"Have you heard? Producer Gu is back from Paris," Writer Han says peeking her through the door of the editing room
Kim Sanwoo pumps his fist in the air but stops midway as Kang Chaeri's stern glare falls on him. Writer Han steps back gingerly and closes the door.
"You still want to go back to Gu Yeoreum's team," she states. She slams a folder on the table and sits down.
"I'm not going back. I have always been on her team to begin with. Producer Kang, you know that your way of doing things isn't my style at all."
"Can't you be indirect?" She muttered.
"Don't worry! I'm sure there are others who want to work with you. And I have no doubt that your next show will be a hit as well." He flexes his arm muscles denoting a 'fighting' gesture before scurrying out of the room.
Kang Chaeri picks up her folder. Even though the director has granted her permission, she is still a bit skeptical about this show she has picked.
"Get a hold of yourself, Kang Chaeri!" She scolds herself. She stamps her feet on the floor and wiggles her arms childishly. "Ohh! Gu Yeoreum must have jinxed me for me to be behaving this way," she whines.
She sits back, a thought suddenly occuring to her.
*
"Is everyone here?" Kang Chaeri asks as she walks in.
"Hmm," she hears her team members respond.
She takes her seat at the head of the table. Her eyes fall on a strange face and she reacts instantly.
"Who told you to come here?" She asks angrily.
"This is assistant producer Lee. The director asked him to join the team," Writer Han says.
"No," Chaeri begins frustratedly. "Why is there someone wearing glasses on the team?" She asks.
"What do you mean?" Heechang retorts. "Writer Han also wears glasses."
Writer Han tries to hide the smile forming on her face. She knows very well that Chaeri is trying to make a daunting remark about their new member.
"Producer Kang, should we begin the meeting? We need to discuss how we are going to recruit the cast this time around," Han says diverting Chaeri's attention once and for all.
"That's true," Chaeri says.
"How about we bring in the families of the cast for kingdom of love?" Minsoo suggests.
"I was thinking something more spicy," Chaeri says. They all listen to her cautiously.
"We can do it like the audition for kingdom of love," she says. "People that are interested in making their families appear on the show can audition."
"Producer Kang, on what basis would we screen the applicants? For a family reality show, we don't want a family that lives their lives too simply. Not many people would be willing to watch," Lee states.
Chaeri looks impressed but doesn't commend him.
"Producer Kang, it looks like assistant producer Lee reasons the way you do," Heechang says and laughs nervously.
"That's a relief. I was hoping he's not anything like those two losers of a producer." She sneers.
"What about the venue for the show?" Han asks. "Do we film at their respective houses or do we bring all of them to a particular location?"
Chaeri hits her pen on the desk in a continuous pattern. The others wait for her to speak. "What do you guys think?"
She intertwines her fingers and places her chin against them.
"I think going to different locations will put the production team through great stress. We should have them come to a location."
"Yes, I agree with assistance producer Lee," Han says.
"But would we be able to contain all of them in one location? Without one family interfering with another?" Chaeri reasons. They all fall silent.
"Producer Kang? How many families would be on the show?" Lee asks.
"Five to ten," she says.
"Five?" "Ten?" Han and Heechang exclaim together.
"Why? Is it too small?" Chaeri asks.
"Producer Kang, why don't we make it five for now? And if the show has a good feedback from the audience, then we can do a season two," Han suggests.
"Yes, just like kingdom of love," Heechang adds.
"Fine. Fine. Have it your way," Chaeri says. "Is there anything else?"
There is no reply from her team. She makes an attempt to stand up.
"Producer Kang?" Lee calls softly. She gives him a bored look.
"What is the name of the show going to be?" He asks.
"Problematic family," she says.
"Sorry?" Lee remarks subconsciously.
They all look at her like she has horns on her head before exchanging glances with one another.
"Producer Kang!" Han says helplessly. "No one will want to join a show that has such name," she complains.
"Why?" Chaeri shrugs. "The audience will love it," she states. "Also, there's no way people wouldn't join. They are going to be paid after all."
*
"Producer Kang," Minsoo says hesitantly. It is closing hours and Chaeri is about to flag down a taxi.
"What is it?" She turns around.
"I was thinking we should go ahead with four families," Minsoo says.
Seeing Chaeri's indifferent look, she hurriedly flips open her file.
"We can have a rich family having a crisis, a poor family having a crisis, a rich family having no issue and then a poor family having no issue as well."
"And you are telling me this now. For what?" Chaeri asks.
"Just because," Minsoo replies hugging the file to her chest.
"I'll see you tomorrow, producer Kang." She gives a bow before turning on her heels.
Chaeri thinks for a moment before hailing a taxi. Once in the taxi, she thinks that Minsoo is probably in a similar situation like she is.
She soon gets to her house and goes indoors. Her house is quite clean and tidy. She kicks off her shoes and settles herself on the couch. Her head is thrown backwards and her eyes slowly close.
She hears a notification sound from her phone and retrieves it from her bag. She isn't surprised to see the wedding invitation of Chef Jang and Jiwon in a post. Both were casts in her just concluded reality show, kingdom of love.
Chaeri stares at her phone screen for a while before turning it face down on the centre table. She reaches for some jellies in a glass bowl which is also on the centre table. Then she lowers herself on the floor silently munching on the jellies.
*
"Have you discussed the modalities for screening?" The director asks. He has summoned Producer Kang to his office to see how the new program is going.
"Not yet," she replies. She sounds so tired that the director looks at her cautiously. He decides to be gentle with her.
"I hope you are not thinking of having an audition," he says.
"What's wrong with an audition?" She asks.
"How many families have applied?"
"Seventeen," she replies instantly.
"Do you expect seventeen families here at the company? Are we a tourist centre or what?"
Chaeri fumes silently. "What exactly are we supposed to do, director?" She bits back failing to keep her voice calm.
The director leans back in his seat. "Go to their houses. The company will cover the transportation costs."
"Ahh!" She nods her head satisfied. "Director? Nice!" She gives him two thumbs up before standing up.
"You know you have to make this successful, right?" He calls after her. She is about to leave his office.
"Why are you suddenly saying this?" She asks.
"It's nothing. I'm only looking out for you."
Chaeri nods and gives him a small bow before heading to the meeting room.
"Producer Kang, there might be a problem," Heechang says as soon as she comes in.
"What is it?" She asks. Her team is silent for a while until Writer Han decides to break the silence.
"The other team is working on a pre-wedding to honeymoon series of Park Jiwan and Chef Jang."
"What?" Chaeri exclaims stupefied.
"Apparently, it was Producer Kim's idea. He and producer Gu will be working on it. The director approved," Heechang adds.
"Gu Yeoreum! Kim Sanwoo!" Chaeri screams and stomps her feet.
"They'll be shooting in the Bahamas. That's where the couple wants their honeymoon," Han says.
"Those were casts from my show!" Chaeri says in disbelief. "Only I get to decide what I do with them."
"You and producer Gu worked on it together. She also has a right to it," Assistant producer Lee says. Chaeri shoots him a glare and he skillfully avoids her gaze.
"So what if we'll be stuck here while they enjoy at the Bahamas, we still have a show to run. We can still get top ratings," Minsoo says.
Chaeri folds her arms. "The wedding is about three months away, right?"
They all nod their heads.
"Then we'll have to make sure we air all our episodes before then."
Heechang is the first to burst into laughter at Chaeri's unrealistic opinion. But he quickly quietens down when he sees how serious she is.
"I don't think we should do that," assistant producer Lee says. "It would be a great strain on the team. Besides, I'm sure problematic family will be fine. After all, it's your show right? Producer Kang?"
A light twinkles in Chaeri's eyes.