Chapter 94: Japan (2)
From the morning of Wednesday the 14th, online and offline alike were filled with talk of 'Produce That 100!' To be specific, it was about the small concert of 'Produce That 100!' that concluded yesterday.
“How was Rojun in real life?? Freaking insane, right?!”
“No- ha, saying he was freaking insane isn’t enough. The other guys were all better than on broadcast too, you know? But Rojun, that guy’s just god-tier??? His visuals are crazy.”
“Ah!! Seriously! If it wasn’t for work, I would’ve gone no matter what!”
“For a mini concert, there was honestly a lot to see. Oh right! Rojun playing guitar was super cool.”
“Huh?? Guitar? He played guitar too??!”
“Yeah, it melted my ears.”
The audience reviews from those who had attended the small concert were endlessly being uploaded, and there was plenty of juicy content in them for reporters to salivate over.
《Reviews pouring in from ‘Produce That 100!’ mini concert, fans say ‘Rojun plays guitar too?!’》
《From new theme songs to participants' duet performances, ‘Produce That 100!’ mini concert was full of things to see》 Just as the media and communities were buzzing, unexpected news suddenly dropped.
《[Star Photo] ‘Produce That 100!’ participants appear in real-time at Gimpo Airport / Photos》
It was that ten participants including Kang Rojun had appeared at the airport right after yesterday’s concert.
《Sudden appearance of ten ‘Produce That 100!’ survivors causes chaos at the airport》
《Huge crowds gather around Rojun, Si-hoo and others from ‘Produce That 100!’ / Photos》
The quickest were the general public who spotted the 'Produce That 100!' participants at Gimpo Airport. They immediately shared the photos they snapped on SNS.
-[Insane insane!!! The ‘Produce That 100!’ guys are at Gimpo Airport right now!!! Total chaos ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Thanks to the large number of people who shared photos and videos, not just a few, reporters who weren’t on the scene were ecstatic.
It didn’t take long to find out why Rojun and the participants had shown up at the airport. The 'Produce That 100!' team had previously announced that they would hold concerts both domestically and in Japan.
《Right after wrapping up the domestic mini concert, to the airport? ‘Produce That 100!’ participants about to depart for Japan! / Photos》
In other words, they were going to Japan.
Though it was a bit sudden. The schedule was tight, but for PD Woo Han-suk, it had been an unavoidable decision. Along with the 'Produce That 100!' schedule, filming and editing were also on a very tight timeline.
Regardless, the news that the 'Produce That 100!' team was heading to Japan without prior notice became an issue.
《News of ‘Produce That 100!’ departure to Japan causes stir in Japanese communities / Photos》
It spread quickly to Japan as well. Starting with SNS, it swept across all kinds of communities. The upcoming small concert in Japan had already been promoted in advance. However, since there had been no specific mention of when the 'Produce That 100!' team would leave for Japan, the real-time news had Japanese fans buzzing with movement.
By this time, Kang Rojun was thinking.
‘Do celebrities always go through this whenever they leave the country?? Wow- it’s intense.’
He had just barely made it through the crowd and finished the departure inspection. It was the same for the other participants. Naturally, the airport staff also recognized Rojun and the others, whispering busily. Somehow, the 'Produce That 100!' team boarded the plane, and seated by the window, Rojun tried to steady his breath.
‘How long’s it been since I’ve been on a plane.’
His heart was pounding. The last time he had been on a plane was when he was a child. As Kang Rojun faintly recalled the family trip to Jeju Island with his parents.
“Hyung.”
It was 71Jung-woo, with a puppy-like face, who spoke from the seat to his right.
“Have you flown before?”
“Yeah, I’ve flown. Is this your first time?”
“Yeah, first time. I’m totally nervous right now.”
“It’s no big deal. But the sky is kinda amazing.”
“There are tons of clouds, right?”
“Wanna sit here instead?”
“...Nah. I’ve got acrophobia, so that’s a bit, if I sit there I might throw up.”
“Please don’t.”
At that moment, the female flight attendants, who had been smiling at Rojun and the other participants.
-swish.
Started their announcements, and not long after, accompanied by 71Jung-woo’s fuss.
“Holy shit!! We’re taking off! Hyung, the plane’s taking off.”
The flight bound for Japan took off.
Several tens of minutes later.
Aboard the plane flying in the sky, the 'Produce That 100!' team was passing the time each in their own way, and they were scheduled to arrive at Haneda Airport in Japan in about forty minutes. Just as Kang Rojun was gazing out at the clouds filling the window.
“Jung-woo.”
Whether he had just woken up or not, PD Woo Han-suk, with his hair messy, approached and made a request to 71Jung-woo.
“Could you switch seats for a moment? I have something to talk about with Rojun.”
71Jung-woo, who had been struggling with motion sickness, nodded with difficulty.
"......Yes, yes."
As soon as the seats were swapped, PD Woo Han-suk took off his glasses and pressed firmly between his eyes. Then, turning his head toward Kang Rojun.
“You got the call from PD Jung too, right?”
In a low whisper, PD Woo Han-suk asked, and Kang Rojun responded.
“Yes, yesterday afternoon.”
“Right. So with that situation, once we arrive in Japan, Tom Cavill, the executive director, is definitely going to bring it up during the schedule.”
The topic PD Woo Han-suk had brought up was about Writer Rojun.
Specifically, it was regarding 'Like a Kaleidoscope', one of the scripts written by Kang Rojun. PD Jung Soo-ryeong had strategically planted word of it with Netflix Japan in advance. Naturally, Kang Rojun had been informed. PD Jung Soo-ryeong had given him advice like, “I’ve laid the groundwork, and given the situation, you’re the top dog here, so go in with confidence. Yeah, go in with the air of ‘I’m being generous'. That vibe’s perfect.”
In addition.
'Since it's Netflix Japan that wants it, she also told me to properly raise my value.'
Still, it didn’t feel real to Rojun.
'‘Rental Lover’ hasn’t even aired yet. I never imagined Netflix Japan would be interested in another one of my scripts.'
Sure, they must have read the 'Rental Lover' script, but to get a reaction this quickly was surprising. That said, Kang Rojun was feeling a bit overwhelmed.
'How does one even do a meeting or negotiate value??'
The only meeting he had experienced as Writer Rojun had been with PD Jung Soo-ryeong. He’d never been to one of those heavy, serious meetings, nor even imagined them. He wasn’t exactly scared, but feeling anxious was a natural reaction.
Noticing this, PD Woo Han-suk gave a small smile.
"Suddenly there's meetings and contracts and whatnot- you don't know what's what, right?"
“...Honestly, yeah. It’s kind of difficult. I don’t have any experience.”
“Of course. If writing were your main profession, you could study up and ask around yourself, but you’ve got a different main job. Plus a bunch of side jobs. Mm- this time, since PD Jung asked me too and I’m a bit concerned, how about I come with you to the meeting?”
“With you, PD-nim?”
“Yeah. Why? You don’t want me to?”
“No, please. I’m begging you.”
PD Woo Han-suk, no less than PD Jung Soo-ryeong, was a veteran and strategist. He’d actually worked with her on planning both 'Produce That 100!' and 'Rental Lover'. If he was coming along.
'That’s like having ten thousand allies.'
PD Woo Han-suk scratched his chin lightly and continued speaking.
“Well, I’m not a broadcast writer or drama writer myself, so screenwriting isn’t really my area of expertise. But when it comes to pre-contract meetings, it’s all pretty similar, so I can at least help with sowing the seeds.”
“Thank you, really.”
“What’s with the thanks. You’ve done way more for ‘Produce That 100!’ than we’ve done for you. Even doing a few things like this isn’t enough. Anyway, this meeting with Netflix Japan probably won’t be for a formal contract. It’ll likely just be to build things up.”
“Build up?”
“Basically, let’s say you’re the one with the upper hand right now, Rojun. We’ll bluff a bit with Netflix Japan, hint that your value’s high, maybe even pass along the script.”
“Ahh.”
“If Tom Cavill, the executive director, likes the script, things will go smoothly. They’ll start panicking like, ‘What if a domestic production company snatches it up first?’ and ‘Writer Rojun’s’ value will keep rising. Then the formal contract can come after that.”
What did I just hear? It sounds huge, but PD Woo Han-suk says it so casually. Truly the presence of someone with over ten years of experience as a PD. Soon, PD Woo Han-suk added an explanation.
“When it’s time for the formal contract, Rojun won’t even need to go to Japan. Netflix Japan will come to Korea. Of course, the value negotiations need to be settled before that.”
“I kind of expected it, but it’s complicated.”
“You brought the script, right?”
“Yes.”
Kang Rojun pointed at the backpack placed by his feet. Inside were the first and second episodes of the script for 'Like a Kaleidoscope', already translated into Japanese. PD Woo Han-suk, nodding, scratched his chin and changed the topic.
“I think you should join separate agencies for your main career as an idol and your side job as a writer. For now, PD Jung Soo-ryeong and I are around, so we can manage somehow, but once you start soaring as an idol, there’s no way you’ll be able to handle it all alone.”
“Is it possible to sign with different agencies separately?”
“Of course. An idol agency for your idol work, and a different agency for your writing. Naturally, there are no idols who are also writers, but there are similar cases. Down the road, the agency you’re with as an idol might manage your writing career too, but since it’s not their area of expertise, it could end up being slapdash. Separating your idol and writer identities clearly is the only way to properly secure your value.”
This was the first time Rojun had heard about the structure of the industry, and it sparked a lot of curiosity.
“Are there many agencies that specialize in writers?”
“There are quite a few. Some deal exclusively with writers, some include star writers and major directors, and some combine content production with management. There are plenty if you look. Especially management agencies with big-name writers and directors, they carry a lot of weight. Just mentioning the names brings recognition. Off the top of my head, some of the behemoth-level agencies are ‘Culture Drawer', ‘m&d Pictures', and the like. Those are the best, but since you’re still a rookie writer, it’d be tough to get in now. But after building up experience, you might start getting offers.”
“Oh-”
“Anyway, think about the agencies you'll join for both your main and side jobs. Especially since you might work on overseas projects too, like this Netflix Japan thing. You’re good at Japanese and English too.”
“That’s true.”
“So even if it’s sometime down the line, you might find yourself flying back and forth for meetings in Japan or even the US. How could you manage that all on your own? Whether you’re an idol or a writer, handling all the miscellaneous stuff is what those agencies are for, that’s their job.”
Rojun was feeling overwhelmed. But he decided to think of it simply.
'Separate management for idol and writer. For now, I’ll settle on that. I’ll look into the details when I have time.'
At the same time, PD Woo Han-suk crossed his arms and lifted the corners of his mouth.
“But- I don't know about the major ones, but mid-sized writer management companies might already have you in their sights.”
He pointed his index finger at the super handsome Rojun.
“There’s no way a writer with a face like that exists.”
At the same time, in Korea.
In a large Korean restaurant in the Samseong-dong area of Seoul. A place that looked like a traditional tiled house with even a small garden. Inside a private room of the obviously expensive restaurant, a familiar woman with long straight hair was seen. It was the S-Class top actress Choi Rina, with a beauty mark beside her prominent nose.
Sitting across from her, with her long hair tied in a single ponytail.
“Rina, you’ve gotten even prettier.”
Was a middle-aged woman who appeared to be in her fifties. With a short bob that covered her ears and round glasses, her appearance was modest, but the force in her gaze was strong. Choi Rina smiled softly and responded to the woman.
“Oh come on, your skin is glowing, Writer-nim! You look way younger.”
“Still the same old Choi Rina-style flattery.”
“No way- how can it be flattery when I have the one and only star writer Han Seo-ryeong in front of me!”
“You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
“Why would I risk getting kicked out of this industry by teasing Writer-nim??”
“So you are teasing me.”
The two seemed quite close. Despite the friendly banter, the middle-aged woman remained calm and exuded a powerful aura.
It was no surprise.
The woman sitting across from Choi Rina was none other than the ultra-big-name Writer Han Seo-ryeong, the star writer of star writers in Korea. She’d written hit after hit in both dramas and films. She was also the first Korean writer to sell rights overseas and succeed.
As such, her script fees per episode easily ran into the hundreds of millions of won.
Recently, she had also been expanding her reach into production.
That very same writer Han Seo-ryeong spoke up with a subtle smile.
“You saw the article, right? That I’m starting a new project.”
“Of course I saw it. You’re going with KBC, right?”
“That’s right. PD Park begged me for days, saying it’d be his last time directing. Anyway, I’m deep into writing the script right now, and for the female lead, you came to mind right away. I also saw the recent news about you and ‘Rental Lover'. Do you have anything lined up after that ends?”
“No?? Aside from the schedule that might get set around the airing of ‘Rental Lover', I’ve basically got a gap.”
“Then start warming up and wait for my script. I’ll send it to you when the first episode’s ready.”
“Wow- our CEO-nim’s going to be dancing for joy. He’s been going on and on about how he need to have a meal with Writer Han-nim.”
“Mm, is CEO Kim doing well?”
“Very much so.”
Lifting her teacup, Writer Han Seo-ryeong suddenly shifted the topic.
“Speaking of ‘Rental Lover', that ‘Writer Rojun’ kid. What do you think of him?”
Choi Rina’s eyes instantly widened like a goldfish.
“Writer Rojun-nim? All of a sudden? What do you mean, exactly-”
“Just in general. There’s been such a fuss lately, I looked into him a bit myself, and he’s quite unusual.”
For some reason, Choi Rina’s cheeks turned a little red, and she laughed awkwardly.
“H-he is unusual.”
“Even our management CEO Heo seems to have his eye on him.”
“CEO Heo??”
Startled, Choi Rina glanced at Writer Han Seo-ryeong’s mysterious smile and screamed inside.
‘If it’s the management agency where Writer-nim is… that’s ‘Culture Drawer’, right??!’
'Culture Drawer' was a massive agency specializing in writer management.