HPDBC Chapter 1293 Oh, I see.
Chapter 1293 Oh, I see.
Chapter 1293 Oh, I see.
"Who?"
Ji Kyung-won thought he had misheard. It was supposed to be a serious discussion about nominated actors, so why did he suddenly hear the name of a senior actor?
It's not like it's a nomination for some obscure actor or comedian.
"Lim Yoona-ssi,"
However, Choi Ran didn't seem to find anything wrong with it. She repeated herself with a smile and said, "In terms of the character setting, Yoona-ssi is quite suitable for the role of Choi Hong-joo... Besides, aren't she and Kyung-won both artists under SM Entertainment? I heard you two are very familiar with each other and have a close relationship?"
"Uh……"
After realizing what had happened, Ji Kyung-won quickly composed himself and understood why he had suddenly heard Yoona's name.
Indeed, from writer Choi Ran's perspective, Lim Yoon-a is a good fit for the role, and they are also from the same company. It is rumored in the industry that they have a good relationship, so it is only natural to mention her.
Excuse me, but seeing the surprise in Chi Jingyuan's eyes and his somewhat broken composure, she seemed to realize something and immediately changed her expression: "Is...is something wrong?"
"Uh...no."
Chi Jingyuan shook his head repeatedly to indicate that there was no problem, and forced a smile to confirm, "Yoona and I are indeed quite familiar with each other, very close."
However, hearing writer Choi mention Yoona made him feel a little awkward.
Especially since they were just seriously and earnestly selecting actors.
While not all of the actors mentioned were very successful, they had all gained considerable recognition and were well-suited to their roles. However, when Yoona was suddenly mentioned, he felt the serious atmosphere was broken... and the overall tone seemed to become somewhat comical.
However, Ji Kyung-won also felt somewhat guilty, thinking that he shouldn't have thought that way, as if his senior was some kind of comedian.
After reflecting on it, he realized that his various forms of support for Yoona over the years, as well as his inner criticisms, had created a biased or negative perception of her, making it impossible for him to view her truthfully and objectively.
"So, does Writer Choi really think Yoona is suitable?"
Chi Jingyuan hesitated for a moment, then decided to ask for the honest opinion of an observer, asking seriously, "For example, regarding acting skills..."
"Acting skills?"
Upon hearing his question, Cui Lan seemed to understand what Chi Jingyuan meant. She thought for a moment and slowly nodded: "Speaking of this..."
"Yoona's reputation for acting has never been very good in the industry. Firstly, it's because of her idol status, and secondly, she has played too many similar roles with little expressiveness. For example, in her recent dramas, such as 'Zongli and Me' in 2013, 'The K2' in 2016, and 'Confidential Assignment' this year, she has played cheerful, resilient, and lively female characters. In addition, her performances are not particularly outstanding, making it difficult for her to leave a positive impression."
"However, this is a common problem for idol actors."
After giving a brief review of Yoona's acting career, Choi Ran suddenly changed her tone: "But... by the way, Kyungwon-ssi, have you seen Yoona-ssi's two most recent dramas, 'Confidential Assignment' and 'The King in Love'?"
"Uh……"
Upon hearing this, Chi Jingyuan paused abruptly, his tongue tracing the surface of his lips. He pursed his lips, then nodded slightly, his voice lacking conviction: "I've read a little..."
He hasn't seen it.
Although it feels a bit unbecoming to admit it, given my status as a fan of the veteran actors' skills, I really just didn't have the time.
"Although Yoona did not receive high praise in these two dramas, some of her performances left a deep impression on me when I watched them."
With a touch of reminiscence and appreciation, Choi Ran continued, "Like in 'Confidential Assignment,' the scene where she drunkenly berates Hyun Bin is quite good. She accurately captures the switch between comedy and heartwarming moments. I heard that this scene has a lot of views on Naver."
"And then there's the recent 'The King in Love.' Although the drama itself is unremarkable, Yoona did have some standout moments. In episode 8, when she discovers her father has been murdered, her five-second emotional shift from shock to hatred was very well portrayed, and it even became a hot topic online..."
"In my opinion, she has a lot of potential in acting, but she may be a bit inconsistent and doesn't have many opportunities to show it off..." Cui Lan concluded, "And she is very popular with the audience."
He's been acting for almost ten years, and his potential still hasn't been realized? Potential, my foot!
But at the same time, Chi Jingyuan couldn't help but complain to himself... He really tried his best to listen seriously and objectively, but it's just a habit, and he just couldn't help it.
"but……"
But then, as she finished speaking, Cui Lan seemed to remember something and shrugged with some regret: "However, looking at her roles and screen time in recent years, it's clear that she deliberately chooses her roles. It seems her agency is trying to protect her positive, innocent image, so this film of ours, which is likely rated 19+, might not be very suitable for her..."
Even if it suits me, I'm still not happy about it~
Upon hearing Cui Lan's last words, Chi Jingyuan silently retorted to himself.
After a conversation, he clearly understood what the other party meant. It seemed that writer Choi had a pretty good impression of Yoona, and his evaluation of Yoona's acting skills was more objective than Ji Kyung-won's long-standing impression.
Although he hadn't watched many of Yoona's recent dramas, he trusted writer Choi Ran's judgment and corrected some of his views on Yoona.
However... Chi Jingyuan still doesn't seem to have much interest in collaborating with his seniors.
Because she's just so unlucky.
There are countless actors with poor acting skills, but it's quite rare to see someone this unlucky.
"Besides Yoona, who else would be suitable for this role?"
Setting aside the topic of his senior for the moment, Chi Jingyuan continued to ask questions.
He, Chi Jingyuan, didn't protect his image at all.
He still had some
“Or…” Choi Ran thought for a moment, then suddenly a mischievous look appeared on her face: “Bae Soo-ji would also be quite suitable.”
"Um……"
For some reason, Chi Jingyuan instantly understood the woman's smile... She must have heard rumors that he and Bae Suzy had an unusual relationship.
But now that she says it, it actually seems quite appropriate.
“Suzy is alright.” Ji Kyung-won nodded. “It’s just that she probably won’t be acting in it… She’s been in talks with Netflix recently, so she should have her own new drama soon.”
"That's it."
Choi Ran was just joking; she hadn't actually hoped to recreate the 'Goblin Couple'.
"As for other people... there are actually quite a few suitable for this role, even some lesser-known actresses... like Seo Ye-ji... have you heard of her, Kyung-won?"
"Xu, Ruizhi?"
"Yes, she recently gained attention for her role as a victim controlled by XJ in the OCN suspense drama 'Save Me,' and I watched it; she did a great job."
"Sorry, haha, I haven't seen this drama, but I remember, I think I worked with this Seo Ye-ji on a school uniform commercial before... Has she switched to acting now?"
"Of course... For many people, modeling is just the fastest way to enter the entertainment industry. Given the opportunity, they will try to become actors."
"Then there's Jeon Hye-bin. She's perfect for playing ambitious roles, and she just finished playing a reporter in the recently concluded drama 'Manipulation'."
"And then there's Song Ha-yoon. Her looks are very versatile and she's perfect for playing a dark, ruthless woman. I heard she's currently filming MBC's 'Bloody Romance'... but it'll definitely be done by the end of the year."
"So, writer Choi, what do you think of Kim Ji-won-ssi...?"
"Isn't it a little too sweet-looking...?"
"But... I quite like her."
It's really easy to find actresses who are both beautiful and have strong acting skills, especially the former. Apart from those with special features, almost all the well-known actresses in the industry are pretty.
As for acting skills, opinions vary. As long as they are not ridiculously bad, they are all okay... Moreover, as the second female lead, although her screen time has been increased to be similar to that of the female lead, she does not need to overshadow the female lead.
Therefore, there are actually many actresses who can play the role of Choi Hong-joo, and many people are suitable... Of course, if the news gets out, many people will also want to play the role.
If everyone is a good fit, then it depends on the strength of the agency and their respective networks.
"I will communicate with Netflix soon and begin preliminary work on the production team and casting."
Having finished exchanging information on all aspects, it was time to say goodbye. With a serious expression and a smile, Chi Jingyuan gave Cui Lan his final instructions:
"Then I'll leave the script to writer Cui Lan."
.........
Meanwhile, Cui Lan also began working overtime intensively. A day and a half after separating from Chi Jingyuan, she sent him the revised script. After Chi Jingyuan and Netflix reviewed it, Netflix immediately reached a cooperation agreement with writer Cui.
At the same time, the preliminary preparations for the drama officially began, such as the selection of the director, budget calculation, filming locations, and actor selection.
However, since Chi Jingyuan is about to leave Peninsula, this is only the initial work. Some more important tasks, such as the finalization of casting, will have to wait until he returns to make a decision with Netflix.
Meanwhile, although Ji Kyung-won had been negotiating with Netflix on his own, the formal contract signing was still done through SM Entertainment. Although SM Entertainment wouldn't cause any obstacles, the specific details were very clear, including the investment in the drama and the detailed script.
Before the outside world even heard a word about it, SM already knew the details very well.
"...I got a backup of the script from the company's business unit. Take a look at it later."
The crew of "The King in Love" had just finished filming, and Yoona, who was finally free, had only been on vacation for a couple of days when she received a call from her manager: "I've already looked at it, and the most suitable role for you, Yoona, is the second female lead. Although it's called the second female lead, the role is actually no different from the first female lead's, and the setting is very novel and profound, making it easy for you to stand out."
"Okay, Oppa, I'll watch it right away." Im Yoona quickly turned on her computer and replied, holding her phone between her fingers.
Ji Kyung-won's next project will definitely become a hot topic in the industry and a highly sought-after opportunity for many actors.
But before anyone else could figure out what was going on or even get their script, Yoona already had firsthand information... This was the first time Yoona had enjoyed such insider treatment in all her time at SM.
"By the way, I also found out that Jingyuan has a lot of power in this drama, including casting. You could say he's practically a producer. If we want to get this role, we definitely have to start from that angle."
The agent continued on the phone:
"Moreover, I've also heard some news... You know, the company's film and television resources with SM C&C have never been very good. This time, Jingyuanxi has reached such an important cooperation with Netflix, and the company also wants to arrange some of its own actors to join... I heard that many people have been making private activities these past two days."
"Yoona, should I talk to the company and discuss this with Kyungwon-ssi through the company?"
"..."
Originally, Yoona was in a good mood, waiting to turn on her computer to read the script, but after hearing what her manager said, her expression instantly changed.
She sighed speechlessly, remained silent for a few seconds, and then retorted helplessly, "Oppa, is this your first day at SM? Haven't you seen how Kyungwon treated those who wanted to interfere in the company before?"
"How could he possibly follow the company's arrangements!"
Seemingly annoyed by her manager's thoughtless ideas, Lim Yoona complained loudly.
"Uh..." The agent on the other end was momentarily speechless.
"Forget it, whatever you do, don't go through the company. Oppa, don't make things worse."
“It would be much better to just talk to Jingyuan about this. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t need all this roundabout talk.”
Taking a breath, Lim Yoona opened the script her manager had just sent her. Her eyes narrowed, and she stared silently at the title of the drama, "MOUSE," for a long time before earnestly instructing:
"Don't rush, let me... take a look at the script first."
…………
“...My god, I never knew that you and Tzuyu xi were good friends.”
"If I had known this news earlier, I wouldn't have spent so much time thinking about who to invite as guests for many of our previous events."
In a private room of a high-end restaurant in Gangnam District, Simone Bess, the marketing director of GUCCI Peninsula, spoke loudly to Ji Jingyuan next to him with a somewhat exaggerated expression, while looking at Zhou Ziyu with eyes that seemed full of praise and admiration.
The marketing director of GUCCI Peninsula, who took office 15 years ago, is an Italian in his early thirties. He was previously the visual merchandising manager at the Milan headquarters and has extensive experience.
Through their interactions over the past few years, she and Chi Jingyuan have developed a good relationship.
...Or rather, on the Peninsula GUCCI side, no one has a bad relationship with Ji Kyung-won.
Most of GUCCI's top executives are expatriates from Italy, while the highest-ranking local employee in marketing is a visual merchandising manager named Kim So-jung.
She sat down next to her, her gaze and expression equally enthusiastic as she looked at Tzuyu: "Tzuyu's appearance is very much in line with East Asian aesthetics, and her figure is also a great advantage when paired with certain styles of fashion."
"Ha ha……"
Chi Jingyuan glanced at Zhou Ziyu, who was blushing slightly from the compliments but still trying to strike up a conversation with a poised and confident demeanor, and smiled as he toasted the others.
"Then I'll trouble you to take care of it."