I Will Live as an Actor Episode 116
Ratings.
In the broadcasting industry, there is a common saying that the first episode determines the success or failure of future broadcasts. Therefore, whether it is a drama or an entertainment show, people tend to bet on the first episode, and this is especially true for historical dramas.
Not only is PPL impossible due to the historical background of the script, but it also has implications for viewership ratings due to the high cost of setting up a set. In that sense, it was no exaggeration to say that the MBS historical drama âThe Secret of King Yeonsanâ was a huge hit from its first broadcast.
âDid you hear from Producer Kim? That the first episode of the Yeonsan drama had over 2-digit viewership ratings?â
âI guess I just heard it. In these times, the first episode was filmed at 27%, and who doesnât know? I heard the drama department is going crazy right now.â
âWhatâs going on? Isnât this an auspicious day?â
âThat became ambiguous. They say that the drama that ended early before that drama was launched was produced by Producer Park. I tried to raise production costs somehow to try to get a CP this time, but it went to waste and the junior drama that was put in after that was a huge hit from the first episode. . And there was a lot of talk in the first place. A historical drama that no one was willing to take on became a hit from the first episode, so the other producers are absolutely heartbroken.â
The historical drama âKing Yeonsanâs Secretâ was talked about by everyone in the entertainment and current affairs bureaus of MBS Broadcasting Station from the first episode. After all, isnât this a drama that everyone predicted would fail? I thought it would suffer a crushing defeat as it was pushed out by KBC, known as the best historical drama, but when I opened the lid, it was overwhelming the KBC historical drama that was launched at the same time from the first episode.
âHey, thereâs a drama coming up. Letâs go down.â
The producers of the entertainment department who were having a conversation on the rooftop of the MBS broadcasting station office building saw the faces of the producers of the drama department and hurriedly put out their cigarettes and went downstairs.
âSenior Choi, are you going to the directorâs dinner today?â
âWhat kind of dinner party all of a sudden?â
âYou know, PD Yuâs drama. From what I heard, the head of the department is also comingâ¦â
âHey, you clueless bastard, do you really need to say that here? I already know that Senior Park is having a hard time right now, but he will be there in a little while. âWhen you come up, donât even say something like that out loud. And the head of the department is like that too. At some point, he always talked about how pretty Senior Park was.â
MBS drama producer Kim Young-cheol sticks out his lips. Broadcasting is a jungle. As with any other corporate life, isnât the secret to surviving just getting to the line? In that sense, it is no exaggeration to say that these two people are along the lines of the general manager. Just then, PD Park comes up to the rooftop.
âWhat are you two talking about so much? And are you going to attend the dinner today? Even the general manager is coming, so if you can, you should postpone your schedule and attend.â
âNo, Senior Park. Are you going there?â
âWhy canât I attend? Itâs been a while since the salty director said he was going to shoot beef, so of course I have to go.â
âI really want it. Senior Park is upset because heâs in a good mood. To be honest, the director is also like that. Even if the first episode was a huge success, how can it be possible to hold a party when the other party is a mournerâs house? Anyone who sees it will think that only Yoongi is my child. . And the head of the department also made a habit of saying that senior Park should have a CP at some point, but now that the show has ended early, he hasnât shut up.â
âDonât be like that. Iâm in a bad mood right now, but can you just stick out your ass? And you know that the director isnât the type of person to take back what he said. Donât worry. This spring day wonât last long.â
PD Park puts a cigarette in his mouth and elaborates.
âThere is a saying that the first step is the best step. Our drama department pushed it so much that it should get that much viewership rating. And it all went viral because Jang Young-guk and Cha Hye-jin appeared in it. Thatâs the way it is, the restaurant business is also the first step. âIt only gets popular when it opens and then goes downhill all the time. I donât think this atmosphere will last long.â
PD Kim Young-cheol, who is listening to the conversation between the two seniors, still cannot erase his doubts. Is the first shot really the last shot?
* * *
The atmosphere at the filming site feels like a spring day with cherry blossoms already in full bloom. It was natural since the viewership rating from the first airing was 27%. Moreover, articles are already pouring in due to Englandâs dual role, which appeared briefly in the first episode. The appearances of the crown prince and the butcher were so different that it felt like two completely different actors were used for the roles.
âEngland, when filming scene 31 today, donât drink too much at once because itâs not really alcohol. You know that if you get caught, you have to skip the scene again.â
âI understand. By the way, PD Yuâs expression looks bright today.â
âOf course. I prayed for only 2 spots when it first aired, but I got 27% of the spots. A few days ago, we had a small dinner party within the drama department. At that time, the director gave me a golden salary to have a dinner party with the filming team.â
âShould we call author Choi too?â
Yoo Myung nods his head briefly and elaborates with a meaningful expression.
âBy the way, England, if a reward comes out this time, will you go together?â
âArenât you already drinking kimchi soup?â
âWhy donât you at least try the kimchi soup? This time, I told the general manager that I will send it overseas. I heard you talk about it at SBC and you said you didnât even go to Phuket.â
âI couldnât go because I had work to do at the time. By the way, only the first episode has aired yet, and you are so conceited that it is unbecoming of PD Yoo to give you a reward vacation.â
âItâs because you havenât seen the edited video yet. You canât be sure because you only check it on the monitor after each filming. I assure you, as the episodes continue, it will be a home run.â
England chuckles. If viewership ratings continue to skyrocket, the reward vacation wasnât a lie, as the famous producer said. Eventually, AD Kim Young-minâs voice is heard saying that standby is complete.
âScene number 31: The reason for the evil evilâ!â
King Yeonsangun is holding a banquet at the residence of Grand Prince Jean (é½å®å¤§å). Prince Jean, called the foolish prince, does not know why Yeonsangun leaves the palace and comes to his mansion. It was because of his wife, a woman named Jang Noksu.
âThe name Jang Noksu is truly beautiful. He means the blue road of the Yalu River. Now, can you show off your dance moves for me?â
âHow could I disobey Your Majestyâs orders?â
Yeonsangun Lee Yung drinks while watching the dance moves of Jang Noksu, who is carrying a Jango at an angle on his shoulder. After ascending to the throne, I felt like I had gained the world. But there were still many things that couldnât be done. There are too many opposing forces to control the world just by sitting on the throne. However, this is something I have known since my days as crown prince. At that moment, the voice of Gwak San, who is also in private attire, is heard.
âHis Majesty Muryeong has arrived.â
âListen.â
When Yeonsangun raises his hand, Jang Noksu stops dancing. Soon, Muryeonggun Yu Ja-gwang enters Daecheong. As his weasel-like beard suggests, he is a known treacherous person. The reason why Yeonsangun summoned him to Grand Prince Jeanâs mansion was simple.
âMuryeong-gun, itâs been a while. Do you understand why I called you here?â
âI heard from you that there is a commandment. Whatever the task, I will complete it even if it means burning my body.â
âYour faults are so great that you have not yet been promoted to a major official position in the royal court, but I always keep you in mind. The reason I called you here today is because you have to do one thing on my behalf.â
The eyes of Yu Ja-gwang, who is lying face down, are brightly shining.
âGod, what can I do?â
âFind the collection of the late Kim Jong-jikâs works and dig through them. Then, tell me everything as if you were exposing it to the whole world. Then, I will use it very usefully.â
âKim Jong-jik isâ¦.â
He is a person who was called the leader of the Sarim faction. Although he has already passed away, it is no exaggeration to say that the sentences and spirit he left behind are at the center of the Sarim school of thought. Why did Yeonsangun Lee Yung lure Yu Ja-gwang into looking for the collection of works by Kim Jong-jik, who had already died? Eventually, as Yoo Ja-gwang leaves the main hall, Jang Nok-su makes an extravagant gesture and approaches Yeonsangun Lee Yong.
âYour Majesty, the author is called a treacherous person. Why did you call him here?â
No one would be able to speak carelessly to the heavenly head of state. But Jang Noksu was different. As she was called the best seductress of Joseon, she has no hesitation in her attitude towards Yeonsan. Yeonsangun glances at her as if she is interested, then raises his glass again.
Despite Jang Noksuâs bewitching eyes, Yeonsangunâs eyes are looking far away. The waves lapping on the glass are like the blood-red waves that will arrive soon. Yeonsan puts down his glass loudly and says.
âIt is to wield a sword in the government.â
* * *
âMom, I said I have something to see.â
âNo, thatâs okay! I said I canât do it now. Itâs time to tell King Yeonsanâs secret soon.â
Shin Jae-heeâs mouth sticks out. I donât usually watch TV often, but I didnât want to give up today. This is the day that the Changsha Special International Lawyer Documentary airs on SBC. Iâve always been interested in international lawyers, so I wanted to see them, but for some reason my mother doesnât want to give in.
âWhat on earth is so funny about that?â
âStop talking nonsense and take a look at how cool England looks.â
âtooth.â
Itâs okay if you come out cool. Isnât he an actor only on a TV screen, but isnât he just an undergraduate student at school? Moreover, whether I knew it or not, I was unlucky. It was like that even during the criminal mock trial lecture. Donât you ask more questions than other undergraduate students?
I had so many questions that I ended up chatting alone with the professor for a long time after the lecture was over. Now, I am so puzzled that I wonder where on earth someone like that came from. In the end, Shin Jae-hee couldnât contain his curiosity and asked him if he had done any prior study before entering university. The answer he got was shocking.
-No, I just understood because I started studying after entering school.
Even Shin Jae-hee, who is not inferior to others when it comes to studying, is so upset that other undergraduate students must be shocked. Soon, historical dramas began to air on TV.
âYouâre good at acting.â
The drama was so captivating that Shin Jae-hee, who usually didnât watch dramas, found herself sitting still. In particular, I couldnât take my eyes off him as he played the dual roles of the crown prince and the butcher. Arenât these two roles so different in personality that people who donât know them might wonder if they are really the same person?
How much time has passed?
âand.â
When the drama ended with the scene where Jang Nok-soo held a knife to his throat, Shin Jae-hee exhaled admiration without realizing it. Cha Hye-jin, who is said to be the most beautiful woman in Korea, was a perfect fit for the role of Jang Nok-su.
However, the eyes of those watching the broadcast now will be on Jang Young-guk, who played Yeonsangun, just as she is. Jang Young-gukâs hand gestures and low bass vocals have a knack for shaking peopleâs hearts whether they know it or not. As proof of this, Jang Noksuâs pupils in the cathode ray tube were also shaking violently.
Eventually, the trailer announcing the next episode was enough to shake womenâs hearts even more. There was a brief glimpse of the Crown Prince doing push-ups alone in the East Palace. When the drama, including the trailer, is over, Shin Jae-hee says without realizing it.
âMom, when are we going to do this again?â