Chapter 22
"But, senior."
"Oh?"
A junior writer with impressive dark circles under her eyes pointed to the whiteboard.
The trainees' information, editing direction, and points to note written densely on the smooth surface particularly catch the eye.
"What if we decide on the kids we need to push like this and then they don't become popular and fall into the abyss?"
"Less than half of them will survive."
"Yes?"
The main writer took a sip of vending machine coffee and smiled meaningfully.
"I bet you did a lot of research before joining here."
"Right? Because we monitored all the survival programs that came out before."
"Then you'll understand better. No matter how much the production team tries to tailor the story and increase the length, these days' viewers can easily see through it."
In the old days of first-generation survival shows, everyone was fooled by this kind of patchwork, but now, survival show fans who have accumulated enough experience can easily spot even the smallest editing mistakes.
"But why do we push like this and edit according to the situation? It's simple. In short, we opened a showcase. 'We have this pool of trainees. These guys seem pretty good. What do you think?' Here, the ones that the viewers approve of rise to higher ranks, and the ones that they don't like have their growth limited."
"Hmm."
The junior writer was deep in thought, tapping the marker on the desk.
"To put it more simply, it's like picking jade and stone in the beginning."
"That's what it is."
"First, among the trainees who were pushed, those who seemed like they'd be popular were pushed even more. Then, if there are trainees who grow without this push, they are put in the empty spots of the trainees who were dropped. Is that right?"
"You said it exactly."
The main writer put down the paper cup and walked towards the whiteboard.
Among the trainees marked with red stars, there was one number that particularly caught her eye.
There are many points that make him stand out from other trainees.
If done well, a talent can become a unique character that has never appeared before in any survival program.
"And just in case, we're not intentionally putting anyone down or elevating anyone else, right?"
"Honestly, I was a little surprised. It was edited almost exactly as it was. The only difference is the length."
"Yeah. That's what I think. If you really want to debut and are desperate, you'll figure out what you lacked in the past and what points you need to emphasize more by monitoring yourself. Do you understand why they force all the trainees to gather and watch Episode 1?"
The junior writer sighed, resting her chin on her hand.
"It must be hard for the trainees too. They have to be constantly monitored."
"I think it's natural that the more desperate one wins."
"When I was applying for jobs, I was tired of watching three programs, but these guys have to keep watching the programs they appear in. I wouldn't be able to be an idol even if they paid me."
A situation where you don't know what kind of appearance you will show.
Who has stronger mental strength in such a stressful environment?
And who can quickly grasp the minds of the production team and viewers?
All of this determines survival or elimination.
* * *
Well, the beginning wasn't bad.
It started with the usual countdown, just as I remembered.
"3, 2, 1!"
The shouts of energetic boys filled the auditorium.
Kang Si-yoon and I also shouted out the numbers in an excited tone, but Heo Yu-bin, who was sitting next to us, was so nervous that he missed the timing and ended up making a mistake.
"Hehehe!"
"Ahaha! Yubin, this should be 100% done."
"... Is there no mouse hole? I'm so embarrassed that I feel like I could turn to dust and disappear at any moment."
"That kind of magic doesn't exist in this world, Yubin."
"Ahhhh."
The first episode of
All the trainees on site were swallowing dry saliva and were on edge.
And the national managers, who were staring at their TV screens at home, were also communicating with each other in various communities with trembling hearts.
―Wow, my heart is about to break. I already adopted my favorite character, but what if the amount of footage is cut like a dog from the first episode?....
[입양
└Is he PD Pick? If it's PD Pick, then the amount is definitely guaranteed, or you just have to work hard.... Even if he doesn't come out today, you can't help but think he will come out well next week.
└He was caught in the scene where Teacher Kang-woo was scolding in the trailer ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎㅠ Honestly, the amount of time was enough, but I'm worried that he might not be able to properly show his skills because he got scolded so much ㅠㅠㅠㅜ
└Then, unless it's an editing scam, the amount of time will definitely be included. My favorite in the other program had a total of 15 minutes of time up to episode 5ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└Too much of a dog
―I really want to see Yoon Fe and Suma in high definition. I'm going crazy because of the preview. I think I'm going to cry.
└Fr ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ This is the first time in my life that I felt my eyes opening after watching a preview
└(Photo) (Photo) The two are put together, so the combination of their faces is crazy
└If a second team battle like this comes out, these guys are really going to eat everything up ㅋㅋㅋㅋ If K-Net has any thoughts, they will definitely prevent them from falling
└The most handsome of all the survivals
└The eyes are fucking good. I'm sure there will be a lot of content today??ㅠㅠㅠㅠ fuck
└If it gets some attention and builds a fandom, they will definitely broadcast it.
The national managers' top concern was the portion size of their favorites.
Because the more content they have, the more likely they are to rank highly in the first global vote that opens at the same time as the first episode begins.
Kang Si-yoon and I were also having a quiet conversation while watching the broadcast.
"Do you think the level tests will come out in the actual order?"
"So far, everything is proceeding in order. There don't seem to be any particular problems. But...."
"If there's one thing that bothers me, it's that it passes by so quickly."
I nodded quietly.
However, it is impossible to show all 96 trainees at once due to time constraints.
Even taking that into account, our entrance scene was progressing at a very fast pace.
'I came out almost in passing.'
Meanwhile, Heo Yu-bin was wiping his face.
"I didn't even show up! What should I do, hyungs? Am I screwed? What if I get edited out?"
"That's unlikely, Yubin. Didn't you get favorable reviews in the final evaluation?"
"What if I get cut off because there's not much to see in the level test?"
"Let's just wait and see, don't worry too much. It's only been about 10 minutes."
The moment the rule that you can lose your name depending on your tier was explained, the viewers' reactions exploded.
―Are you crazy?? You don't even get names below Tier 3???
―ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ A class that starts by reforming the kids' mentality from the beginning
―I'm holding my hands together and praying right now. Starting from episode 1, your name shouldn't disappear and your screen time shouldn't be cut. Please, my favorite.
―ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ As expected, the editing on K-net from episode 1 is just so freaking awesome. I'm already worried about how vicious the methods they'll use later on
As viewers feared, the trainees who started the level test were unable to overcome the pressure and collapsed miserably.
[You made too many mistakes on stage. Even if you were nervous, you shouldn't have shown it so that your true skills could come out.... It's a shame.]
[Sorry. I'll show you a better look next time!]
[You have to keep that promise. It honestly looks difficult in your current state.]
As the judges continued their harsh criticism, the atmosphere became even more gloomy.
In the end, everyone was shown lowering their heads and receiving Tier 3.
[Q: How are you feeling right now?]
[... To be honest, I feel really lost. I lost my name at the start and am now being called by a number. I think my confidence is dropping.]
[It's okay! (bright smile) If I hadn't made mistakes, this wouldn't have happened. I think I'll be able to find my name again if I show a better stage next time. Fighting, trainee number 24!]
Here again, the answers were clearly divided.
Trainees who were mentally shaken expressed their anxiety.
The trainees who harbored greed and venom maintained bright attitudes rather than frustrated faces.
'Those guys will probably get a bit more screen time during practice.'
There is no production team in the world that would turn down a desperate narrative.
I continued watching the broadcast, biting my lip lightly.
It was coming out in the order of the level test without any editing.
That means it's my turn soon.
[Ha. I'm a little tired.]
[There are more trainees who go below Tier 3 than we might think?]
[It's because the kids are so nervous.]
During the stage re-organization time, a brief conversation between the judges could be heard.
Some people looked a little disappointed, while others sighed in regret.
[Trainees who couldn't overcome their nervousness and showed a disappointing performance]
[But the trainee preparing now has a different vibe?]
A line came out that sounded like an expedition team had discovered a mysterious animal.
Even the BGM was changed to grandiose music that did not fit the program.
[Q: Weren't you scared of coming to Korea alone?]
[???: I wasn't scared at all. I was actually excited because I got to experience a culture I've always admired.]
[Q: How did you become so good at Korean?]
[???: It's the power of self-study. I studied hard while reading webtoons and web novels. Romance fantasy is really fun.]
[Q: Aren't you nervous about the level test coming up?]
[???: I won't be nervous. I'll do it without making any mistakes since I prepared hard.]
A familiar voice came to my ears.
Kang Si-yoon, who was sitting next to me, reacted immediately and poked me in the ribs.
"Wow, is this the power of romance novels? You even have a pre-interview?"
"... It's good to come out, but that's a little embarrassing."
"What are you embarrassed about? You even shouted out in front of the judges that you like fantasy!"
"I wonder if that will be broadcast as is."
"Of course."
The character was chosen just as I had intended from the beginning.
It has clear differentiation and has become an aggro source that explains my Korean language skills well.
But still, I lack the courage to see myself like that.
[The next participant will come in.]
At the production crew's call, Karis von Walden walked onto the stage with a confident gait.
And the moment he appears.
As the screen became brighter and brighter, all kinds of flowers began to bloom.
"...."
"...."
"Ahahahaha! Ah, this is driving me crazy!"
While Heo Yu-bin and I were quietly staring at the screen with our mouths open, Kang Si-yoon slapped his thigh, finding it so funny.
Soon, Heo Yu-bin also began clapping and cheering loudly.
"Karis hyung-nim! You look really handsome! I think the effects worked really well! Awesome! Handsome people are the best!"
"Tha, thank you."
"I think even a man would fall in love with you!"
As the energy of the guys sitting next to me went up, I couldn't raise my face in shame.
But the ego within me gave me a cold directive.
'Since I'm going to play this kind of character, I should hold my head up high and enjoy it.'
So I just pretended to be crazy, held my head up high, and smiled faintly.
[....]
[A foreigner?]
[He's really handsome.]
[Wow, he's really handsome.]
The expressions of the trainees that I had not seen before were also shown in close-up detail.
Everyone was unconsciously muttering that he was handsome.
And then there was the sight of trainer Baek Chae-hyun staring at me with her mouth wide open, as if she were taking a picture of a dragon's head.
"Karis is handsome!"
"As expected, he's in charge of the face! His visuals are amazing!"
"You're handsome, hyung!"
As a result, Park Se-han, Ken Hashimoto, and Oh Tae-young, who had been quiet until then, became chaotic.
It seemed as if the other trainees had been infected as well, and now the entire auditorium was applauding Karis von Walden, who was surrounded by flowers.
... Yes, regardless of the situation, the quantity was definitely secured.
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