Chapter 3

All-Rounder Entertainment Life 3 (3/280)

***

“...As you all already know...”

“...How far have the wrap-ups for the completed works progressed...”

“...Summarize by team...”

In the corner of the 9th floor, Conference Room 3.

I am currently trying hard to gauge the atmosphere.

Every Monday morning,

Like any other company, we start the week with a full team meeting.

'Today's topic... is the quarter-end and new project allocation.'

JWN is a channel that specializes in broadcasting entertainment programs, including dramas, variety shows, and sports.

We, who handle all aspects of publicity, are divided into Teams 1 to 3, each consisting of four to five people, but we do not handle dramas, variety shows, and sports separately.

Each team takes on projects regardless of genre and assigns a main handler.

Of course, dramas, which are typically aired twice a week, involve the most work, so if you handle a drama, you only provide support for other programs like variety shows.

'And the method of project allocation... varies each time.'

Volunteering, recommendations, or forced allocation.

It might sound too arbitrary, but that's how company work usually goes.

“Alright, let's start with the project allocation. First, from page 17...”

Among these, the basic method is volunteering.

The idea is that taking on something you're interested in and passionate about will make you work harder...

‘But I don’t have the choice yet.’

The importance of the individual's will only holds when that individual has a say.

As a junior, I just follow what the seniors decide.

In my previous life, I think I got my first project about half a year later.

‘I need to get a promotion as soon as possible... I wonder what the team leader of Team 1 is working on this time...’

As I flip through the attached project plans.

Knock knock—someone knocks on the conference room door.

A middle-aged man with a round face peeks in through the half-open door.

“I’m sorry to interrupt the meeting. We’re in a bit of a hurry.”

‘Who is this...? He looks familiar.’

It was a face I had seen somewhere before.

He spoke, filling in for my hazy memory.

“My name is Oh Young-seok from the Planning Team. I was wondering if the handler has been decided yet.”

“Oh... We’re still in the meeting. The project allocation isn’t finished yet... Mr. Oh’s project is...”

“<Your Home>. A mini-series.”

‘What...?’

I frantically flipped through the report on this quarter’s project lineup.

Not this one, not this one...

‘Found it!’

In bold, JWN Special Mini-Series 12-episode <Your Home>.

‘Is this real?’

“I want to have a preliminary meeting with the publicity and marketing handlers as the script draft is almost complete. Our schedule is tight, so can we assign the handler today?”

“It’s difficult to assign a handler immediately after the meeting. If there are volunteers, it might be possible...”

“...I see. Then, please give me a call on the intercom once the meeting is over.”

As Oh Young-seok CP gave his instructions and left the conference room, I clutched my head, trying to make sense of the report.

<Your Home>

Production: JWN, Studio Y

My heart raced at the bold italicized text.

The headline I had seen in a daze that morning came back to me clearly.

My chest throbbed.

It felt like someone was whispering to me, ‘What are you doing? Don’t let this slip away!’

“Alright, everyone heard that? It’s urgent. Let’s move quickly. <Your Home>. Which team will take it?”

“I’ve never heard of this project... Is it a fill-in?”

“Indeed. 12 episodes. The number of episodes is awkward. There’s no casting lineup yet. Is it a human drama?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t heard anything specific yet. It’s hard to decide immediately... Anyone interested?”

At Jo Seok-jin, the head of the media department’s question, the conference room fell silent as if hit by a bomb.

“Really, not a single volunteer?”

I turned my head slightly to the right and saw that Lee Hong-ju’s lips were tightly pressed together.

‘It doesn’t look like he’ll accept it...’

“I’ll do it. I want to.”

I said it.

‘Are you crazy?’ Lee Hong-ju’s burning gaze felt like it was scorching my right cheek.

‘Whether I saw a mirage or not...’

I couldn’t let go of the item that was clearly thrown to be taken.

Give me a chance.

Jo Seok-jin, the head of the media department, looked at me with a puzzled expression.

His gaze seemed to stop at my chest...

Is he looking at my ID card?

“...So, um. The junior of Team 1?”

“Yes. I’m Jeon Cheon-ho from Media Team 1.”

Upon hearing my answer, Jo Seok-jin’s head tilted slightly to the right.

He glanced at Lee Hong-ju and then gave me a strange look.

‘What’s he thinking? He’s probably wondering why a rookie is volunteering.’

In the world of broadcast publicity, where the success of a project directly affects performance,

the attitude of the publicity team towards new programs is usually divided into two.

‘What they want and what they don’t.’

In other words, what will sell and what won’t.

The criteria?

Obviously, the potential for success.

The best is a project that is expected to have both high ratings and buzz. Next is a project that is expected to have at least one of those. Lastly, a project that is clearly a failure.

‘While predictions in the broadcast industry are useless and the results are only known after the fact...’

Still, it’s natural to make some predictions based on the cast and production team, and the overall project plan.

A project that looks hopeless from the start.

If it feels like it will fail even before it starts, you’d rather not touch it.

‘The important thing is that the team leaders make this decision.’

Therefore, the subject of this competition, where everyone tries to figure out which project will benefit them, is not me.

A rookie without experience has no say.

‘But... if it weren’t for that mysterious article, I would have kept my mouth shut... I can’t let go of something that’s being handed to me, can I?’

Jo Seok-jin’s gaze, which had been looking at me with an unreadable expression, turned back to Lee Hong-ju.

“Lee Hong-ju, has Jeon Cheon-ho ever handled a project alone?”

“...Not yet.”

“His first project... Is Team 1 planning to promote the junior this time?”

A question with a clear undertone of ‘I don’t think so.’

“Our Team 1—”

“Jeon Cheon-ho.”

However, before Lee Hong-ju could continue, Jo Seok-jin spoke again, this time to me.

“Do you know who requested the handler just now?”

I do.

When he first walked in, I was unsure because it had been so long, but I couldn’t not know him.

“It’s Mr. Oh Young-seok from Planning Team 2.”

“Right. Do you know what kind of person Mr. Oh is?”

“Yes, I do.”

Huh.

I could hear Lee Hong-ju inhale sharply from the side.

‘He’s nervous for me.’

It was understandable.

Oh Young-seok CP had never worked on a drama before.

Since he hadn’t worked on dramas, there was no point of contact with us.

Therefore, it would be normal for a rookie like me to not know him.

Of course, I’m different now.

‘After all, I’ve been in the entertainment industry for 20 years; if I didn’t know this guy, all my reincarnation would be for nothing.’

“Mr. Oh Young-seok worked at the film company <Oreum> and was recruited to our JWN last year.”

I could feel the heads of Lee Hong-ju and Yoo Hee-jin, who had been silent, turn towards me.

Jo Seok-jin’s eyebrows also rose in surprise.

‘He probably didn’t expect an answer.’

“And this is his first time directly producing a drama.”

“Hmm. Do you know Mr. Oh personally?”

“No. I remember him because his background is unique.”

“What makes it unique?”

Jo Seok-jin’s face showed interest.

“I understand that he started in marketing, not planning, in the film industry. He moved from marketing to planning and production. Before <Oreum>, he worked as a columnist for the film magazine <Cineart>. Therefore...”

As I recited Oh CP’s background, I could feel everyone’s gaze in the conference room focus on me.

Even Kim Han-sung, sitting at the far end of the 2nd team, met my eyes!

His usually composed expression was clearly distorted, as if he wanted to shout, ‘How do you know this?’

‘This kid, his eyes are about to shoot lasers.’

After breaking eye contact with him, I continued my briefing on Oh CP.

‘Only the parts I can reveal at this point.’

If my knowledge of the future is correct, Oh Young-seok will soon be known as the master of video content planning.

He will overturn the notion that “even big companies can’t match the broadcasting industry” and become the hidden hero who transformed JWN, one of many cable channels, into a drama powerhouse.

‘Not yet, though.’

Most importantly, in my memory, the first drama Oh CP created was not <Your Home>.

His first project swept the KOREA DRAMA AWARDS, which I remember clearly.

It was around the time I was promoted to a manager, so the planning and production would be at least a year or two from now.

‘But why did <Your Home> suddenly appear?’

I suppressed the curiosity that kept nagging at me and continued.

“...So, given Mr. Oh Young-seok’s background, I think he will pay more attention to publicity and marketing compared to other dramas.”

“Why?”

“Because he believes that a good project is born when planning, production, publicity, and marketing work together from the beginning.”

Strictly speaking, Oh CP didn’t say it directly, but...

‘There are things you know without being told, right?’

The fact that the planning team is rushing to have a preliminary meeting before the publicity and marketing handlers are even decided is obvious.

Jo Seok-jin probably had a good idea from the moment Oh CP stuck his head into the conference room.

‘It’s a request for cooperation, but also a warning that it will be very troublesome if it’s not done properly.’

As Jo Seok-jin’s silence grew longer, a strange tension filled the conference room.

“...Since you know so much about Mr. Oh, I assume you’re prepared for this not being an easy project.”

“I am prepared. I will do my best.”

“Not just ‘try hard,’ but ‘do well’... Your enthusiasm is commendable. Good. <Your Home> will go to Team 1, and the details will be finalized in a meeting of team leaders.”

“Thank you.”

‘If our team takes it, it’s as good as mine.’

Lee Hong-ju pinched my arm as I sat down, but it didn’t hurt at all.

I couldn’t help but smile.

***

“What were you thinking?”

While Lee Hong-ju was caught in the team leader meeting,

Yoo Hee-jin’s voice was sharp as she dragged me to a corner of the break room.

“What got into you? I didn’t know you were the type to step forward like that. You’ve never said you wanted to do anything first.”

“I’m sorry, senior. I should have consulted and gotten your permission. I was just in a hurry.”

I loudly apologized and bowed deeply.

The embodiment of early departure, who hates extra work more than anything.

‘She was sensitive and sharp when I first joined, but...’

Upon closer inspection, the ice princess Yoo Hee-jin had a surprisingly soft heart.

“Not that I meant you should go that far...”

Sure enough.

My sincere apology seemed to work, as Yoo Hee-jin tried to stop me from bowing again with both hands and sighed deeply.

“Just let me know next time... But, Cheon-ho, you know this project is being produced by Studio Y, right?”

Right. I thought I had seen it wrong.

It was written in the project plan.

“You didn’t know?”

“No, I saw it in the conference room. It was written in the project plan.”

“You still said you’d do it even though you knew?”

“Yes, well...”

“I’m just checking... You didn’t forget, did you? You at the wrap party...”

“Would I forget that?”

Pfft.

A bundle of papers fell on the break room table with a thud, accompanied by a sharp voice.

It was Lee Hong-ju, who had just finished the team leader meeting, bringing the synopsis of <Your Home>.

“Oh, team leader. There’s a synopsis. I see. There was nothing written in the project plan. Thank you.”

What is this project that has taken over my mind?

Driven by an irresistible curiosity, I was about to flip to the first page when...

“Wait, look at this later. Listen to me first.”

Lee Hong-ju, who seemed to have a headache, pressed his temples and spoke.

“Alright. Since it’s already decided, I won’t say anything else. There’s no time for that. Do your best.”

“Thank you, senior.”

My answer made Lee Hong-ju wave his right hand dismissively.

The unexpected content of the team leader meeting he relayed was surprising.

“Put everything else aside for now. Cheon-ho, start with the project analysis for <Your Home>. Write a PR plan. You know you have to present the publicity direction to the entire drama team, right? Since it’s your name, neither I nor Yoo can directly participate.”

“...? For a junior’s first project, shouldn’t the senior and I work together?”

“Not this time.”

Lee Hong-ju firmly cut off Yoo Hee-jin’s words and asked me.

“It’s the head of the media department’s order. Don’t argue. Cheon-ho, are you confident about the presentation?”

“No, I can do it. I’ve seen you and Yoo do it many times.”

‘That’s a piece of cake.’

Actually, despite my appearance, I have the most experience here.

I feel a bit guilty towards my seniors, but...

‘It might be easier to do it alone than to get awkward help...’

As I nodded, thinking it was going better than expected...

“Good. And... Ugh. I don’t know how to explain this. This will be a competitive presentation.”

An unexpected statement popped out.

My voice involuntarily rose.

“What? A competition... for this? Isn’t it just me preparing? Who is it with?”

“You and Kim Han-sung from Team 2.”

‘Oh, that guy again.’

Just hearing his name made my face crumple.

“I don’t need to be so obvious. I also don’t like this situation.”

Yoo Hee-jin quickly changed the subject, seeing Lee Hong-ju’s wide-eyed glare.

“But why did he... I mean, why did the junior from Team 2 get involved?”

“Why not? Jin-geun from Team 2 was furious. Why is only Jeon Cheon-ho getting a promotion?”

“What does it matter? When did we start considering the timing of other teams’ juniors’ projects?”

“What can we do? The head of the media department said to do it this way. If you don’t like it, you can take another project, but as you know, we only have one drama slot.”

Ah.

JWN still only broadcasts dramas twice a week.

Saturday and Sunday at 9 PM.

Dividing the week into multiple dramas is a future thing.

“Besides, there are no other drama launches planned for the time being besides <Your Home>.”

“What about Team 3?”

“They’re busy with variety shows. They said they’ll handle it themselves, so they want to be excluded.”

As I quickly processed the information from their conversation,

“So, I’m not working with Kim Han-sung, but the project handler will be decided by