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Chapter 3
WHEN I GET ON SET THE NEXT DAY SO WE CANstart filming the fifth episode, things arenothow I thought they would be.
It’s not that I expected a pat on the back or a “Congratulations, everyone, we did it!” but I thought there would at least be some positive vibes since we finally had our show out in the world. Instead, there’s chaos. Pure chaos.
“The ratings for the first episode are in, and we’re only ranked fifth!”
“Auntie’s Sandwiches dropped their sponsorship! I knew we should have had more shots of Bryan eating the sandwich!”
“What do you mean the script for episode six needs to be revised? We have to start shooting itthis weekso we don’t fall behind schedule!”
Everywhere I look, someone is screaming about something and running around. It reminds me of the American saying “Running around like headless chickens.” I hadn’t thoughtof that very specific image since I moved to Korea, but that’s the only way I can describe how people are acting on set this morning.
“Pretty wild, huh?”
I glance behind me to see Bryan standing there with his entourage. He rubs his hands together, and like magic, his assistant immediately hands him a piping hot thermos. I try not to roll my eyes.
“Yeah, what happened?” I ask, although I have a pretty good idea what’s going on.
“Apparently the first episode didn’t perform as well as we’d hopedandwe lost one of our top sponsors, along with a few other problems. Hopefully the second episode tonight will perform better, but we’ll need to figure out a way to boost viewer interest so we can attract new sponsors.”
“Hana! Bryan!”
My eyes widen when I see Mr. Kim, one of the top producers of SBC Studios, heading in our direction. Mr. Kim is one of those fancy business suit–wearing office types that always sits at his desk behind his custom-designed, black-marble stone-carved nameplate, so it’s so bizarre to see him walking around outside in the cold like the rest of us. Even with his designer brand parka, he looks just as miserable and cold as I feel.
“I need to speak with you and your teams immediately. Can you come by my office after you are wrapped for the day?”
Instantly, Bryan goes rigid straight and bows at a perfect ninety-degree angle from his waist.
“Yes, sir,” he says. “At your service.”
Suck-up, I think, before also bowing to the producer. It doesn’t come as naturally and instinctively for me as it does for native Koreans like Bryan, but luckily, bowing is one of the easier Korean social norms. “Yes, sir,” I repeat after Bryan.
Mr. Kim makes a satisfied noise before heading back in the direction he came from.
“I wonder why he wants to see us,” says Bryan when Mr. Kim is out of earshot.
I shrug. “No idea. But it must be pretty important for him to come down himself.”
“Nah, I think he was here for other production business. My manager mentioned that they’re trying to come up with a new strategy to boost views.”
Sophia isn’t here with me today—I share her with other people since I’m one of the “less famous” clients—so I’m admittedly jealous that Bryan has his own personal manager to keep him informed at all times. I make a mental note to send Sophia a quick update when I can.
“New strategy... Sounds ominous,” I say.
Bryan raises his eyebrows. “Knowing Mr. Kim, it’s probably going to be a game changer, for better or worse. He’s a scary dude with wild ideas. Like Park Tae-suk in the K-pop world. They’re close friends, I think.”
Despite his being my direct lead producer, Mr. Kim is someone I don’t know much about, but Idoknow a lot about Mr. Park. Two years ago, Mr. Park createdYou’re My ShiningStar, a K-pop competition in the United States, under our company and brought back two American teens to be the next big K-pop stars. My favorite singer was one of them, so I hope it’s a good sign that Mr. Kim is friends with Mr. Park.
I really wish he didn’t want to meet today, though. From the way things are on set right now, we’ll probably wrap late again, and the company office in Sangam-dong, which is where many of the major studio buildings in Seoul are, is in the opposite direction I go to get back home.
Before we shoot our next scene, I text my parents to let them know I’ll be home late. Sophia usually has my phone when she’s on set with me, but I try to have it on me—on silent, of course—in case of an emergency when she’s not.
Hope the meeting goes well!Mom replies.Let me know if you need me to leave leftovers for you in the fridge.
My mom really is the best.
I’m also updating Sophia about what went down this morning when Director Cha calls out, “Okay, everyone, please be ready to start shooting again in five minutes! We have a lot of ground to cover today.”
