Chapter 90

In recent days, the entire MBS documentary production department has been abuzz.

Not only Max, the music director, and writer Jin-woo Kim, but even Jeong, the head of Tempest Entertainment, known as the real power behind the scenes.

Even if just one of the three were to be featured, it would be a topic of conversation for quite a while.

Most importantly, there was a split in opinion on whether the real 'that' Jeong Saerom would actually appear on the show.

After all, Jeong Saerom, the head of Tempest Entertainment, was a well-known figure in the industry.

With a beauty like that of an actress and a talent who, together with writer Jin-woo Kim, has achieved a string of successes.

When the request for an appearance on "120 Minutes Debate" came a while ago.

Saerom had firmly stated that there would be no appearance on any show.

“Ha ha. Fortune has come rolling in.”

“Director, this kind of opportunity won’t come again!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! This could be a historic moment for MBS documentaries!”

“Maybe even the ratings will…?”

“If it’s a two-part series… I predict 10 percent!”

“Ha ha.”

Of course, it won’t be easy, but just imagining it makes me feel good.

This is all thanks to writer Jin-woo Kim, but PD Gil’s contribution was also significant.

“Jang, I really need to give you a raise. I’ll talk to the head of the department.”

“Really!?”

“… As long as you complete the collaboration shoot with PD Do well.”

“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

“Only a week left, so take good care of the script and the guests.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Alright. Go on.”

PD Gil left the director’s office as if using a light step and started preparing for the broadcast with PD Do.

“Hyeji, let’s aim for a 10 percent rating with this opportunity!”

“Let’s do it!”

* * *

For the past week, I’ve been unusually busy.

Even after the initial translation by the experts hired by Tempest, there were multiple rounds of translation work.

“Writer, is this good enough?”

“Yes, thank you.”

With the help of Head Jeong, we produced a satisfactory result.

The foreign director sent by Disney could read the script comfortably.

Saerom said with a worried tone,

“I don’t know if Director Max will be satisfied.”

“We need to meet and talk to him well.”

“… Do I really have to go?”

“…”

It’s not absolutely necessary, but…

“Because you’re the kind of person who won’t regret it even if it fails.”

“Yes?”

“To feel like you’ve done your best.”

“…”

But it’s my first movie.

“Sigh… Yes.”

“If you’re worried about appearing on TV….”

“… Now?”

“Yeah, right. Ha ha.”

Head Jeong said with a tone of resignation.

I feel a bit sorry, but…

“… Is it already tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“First, let’s clean up the synopsis to show to Director Max.”

“Yes, Head.”

I bowed and left the office, heading back to the studio.

Ring, ring, ring—

I called PD Gil.

- Hello? Writer?

“Yes. PD, tomorrow… You remember, right?”

- Yes?

“I said I would arrive five hours before the shooting time.”

- Oh, right. Of course! You can come in with the staff preparing for the shoot.

“Thank you. See you tomorrow.”

- Yes, I understand!

Click.

Then, I edited the synopsis with Hyoju in the studio.

Hyoju, who is secretly a genius, was checking the English and telling me.

“Bro, this is perfect.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If I were the director, I’d fall for you.”

“… I’m glad you’re not the director.”

“Huh!? What a cheeky response.”

Shaking my head, I suddenly thought of a question.

“Are you not stalking Team Leader Byun these days?”

“Hey, when did I ever stalk him…!”

“Just asking.”

“I’m actually busier these days? I’m shooting a one-act play.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes! I couldn’t even reply to a text yesterday, and it took me 48 minutes!”

“… Why did you even count that?”

It seems it’s still not the right time.

You still have a long way to go.

The next day.

I moved to Jongno, Seoul, early in the morning.

The workplace of the king.

Gyeongbokgung’s Gyeongjeongjeon, a symbol of the Joseon Dynasty.

Until now, I could only peek inside from the outside.

But now, ordinary citizens can visit the interior by making a reservation.

The ceiling of the palace was adorned with carvings of golden dragons symbolizing the king.

Behind the throne, a painting of the sun, moon, mountains, and pine trees, the Ilwolobongdo, was hung.

‘Found it.’

The light of the system.

I was worried it might ask me to sit and write a script, but fortunately, the light lingered where the ministers were presumed to stand.

“Writer, we need time to record the narration here….”

“PD Gil.”

“Yes?”

“I need to write the script here.”

“???”

“Composers sometimes get inspiration, right?”

“…”

“That’s how it is for me right now.”

Even though I had already explained it thoroughly.

As expected, PD Gil was quite taken aback.

“R, really write it here?”

“Yes.”

Of course, I had already obtained permission from the Gyeongbokgung management.

The staff were already bustling around inside and outside Gyeongjeongjeon.

“… If you finish within the agreed time, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Yes.”

“Yes. I’ll let you know.”

PD Gil left Gyeongjeongjeon to give instructions to the other staff.

“Sigh… Not easy.”

I need to finish as quickly as possible.

I immediately opened my laptop and sat down, accepting the light into my mind.

* * *

Max, the music director, received an unusual request from a company employee.

“Why of all people, the writer and a production company employee at the same time?”

“Yes. Today’s shooting concept involves two Koreans and the director touring Gyeongbokgung together.”

“Is it really a coincidence?”

“Yes. I received a request from a different PD on a different day.”

“Interesting.”

A project he had cut before even reading the script.

The one-line logline for the movie, which was probably:

“A quantum physics magical girl hunts dinosaurs pouring out of the worst dungeon with a rideable robot, a blockbuster movie.”

“… You remember that?”

“It’s hard to forget.”

Just one line was enough to make him lose his mind.

He had forgotten who wrote the script.

‘Disney Play is really taking on a huge challenge.’

But he couldn’t afford to fall out with Disney Play.

He politely declined with a promise to work on the next project.

Thud, thud—

As soon as they entered Gyeongbokgung with the employee, PD Do Hyeji ran up and greeted them politely.

“Hello, Director!”

“Nice to see you. Your English is fluent?”

“Thank you! That’s why I managed to get Director Max, hehe.”

True to her reputation as an MBS PD who joined with excellent grades, she showed off her polished speaking skills.

“Director, you came so early?”

“Ah, I came for a tour originally.”

“Hehe, yes! I’ll contact you when the time is right.”

Max bowed and asked Hyeji, who was moving away.

“By the way, when will the people I’m supposed to shoot with today arrive?”

“Yes? Ah, Writer Jin-woo Kim and Head Jeong Saerom.”

“Yes. I’d like to greet them before the broadcast.”

“Hmm, the production company employee will arrive on time, but the writer….”

“???”

Max was then led to Gyeongjeongjeon by PD Do.

“He’s been writing a script there since earlier.”

“A script?”

“Yes. I heard his next work is related to Korean history….”

“Ha ha.”

“Should I go and give him a hint…?”

“No, no! Don’t do that. We can’t disturb him.”

As someone in the same industry who makes art their profession.

He had no intention of disturbing someone so engrossed.

“Next work….”

Max looked at Jin-woo with interest.

‘That blockbuster movie isn’t related to Korean history, is it?’

Does it mean the script is already perfect enough to let go?

I heard the production cost was about 1.4 trillion won.

The logline of the movie, which he had dismissed immediately upon hearing, came back to his mind.

“Is this person in charge of adapting that movie?”

“Yes, that’s what I heard.”

Max smiled slightly at the employee’s answer.

“Interesting.”

* * *

Tap, tap—

When I had completed and revised the script to a certain extent.

I slowly read through it from the beginning again.

“Describing the placement of ministers in such detail is tough.”

Thanks to that, there were quite a few typos, but it’s good enough for now.

─────────────

In the heavy silence of Gyeongjeongjeon.

Numerous ministers, dressed in official attire, paid their respects to the king.

‘Man, I’m so nervous I might die.’

Kim In-su nervously followed the etiquette of the others.

‘Ugh, the clothes are uncomfortable, and the shoes are terrible….’

To Kim In-su, Joseon was nothing but a series of inconveniences.

The food didn’t suit his taste, the clothing was cumbersome, and the toilet was a nightmare.

Most importantly,

‘One wrong move and I lose my head.’

This is not the Republic of Korea but Joseon.

And in the royal court of Joseon, a slip of the tongue could lead to treason.

The only fortunate thing was that he could understand the language.

Strangely, he had completely absorbed the memory of ‘Kim Sung-il’ in this regard.

Only the language, nothing else.

It would be erased when he returned to Korea.

Then,

The royal conference finally began.

King Seonjo, seated on the throne, slowly