Chapter 92:

Chapter 92:

Chapter 92

Slump.

There is a rule that every worker knows.

Its not Murphys law, nor the law of resistance.

Its the 3.6.9 rule.

It means that every three months, six months, or nine years, you feel the urge to quit your job because of the repetitive work and the complicated interpersonal relationships.

The same goes for writers.

-You have to be careful when things are going well, because a slump can sneak up on you and tie up your brain. You guys wouldnt understand what Im talking about. You cant even think of a simple sentence. Its like your mind is a blank sheet of paper. How quickly you overcome it is the crossroads between becoming a true master or not.

I didnt understand the words of the king writer in the past.

Of course, I was his assistant writer number one, working hard under him.

Like clearing a mission in a game, I wrote several pages of script a day based on the scenario he gave me.

Back then, I enjoyed writing even on weekends. Sometimes, when an actor on the screen read the lines I wrote, I felt a thrill running through my body as if I had received a testimony. But.

Ugh.

How did this happen? Writer Choi Eun-sook screamed, clutching her hair.

In fact, everyone thought that Choi Eun-sook had taken a sabbatical because she was full.

And why not? She had hit five consecutive home runs. Starting with her debut work, she had set five consecutive drama hit records.

Everything she wrote was a hit, and she was even called a ratings maker in the broadcasting industry.

But she was clearly in a slump, struggling. It was as if someone had turned off the switch, and everything was dark in front of her eyes.

And now, even reading the text was uncomfortable, as if she had a sore throat.

This was a big problem.

Get a grip, Choi Eun-sook!

Choi Eun-sook recalled the conversation she had with a famous PD a few days ago.

-Impossible.

-No, why are you cutting me off so quickly, writer Choi? Since when did you become so stubborn? I was a huge fan of Choi Kang-gondu. This is definitely possible, tell me again. How much did I love the works of writer Choi Kang-gondu

-Ah, stop it! Stop teasing me with my pen name. I used that when I was a college student with a lot of sensitivity. Back then, Hitele was popular, you know. And no matter how young I was when I wrote that work, its still my baby. You want me to put my baby in there, when MBS is treating the historical drama like an ugly duckling? Even the cat that steals rice from the cafeteria knows that. Which mother would push her child to the edge?

Well, it was a rough draft that I wrote in college, but it was still a trace that she left. Drama writers often say that they give birth every time they write a work.

Its because they spend more time with the characters in the script than the director or the main actors. She didnt want to entrust her child to someone who ignored it. And the casting was not even decided yet.

-Will Young-guk star in it?

-Undecided, but we still need some leverage to negotiate. First of all, the first thing is the script written by writer Choi, and the second thing is the appearance fee.

-Wait a minute, the script is one thing, but how are you going to handle the appearance fee? I heard that the historical drama that MBS is preparing is 40 episodes long. Do you know how much Young-guks worth is? Youre delusional if you think of him as an old child actor. Hes the hottest person in the broadcasting industry right now.

-Lets split it in half.

-What are you talking about?

-Lets make it 20 episodes instead of 40. Writer Chois original novel was a short story anyway. Theres no point in stretching it with trivial stories. It will only tarnish the original. And if we divide the production cost that was originally planned for 40 episodes into 20 episodes, we can increase the quality of each episode. Ill do whatever I can to get Young-guks appearance fee.

Thats nonsense.

Do you know how the broadcasting station arranges the lineup by drawing lots?

The most important thing in the pre-production stage is the drama episode scheduling.

Its not something that you can flip over like a pancake. And the appearance fee issue is something that the upper management of the broadcasting station is very careful about. Once you decide, you cant go back. Thats why.

-What if it doesnt work?

-Ill resign or something.

-What?!

I finally succumbed to Yoo Myung-hans pressure.

Choi Eun-sook joined his dream team like a snake over the wall. But she had no regrets. Her dried-up creative desire sprang up again.

She clenched her fist as she looked at the novel Yeonsan, The Kings Secret that she had written ten years ago.

My baby, mommy will write you well. Trust me, okay?

If we want to get Jang Young-guk, we have to treat him at least as well as SBC does.

Its a gamble, really. I dont know about regular dramas, but this is a historical drama. Its risky enough to cast Jang Young-guk, who has no experience in historical dramas, as the lead actor, let alone pay him a huge amount of money. On top of that, we have to reduce the number of episodes. The production cost is already set for 40 episodes. Its nothing short of a gamble.

Damn, that kid always messes with peoples minds.

But I cant get the last shout of Yoo Myung-han out of my ears. Hes someone Ive been watching since he was an FD under me. If I had to pick the best PD in MBS drama department, I would choose Yoo Myung-han without hesitation.

Thats when Kim Won-seok snuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray and got up from his seat. He stormed out of the directors office, heading straight for the presidents office of MBS Broadcasting.

What the hell.

President Kim, come out!

He was about to retire anyway. Why should he be afraid of the president?

***

My ears are itching. Did I get water in them while showering? Or did someone talk about me behind my back?

As I jump and shake my head to get the water out of my eustachian tubes, I catch a glimpse of the novel Yeonsan, The Kings Secret on my desk.

Ill think about it when the script comes out.

I still havent given a definite answer to the famous PD.

Its understandable, since liking the novel doesnt guarantee that Ill like the script. Besides, what does it matter when I dont even know who the author is?

Its clear that the pen name Choi Kang-Gondu is a woman, though. Thats when it happened.

Young-guk!

My uncle suddenly opens the door. I had just finished showering, so I was only wearing underwear.

I quickly wrap a towel around my body, and my uncle touches his nose and explains.

"I'm the one who saw your naked body when my uncle surprised me that my wife showed a little bit of upper body. By the way, I read the news every morning, but I think my chest is getting wider. What if this happens, and later on, the movie will come out with an upper body?"

"Oh, uncle! I told you to knock."

"What kind of knock do you have between guests, by the way, your girlfriend is here now. Girlfriend!"

A girlfriend? What does that mean?

I quickly fixed my wet and tangled hair and threw on a coat before rushing downstairs. There, I saw my grandfather and a girl chatting warmly.

The girl had brought a basket of fruits in both hands.

My mother always says that I should bring something heavy when I visit elders.

Oh, you dont have to do that. Thank you. By the way, you look even prettier up close than when I saw you at the play. Our Young-guk will like you for sure.

My grandfather is quite a handsome man. To be honest, he looks more like a movie star than Ahn Joong-hyun, my senior. When I first saw him, I thought it was Clint Eastwood walking towards me.

You rascal, stop joking.

My grandfather looks secretly pleased. As soon as I show up, he gives me a mysterious smile and pokes my side before making room for me. I nervously swallow and greet the unexpected guest.

Yeon-soo, what are you doing here on the weekend?

Oppa, did I come to a forbidden place or something? I came here to study with my senior from school. By the way, where is the star documentary filming crew?

They left a few days ago after finishing the shooting.

What? Its already over?

Yeon-soo seems disappointed. I dont know what she is regretting. Maybe she came here to sneak into the star documentary.

But how did you know about the shooting? And whats with that fruit basket, and what do you mean by studying?

Oppa, the news of your star documentary shooting was already buzzing in the fan club. Didnt you know? Im a member of your fan club too. And of course I have to study. Youre taking the college entrance exam in the fall, right? I have to help you create a study atmosphere. You must be busy with the movie these days. Remember, the last few months of your senior year will determine your future.

Yeon-soo says something that sounds like a lecture from a college admission counselor with a serious expression. My uncle looks at her with a touched expression, as if he were my father. He even makes a fist and gestures for me to fight, as if he were watching his sons first love. Sigh.

Since when did you get interested in studying?

Why are you like this, Ive been good at studying since middle school. I was the one who studied from the set with a workbook to get into Sehwa High School. If you really really want to know why, I have a new goal now.

Goal?

Yeah, I want to go to Korea University.

I almost coughed. It was the top university in Korea, the pinnacle of college admission. I had no idea Yeon-soo was so ambitious even in her academic zeal. I asked her why she wanted to go to Korea University.

Oppa, arent you going to Korea University?

She answers as if its obvious.