KBC Short Drama 'Utopia', This Is the Very Reason One-Act Dramas Exist
'Utopia' Has Weighty Presence... a 'Triumph' for Its Newcomer Writer, Director and Cast
COEX Good Samaritan Chae-eun Is a Cold Bystander in 'Utopia', a 'Scene-Stealer'
So this is what makes managing worth it. Chae-eun's articles were up on the portal's entertainment page.
On the portal site's open chat too, messages from viewers sharing their impressions kept coming up.
└ So who killed So-yeon, then?
└ We all killed her
└ I didn't kill her, though
└ Spoilers no no!! I said I'm watching it today!!
└ The kid watching from the side was insane. She's just like a kid who was in my class
└ Her personality was seriously fucked-up, I'd never want to be friends with her
└ True to life as fuck, the PTSD is unreal
The swearing was the praise. Above all, the mere fact that some viewers had registered Chae-eun, a bit player, made this work a success.
I'd gotten to Redbox Studio first, and while I was checking the reactions to Chae-eun out front, Shin Dong-jun arrived, having picked up Seo Yu-jin.
Today, the contract for 'Loner' was to be discussed here.
Because he'd made up his mind to quit soon, Shin Dong-jun said it would be better if he didn't sit in on a meeting to discuss the contract for a new project, and chose to stay behind and wait in the car.
I didn't stop him, because it was to my advantage as well to look like the manager in sole charge of Seo Yu-jin.
"Hello. Manager Lee."
When I went into the office with Seo Yu-jin, the youngest PD came up to us. Maybe because this was our second meeting, after Chae-eun's audition, she already felt familiar.
"PD, have you been well? It's been a while. It'd be nice if we saw each other often from now on."
I put my wish for Seo Yu-jin's contract to go through safely into a smile, and the youngest PD grew visibly flustered.
"Ah, I-I've been well. Manager Lee. Please go on inside...."
The youngest PD covered her reddened face with her hand and turned away. Is it still awkward on her end?
'I wish my stats would hurry up and rise, Affinity first.'
As I scratched my head, I saw Seo Yu-jin looking back at me and the youngest PD, her lips pushed out to a point in the shape of an oh.
'What's with her mouth?'
When I held the mirror from my pocket up to Seo Yu-jin's face, she finished checking her face in 1 second. I showed her inside.
Writer Son Yu-rim, who'd been waiting ahead of time after my call, the PDs of the production company Redbox Studio, and CP Jang Nam-yeon of the broadcaster KBC received us.
From their faces, which couldn't hide their surprise at Seo Yu-jin in the flesh, I got a strong feeling that this contract would go according to plan too.
"Ever since you brought up Yu-jin, San-woo, I've thought about it a lot. I wondered if she wasn't too young, if her image wasn't too fragile and nothing but lovable, you see."
"Yes. That's why, isn't it?"
There was no telling whether this was Yun-yeong's story or Yu-jin's.
A woman like a fragile potted flower struggles against the world and is reborn as a strong woman. That was Seo Yu-jin's own narrative by way of 'Loner'.
"I really can't win against you, San-woo. Strangely, when you say something, it sounds like the right answer."
That's because it is the right answer.
The production company PD beside her chimed in.
"Even among people who aren't fans, there can hardly be anyone who doesn't know you, Yu-jin, but to be honest, your coming into this role is a very unconventional and adventurous move, you see. For us, and for you as well."
"We know. That's what makes it all the more meaningful. Because it will show a completely different Seo Yu-jin."
"I know you've only done safe acting until now, Yu-jin. This time, please break out of it. I'll help you."
When Writer Son said that, Seo Yu-jin looked straight back at her.
"I'm certain it will suit me. It's the role I was always looking for."
"Oh? You're certain? How?"
Writer Son asked Seo Yu-jin in return with a mischievous smile.
"Manager Lee San-woo. San-woo here pulled me out. This time, through Yun-yeong, I intend to fight fiercely. Please keep your eyes on me."
A sound of admiration went up, like whoa.
Moved by Seo Yu-jin's declaration of intent, people couldn't get their jaws to close. To be honest, I was a little moved too.
Is this the same Seo Yu-jin who fretted and agonized for fear of losing this role to Song Eve? I guess this is why you can't discount experience.
Her gaze was steady and her diction clear. With her shoulders squared in confidence and a halo effect of her own on top of it, Seo Yu-jin overwhelmed the ordinary people in the room as a celebrity brimming with a presence no one could easily approach.
So this is how it feels when your own celebrity is something special.
"Seo Yu-jin, I'm counting on you for 'Loner' this time. I've leaned hard on Writer Son about it too, but my promotion is riding on this project."
"Pardon...?"
When Seo Yu-jin, her voice deflated, asked in return at the unexpected banter, laughter broke out.
"The CP of the team that takes the Grand Prize at year's end is the favorite to be the drama department's next head, you see. Help me out, please!"
"CP Jang, you're really shameless. Ugh, give it a rest!"
It seemed CP Jang had been the line through which Writer Son, in a swift fight and a swift finish, won the broadcaster's approval back when Chae-eun was cast.
Even with Writer Son scolding him, CP Jang didn't know when to stop.
"Inside the station, it's going around openly that whichever team beats 'Racing Heart' this time gets to be department head, I tell you. But we don't even overlap with it! This is a rumor leaked from 'Love in Bloom', no doubt about it. That punk Shin Yeong-jae is such a slick operator that the politicking is only going to get worse, I tell you."
"Shin Yeong-jae?"
It was a name I'd never heard before, so I asked in return.
"He's a junior of mine who's the CP on 'Love in Bloom', and he's poking around all over the place trying to make himself department head, I'm telling you. He's grinding up the juniors in his direct line and feeding them into 'Love in Bloom', so there are a whole lot of problems with how that set is being run. He's pulled in a huge amount of money for it too, so we're short of money to spend ourselves."
In that case, it looks like I'm the one who has to help him.
Ding!
When I checked the message that had arrived on my phone, sure enough, it was a quest for CP Jang Nam-yeon.
[Sub-Quest Triggered: Make Jang Nam-yeon Drama Department Head]
[Quest Details: Make Jang Nam-yeon the head of KBC's drama department]
[Reward: Negotiation +1]
"Now, this will be your first lead, Yu-jin, but we will also need to talk about how we set the appearance fee."
CP Jang, the cute and harmless figure who'd been whining and begging to be saved for a good long while, turned sharp-eyed in an instant when it came to talking money.
"Let's discuss that separately, you and I. Since it's a matter I have to talk over with our CEO as well."
CP Jang's character, noted. And the quest would be no problem.
***
"She is doing 'Loner', you say? Not 'Racing Heart'?"
"It's the lead."
The CEO's office at Yong Ent. CEO Park looked at the 'Loner' contract lying in front of me, Seo Yu-jin and Shin Dong-jun. He seemed thrown that it wasn't the 'Racing Heart' contract he'd been waiting for.
"CEO.... I think I can do it well. I really want to do 'Loner'."
In front of CEO Park, Seo Yu-jin still came across as young.
At times like that, I had to step in.
"It's a good role for Yu-jin noona to transform her acting with. The work itself has weight and power, doesn't it? Chae-eun's role is good too, but the lead, Yun-yeong, is a role truly too good to let slip."
When Chae-eun was confirmed for the role of Yi-jin, I'd left a copy of the 'Loner' script with CEO Park as well. There was no way CEO Park hadn't read it, so persuading him posed no problem.
"Would I say it for nothing? I say it for fear it will be hard on Yu-jin. Yu-jin will have a heavy load on her shoulders. She will have to be paid that much more for it."
"No. If we suddenly raise her fee just because she's taking the lead, it could put an even heavier burden on the actor. And since it's your own philosophy, CEO, that a good role matters most, I think it would be best to settle with the production company at the level Yu-jin noona has been getting."
I shut CEO Park's mouth so that he'd have no grounds left to block Seo Yu-jin. Now that I've even tacked on his own philosophy, it would look bad for CEO Park to quibble any further over the fee.
Ahem— CEO Park, who'd been clearing his throat, belatedly added a word.
"I expect there will be pushback from the 'Racing Heart' side."
Got it. On its own merits, there's no reason at all to refuse the role in 'Loner'. That he's worrying about the reaction from the 'Racing Heart' side means CEO Park has given his permission too.
"It's not as if a contract was signed. The role carries almost no weight in the drama, so there shouldn't be any great problem if she drops out."
CEO Park, who'd been pushing the third role on her, had been caught by his own trick.
"Then, let's go ahead with it."
Having stamped his seal on the contract, CEO Park raised his head and looked at me.
"But what has become of Dong-jun, that San-woo is stepping into Yu-jin's work?"
"CEO, I got this project thanks to San-woo. I have Dong-jun too, but I'd like to keep working with San-woo as well."
At Seo Yu-jin's words, CEO Park looked at me. His eyes were weighing whether it was possible.
"Chae-eun and Yu-jin noona are going into the same project, so I think it's entirely possible."
I made my pitch to CEO Park too, because for now his influence was as great as the status window's.
"All right. Then, since San-woo has brought in two contracts no less, we will promote him to full-time employee at once."
I can't let this chance go.
"Has Chae-eun's car come through?"
"......."
Rattle. CEO Park opened a drawer, took out a car key and held it out in front of me.
It was a shiny new key.
Ding!
At last.
The notifications I'd been waiting for poured in.
I took my phone out from inside my jacket and checked every message.
[Sub-Quest Success]
[Quest Details: Find a part that suits Seo Yu-jin]
[Reward: Stamina +1]
Name: Lee San-woo
Occupation: Yong Entertainment Intern
Level: F-Grade (0 points left until next level-up)
Stats: Affinity 2, Quick Wits 2, Decisiveness 2, Negotiation 1, Stamina 3
You have leveled up!
Skill Acquired: Article Roundup
Name: Lee San-woo
Occupation: Yong Entertainment Full-Time Employee
Level: E-Grade (20 points left until next level-up)
Stats: Affinity 2, Quick Wits 2, Decisiveness 2, Negotiation 1, Stamina 3
Skills: Article Roundup
[Player's Active Participation Triggered]
[Bonus Reward: Affinity +2, Negotiation +1]
Name: Lee San-woo
Occupation: Yong Entertainment Full-Time Employee
Level: E-Grade (17 points left until next level-up)
Stats: Affinity 4, Quick Wits 2, Decisiveness 2, Negotiation 2, Stamina 3
Skills: Article Roundup
It's my first level-up.
I acquired a skill too.
I acquired a car key too.
It was sweet.
***
[Exclusive] Seo Yu-jin to Star in 'Loner'... the Fairy's Radical Transformation
I was looking at the article on Seo Yu-jin's casting, which had come out the instant I tossed him the source, when a call came in from Gil Sang-ik. Only his name had come up, and yet I could picture Sang-ik's face, grinning from ear to ear.
"Yes, Reporter Gil."
[Manager Lee! Did you see the article?]
"Yes. I was just looking at it."
[Thanks to you, I've got my first exclusive! Thank you so much.]
"But what's this about a fairy? What era is that nickname from?"
[Huh? Ah... You don't like it? Should I r-r-revise it?]
Naive bastard.
"No. I'm saying I love it. Yu-jin noona is the eternal fairy in our hearts, after all."
[Ahh, that's someone from my own generation for you. Didn't I say I knew you'd get it right away?]
"Whenever I have good material for an article, I'll keep tossing it your way."
[Loyalty! I'll put my trust in you alone, Manager Lee!]
"......."
And with that, the call cut off with a click. Sang-ik had a cute side too. Our Sang-ik sure works hard at life. No wonder he made team leader.
And the reaction on the community boards, when I looked it up... was even worse than I'd thought.
└ It's the 'Utopia' writer, right? Watching it no matter what
└ Seo Yu-jin? She fucking sucks at acting, what lead role?
└ It'll get buried before anyone even knows it flopped. Massive waste of airwaves
└ Seen the drama's description? Trashy as fuck tearjerker lololol
It didn't even have a time slot yet, so reactions like these were a problem.
"......."
After thinking for a moment, I posted a comment.
└ Seo Yu-jin wins the Drama Awards Grand Prize with this. This post will become a pilgrimage site
└ Instincts totally dead, tsk tsk. Doesn't know 1 thing about the drama scene
└ Seo Yu-jin herself has entered the chat
└ Same on you, Sheo Yu-jin
Fucking bastards. All that firepower and no good use for it.
Seeing the replies stringing out under my comment, I smacked my lips sourly.
It's a post that'll get buried anyway under the other stories that come up over the day. Let's just hold out a little until it drifts away.
'Oh, right.'
I was granted a skill with the level-up just now. What could the Article Roundup skill be?
'Chae-eun'
When I sent the message, articles related to Chae-eun came right back.
It was a function that sent every article connected to the people and things around Chae-eun over the 3 years to come, even if 'Chae-eun' wasn't written in the headline.
With this skill, I could now take in a whole range of information tied to a keyword at a glance, without flipping through the screenshots one by one to find articles.
'Oh... this is huge.'
Will it give me a skill every time I level up?