Chapter 48 - An Eye for Actors

『 Translator – Divinity 』

The rest area next to the broadcasting station building.

PD Park Jong-hoon, who was sitting on a bench there, stretched.

“Aah, that's refreshing.”

Unlike when he was groaning on the cot in the Drama Department earlier, his expression was very bright.

“Somehow, I feel like my hangover has completely disappeared. My head has cleared up too.”

“It's probably because your neck and shoulders have become more comfortable.”

A moment ago, Baek Hyeon-woo had given Park Jong-hoon a massage centered on his trapezius muscles.

This was because a load was being placed on his acromioclavicular joint due to the shortening of his trapezius.

He had been continuously feeling pain since receiving the rotator cuff surgery, but it wasn't that the operated area was at fault.

It was because after the surgery, the muscle called the serratus anterior had weakened, and as a result, an excessive burden had been placed on the trapezius instead.

“Please frequently do the stretches I taught you earlier... and it would also be good to get an ultrasound exam on your acromioclavicular joint at the hospital.”

“Ah, do you by any chance know a good hospital?”

“Um… there's a place in Yeongdeungpo called Tong Tong Rehabilitation Clinic.”

Baek Hyeon-woo hesitated for a moment and then answered.

“The director is a bit unkind, but his skills are good. There's a physical therapist I know there, so if you're going to visit, I'll contact them in advance.”

“Ah, if you could do that, I'd be grateful.”

Somehow, he had ended up continuously sending patients to Tong Tong Rehabilitation Clinic.

However, it was the only hospital near the Yeouido broadcasting station that Baek Hyeon-woo knew well, so it couldn't be helped.

“But why didn't the hospital where I had surgery know this?”

“It was probably because it's an uncommon case. There are many people who feel pain after rotator cuff surgery, but it's mostly because the rotator cuff didn't attach properly or became rigid. Someone who is in pain like you, PD-nim, is uncommon.”

“So you caught that uncommon case right away, Hyeon-woo-ssi?”

“Because if it were a common case, the hospital would have already dealt with it. I was able to figure it out quickly because I expected there would be an uncommon cause and examined it as such.”

“Ah, that's true too.”

If it were a symptom that would improve well with the routine treatment performed at a hospital, there would have been no reason to ask Baek Hyeon-woo for help in the first place.

Therefore, all Baek Hyeon-woo had to do was assume there was a cause that hospitals easily miss and examine things one by one.

“You're really smart and know a lot, Hyeon-woo-ssi. There was a reason PD Yoo recommended you.”

Park Jong-hoon smiled and nodded his head.

“Thanks to you, Hyeon-woo-ssi, I'm relieved now.”

“If you have any uncomfortable parts again later, please contact me.”

“Yeah, so then…”

Leaning his body toward Baek Hyeon-woo, Park Jong-hoon asked a question.

“Hyeon-woo-ssi, what can I help you with?”

“Pardon?”

“Don't play innocent. You came here this early in the morning and took care of me with such sincerity because there's something you want, isn't there.”

The reason entertainment agency managers try to take care of even the private matters of broadcasting station PDs is because the authority of PDs is very great.

Where would you find a manager who approaches a PD out of pure kindness alone?

The PDs also know all about such ulterior motives.

“There's no way you'd come here this early in the morning and massage my shoulder for no reason. Stop beating around the bush and say it.”

“Understood.”

As long as Park Jong-hoon was urging him like this, Baek Hyeon-woo had no choice but to get straight to the point.

“Actually, in the group I'm in charge of, Newstarz, there is a member who has a talent for acting.”

Baek Hyeon-woo took out a tablet and showed him Kim So-yeong's file.

“Her name is Kim So-yeong, and she is also active as a model.”

“And no acting experience yet?”

“She is receiving lessons.”

Since being freed from the burden of being the main vocalist, Kim So-yeong has been receiving acting lessons in her spare moments.

According to her instructor, it seemed she definitely has talent as an actress.

“If HBS gives her a chance, she will work hard.”

“Hmm…”

Originally, for things like dramas, a private audition is the principle.

For that reason, if the production team doesn't put you on the list, it's impossible to even try out for the audition.

Because Haram Entertainment is an agency with no track record in acting, they have to start by just getting a name on the audition list.

If she participates in the audition like that and shows a good performance, only then can she appear in the drama.

“Well… her face and atmosphere are good.”

Park Jong-hoon nodded while checking the profile picture.

“Hyeon-woo-ssi, for now, send me these files by email. I'll review it.”

“Yes, understood.”

There was no talk of giving her a chance to audition.

A situation where he had only heard the perfunctory answer that he would review it.

However, Baek Hyeon-woo was not disappointed.

“PD-nim, Newstarz is also scheduled to appear on 'Music World' this Friday.”

“'Music World'?”

“It's a pre-recording, but if you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you could come and watch.”

Baek Hyeon-woo said in a clear voice.

“Because you'll be able to see for yourself what kind of kid Kim So-yeong is.”

“Um…”

Park Jong-hoon scratched his head.

“If I have time, I'll go take a look.”

***

‘Kim So-yeong...’

Park Jong-hoon, who was sitting in his chair, immediately operated his mouse.

And he began to check the profile pictures of Kim So-yeong that Baek Hyeon-woo had sent by email.

‘Her gaze is really strong.’

He had shown an indifferent reaction in front of Baek Hyeon-woo, but right now, Park Jong-hoon's mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of Kim So-yeong.

‘She's tall, her figure is well-proportioned, and her features are distinct...’

Park Jong-hoon groaned as he examined Kim So-yeong, who was striking a confident pose in a women's magazine photoshoot.

‘This... fits the image of Wol-hwa perfectly.’

Wol-hwa is a female warrior who appears in a semi-main role in 'Unshakeable Dynasty'.

She was scheduled to be depicted as a swordswoman who, despite her young age, possessed both outstanding skills and charisma.

Kim So-yeong fit that image of Wol-hwa perfectly.

‘Visually, she's Wol-hwa herself. How did a kid like this appear so suddenly?’

Wol-hwa is a taciturn character, so she has to act with her gaze rather than with lines.

However, Kim So-yeong's gaze seemed flawless for acting as Wol-hwa.

‘However...’

Park Jong-hoon opened another file.

At that, the image of a female idol striking a pose was displayed.

It was N.A.N's Ryu-hwa, whom UBX Director Kim Do-gyun had recommended yesterday.

‘Right now, it's a situation where I have to insert her into the role of Wol-hwa...’

N.A.N's Ryu-hwa is also on the quite tall and distinct-featured side.

It's not that she has any disqualifying factors for playing the female swordswoman, Wol-hwa.

However, when compared with Kim So-yeong, her gaze was too weak.

Her overall aura also felt lacking.

‘The more I compare them... the more it seems like Kim So-yeong is better.’

Park Jong-hoon let out a sigh, checking Kim So-yeong's and Ryu-hwa's files back and forth.

If he hadn't known about Kim So-yeong at all, he would have been able to push for Ryu-hwa without hesitation, but now, Kim So-yeong looked like an upgrade to Ryu-hwa.

If he was going to pick a former girl group idol anyway, it seemed Kim So-yeong would be better.

‘Of course, that's just speaking in terms of the project itself...’

If he thought about the parts outside of the project, it was right to cast Ryu-hwa from the large agency UBX.

The Haram Entertainment that Kim So-yeong belongs to is a small-scale company, so they can't provide much support.

It won't be a help in advancing overseas either.

“……”

Park Jong-hoon suddenly turned his gaze to his own bag.

Inside the bag was the envelope that Kim Do-gyun had forced upon him.

‘Yes... it can't be helped. I have to give the role of Wol-hwa to Ryu-hwa.’

Even if I put Kim So-yeong on the audition list, in the end, the role will go to Ryu-hwa.

Because the result is already decided.

‘I can just give her a minor role later. That should be enough as repayment for today's work.’

There's no need to tell her to bother applying for an audition where the result is already set.

Thinking that he should give her a chance to apply for a suitable minor role, Park Jong-hoon operated his mouse and closed all the windows.

‘Let's just do other work.’

It was Park Jong-hoon who had come to that conclusion and was about to do other work, but.

The thought of Kim So-yeong wouldn't leave his mind.

The photoshoot of Kim So-yeong he had seen earlier kept coming to mind, and he kept imagining Kim So-yeong acting as Wol-hwa.

‘Ah, damn it.’

In the end, Park Jong-hoon stopped his work.

And letting out a sigh, he checked his scheduler.

‘He said this Friday, right?’

***

Finally, the Friday to film 'Music World' had arrived.

Newstarz went to the broadcasting station from dawn to prepare for the set pre-recording.

“Even though it's a recording, it's not like you can use an infinite amount of time. Everyone, do your best.”

“Yes, Team Leader!”

While Park Yeong-ho was checking on the members, Baek Hyeon-woo did a final check of the set with Choi Tae-hyung.

Thanks to Choi Tae-hyung proceeding with the work meticulously, they were able to create a wonderful set even with a relatively small budget.

“This set is really wonderful.”

“Yeah, at this level, we won't lose out even to the large agencies.”

At Baek Hyeon-woo's impression, Choi Tae-hyung said proudly.

“These days, viewers also watch the music show sets and analyze one by one who spent a lot of money and who spent little. So you have to make the most plausible set possible.”

“At this level, the Newstarz fans will also become proud.”

“Yeah, even people who weren't interested in Newstarz will see this stage and think, 'It seems those kids are doing well'.”

There are people who cheer even more enthusiastically for them because they're a minor group from a company with no money.

However, most people give more interest to the side that is doing well.

If they show a wonderful stage with a splendid set as the background on this broadcast, even more people than now will become interested in Newstarz.

“Ah, come to think of it.”

In the middle of having that conversation, Choi Tae-hyung lowered his voice and asked.

“Is there no reaction from PD Park Jong-hoon's side?”

“There's been no contact yet.”

“Hmm.”

Choi Tae-hyung nodded as if he roughly understood.

“Don't be too disappointed. It's a common thing for PDs to take everything they can get and then wipe their mouths clean.”

“Still, if possible, I want to be acknowledged by PD Park-nim.”

Baek Hyeon-woo said in a calm voice.

“PD Park-nim, I hear he has an excellent eye for actors?”

“What?”

“I heard that the rookie actors PD Park-nim personally picked all became huge hits. That he has a discerning eye for recognizing potential from the very beginning.”

“What era are you talking about?”

Choi Tae-hyung scoffed.

“It's true that he was like that in the past, but now he probably just casts while being mindful of large agencies or sponsors, like other PDs.”

“Just because of that, it doesn't mean his eye for actors has gone anywhere.”

Kim So-yeong possessed the potential of a Visual S.

If Park Jong-hoon possessed an eye for recognizing potential from the beginning, he would surely be able to see through to the fact that Kim So-yeong is a talent worth using.

For that to happen, Park Jong-hoon has to watch Kim So-yeong with interest.

Only then can he determine whether she is the sprout of a promising tree or not.

The reason Baek Hyeon-woo approached Park Jong-hoon wasn't because he wanted him to give her just any role.

It was because he hoped that Park Jong-hoon would properly observe Kim So-yeong and give her a role befitting her talent.

“I believe that if it's PD Park-nim, he will recognize So-yeong's value.”

Baek Hyeon-woo turned back and lifted his head.

“That is, if he intends to make the best project without compromising.”

In the distance, the figure of PD Park Jong-hoon entering from behind the audience seats could be seen.