NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 218

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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 218. Name

Names have power.

 

If you give a name to the red mailbox you pass by carelessly on your way to work every day, it will surprisingly start to catch your eye from that moment on, and you might even grow fond of it over time.

 

If one day the postal service comes and removes that mailbox because it’s no longer useful, you might feel depressed even though it has nothing to do with your life.

 

If even meaningless objects are like that, then the name of a drama must be that much more important.

 

‘We can’t keep calling it an unnamed drama in production forever. We should start deciding on a name soon. Giving something a name has great significance.’

 

This time it was time to start working not as an actor, but as Saebyeol’s largest investor.

Yeon-woo looked at Representative Jung and asked.

 

“Representative Jung. Our employee bonus payment for this quarter is next month, right?”

“Ah, yes. That’s correct. The bonus will be paid together with next month’s salary. The employees don’t know yet though.”

 

After hearing Representative Jung’s words, Yeon-woo stroked his chin.

 

“Hmm, then I’d like to set aside part of the bonus and use it for a different budget.”

“The employee bonuses?”

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Jeong Hyeok tilted his head.

It wasn’t like the company lacked capital, and even if they set aside part of the employee bonuses, it would be a small amount compared to the company’s size, so what would he use it for?

 

Since Yeon-woo couldn’t be an unscrupulous businessman who would take employees’ salaries to use elsewhere, Representative Jung waited quietly.

 

Then Yeon-woo smiled and answered.

 

“A name. Let’s hold an employee contest for our drama’s name across both Saebyeol Entertainment and Media. Just participating would get part of the bonus we set aside as participation prize money, and if selected as the drama title, we’d give separate prize money.”

“Ah, so you’re saying to create a justification for giving out the bonus that was going to be paid anyway.”

 

At Representative Jung’s words, Yeon-woo nodded, but it was half right and half wrong.

 

‘It’s most efficient when you can create new added value with things that would naturally flow anyway.’

 

The bonus was originally scheduled to be paid over time, and if left alone, either Writer Choi Mi-hyeon or Director Kim Han-su would have named the drama.

 

But if you could create other effects using things that would happen anyway without any added value, wouldn’t that be a creative economy?

 

‘And people naturally become more interested and invested when they participate themselves.’

 

As companies become increasingly large and organized, there are fewer opportunities for ‘me’ as an individual to influence the ‘group,’ and when you feel like a replaceable part, you can gradually become passive about your assigned work, the so-called ‘salary thief.’

 

This was a structural problem of modern society before being an issue of individual diligence, so there was a possibility that like what Baeksol did at LN, they might exploit that weakness at Saebyeol too.

 

‘Over time, those Baeksol guys will gradually try to plant spies inside Saebyeol or try to win over employees with various temptations, so it would be good to strengthen the sense of belonging and solidarity in advance to increase unity.’

 

No matter how thoroughly you secure the outside, it would be futile if it started rotting from within.

 

Basically, the agents on the 5th floor were thoroughly conducting individual surveillance of company personnel, but it was also important to continuously provide psychological satisfaction so they wouldn’t fall into temptation.

 

Even now, the affiliated actors and employees were maintaining an intimate atmosphere, conversing freely in the 3rd floor cafe space.

 

But beyond that, Yeon-woo’s plan was to make employees feel a sense of belonging to Saebyeol through various future activities.

 

 

Since it was a suggestion from the company’s largest shareholder to the representative, there was no reason to delay.

On the very day Yeon-woo made the suggestion, a naming contest to decide the name of the new sports drama began.

 

The employees’ reaction to the announcement posted through the company messenger was quite enthusiastic.

 

“Hye-su. You saw the company announcement, right? The naming contest.”

“I’m actually racking my brain really hard right now. Ah, I hope I get selected.”

“Hey, what if you don’t get selected? They’re giving bonuses just for participating.”

 

At Gong Min-jeong’s words, planning team’s An Hye-su nodded.

 

“Right. Our company is really the best. But since I’m submitting anyway, it would be nice to get selected. If I win the prize money, I’m going to register for flying yoga right away.”

“Hmm, what should I do with that money if I get selected? It’s good that we get bonuses even if we don’t get selected though…”

 

The employees each fell into happy worries, thinking about winning the contest.

Not just office workers, but managers and stylist teams who go out to filming sets also participated in the naming contest.

 

Manager Kim Min-su sitting in the 3rd floor cafe was the same.

Kim Min-su looked at Yeon-woo sitting at the same table.

 

“Actor. Who will judge the contest?”

 

Yeon-woo grinned.

 

“Min-su hyung, did you also submit a drama title for the contest?”

“Of course. I bet not a single one of our employees didn’t submit.”

“But I’m not the one picking, so what can I do? There won’t be any special treatment. The management, director, and writer will choose by vote.”

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Kim Min-su sighed in relief.

 

“Phew, that’s a relief. I was worried about what to do if you were the one picking.”

“Huh? Wouldn’t it be good for you if I picked, Min-su hyung?”

“Ah, well, your naming sense is a bit… Um, it seems different from mine.”

“…”

 

Yeon-woo, struck by the axe he trusted, silently turned his head and sucked on the straw in his drink.

 

***

 

After accepting submissions for two days, the contest was closed and judging began, and indeed, as Kim Min-su said, every single employee participated in the contest without exception.

 

Though it was a small event, having a common topic of conversation seemed to bring more energy to the company than usual.

 

When Yeon-woo knocked and entered the main conference room, Director Yoon Mi-yeon and CEO Jeong Hyeok were having a conversation.

 

“Oh, you’re here? We just selected the winning entry.”

 

Yeon-woo nodded at Director Yoon’s words and approached them.

 

“I’m curious. What’s the name?”

“Parabola.”

 

Yeon-woo received the contest application form that Director Yoon handed him.

 

Parabola means a curved line.

 

‘Hmm, since basketball is the theme, a parabola. Not bad.’

 

Yeon-woo thought there must be a reason this was chosen and read about the reason for submission.

 

– A basketball is difficult to enter the rim if it flies in a straight line.

The shortest distance for a basketball leaving one’s hand to reach the rim would be a straight line, but to score, it must inevitably fly in an inefficient parabolic curve.

 

I thought my life was the same way.

Even if I live a winding life, I hope that all of those things aren’t useless and inefficient, but rather detours taken to eventually score a goal someday.

 

I think the protagonist’s life shown in the drama’s brief synopsis might have some similarities to mine, so I’m submitting this name.

 

‘Hmm, that’s good.’

 

After reading the reason for submission, Yeon-woo looked at the executives.

 

“Who wrote this? I like it too.”

“From the management team, um, who was it.”

 

Looking at the list on the desk, CEO Jeong Hyeok continued speaking.

 

“Ah, it’s Manager Im Jae-wook. He’s the new manager in charge of actor Jeong Cheol-min, right? I think Yeon-woo recommended him.”

 

He remembered the manager who had bowed deeply to Yeon-woo in the meeting room last time.

 

“I see. He’s unexpectedly good at writing. But now that I think about it, it suits him.”

“Then we’ll finalize our drama’s name as Parabola.”

 

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

 

“Yes. That’s good. ‘Parabola.'”

 

***

 

TVM’s Drama Department Director Shin Jae-kwon was relatively skeptical about the drama that was rumored in the industry to be entering production soon.

 

Of course, it would be nice if they could bring it to their broadcasting station, but since the cast actors had never worked with TVM before, he thought the possibility of connecting with them was low compared to other broadcasting stations.

 

“Son Jin-wook, Ryu Yeon-woo, Jin Yu-han… The other supporting actors are also hot these days.”

 

But what good would that do? It was pie in the sky.

 

That new drama would most likely be picked up by a terrestrial network, and if they offered exceptional conditions, cable channels seemed to have some possibility too.

 

Although cable’s momentum had risen quite a bit in the recent drama market, it was only a temporary increase as various broadcasters shared the pie while terrestrial TV’s grip on viewership ratings weakened due to the activation of OTT platforms.

 

‘Even so, it won’t be us.’

 

Middle-aged and older viewers who only watch terrestrial TV are called the concrete viewing base.

Even now, if you go to traditional markets, the TVs installed by merchants in each store are almost all fixed on KBC all day long.

 

As long as they held on, the viewership rating trends would eventually find their original place.

 

He judged that the ratings that increased by taking advantage of the confusion would eventually fail to continue their upward trend and decline again, which made it even more troublesome.

 

“It’s not like I did well to raise the ratings, but if they fall, it’ll still be my responsibility in the end. Sigh.”

 

He didn’t know what he ate wrong, but his stomach hurt from the morning and his body felt itchy.

 

“Did I develop an allergy? I didn’t eat anything strange. Ah, is it because of stress?”

 

As he was idly scratching his back with a back scratcher, the director’s office door burst open.

 

“Director!”

“Geez, you startled me. Don’t you knock?”

“That’s not what’s important. Saebyeol Media contacted us first asking for a meeting!”

 

Director Shin tilted his head at the nonsensical words.

 

“What? Where?”

“Saebyeol Media. Ryu Yeon-woo, Son Jin…”

“There?!”

 

 

Meanwhile, when news came that TVM had been contacted, JNBC’s Director Hwang Young-cheol became anxious.

He thought it would be taken by a terrestrial network, but seeing them make contact with TVM, he felt there was an opportunity for them too.

 

And he couldn’t forget the glorious past when he had tasted the ‘ratings high’ with “Yeo-reum’s Wardrobe” and its follow-up variety show “Yeo-reum’s Dining Table.”

 

“Ah, no matter how I think about it, this is perfect. The director is Director Kim and the writer is Writer Choi, right?”

“Yes. It’s Director Kim Han-su and Writer Choi Mi-hyeon.”

 

The director and writer of “Yeo-reum’s Wardrobe” that aired on JNBC, plus the leads Son Jin-wook and Ryu Yeon-woo had reunited.

 

Then naturally, wouldn’t the synergy be better if they did it on JNBC again?

Other broadcasting stations would dismiss it saying what nonsense it was since it wasn’t even a series and had completely different content, but that was Director Hwang Young-cheol’s thinking for now.

 

“Ha, this drama’s broadcasting rights are a given, and if they’re going to film a follow-up variety show, they’re saying they’ll give us those rights too. Try making a deal.”

“What? Even the variety show rights?”

“Think about it carefully. Immediate profits aren’t what’s important. Didn’t you see Saebyeol doing NeTube variety shows recently? Anyway, Saebyeol can produce their own content and sell it to anyone since they’re not our broadcasting company.”

 

At Director Hwang’s words, the staff member who recalled the recently popular NeTube variety show nodded.

Then Director Hwang continued speaking.

 

“Anyway, follow-up variety shows like the previous dining table don’t cost much to produce, but if we generously cover the costs, then after this drama hits big, there’ll naturally be substitute demand. People will want to watch similar dramas and variety shows featuring that actor.”

 

The staff member clapped at Director Hwang’s words.

 

“Then we can run the now-stale wardrobe and dining table shows one more time, and starting next year we can bundle the two together as a special on our sub channel.”

 

At the staff member’s response, Director Hwang nodded and continued.

 

“When we’ve caught up this close to terrestrial broadcasting viewership ratings like now, we need to go into consolidation mode. We need to make ‘JNBC is the place for dramas’ stick in viewers’ heads with this opportunity. But what’s the drama’s title?”

“It’s called ‘Parabola.'”

“Hmm, contact them quickly. We need to entice them with something terrestrial broadcasting can’t offer. Tell them if there are any other conditions they want, we’ll accommodate them as much as possible.”

 

Yeon-woo was planning to choose cable or general programming channels that had flexible scheduling anyway, but the broadcasting stations, unaware of this, began competing with conditions to avoid losing out to terrestrial broadcasting.

 

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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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