The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 74



Only Noblemtl

Episode 74

The channel where Nineties Dive is broadcast is KBC.

As you can see from the abbreviation ‘Korean Broadcasting Corporation’, it is one of the three representative terrestrial broadcasting channels in South Korea.

It is no exaggeration to say that it was the national entertainment show ‘One or Two Days’ that created the current Choi Ui-jeong, and it is also a place like home to her.

Some people were skeptical about why Choi Ui-jeong, who is not another writer, decided to work with KBC rather than a global OTT service, following the recent trend.

Of course, it goes without saying that I decided to work with KBC simply because of the loyalty I felt from having created entertainment shows together in the past.

This is largely a strategic choice.

In an interview with the writer before the drama aired, Choi Ui-jeong said this.

One episode, one episode, a week of waiting in anticipation for what will happen next. I use that excitement with the viewers as the driving force behind my writing.

So, the broadcasting strategy of uploading all at once through 100% complete pre-production, solely for the purpose of attracting subscribers, was not a method that appealed to Choi Ui-jeong.

This wasn’t the only reason.

The current young generation, represented by the word MZ, is accustomed to watching dramas on smart devices such as laptops and tablets.

However, Choi Ui-jeong, who was born in the 70s, still likes watching dramas on TV.

I remember the feeling of the whole family huddled together in front of a 32-inch TV and watching a drama.

This is why the 90s setting and the theme of indie rock, which is starting to emerge among the hip MZ generation, were combined.

Content that can communicate across generations.

It is a belief I have had as a writer since I first started writing entertainment shows.

‘So, in fact, it’s more like my wish rather than a strategy.’

Choi Ui-jeong turned on the TV, imagining her entire family, each in their own room, sitting on the sofa in the living room waiting for the drama she had written.

At 10pm, the first episode of Nineties Dive began airing.

At this time, I am absorbed in the work as a pure viewer, not as the author.

-That’s how Yuhan left us.

The amp disconnects and I hear a sharp noise.

Shin Jung-hyeok lowered his head deeply.

Cha Woo Ram cried sadly.

There is no expression on Oryul’s face.

Nineties Dive Episode 1 viewership ratings 10.8%.

It had the highest viewership ratings of any drama this year, but Choi Ui-jeong’s face looked indifferent.

That’s because every drama she’s written so far has started with double-digit viewership ratings.

‘They said the average viewer ratings dropped further over the past year, but it’s lower than expected.’

Last year’s highest-grossing film, “Nevertheless,” started with a viewership rating of 11%.

However, this year, there were no dramas that started with double-digit viewership ratings on terrestrial and cable channels.

In just one year, the number of viewers who sit in front of the TV and watch the show has decreased significantly.

“… … Well, of course the ratings will go up soon.”

She has previously achieved viewership ratings of over 30% on variety shows.

She had no doubt that Nineties Dive would once again bring energy to the TV sofa.

‘And now is not the time to be obsessed with ratings.’

As soon as the first episode of the drama ended, Choi Ui-jeong began to check the viewers’ reactions with a trembling heart.

This was also Choi Ui-jeong’s favorite moment while writing the drama.

In the past, you had to check the viewer bulletin board, but these days, you can check viewers’ reactions in real time through drama live talk.

In the live talk, viewers freely shared their opinions and impressions about the drama.

“I told you the world has really become a better place.”

There was a strangely prickly tone to Choi Ui-jeong’s words as he spoke like that.

“It’s a world where we can talk to people we don’t even know at any time, but the reality is that we don’t gather in front of the TV with our families.”

anyway.

Soon, Choi Ui-jeong read the viewers’ reactions with even more concentration than when he was writing the script.

-Well, I thought it was just an ordinary coming-of-age drama, but as expected from writer Choi Ui-jeong, there was a twist at the end.

―It’s good that the plot is developing quickly and not dragging on. Is the real story going to start right away from the next episode?

―Wow, one episode a week!! Is this really true?

-But it’s a bit strange to see Jeong-i Shin appearing in a drama. I’ve only ever seen her in movies.

―It’s a bit of an old story, but you appeared in a lot of dramas when you were a child actor~ It’s nice to see your face in a drama after such a long time~

-Wow, I’m thankful that our Ajinpojjak is still alive.

―Choi Ui-jeong really knows a thing or two. Not having a female protagonist is a stroke of genius. I never get tired of just looking at those four faces. Oh yeah.

―Face genius Kang Ji-hoon☆ I love you so much~~!!

―Jung Jin-wook was so cuteㅠ I didn’t think he’d leave so quickly… …ㅠ

-Next week, Kim Hyun-soo will take his place.

-Oh, what? Kim Hyun-soo isn’t coming out today?

-But, I don’t think Kim Hyun-soo would fit Ji-yu’s image.

―I guess you haven’t seen the comment above, Torso. Kim Hyun-soo is a genius at acting. People who have seen Torso will probably know what I mean.

“Expectations for Kim Hyun-soo are much higher than expected.”

The content of episode 1 is nothing special, so I expected there to be no impressions about the narrative.

However, the frequency of mentions of Kim Hyun-soo is higher than expected.

“I can definitely feel the positive response to the movie here, too?”

There was a smile on Choi Ui-jeong’s lips as he said that.

It was a smile filled with great anticipation, just like the viewers’ reactions.

“Torso on the Blue, it was a really fun movie after a long time.”

And Kim Hyun-soo’s acting was even more interesting.

“I never thought you would show such acting.”

Thanks to this, Choi Ui-jeong was able to blow away all of her worries about Ji Yu-han’s character development in the latter half of the drama.

Yes, that’s right.

Choi Ui-jeong was also looking forward to the appearance of Kim Hyun-soo’s Ji Yu-han.

‘If it’s Kim Hyun-soo, he’ll definitely make Ji-yu-han’s story shine even brighter.’

Choi Ui-jeong placed devices throughout the work to make Ji Yu-han shine even brighter.

OST (Original Sound Track) is one of those devices.

In this musical drama, the OST is more important than any other work she has written.

Because of this, she participated in feedback throughout the song’s production and persistently requested revisions.

Although it took a lot more time than expected and took longer to complete, it was definitely worth the time when you imagine Ji Yu-han’s appearance as the drama’s main theme song plays.

“… … But, even if it’s not as good as it used to be, isn’t a 10% viewer rating amazing? Why hasn’t anyone contacted me yet?”

It was at that moment that Choi Ui-jeong, with a slightly pouty expression, reached for the smartphone placed next to the keyboard.

Woohoo—

They say even a tiger will come if you call it, and it was a call from Jinsoo Lee.

“Then that’s right. Ahem, hello~ Director. Yes, I was just checking the viewer reactions after watching the first episode. Yes, yes. Are you feeling burdened because the viewer ratings are too high? Hey, that’s too much. It’s just the beginning, what are you… … What are you congratulating me on! You have to work, work!”

The conversation with Jinsoo Lee started off so amicably.

“… … Yes? What did you say?”

And as the conversation continued, Choi Ui-jeong’s face began to harden more seriously than ever.

“… …Listen carefully, Director. Until the song issue is resolved, there will be no next episode script.”

Choi Ui-jeong, who ended the call, took out a can of beer from the refrigerator with a very angry expression and drank it in one gulp.

Of course, it wasn’t a congratulatory drink.

* * *

Late at night, Jinsoo Lee let out a frustrated sigh in the Dreamcatcher production management team conference room.

“… … The script has stopped.”

As Jin-soo hung up the phone, the production management team members let out a sigh of anticipation as if they knew what was coming.

The reason I couldn’t call Choi Ui-jeong right away despite having the best start of the year was simple.

“You suddenly won’t give me the song? What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

That’s because there was a serious problem with the main theme song of Nineties Dive.

“What? You want me to pay a deposit? Do you think these punks think money is everything? The prelude needs to be inserted into the next week’s episode. What are you going to do about it?!”

“… … .”

“Plan B other than Rain Black? None?”

“That’s… … Rain Black fits the drama’s tone very well, and they’ve been proactive from the beginning about doing it… … .”

“Why are you dragging your feet on saying that it doesn’t exist!”

bang!

A four-member male band, Rainblack.

This is a male idol band that was at its peak in the early 2010s, and they have a large fandom in Korea, as well as in Asia, where they were able to successfully hold an Asian tour before even making their debut a year ago.

Although it has been virtually inactive in Korea since the 2020s, it is still very popular in Asian countries such as China and Japan.

Considering the period of activity, musical color, and future global release, there was no singer better suited to take on the OST than Rainblack.

So, it was almost a done deal from the beginning of production that the main theme song would be Rainblack.

That was the cause of the trouble.

“Why isn’t Rainblack Kang Hwasin answering my phone? Didn’t he like working with us from the beginning? He said he was a fan of Writer Choi?”

“It’s not a problem with Kang Hwa-shin, but rather an internal dispute within the agency.”

“dispute?”

As Lee Jin-soo tilted his head, the management team member continued his explanation.

“It wasn’t the domestic agency, but a Japanese music distribution company that requested the rights to the OST. Since Rainblack is a group that earns more in Japan than in Korea, their power there is strong, so the domestic agency is having a hard time responding… … .”

“If I give in to your demands, I will have to continue to respond to such ridiculous demands in the future. If that is the case, I will just stop doing OSTs.”

Jinsoo Lee, who had been listening to the employees’ explanation, shook his head with a frustrated expression.

“… … Are you crazy? You’re not even asking for the copyright, you’re demanding the rights? Not even the official music, but the copyright for a drama OST?”

“That’s because Rainblack’s contract for activities in Japan is so complicated and the original soundtrack market there is so developed that it’s kind of a custom… … .”

“It’s a common practice on the island where they live. Why are you bringing it all the way here?”

“That’s how it has been so far.”

“Until now? What do you mean?”

“I don’t know either. It’s just that the situation suddenly changed… … .”

It was then that one of the team members who had been listening opened his mouth with a meaningful expression on his face.

She usually managed schedules related to overseas locations, so she was more knowledgeable about the related circumstances than the other team members.

“Director, but doesn’t that seem a little strange?”

“What else is strange here?”

“It’s the timing. It was even before the production presentation that I said I was working on a song with Rainblack, so it’s weird to make a fuss about it now.”

“… … ?”

“Don’t you think that you’re hoping that something will happen?”

The female employee continued speaking to Jin-soo, who was now lost in thought with a drowsy expression.

“I wasn’t going to tell you because I wasn’t sure about it yet, but I found out that the Japanese distributor is also working hand in hand with Impact.”

“……what?”

So… … this is the result of Impact’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering?

“No, isn’t Kang Ji-hoon the guy that Impact is pushing these days? Could it be that he intentionally caused this kind of accident in a drama starring an actor from his own agency? Let’s not create conspiracy theories for no reason.”

“Is there a case where Im Jin-sil intentionally created an issue and terminated her contract with an actor? I think it’s quite possible.”

“… … .”

In fact, Binary also felt the hair on the back of his neck getting cold as soon as the word impact came out.

As the team member said, the Im Jin-sil he knew would definitely be a woman who would do something so ridiculous.

“… … Anyway, let’s stop talking about things that are not certain. Right now, the important thing is how to overcome this situation. So, there are no sources that have been separately recruited. What should we do? Since Writer Choi went to appease PD Jeong, we have to come up with an alternative somehow.”

“… … How about using the main song with what we have now? The one we used in the trailer, The Uproar of Youth. The response from the trailer to today’s episode 1 was good, right?”

“I already asked you through Kotok.”

“What did you say?”

“I was ignored.”

This was a natural thing to happen.

‘The Uproar of Youth’ is the theme song of the twenty-year-old Rising Dive.

Choi Ui-jeong would not allow Ji Yu-han, who has returned, to be used in the story.

“But it can’t be helped… … .”

“Let’s say Writer Choi says, ‘I can’t help it, then. I understand the production team’s situation, so let’s just do that.’ Let’s just move on. Okay? Then, will Writer Choi work with us from now on? If we can’t work with Writer Choi, we won’t be able to work in the future either.”

Which investor would want to provide capital to a studio that has tarnished the work of top writers like Choi Ui-jeong?

As the night deepened, the sound of sighs could be heard continuously in the production management team conference room.

Continued in the next episode ▶