and Seongpil who had come out to greet him. Noah waved his hand brightly, but his eyes were drawn to the large van behind them rather than the two men.

“Wow, it’s a Benz!”

“Hello, Noah-chan!”

“Benz, Benz!”

“Noah, it’s been a while.”

“Are you really driving a Benz?”

Erica and Yubin caught up with Noah late. Noah was distracted by the Benz logo on the front of the car.

“Hello, Erica.”

“Hello, Director Park. Rika, long time no see.”

“It’s been a while, Eri-chan!”

The two shook hands, only raising the corners of their lips. When the handshake turned into a contest of strength, Seongpil calmed them down.

“First, I’ll take you to the hotel. Managers, please load your luggage in the back. Oh, you can use the car in the back too.”

“Wait a minute, wait a minute!”

Noah, who had quickly lost interest in Benz, stepped forward in front of Seongpil, making a fuss.

“It’s our first meeting in two months! We have to shout out the slogan! Hey Waypercent pink-haired guy!”

“You don’t even call me senior anymore.”

“Shout out your slogan like a producer!”

“Did we have a relief?”

Noah’s face split open in shock.

“Hey, you know. I made up a cool slogan… … . Stop teasing me… … .”

“… … .”

Yubin made excuses.

It seems like you really don’t know.

Unable to stand watching, Erica wrapped her arms around Noah’s waist and held him close.

“Just Noah do it.”

“Me, me? Is it okay for someone like me to do something like that? Someone like me?”

“You did it last time too.”

Erica grabbed Noah’s hand and brought them to the center. There, Rika and Yubin joined hands.

“ah!”

Noah also folded his other hand.

“This is PD Yoon’s job!”

“Oh, me too.”

Erica also folded her hands on the other side.

“This is Dong-Hyeon’s share.”

“Atashi (I) have a party involved! Come on, Director!”

Seongpil folded his hands.

“My share and Ji-eum’s share.”

Noah’s heart raced when she saw the gathered hands. She shouted with uncontrollable excitement.

“But where is Director Yoon Hee-yeon’s share?”

Everyone looked at Erica at Rika’s words. Erica pretended not to know anything, but then she put her head on her folded hands as if she had no other choice.

When everyone’s hearts came together like that, this time Noah shouted.

“Hell under the sword!”

“hell!”

“One step ahead is paradise!”

“Heaven!”

“Samurai Girls, Ikujo (Go)!”

The goal is to conquer the country.

I have come to end this troubled era.