boyutpedia Chapter 115: Enter (3)
Chapter 115: Enter (3)
While ten entertainment agencies were entering the 'Produce That 100!' campus one after another, PD Woo Han-suk was directing the setup around the stage hall. Including him, dozens of staff members were bustling about.“PD-nim!! Please check the composition!!”
“Yeah!! On it!!”
The final winner announcement had ended, and now it was time to shoot the segment involving the entertainment agencies. Accordingly, seats for the ten entertainment agencies were being arranged in a fan shape in front of the stage. The seat models had already been prepared in advance. They had the feel of white, ㄷ-shaped lecture desks.
The names of the entertainment agencies were engraved in front of the models.
In a way, this was the final setup for 'Produce That 100!', so PD Woo Han-suk had poured a lot of effort into checking everything, and before long, one of the staff members approached him.
“PD-nim, all the agencies are on standby.”
“Yeah?”
PD Woo Han-suk pushed up his glasses and asked again.
“They’re all here?”
“Yes, all ten agencies have arrived.”
“Okay- let’s go.”
After informing the nearby writers of the final setup, PD Woo Han-suk and a few staff members moved. Their destination was a large conference room in a building near the hall. All ten entertainment agencies participating in today’s shoot had gathered there.
Buzz buzz.
Entertainment agencies representatives gathered at a ㅁ-shaped table. Team leaders or higher-ranking executives, along with staff members. Each company had about 3 to 4 people, so in total, the number easily exceeded 40. They were some of the most prominent agencies in the country, and perhaps because they had come well-prepared, their expressions were stiff. The final winners of 'Produce That 100!', Rojun, Si-hoo, Kang Min, and Do-kyung, had already been revealed to them. Perhaps that was why the atmosphere was so tense.
It was understandable.
'No matter what, we have to get them, no matter what.'
Whichever company it was, they were overflowing with desire.
'We have to get them no matter what, because once they debut, they’ll devour everything. And that’s not all? The road to Japan is already paved, so they can cross over there right away even without much build-up.'
They were major entertainment agencies. They had surely done the math long ago, and they possessed data from numerous past idol successes and failures. So how could they not covet the kids from 'Produce That 100!'?
'The initial capital needed to raise an idol is all saved here. On top of that, each member has excellent ability, especially Rojun. Just look at him. Idol, writer, actor, lyricist, he’s a complete package.'
On top of that, the passionate interest of fans from both Korea and Japan was a bonus.
'If we get picked by the winners, it’s basically like winning the Powerball. But... since it’s the final winners who get to choose, the stress is insane. Ugh-'
Because of that, over 40 entertainment agencies representatives were glancing around, engaging in a silent war of nerves. They had all come with a lot prepared, but other agencies surely hadn’t come empty-handed either. This was already a battlefield, just without knives or guns.
Then.
-Swish.
PD Woo Han-suk and his staff entered the meeting room packed with entertainment agencies representatives. The buzzing chatter quieted down, and all eyes turned to PD Woo Han-suk.
“Hello.”
After a brief greeting, PD Woo Han-suk continued with a briefing to the agencies. He explained the filming format he had already told Rojun and the successful contestants, and the upcoming process. He also included the fact that the final selection day would be broadcast live. Some agencies murmured in surprise, while others remained calm as if they had expected it.
“Next, regarding today’s filming- ”
As he swept his gaze across the entertainment agencies representatives, PD Woo Han-suk gave a small smile.
“Before filming with the final winners, you all will first play a simple game in the hall.”
The agencies were visibly flustered.
“G-Game???”
“That wasn’t mentioned before.”
“What kind of game?!”
In contrast, PD Woo Han-suk replied in a relaxed tone.
“Well, just the usual things you see in variety shows. It wouldn’t be fun to jump straight into self-promotion, would it? After all, ‘Produce That 100!’ is still a variety show. The outcome of the game will determine how much time you get for self-promotion. Every success will earn you 10 seconds.”
As murmurs grew louder among the agencies, questions poured in.
“W-What happens if we don’t succeed even once??? Do we get no time for self-promotion at all?”
“No, we’ll provide each company with a basic 30 seconds. Think of the game as a way to earn additional time.”
Each company would receive a baseline of 30 seconds, but if they wanted more, they had to earn it through the game. PD Woo Han-suk added an explanation.
“There needs to be a survival element. I’m sure you all understand, right?”
It was an unexpected turn of events, but the entertainment agencies had no choice but to go along. Compared to the 'Produce That 100!' participants, they were at a weaker level. Where else would they not be eliminated? Either way, the minds of the entertainment agencies representatives grew increasingly tangled. Mostly. No, all of them had prepared self-promotion content that far exceeded 30 seconds.
'Damn it, Woo Han-suk, can’t you just make things easy for once?'
Everyone was carrying their company’s special mission on their shoulders, so the pressure kept building.
'Ugh- what kind of game is this all of a sudden? 30 seconds?? How are we supposed to say all this in that time!!!'
'This is crazy, we’re gonna have to bust our asses to win that game??'
'If we mess this up, we’ll get chewed out back at the company too. This is insane.'
The scene of entertainment agencies that had always been the ‘top dogs’ now flailing as ‘underdogs’ was about to unfold. It was exactly the situation PD Woo Han-suk had intended.
“This is good, though, it’ll entertain the viewers, and if you try hard, it’ll help with your image too. Of course, if the game is too difficult, you’re free to drop out before starting. Any agencies that want to quit?”
“......”
“......”
There was no way anyone would. The agencies fell silent. Some had already started condensing their prepared PR content down to the essentials, in case the game went badly. As PD Woo Han-suk answered the entertainment agencies’ questions, his smile deepened.
“Then we’ll move in 30 minutes.”
Several dozen minutes later.
The ten entertainment agencies moved to the hall where the stage was. Their seats were already set, and PD Woo Han-suk and the staff held out a square box to the agencies.
"Shall we decide the game order first??"
Naturally, filming had already begun. With cameras rolling, the tension on the entertainment agencies representatives’ faces multiplied. Regardless, the 'Produce That 100!' production team was thrilled. While the order for the game was being decided, the writers asked PD Woo Han-suk,
“But PD-nim, what if we don’t get any usable footage for the broadcast?”
As if it were nothing, PD Woo Han-suk shrugged his shoulders.
“Then we skip it. It’s not like we haven’t filmed stuff and ended up not using it before.”
“Ahh-”
If it was usable, they’d edit it as provocatively as possible and air it. If all the footage turned out to be garbage, they’d scrap it and replace it with a single subtitle line. That was it.
Whatever the case, the game order had been determined.
Next, in front of the entertainment agencies, PD Woo Han-suk put his hand into another box. This time, to decide which game they’d play. After a few seconds of fumbling, he pulled out one ball.
“It’s the celebrity game.”
It was a game where they would show a photo of a famous figure, and the person who saw it would have to quickly say the name within a few seconds. Some agencies let out sighs.
“Ha- we’re screwed.”
“I really can’t do this one.”
“Same here.”
Standing on stage, PD Woo Han-suk called the first company.
“‘GN Entertainment’, please come up."
Three people clumsily climbed onto the stage. The woman who looked oldest seemed to be the team leader. Soon, they sat on the prepared chairs, while PD Woo Han-suk, the writers, and other staff stood in front of them.
“Ready? Here we go.”
The game began abruptly. PD Woo Han-suk quickly held up one sheet of paper from a stack. However.
“......”
The female team leader sitting in the first seat only widened her eyes and failed to say a name. Like a goldfish, her mouth opened and closed silently. PD Woo Han-suk showed no mercy.
“Wrong!!!”
“Ahh!! Team leader!”
“Ugh- I, I suddenly blanked!! PD-nim, please just one more chance!! Just once!”
“Nope, GN Entertainment gets 30 seconds of self-promotion!”
GN Entertainment, who had gone up first, was tragically defeated. The female team leader tried to get another chance no matter what, but it was hopeless. In the end, GN Entertainment left the stage just like that. Their expressions were gloomy. Seeing them, clouds formed on the faces of the other agencies as well.
After that, the game continued.
“Ki, Kim Dae-soo!! No, Tae-soo!”
“Wrong!”
“Why! I got it right!”
“It’s not Kim Tae-soo, it’s Lee Tae-soo, right?”
“...Ah, damn.”
Some companies did well at the game, but quite a few failed miserably like GN Entertainment. The best performance came from EY Entertainment, known as one of the top three idol agencies in Korea, who succeeded 7 times. With 30 seconds as the base, they added 70 seconds to earn a total of 100 seconds.
The desperate game filming of the entertainment agencies took about an hour.
"Call the kids."
Next, the four final winners of 'Produce That 100!' entered the stage. Rojun, Si-hoo, Kang Min, and Do-kyung. Dozens of entertainment agency representatives looked up at them. Once again, their greed swelled.
Kang Rojun thought,
‘Whoa- there’s a lot of people.’
He looked calm as he glanced at the scattered entertainment agencies in front of the stage, but inside, he was quite nervous. At that moment, PD Woo Han-suk called the first company.
“EY Entertainment, please begin your self-promotion.”
Then the 100 seconds that EY Entertainment had earned appeared on the screen behind the final winners standing on stage. When PD Woo Han-suk gave the signal, the seconds began counting down, and one of the male executives from EY Entertainment, who had stood up, quickly began the briefing.
“Hello, we’re EY Entertainment! As you all know, we have abundant experience and many achievements when it comes to idols! If you choose EY Entertainment, we’ll support you with everything we’ve got and help you fully spread your wings!! And......”
Even though EY Entertainment held the top record, 100 seconds wasn’t enough, and the self-promotion from the major agency EY Entertainment was both full of confidence and desperation.
Next up.
“Harmony Entertainment, please begin your self-promotion.”
The entertainment agencies continued with their self-promotions, mostly focusing on their strengths rather than weaknesses. Even so, fans in the idol scene would already be well aware of each company’s pros and cons. The joint shoot with the agencies ended only by nighttime.
“Great job, everyone!!”
Some entertainment agencies representatives tried to approach the final winners coming down from the stage, but
“Nope. The entertainment agencies are not allowed to meet the final winners.”
PD Woo Han-suk blocked them completely.
At the same time, in Song Min-geun’s studio.
This was the studio of Song Min-geun, judge for 'Produce That 100!' and hit song maker. Sitting in front of the production equipment was the chubby Song Min-geun, and on the sofa behind him sat a woman with her legs crossed. It was veteran singer Park Hyun-jung, wearing her hat low.
As she sipped her iced Americano and looked at her phone, Park Hyun-jung murmured,
“Wow- the new song from ‘Produce That 100!’ topped the charts in Japan too??”
With a sigh, Song Min-geun shook his head.
“Aren’t you busy? Why are you here again when you’ve got a new album coming out?”
“That’s exactly why I came. I wanted to have some wine with you before things get really busy.”
“What about my opinion?”
“I don’t care about that.”
“Are you insane?”
Still staring at her phone screen, Park Hyun-jung switched the direction of her crossed legs.
“By the way, releasing an album right now is absolute hell. The digital charts are dominated by ‘Produce That 100!’. On top of that, there's even the 'Rental Lover' OST."
“Then avoid it. I heard some idol kids who were planning comebacks delayed their releases.”
“What are you talking about? A real singer breaks through during times like these and delivers results.”
“It’s gonna be tough as hell.”
“I know. But this is the right timing for me.”
“Do whatever. Title track is ‘Black and White Sound’. Have you decided on a sub-title track?”
“For now.”
“So, when’s the new album dropping?”
Only then did Park Hyun-jung lift her head and make eye contact with Song Min-geun.
“Next Monday.”
About two hours later, at the 'Produce That 100!' campus.
It was already late at night. Kang Rojun had spent the day filming a lot. Normally, he’d do other work in the lounge, but today, perhaps due to fatigue, he went straight to bed.
‘Ahh- bed is heaven, heaven.’
Of course, Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung were also lying on their beds. Si-hoo was looking at his phone, while Kang-min and Do-kyung had fallen asleep the moment they lay down. Rojun turned to his side and turned on his phone. He was about to open the ‘AI Simulation’ app, but suddenly something came to mind, and he opened a different app.
Phone banking.
It was about the income he had been thinking about before. He had some expectations, but they weren’t that high. However.
“......Huh?”
Rojun’s eyes suddenly widened when he saw the result. And with good reason. An amount he had never seen before was in his bank account.
'Th, thousands??!!'
Not just thousands, but several thousands.