NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 197

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 197. Variety Show Pre-Meeting

“My appearance would be a novelty?”

“Yes.”

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Gong Min-jeong nodded firmly.

Everyone in the meeting room except Yeon-woo seemed to agree with that statement.

 

“Hmm, I see.”

 

Since everyone was so strongly convinced, Yeon-woo didn’t have much more to say.

 

The former LN Media had some reputation as a production company, but currently Byeol Star Media was still a startup with no track record.

 

Of course, the industry openly knew that all the key personnel were here, but from the public’s perspective, the position of Byeol Star Media and Byeol Star Entertainment was ambiguous.

 

Yeon-woo recalled a post he had seen a few days ago.

 

– So in the end, the agency Ryu Yeon-woo joined is a management company created by employees who left the agency that originally raised him? And Yeon-woo joined out of loyalty, like a young breadwinner supporting the company?

└ But can you really say they raised him? He was already successful from his debut work and signed the contract after that

└ I heard several actors joined this time, but I’m not sure lol Does the agency really matter that much for actors, not idols? They’ll figure it out themselves

 

So far, it was Yeon-woo’s name value that was famous, not the name Byeol Star, so he thought it was reasonable to go with Min-jeong’s opinion.

 

The very idea of an agency producing and releasing its own content on YouTube was quite novel, and if the content itself was also unfamiliar, the consumers would end up being only a small number of fans rather than the general public.

 

Most idols’ self-produced content flowed in that direction, often ending up being watched only by fans.

 

However, considering that this project aimed for more mainstream popularity, it was right to follow a famous PD and an already proven variety show format.

 

“Then as you suggested, it would be best to proceed with the most proven format possible.”

 

When Yeon-woo, who was both the alpha and omega of Byeol Star, finally agreed, the meeting came to an end.

 

“The detailed matters will be discussed between the media’s working-level staff and the PD.”

 

Yeon-woo nodded at Director Yoon Mi-yeon’s words.

 

And the next day, a YouTube channel was created under the name “Byeol Star Tube.”

 

Since the topic came up, they started with creating the channel first, and an important mission fell to Han Byeol with the idea of gathering more subscribers before the official content was released.

 

Unlike Yeon-woo, who came to work every other day since the small theater play wasn’t over yet, Han Byeol, who was still on winter break, came to the company every day. Since there were older sisters and brothers at the company who would play with her, she had more attendance days than any of the staff.

 

“So I just need to take this and film whatever I want to film?”

“Yes. Han Byeol, you can film whatever you want. Tell us when the battery runs out.”

“This will be fun! Then please give me an interview first, Director Yoon.”

“···Huh? Me?”

 

When they gave Han Byeol a steadicam, she went around every corner of the company, interviewing various people regardless of whether they were actors or staff, and also captured daily life moments like chatting about this and that while squeezed between Seo Ji-eun and Jung Su-yeon, who had become quite close lately.

 

Among those videos, the more interesting ones were cut and released as shorts, while the small daily moments were edited and uploaded as videos.

 

Perhaps because there were many fans of recently successful works, vlog-style videos mainly featuring the daily lives of Han Byeol, Seo Ji-eun, and Jung Su-yeon began to gain popularity, and Byeol Star Tube’s subscriber count rose at quite a fast pace.

 

“Wow! It’s already 300,000 people?!”

“Han Byeol, but you know what?”

“What?”

“Not a single video featuring Yeon-woo has been uploaded yet.”

 

Indeed, the number of comments from subscribers wanting Ryu Yeon-woo on Byeol Star Tube’s videos began to increase day by day.

 

– Moist Castella (1 hour ago) : Why doesn’t Yeon-woo ever appearrrr

– Lee Hae-yeon (1 hour ago) : I don’t know, just lie down. Day 1 of demanding Yeon-woo’s appearance

– Demon Slayer Kalguksu (45 minutes ago) : Han Byeol, isn’t Yeon-woo at the company? Please film him

– honey khan(28 minutes ago) : I want Jin-wook’s hands. From Thailand fan THKR

– Felix (4 minutes ago) : AAAA SO COOL We love you Ella

– Attention King (37 seconds ago) : Byeol Star with many photos of Yeon-woo’s daily life [link]

 

And finally, the long-awaited daily life of Yeon-woo was uploaded.

 

There wasn’t much special content.

It was just daily life of coming to work, reviewing scenarios, going to the 3rd floor cafe, opening his laptop, searching for various things, and having conversations with Son Jin-wook.

 

The only thing was that he smiled at the camera a few times because Han Byeol, who was following him around filming, was cute.

 

From the day the video was uploaded, Byeol Star Tube’s subscriber count began to soar at a steep pace.

 

The YouTube team, who checked the subscriber count when they came to work the next day, felt happy but also somewhat deflated.

 

“···It was all pointless.”

“This is supposed to be good news though.”

 

The subscriber count they had increased over a week by editing and uploading shorts and full videos was just over 400,000.

 

But one day after Yeon-woo’s video was uploaded, they surpassed 700,000, and at this rate, they would probably reach 1 million tomorrow or the day after.

 

Meanwhile, the YouTube variety show was progressing rapidly and was about to begin filming.

 

Producer Joo Hyeon-seok recalled the day he received the casting call from Byeol Star Entertainment.

 

Producer Joo, who first received the proposal, had tilted his head in confusion.

 

“An entertainment company wants to produce their own variety show and is asking me to be the PD···?”

 

Even the entertainment company was an unfamiliar name.

 

Still, since they had made the proposal, it wouldn’t be polite to refuse immediately, so he searched for Byeol Star Entertainment on a portal site to check what celebrities were signed to the agency.

 

“What’s this, why are there so many articles···.”

 

Ah, so that’s where it is.

 

Producer Joo Hyeon-seok quietly picked up his smartphone.

 

Ring ring─.

 

“Ah, yes. This is Joo Hyeon-seok who just called. Yes yes, I’ll do it. No, please let me do it.”

 

His instincts had never been wrong.

 

There were writers who had left the broadcasting station with him to start an outsourcing agency, but this wasn’t the time to ask for their opinions.

He had to seize this opportunity before it went to someone else.

 

***

 

At the Korean traditional restaurant with cameras installed in every corner, the actors began arriving and entering one by one.

 

Son Jin-wook arrived first and was waiting when Jung Su-yeon entered.

 

“Senior! Hello!”

“Ah, Su-yeon.”

 

Son Jin-wook awkwardly stood up, shook hands with Jung Su-yeon, and sat back down.

 

“Su-yeon, you also didn’t hear what we’re doing today, right?”

“Ah, no. They just said we’re meeting for a preliminary gathering before filming the variety show…”

“Yes. I see.”

 

And silence fell again.

 

Son Jin-wook scratched the back of his head.

Based on his over ten years of broadcasting experience, he was certain that when this aired, there would be subtitles saying “awkward awkward” between him and Jung Su-yeon.

 

‘But it really is awkward, so I have nothing to say.’

 

Jung Su-yeon was originally the type who was very shy around strangers, and as for Son Jin-wook, the only actress he was close with was Han So-hyeon.

 

‘When will Yeon-woo come? Or at least Teacher Jeong Cheol-min…’

 

Jung Su-yeon was thinking the exact same thing.

 

‘Is Han Byeol coming late today…?’

 

Today especially, she missed the sound of Han Byeol hovering around like a chick and constantly chattering beside her.

 

As the awkward silence lingered and Jung Su-yeon was about to try saying something, the door opened and someone entered.

 

“Ta-da, I’m here! Hello!”

 

It was Seo Ji-eun, radiating bright energy from her very entrance.

 

Seeing Seo Ji-eun’s entrance, both who had arrived early breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“Ji-eun unnie.”

 

Even though they saw each other almost every day at the company, Jung Su-yeon and Seo Ji-eun clasped hands as if they were so happy to see each other.

Then she ran over to Son Jin-wook with a bright smile and bowed in greeting.

 

“Senior, hello!”

“Ah, yes yes. Ji-eun.”

 

When Son Jin-wook hastily stood up to greet her, Seo Ji-eun waved her hands dismissively.

 

“Oh, please speak comfortably.”

 

Watching this, Son Jin-wook smiled inwardly.

 

‘I know exactly what Yeon-woo means. Little Han So-hyeon.’

 

They had only encountered each other a few times at award ceremonies or the company and this was their first conversation, but somehow it felt familiar.

 

Then the door opened and the other members along with Producer Joo Hyeon-seok all entered the restaurant together.

 

“Everyone’s here.”

 

Producer Joo Hyeon-seok observed people’s gazes as he entered the room.

He felt that the other actors’ gazes naturally focused on Yeon-woo.

 

‘Hmm, Actor Ryu Yeon-woo is definitely the central point among these people.’

 

When filming variety shows, it was important to quickly read the relationships among the cast members.

After all, the chemistry between them ultimately determined the entertainment value.

 

Everyone sat around the dining table and other staff members also entered.

Then Producer Joo Hyeon-seok, who had been looking at the members, spoke up.

 

“Well, today is a preliminary meeting, but actually there’s nothing to announce, so just eat comfortably and have conversations.”

“Eh, we just need to eat?”

 

At Seo Ji-eun’s question, Producer Joo nodded.

 

He planned to watch their conversations during the preliminary meeting to understand their relationships and the actors’ usual personalities, then set the direction for editing.

 

So the members began naturally talking while eating their meals.

 

Producer Joo, sitting at the far end and joining the conversation while observing the members, felt something family-like about this group of actors.

 

Not that they were affectionate or close like family, but when he looked at their age ranges, it seemed that way.

 

Jeong Cheol-min, who was like a father figure, and below him, five siblings.

Starting with the eldest brother Son Jin-wook, then moving down to Ji-eun, Yeon-woo, and Su-yeon who were similar in age like three siblings, and finally the youngest Han Byeol.

 

‘Hmm. I should structure the characters with that kind of feeling.’

 

He nodded while eagerly taking notes on something.

 

‘By the way, since they’re all actors, their visuals are definitely amazing. What kind of ultra-luxurious casting is this.’

 

Originally, these were actors who would be treated as premium guests if they appeared on other variety shows.

 

Ryu Yeon-woo’s current power in the broadcasting industry was incomparable, but even excluding him, the other actors were the same.

 

In South Korea right now, the only one who could pull off this kind of casting, if not for award ceremonies, would ironically be the startup company Saebyeol Enter.

 

‘Filming a variety show with these members and releasing it only on NeTube…’

 

Producer Joo looked over the brilliant lineup of members who were chatting and laughing about something so amusing, then nodded once more.

 

He had thought so during the planning stage, but seeing them gathered together made the future even clearer.

Actually, the members’ facial features seemed even more distinct than the future Producer Joo was envisioning.

 

‘This will definitely be a hit. It’ll devour all TV variety shows.’

 

Han Byeol, who had been chatting, raised her hand and asked a question.

 

“Producer!”

“Yes?”

“But what’s the title of our variety show?”

 

Come to think of it, the other members also became curious and looked at Producer Joo.

They only knew they were filming a variety show as the agency’s own content, but hadn’t heard the title.

 

Producer Joo looked at the members and spoke.

 

“I deliberately didn’t decide on a title. How about you all create one while having a conversation?”

 

Then Seo Ji-eun tilted her head and said.

 

“That’s kind of lazy…”

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing!”

 

After that, various names came up among the members, but nothing particularly appealing emerged.

 

In the midst of this, Yeon-woo, who had been pondering, spoke up as if something had occurred to him.

 

“Rather than something fancy, how about we just keep it simple with ‘Saebyeol Family’?”

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Producer Joo recalled that the character composition direction he had felt was indeed family.

Then the other members also nodded.

 

“This guy’s naming sense is really tacky, but when you hear it, it somehow seems pretty decent too.”

 

At Jeong Cheol-min’s words, Son Jin-wook also nodded.

 

“The name definitely sticks in your mind while showing our characteristics well.”

 

And the video of their preliminary meeting was edited the next day and immediately uploaded to NeTube.

 

– [Saebyeol Ent] Variety Show “Saebyeol Family” Preliminary Meeting

 

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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