No one in the entertainment industry was unaware that Phoenix was producing a major steampunk project.
There had even been quite a buzz around casting announcements.
Nevertheless, many industry professionals took a rather conservative stance regarding getting involved with this production.
The niche theme of steampunk coupled with astronomical production costs made many wary.
Signing a broadcasting contract would mean partially covering these costs, thus careful consideration was necessary.
The fact that star-level actors were heavily involved was good news but was also a potential burden; too many expensive actors could mean that the production budget wouldn’t fully justify the expense.
Even with the production budget we had set, adding real CG effects would be insufficient.
After doling out the guarantees to stars like Heavenly Yuah, Moon Suyeon, and Nam Hyun-ho, a considerable portion of the budget would already be allocated.
At least organizations like TVA, which had gained much enjoyment from genre-specific content, were willing to just grab the broadcasting rights without much investment. Most public broadcasting outlets, however, remained onlookers, offering a clear indication of the prevailing atmosphere.
In the midst of this, the companies Blue and Dream TV, which were rivals to Finesse, were notably aggressive in their approach.
It seemed these two were quite sincere.
Although it was apparent that their interest arose more from a desire to prevent this project from going to Finesse rather than genuine belief in the drama’s success, it still amounted to wise judgment.
However, Flame seemed to have targeted Finesse from the onset, resulting in Finesse eventually securing our drama.
“If OTT platforms and a broadcasting station aired it simultaneously, things might be different, but given the broadcasting station’s interest, it’s likely Finesse will get the rights anyway.”
Despite public predictions, our drama was a significant hit.
Especially, there were no budget-related issues.
In this drama, all the main actors had agreed to performance-based contracts.
The bonus guarantees were only to be allocated upon the achievement of set performance standards.
Currently, all actors were contracted at less than half their usual fee, allowing for considerable savings on the initial production costs.
With these savings redirected entirely towards CG work, anyone skeptical about the quality of this drama due to these reasons will surely regret their stance.
In particular, TVA, which approached steampunk as an appealing genre, will likely regret not taking up the offer.
While industry insiders’ reactions swung from cold to warm, the drama community online was unanimously optimistic.
The mere fact that Heavenly Yuah and Moon Suyeon would co-star in the same drama was shocking enough, and the addition of Lion and Nam Hyun-ho made it even more exciting.
While not all dramas with star-studded casts deliver on quality, the mere mention of these actors’ names created genuine anticipation.
Our ensemble cast being stronger than expected led to an amusing meme questioning my role, “So, who is White Siu?” However, this didn’t last long.
Once casting was confirmed, excitement about the drama grew. Once Finesse officially announced the broadcasting decision, most viewers eagerly awaited its premiere.
Given the significant interest, many believed that a subscription to Finesse was essential, making this a wise financial decision for the streaming platform. Of course, such enthusiasm could backfire if the drama turned out to be dull.
“So, the final title is ‘Gold Rush, Joseon’?”
“Yes, and both Glass and Finesse agreed this title works best.”
“We are planning the next series with the title ‘Gold Rush, America.’”
“They are quite serious. Finesse even mentioned handling the sequel’s production in-house.”
“Ah, at the Finesse headquarters?”
“Yes.”
The original working title “Yunshan Gold Mine” was ultimately replaced with “Gold Rush, Joseon,” swapping only the word order from the initial “Joseon Gold Rush.”
Even with the changes in the storyline, the concept of extracting gold remained unchanged.
However, Finesse began handling this project in a slightly unusual manner.
“So, you’re saying you’re releasing the 12-episode drama in two parts, spaced out over two months?”
“That’s correct.”
“Isn’t it common to release all 12 episodes at once?”
“This isn’t unprecedented; dramas have been split into 1-2 episodes before.”
“But that’s typically for series over 16 episodes, right?”
“Well, TV dramas often align their release schedules with TV broadcast calendars.”
“And most importantly, the latter episodes’ CG work will delay the airing as per the desired schedule.”
“Given the extensive CG required for the fight scenes in the second half.”
This arrangement means that viewers who subscribed to Finesse to watch our drama will now have to extend their subscriptions by another month.
With high chances of them being intrigued by the second half after watching the first six episodes, it’s a calculated business move.
Breaking off the narrative at the moment the characters just begin exploring the mine adds an element of surprise—an almost shocking cliffhanger.
While this may appear as poor business practice, it’s actually a strategy I have no problem with.
“So, what’s next for us?”
“Well, what else? We rest until the airing date and look for the next project.”
“Aren’t we doing any promotion?”
“That’s something Phoenix will handle. They’ll take care of it.”
“…Oh, right?”
Promoting a film or drama isn’t solely the responsibility of the production or publicity company; actors also typically take part in promotional activities through social media posts, live broadcasts, and variety show appearances.
This is especially true for lesser-known actors or singers who gain sudden popularity through such shows.
Previously, appearing on a show purely for promotion was treated as somehow undignified, but that perspective has largely faded now.
Even viewers now see it as a natural aspect of the industry.
“Variety shows? Do you have any interest in appearing on one, Siu?”
“Um, not particularly, but I thought it might be necessary.”
“Hmm, I don’t think there’s any need. You should take a break. You’ve been exhausted from filming. Once our drama airs, you’ll likely receive many scripts anyway. Why not look for the right next project instead of rushing?”
“Huh…”
Truly, this mindset suits Heavenly Yuah.
Moreover, Heavenly Yuah has never appeared on a variety show, cultivating her reputation as a mysterious star who rarely interacts with fans.
It’s surprising this is possible in today’s world, but consistently starring in and making major hits each year for nearly nine years has managed to keep her image intact.
“Thinking about it, Senior Suyeon also has no experience in variety shows, right?”
“Yes, she hasn’t. And I’m sure it’d just be a hassle anyway.”
“…Right?”
“Showing her true personality might lose her some fans.”
And Moon Suyeon has also never appeared on a show, thanks to an unusual mindset: when she was new, she wasn’t asked to be on variety shows, and after she became famous, her schedule was packed with events, eliminating the time for variety appearances.
She seems uninterested in variety shows, suggesting she likely won’t change this stance.
“Oh, this is nothing. Appearing on variety shows is both tiring and offers little substantial benefit. Instead, better manage your SNS carefully and look for quality projects. Remember, actors communicate with fans primarily through their works, not appearances on shows.”
Even Nam Hyun-ho, the company’s lone experience in variety shows, is negative about appearances on them.
Given that network TV shows don’t have the same reach they once did and their benefits in boosting recognition are minimal, Nam’s judgment was to seek better projects during that time instead.
It’s especially true for actors with strong acting skills and company backing.
“Well, you guys are quite against the trends.”
Typically, actors have far less exposure than idols do.
While idols actively make appearances in events and on various stages, actors may remain relatively hidden between projects.
Thus, to bridge this gap, actors today often strive to maintain regular communication with fans, but our company’s members appeared to be particularly indifferent to these practices.
Yet, despite their disinterest, their popularity remains steady, a phenomenon that makes one wonder how it’s possible.
“Since I can’t do anything alone, I’ll just wait.”
Unlike the three who are constantly in demand, I don’t have another project lined up, so I’ve decided to wait.
If an interesting project or event arises, I might consider working with Heavenly Yuah or Moon Suyeon, or even Nam Hyun-ho if all else fails.
However, there’s nothing particularly exciting in the variety show scene right now, so the interest is simply not there.
“Instead, it might be better to invest in independent productions.”
While not relevant immediately, it might be worth considering in the near future.
*
“Mr. Siu, there’s a request for you.”
“Yes? What kind?”
“It’s for a music video. A new female idol group’s MV, specifically…”
Just as I was aiming to rest while waiting for opportunities, Team Leader Seo informed me of an incoming scheduling request.
This surprising new idol group, specifically, was requesting my participation in their music video.
Though I thought it wasn’t such a bad idea, I felt some pressure from both sides.
“An idol group? Specifically requesting you is quite unusual.”
“Indeed. Who are they? Mr. Siu isn’t particularly well-known yet, right?”
“Maybe after the drama airs, this could lead to opportunities like being a music show MC?”
“Music show MC? Sounds like a perfect schedule for Mr. Siu.”
Unbeknownst to me, two women had approached Seo to inquire further about the matter.
Are these women somehow connected to the idol group?
Moreover, a music show MC?
Though I secretly thought it would be fun to try a music show MC role, appearing in an idol group’s music video felt like an entirely different territory.
“If you end up meeting the idol group as a music show MC, there’s a chance a scandal might ensue with one of them.”
“So, will you go for the music show MC role, Mr. Siu?”
“…Uh, the request I received was for the music video, not the MC role. Isn’t that quite out of context?”
“So, are you ultimately set on appearing in the idol group’s music video?”
“…No, that’s…”
What’s going on here?
It suddenly felt like an endless string of rhetorical questions.
At the moment, Seo appeared even more flustered, quickly relaying the information.
She seemed intent on delivering the information and then quickly excusing herself.
However, the information provided did seem to temper the enthusiasm of the two women.
“The company that requested a music video shooting with actor White Siu is PMC Entertainment, featuring the rookie group Pentaring…”
“…Pentaring?”
The revelation that my co-stars in the music video would be Pentaring caused the women to glance away from me.
So, ladies, you should listen to people fully before jumping to conclusions!
Even if your senses were all over the place, it’s clear that none of you could entangle me with a group that includes your mother and daughter.
