Chapter 10: Securing the Role
"You understood the character well."
After Kwon Xuanhe left, several people began to discuss.
Director Kim Sang-seop first expressed his approval, then continued.
"His performance aligned perfectly with how I envisioned the character. It seems he put in a lot of effort."
It wasn't surprising that the Director praised him like this. You have to understand that Kwon Xuanhe, through his inexplicable sixth sense, knew the scenes of the plot.
Someone else had already acted it out for him, and it was performed exactly according to the Director's requirements. It was equivalent to letting him copy from the correct answer.
This allowed Kwon Xuanhe to imitate it perfectly, achieving a result almost indistinguishable from what the Director envisioned.
Performing exactly to the Director's liking would absolutely satisfy him, which was a huge advantage for an audition.
Another correct way to use the sixth sense.
When both screenwriters and the producer spoke this way, they naturally understood what he meant.
The role was decided with little controversy.
Kwon Xuanhe secured the role of the male lead, Bai Jing, while his biggest competitor, Li Zaixu, was eliminated.
There was actually an inside story behind it.
Park Zhengting, having been in the industry for many years, had deep connections. He had contacted the producer in charge of this drama series within the MBC TV Station's production department in advance.
The producer then privately contacted Director Kim Sang-seop, subtly hinting at the casting choice.
Otherwise, Director Kim Sang-seop wouldn't have given Kwon Xuanhe such extensive room for improvisation during his audition, and the screenwriters wouldn't have asked any questions; they clearly understood the situation.
Li Zaixu could only consider himself unlucky.
The remaining supporting roles for the drama unexpected discovery of the day were finalized the following day.
Kwon Xuanhe received an email the next day informing him of his successful casting and instructing him to sign the contract at MBC Company on a chosen date.
At the same time, he was informed of his upcoming schedule.
The script reading would be in a few days, followed immediately by the start of filming. The drama was expected to air in October, taking over MBC's Wednesday-Thursday slot.
The filming period was estimated to be three months, which wasn't very tight. The mainstream practice in Korea is to film and air simultaneously, even for webtoon adaptations. The screenwriters also adjust the plot later based on audience feedback.
MBC TV Station also added a dedicated page for the new drama series on its website, for online streaming and the release of related materials.
Securing a role smoothly in his first audition indeed gave Kwon Xuanhe's acting career a good start.
Next was to join the production team and start filming as soon as possible. Once the drama officially aired, his acting career would truly set sail.
The next day, Park Zhengting accompanied Kwon Xuanhe to MBC TV Station to sign the acting contract.
Since Kwon Xuanhe was a newcomer, the price was naturally set according to newcomer standards. Park Zhengting temporarily acted as his manager to negotiate the terms.
Public matters were public, and private matters were private.
Due to it being a webtoon adaptation, the total drama series was divided into thirty-two episodes, each thirty-five minutes long. However, with two episodes airing daily, the total content was no different from a regular mini-series.
Both parties began negotiations, and the final per-episode fee was set at two million korean won, a price that considered both his newcomer status and his position as the male lead.
It's important to understand here that the remuneration for dramas on the three major broadcasting stations is generally lower than that of cable channels.
The reason is simple: cable channels have additional income from subscriptions and are more willing to invest heavily in production, while terrestrial channels lack this significant income, so their production budgets naturally shrink.
For example, a cable channel might have a budget of one billion korean won per episode, while it's very common for a terrestrial channel to only be able to provide half or even less.
And when it comes to actor salaries, the difference can be even several times greater.
Actor salaries used to have detailed classifications, from six to eighteen levels, but with the development of the times and the overseas expansion of the korean wave, the situation is now vastly different.
It's difficult to describe clearly in a short space, and to avoid lengthy explanations, further details will be added later based on specific dramas.
The signed contract also included some supplementary clauses. Due to the overseas development of the korean wave, overseas income is naturally an important part, and actors will also receive corresponding bonuses from the drama's overseas income.
This is considered a matter of course given the rapid overseas development of the korean wave.
Calculated this way, if it were purely income from performance fees, the pre-tax total would be sixty-four million korean won, which translates to over thirty thousand.
Is it reasonable? Quite reasonable.
With the contract signed, everything was finally settled. Kwon Xuanhe officially became an actor, preparing for his upcoming debut.
"Let's see how the broadcast is received. I'll arrange for you to join the company then."
Park Zhengting said.
Strictly speaking, Kwon Xuanhe was still a trainee signed to his shell company. Changing his affiliation and signing with BH as soon as possible would truly secure his position.
"What if the ratings aren't good?"
He clearly knew what this drama would be like after it aired, so he asked.
"That might be a bit troublesome, but it's not a huge problem."
Cultivating a popular actor is not something that happens overnight; it's a gradual process.
"What if the reaction in other aspects is very good?"
"Contract upgrade."
Park Zhengting glanced at him, wondering why he was asking such meaningless questions.
"I don't really care, as long as it's not a seven-year contract like idols have."
With his sixth sense, he could become popular in the fastest and most stable way. At that point, the company's arrangements might even become a hindrance.
"Actors aren't like idols, who are riddled with slave contracts. The situation is generally better."
"Usually, it's three years. You should be more worried about not making it big in three years and no major company wanting you."
Park Zhengting didn't want him to think the entertainment industry was easy, so he admonished him.
"I'm indeed quite worried."
Kwon Xuanhe, being a shrewd person, understood Park Zhengting's thoughts and went along with him.
He wasn't someone who aimed too high; he could listen to what needed to be heard.
A successful drama series can provide an actor with several years of benefits, and they also have the right to say it was earned through their own efforts.
Whereas with idols, it's mostly the effort of the agency behind them.
Essentially, it's determined by the inherent difference between durable goods and fast-moving consumer goods.
"Let's temporarily cancel the subsequent auditions. This drama series of yours won't finish until the end of October. We'll arrange things according to the specific situation then."
Park Zhengting said this finally.
Kwon Xuanhe saw Gao Yunzhen again the next day, smiling very confidently.
"I got the role."
"What?"
Gao Yunzhen saw him start with a disjointed sentence, her expression puzzled. Then, seeing his silent smile, she instantly understood what he meant and was momentarily stunned.
He succeeded just like that?
"Congratulations."
Gao Yunzhen suppressed her surprise, smiling and congratulating him, a warm and bright smile gracing her face.