PD Choi Hee-won, writer Lee Geum-sook, Kim I-seo.
The three gathered in one place. A heated discussion was ongoing.
“Product placement… Actually, I hadn’t really thought about it much…”
“Even if we do include it, we can’t show it so blatantly. There shouldn’t be prolonged exposure either. It should be inserted casually, as if just passing by.”
“Yes, that’s the way it should be. After all, the work comes first, not the advertisement.”
Sua had brought an energy drink called ‘Extreme,’ and currently, an active discussion was underway to include its commercial as a product placement in Special Mobile Unit 808.
Huh? Is it proceeding without Sua?
No! Sua is here too!
“…What is this?”
Sua tilted her head in confusion.
She just wanted to wrap up the conversation as quickly as possible and then have the one thought of enjoying some beef. But when she came to her senses, the barracks had transformed into a meeting room. Strangely enough, it appeared everyone was fully engaged in the meeting without even considering Sua.
Of course, Sua was not being excluded.
From their perspective, they didn’t want to bother Sua, who had just finished the climactic scene. And from Sua’s standpoint as well, it was a relief. Asking too many questions would only create confusion.
‘I might just enjoy eating some meat in peace.’
Lately, Sua had been deeply engrossed in Arctic Fox videos, and there was a MyTube video on “Arctic Fox’s Reaction to Trying Beef for the First Time,” which looked absolutely delicious.
So, thus, it was her destiny.
Sua must joyfully eat beef.
Just as Sua was picking up a piece of beef with her chopsticks.
“Miss Sua.”
“Yes?”
At PD Choi Hee-won’s call, Sua hurriedly put down her chopsticks. Image management, image management…
“You must forgive me for troubling you again when you should be resting, but there’s something I must ask…”
“It’s fine. Please speak freely.”
As Sua sat back down, Writer Lee Geum-sook started speaking. She had a rather serious look on her face, as if she had a headache.
“Miss Sua, first and foremost, we trust your judgment more than anyone. There must be a reason why you chose this commercial, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes.”
Absolutely, absolutely! Sua barely managed to hold back her response.
There’s a great reason behind it! Sua glanced at the special window.
[Energy Drink Commercial / Extreme]
▶ Grade 2
▶ (…Being adjusted…)
It was an incredible reason according to the specials—Grade 2, and various adjustments were even in progress because of the product placement discussion.
Isn’t it natural to have high expectations?
Sua didn’t want to give up on this ad.
She nodded once again.
“Yes. I don’t want to miss out on this.”
“Hmm, I understand Miss Sua’s intentions.”
Despite nodding in agreement, Writer Lee Geum-sook continued…
“However, Miss Sua.”
“Yes.”
“The problem is that this is an energy drink. For product placement, the ad has to feel subtle and natural, but there doesn’t seem to be an appropriate scene to insert it.”
“…I completely understand.”
PD Choi Hee-won chimed in next.
“Lee Kang-cheol wouldn’t even look at an energy drink, and Kim Yu-han finding an energy drink at this point would feel awkward. There are several reasons why it’s difficult to fit this in.”
Sua tilted her head in confusion.
“Difficult?”
Strangely enough, various suitable scenes kept popping up in Sua’s mind. Whether it was the influence of script experience or merely the effect of the specials, it was unclear.
Sua spoke up.
“There’s an upcoming scene where Kim Yu-han protects the children from danger, reassures them with some jokes, and draws cute things, right?”
“Yes, I know which scene you’re referring to.”
“How about having him retrieve a bunch of drinks from a vending machine? It would be odd to just produce the energy drink for the kids, so he pulls out several items, but among them is the energy drink.”
“Huh?”
Writer Lee Geum-sook and PD Choi Hee-won both reacted simultaneously. It seemed Kim I-seo hadn’t thought of that either.
Writer Lee Geum-sook clicked her tongue.
“If we mix it with other drinks, it doesn’t feel like a forced advertisement, it’s quick, and it’s very natural.”
“Yes, the most important thing is that it’s subtle and flows well.”
“I agree too. This scene won’t be hard for Sua to act out either.”
Subsequently, PD Choi Hee-won and Kim I-seo gave their full support. Thus, the inclusion of the energy drink via product placement became a near fait accompli.
Then, at that moment.
Writer Lee Geum-sook spoke up again.
“Uh, but, Miss Sua.”
She cautiously glanced at Sua.
“Do kids like it…?”
“Yes.”
Sua nodded without hesitation. She simply adored the adorable charm that children possessed.
‘Is she worried they might misbehave?’
To Sua, this was a mere overreaction.
‘I seem to have good rapport with children, don’t I?’
After all, she had never encountered a child who disobeyed her instructions. Clearly, there was no such thing as a bad child.
“Ah… If that’s the case, then it’s reassuring, but…”
While the rest of the team nodded, their underlying thoughts were quite the opposite.
‘What if the kids are too afraid of Sua?’
‘Uh… Will this be alright for the children?’
‘It might be hard to convince the parents.’
They were genuinely concerned about the children.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It was time to check in on ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow.’
After seeing off PD Choi Hee-won and Writer Lee Geum-sook, Kim I-seo stepped outside the barracks and pulled out her phone.
She was about to call the PD in charge of ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow,’ whose number she had just exchanged earlier.
Tu— Tu—
The dial tone started ringing.
Just then, at the moment she awaited the recipient’s response,
“There’s no need to call the production team.”
Someone’s unexpected voice interrupted.
Kim I-seo couldn’t help but hesitate as her phone had caught all her attention. She recognized the familiar voice too well.
And when she turned around, she couldn’t help but be stunned.
“Ah? Director Ko Tae-min?”
The person standing there was none other than Director Ko Tae-min.
He looked exactly as Kim I-seo remembered. His alarmingly thin build and deeply sunken eyes made him resemble an old tree that had sold its soul for the sake of art.
“Ah, you recognized me quickly. Thank you.”
“It’s impossible not to recognize you given who you are.”
“Anyway, my friend won’t answer your call. I’ve instructed him not to. I’ve decided to visit personally, so there’s no need to contact him.”
Kim I-seo first pocketed her phone.
“If it’s something Director Ko personally wants to handle…”
“Actually, I came here today because of Miss Park Do-hee. She expressed a strong desire to be a part of my work, and I appreciated her passion. I wanted to observe her development closely.”
“Park Do-hee’s performance was absolutely remarkable.”
Kim I-seo recalled Park Do-hee’s soul-drenched performance, filled with waste…
No, a performance filled with soul. What incredible courage must she have possessed to deliver that in front of the camera?
…But I didn’t want to assign that kind of acting to the Mystic actors, though impressive—it was just a bit… Anyway.
“If you have something for Park Do-hee, why come to me? I don’t have much of a connection with her.”
“I’ve already visited Miss Do-hee. I told her I was impressed by her remarkable growth and encouraged her to keep working hard. But…”
Director Ko Tae-min smiled slyly.
“…After coming to the set, my mind changed. Now, I’d like to have a different conversation with Miss Mystic’s representative, something I didn’t discuss with her team.”
Here, Kim I-seo’s business intuition kicked in.
That innate sense of hers.
Ah, this might head into business-related territory. And given that it’s a matter involving a legend like Ko Tae-min, it’s bound to be something big.
Director Ko Tae-min continued speaking.
“Miss Sua has amazed me in several ways.”
“I feel the same way. She’s so unpredictable.”
Kim I-seo spoke sincerely.
Miss Sua, now part of Mystic, was still surprising everyone. There was a point where she kept surprising everyone, making people re-think what they thought they knew. And just when one got used to her surprises, she threw something totally unexpected.
Director Ko Tae-min continued.
“The incident with the sound team… I noticed that you seemed to know a bit about audio. Your command of basic English seems solid as well.”
“That’s right.”
“I sensed that Miss Kim has sharpened her skills. Going overseas just to capture that kind of ecosystem disruptor—what should I even say?”
“Overseas… ecosystem disruptor…”
Kim I-seo paused to think.
What to think?
‘In truth, I don’t know anything about Sua’s past.’
But then she shook her head.
‘No, judging by the circumstances alone, it’s clear she’s had overseas experience. And Ko Tae-min is an opportunity too good to miss. Now’s not the time to fuss over trivial details.’
Kim I-seo’s brain quickly made a decision.
This wasn’t the time to meticulously explain everything about Sua. It was time to ride on Ko Tae-min’s interest, and to drive the business forward—massively forward.
Kim I-seo gave a slight nod.
“First of all, thank you for complimenting our actor. Shall we expect a proposal from you?”
“I like that. It’s about time we delve into the main discussion.”
Director Ko Tae-min then extended his phone.
The phone displayed a calendar app.
“Have Mystic pick a date.”
“Date?”
“Yes. This is, after all, the Special Mobile Unit 808 production site. If we’re to discuss other matters, we need a proper date and setting, don’t we?”
“You mean, you’d like to set up a meeting?”
Ko Tae-min nodded, and Kim I-seo swallowed hard.
‘A meeting with a legendary director.’
Looking at the empty calendar, she was even more surprised.
‘What? It’s completely free?’
Every space on the calendar was wide open.
It was impossible for a renowned director like Ko Tae-min to have such a flexible schedule. Just by looking at her own schedule or that of the actors from Mystic, one could see how packed it usually was.
This led to a clear implication.
‘Is Director Ko adjusting his schedule for us?’
Kim I-seo couldn’t help but think it was insane.
But this was nothing short of a windfall. Something not to miss, and they shouldn’t keep such an accommodating Director Ko waiting too long either. Hence, she picked the earliest possible date.
“There’s no need to wait long. How about meeting three days from now?”
“Three days, sounds good.”
Ko Tae-min nodded.
“In the next three days, have Mystic check this.”
“What exactly?”
In response, Ko Tae-min handed over an envelope.
It was a brown envelope with the magic marker title “Crescendo From Tomorrow” written on it. It naturally contained the script.
“…!”
Kim I-seo had to struggle to conceal her astonishment.
Essentially, it was a direct casting proposal from the director.
◈◈◈◈◈
The next day.
At the tvS broadcasting station drama meeting room, the director was alone, checking various things on a tablet.
Currently, his expression was far from favorable.
