NOVEL NEXT Episode 19
When does drama production truly begin to materialize?
Is it when casting is complete?
When investment is finalized?
When the proposal is finished?
Perhaps.
It might be when the production team and actors all gather in one place, face each other, and confirm their shared goal—the first button to press as pre-production ends and production begins.
That is…
The script reading session, like today.
PD Kim Jong-su stood up and began to speak.
“The genius, Writer Kyukyu, who gave birth to our
He nodded toward Ji-won, and everyone’s eyes turned to him.
“Ahem, um, I’ll read it.”
Ji-won held up his phone and began to read as if from a script.
“First, I’d like to express my gratitude to the production team and actors who have looked favorably upon my inadequate debut work and gathered here today.”
The following content was displayed on his phone screen:
『 Today’s Simple Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Ingredients · Main ingredients: 100g chunk chocolate chips, 80g brown sugar, 110g butter (at room temperature), 20g cocoa powder, 150g cake flour, 2g baking powder, 1 egg (50g)…. 』
“I apologize for not being able to reveal myself due to circumstances. Ham In-ju began in my small, old room.”
Ji-won’s voice softly echoed through the room.
“Thinking that Ham In-ju has grown to be placed before you as a script makes me feel that I should work even harder from now on.”
Ji-won scrolled down and continued speaking.
“I look forward to the day when personal issues are resolved, and I can reveal myself to you all.”
Ji-won finished speaking and bowed deeply.
“I will greet you properly then. Once again, thank you sincerely.”
The veiled Writer Kyukyu.
As her first public message was revealed, soft applause filled the room.
The actors cast curious glances at Ji-won, the reader.
“By the way, who’s that guy reading?”
“You know, they say he’s the one who cast Han Se-gyu.”
“I heard he’s only been in the industry for four years.”
“There was an article about it. Weren’t there rumors about them being like sworn brothers?”
Shortly after, the script reading began in earnest. As the somewhat stiff initial part passed, the rhythm fell into place, and the atmosphere on set gradually heightened.
PD Kim Jong-su read the stage directions.
“Scene eleven, Daon Hospital emergency room, night.”
Actor Han Se-gyu focused on his lines.
“Get out of my way! Can’t you see that patient is dying?”
Han Se-gyu delivered his first line. It was just a few words, but with that short line, he dispelled all doubts—every modifier that often preceded his name and the enormous investment that followed it.
The room fell eerily quiet.
Then, actor Choi Jin-hyun, who had been staring blankly, barely pulled himself together and shot back,
“If you want to go, sign here and leave. Promise you won’t even come near Gusan Hospital for the next five years.”
Actor Han Se-gyu immediately countered,
“Why are you even a doctor? You’d be better suited as a politician. Why waste precious time doing something you don’t even want to do?”
“Well said. My time is being wasted because of blockheads like you. Just sign without argument, will you?”
“Tch.”
“Have you finally lost your mind?”
Neither of them gave an inch.
Everyone in the room watched the two exchange blows, mesmerized. If one side was Han Se-gyu, the other was Choi Jin-hyun. The watching actors whispered among themselves.
“…Is Senior Han Se-gyu really acting for the first time in five years? Did he come back from some secret training?”
“There’s no sense of a gap at all. No, it feels like he’s gained even more depth.”
“Senior Choi Jin-hyun is no pushover either.”
“He’s not backing down at all against Han Se-gyu.”
“With just these two, this work could be carried, right?”
It was then, as the other supporting actors were exclaiming in admiration, that veteran actor Kim Heung-pa discreetly pointed at Lee Ji-yu.
A former girl group member who had briefly shone as a rising star before disappearing without a trace, now a second-rate rookie actress.
“Doctor, if you’re going to leave, throw dirt in my eyes before you go.”
The actors nodded at Lee Ji-yu’s focused reading.
“Was her acting always this good?”
“Right? I don’t remember it being at this level.”
“She’s wearing a tailor-made outfit, she is.”
She continued her performance.
“Do you find my words funny? Are you that great? Does my struggle look that pathetic to you, doctor?”
As Lee Ji-yu finished her reading, silent exclamations of admiration flowed through the room. PD Kim Jong-su, who had been looking at the script, raised his head to look at her.
Her acting has improved since the audition?
It was because she was starting to look less like Lee Ji-yu and more like Kim Da-yeon. PD Kim Jong-su was once again reminded of how useful Ji-won’s eye for talent was.
Grinning, PD Kim Jong-su nodded.
While it was expected from seasoned supporting actors like Han Se-gyu and Choi Jin-hyun, even Kim Da-yeon, whom he had cast with full doubts, was exceeding expectations. Tap, tap, tap. As he watched the reading while tapping his fingers on the table, Kim Jong-su felt certain: this work had a very high probability of being a big hit.
There were a few variables, of course.
Unless they suddenly got caught up in drunk driving accidents, drugs, sex scandals, or various other controversies—if such acts against God didn’t occur, there was no doubt about the success of this project.
He was confident in its success.
From now on, the important question was how big that success would be.
* * *
In the dark dawn, before the sunlight had even risen, a flash broke the silence.
PD Kim Jong-su opened his eyes wide and hurried to the shower booth in the bathroom.
-Ding-a-ling-a-ling…
Along with the sound of water, the alarm clock in the living room rang belatedly.
Shortly after, PD Kim Jong-su finished showering and took a macaron from the refrigerator, popping it into his mouth. Then he went to the closet and carefully took out a plastic-wrapped suit, treating it as if it were a cherished outfit.
A black shirt, black pants,
A black suit composed of a black jacket.
The time was 16 years ago.
He was still a struggling assistant director back then. A public broadcast drama about the drama department was airing on TV.
In the drama, the female lead asked the male lead, who was wearing a black suit, “Senior, do you always wear a black suit on the first and last day of filming? Isn’t it uncomfortable on set?”
The male lead answered, “How many times do I have to tell you that it’s the minimum ceremony and courtesy for the job I love?”
At that moment, Kim Jong-su, a rookie being scolded by his seniors every day, thought while watching that scene, …That’s so cool!
The drama department PD played by the male lead couldn’t have looked cooler.
A firm sense of professionalism and the skill to do the job he loved so well. Of course, the male lead’s outstanding appearance played a part.
That’s why Kim Jong-su made a promise: he would cherish dramas like the PD in the drama. He would treat them sincerely until the last day of doing this job. And one more thing: for his first work in the future, on the first day of filming, it had to be a black suit.
After six years as an assistant director and fourteen years after his debut, PD Kim Jong-su always wore a black suit at the beginning and end of every project he took on, ensuring he didn’t lose that initial mindset.
The black suit represented the minimum ceremony and courtesy for the job he loved.
After adjusting his clothes in front of the mirror, PD Kim Jong-su recited the signature line of that actor he admired.
“Is this your best? Are you sure?”
He was sure. Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju would be the best work of PD Kim Jong-su’s life so far.
The reflection of Kim Jong-su in the mirror grinned before he walked out the door.
* * *
The set was bustling with filming preparations from dawn. PD Kim Jong-su arrived, inhaling the familiar scent of dozens of staff members running around the set.
“You’re here, Director!”
“Ah, yes, everyone’s working hard. I’m counting on all of you.”
PD Kim Jong-su sat in the director’s chair prepared on set, receiving greetings from the staff. Ji-won approached from afar.
“Director, you’re here?”
Ji-won’s form of address had changed. When filming begins, the directing PD who takes the megaphone becomes the director. It’s one of the unique broadcast station cultures of the drama and educational departments, not found in the entertainment department. There’s also a reason to distinguish it from the title of the production PD in charge of practical affairs.
PD Kim Jong-su was smiling at Ji-won when cinematographer Kim Jung-yoon approached.
“Oh, Jong-su! You’re wearing a black suit!”
“You’ve seen it many times. Why the sudden fuss?”
“Haha, I’m counting on you, Director Kim.”
“I should be the one saying that. Brother, please pull out some killer shots!”
PD Kim Jong-su observed the actors, waiting for them to be fully prepared. They were all constantly looking at their scripts, trying to grasp their emotions. After a while, a field report came through the intercom that all preparations were complete.
PD Kim Jong-su made a final confirmation with actor Han Se-gyu.
“Senior, are you ready?”
Actor Han Se-gyu gave a warm smile.
“Yes, let’s begin, Director.”
PD Kim Jong-su’s voice echoed through the megaphone.
“Standby.”
At last, the much-anticipated first scene was about to begin—the scene where Kim Da-yeon opens the door of Daon Hospital in the mountains, looking for Ham In-ju.
“Okay, ready.”
The cinematographer, lighting director, and sound director all made OK signs with their hands. Ji-won approached the camera and clapped the slate. PD Kim Jong-su, with a rather serious expression, stared at the monitor and shouted,
“Action!”
.
.
.
“Cut. Okay!”
It was when the filming that had started at dawn reached about halfway. As soon as the OK sign was given, Ji-won hurriedly approached someone.
“Script supervisor, in the previous OK scene, when actor Lee Ji-yu opened the door with her left hand, her sleeve cuff was rolled up.”
“Oh? Was it? I almost missed that.”
This time he ran to the filming team.
“Here’s the memory card! I thought it might be almost full by now.”
“I was just about to need it; thank you.”
Next, he went to the lighting director.
“Lighting director, in the previous scene, I think the shadow was positioned about here. Would it be okay to place the light here?”
“Accurate! You have quite an understanding of light, don’t you?”
“Thank you.”
Countless elements overlap and accumulate on set. As scenes pass and takes pile up, the information becomes even more complex.
Details of filming, lighting, sound, props, etc., that arise in each scene.
Checkpoints to maintain the tone and manner of the preceding and following cuts.
All kinds of changes that occur on the spot, and so on….
As time passes, the checklist for just one episode of filming piles up to dozens of pages. Therefore, it’s theoretically ideal for everyone to check meticulously in their own position…. But it’s almost impossible on a set that’s running chaotically.
This means that mistakes inevitably occur.
But Ji-won was doing an excellent job of bridging those gaps. PD Kim Jong-su watched Ji-won running around busily. PD Lee Geon-woo stood beside him and said,
“Is Ji-won really in his fourth year?”
“Are you and I working for different companies?”
“No, it’s strange. He handles work as if he’s been on set for ten years.”
Even to PD Kim Jong-su, it was suspicious. Ji-won didn’t miss a single thing. Generally speaking, NGs that occur on set can be broadly divided into two categories:
NGs related to direction. NGs related to technical issues.
For example:
Lead 1: (Does a dance of joy)
Lead 2: Pff. (Fails to hold back laughter)
Supporting 1: I’ve never seen such terrible dancing in my life! How can I not laugh? (As if his stomach hurts)
Lead 1: Huh? Is my dancing that strange? (With a pouty expression)
Director: Hahaha, let’s do it one more time! (Laughing)
The NGs we see in making-of videos with a friendly atmosphere are all NGs that occur on the directing side.
However, don’t viewers want to see only the good things?
In reality, there’s a flip side to the coin that can’t be shown.
Director: Cut! (Throwing the storyboard) Argh! There’s wind noise in the sound!
Sound Director: (Looking at Staff 1) Shit…. Can’t you focus?
Staff 1: (Looking at Staff 2) Who is it? Why are the kids like this?
Staff 2: (Looking at Staff 3) Are you crazy? The boom mic direction is wrong!!
Staff 3: (Looking at the floor) I’m sorry! I’m sorry! (Actually, the mic direction is correct)
It would be nice if reality were like making-of videos. In fact, it’s closer to a battlefield.
Due to the chaotic nature of the set, errors and mistakes inevitably occur. Both types of NGs are unavoidable necessities on set.
Especially, technical NGs are the main cause of the set atmosphere becoming hostile. Isn’t it human nature to get irritated when unnecessary delays occur when time is already tight?
That’s why it’s industry common sense to estimate the time delayed by variables and plan the expected time and schedule for each take.
But that expected thing is not happening right now. Ji-won was preemptively covering all the technical NGs that should have occurred by now.
In other words, if technical NGs don’t occur from the technical team at this rate, it means they can reduce more than a third of the originally planned filming time.
‘Look at this kid?’
PD Kim Jong-su hid his surprise and spoke nonchalantly.
“Hmm, the kid’s not bad.”
PD Lee Geon-woo smiled.
“At this rate, we might even be able to leave work early?”
“It’s like seeing myself in my rookie days.”
PD Lee Geon-woo retorted, as if to say, what are you talking about?
“I heard the department head had a terrible time making you human during your active days….”
“Do you want to die?”
“If Jong-su hadn’t come under me, by now there wouldn’t be a metallic sound in his voice; that’s the department head’s go-to line.”
When PD Kim Jong-su glared at him, PD Lee Geon-woo retreated with a “Yes, yes,” and a laugh.
The first day of filming seemed to be progressing smoothly.
So, who would’ve thought that the problem would come from an unexpected place?