The Face Genius Actor

Episode 143

“How about releasing ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam’ as a seasonal series?”

Hearing my answer, Director Kang Han-sung’s eyes widened.

He didn’t seem to have expected the topic of a seasonal series to come up at this timing.

“A seasonal series… That’s good. But is it right to make such a choice already when we don’t know the response to the 16 parts we’re currently filming?”

“Ah, no. I’m not suggesting we film 16 parts per season. I meant dividing the existing script into two seasons of 8 parts each.”

This was first proposed by Netflix when “Escape” and then “Let’s Live Together, Princess” became hugely popular.

The Netflix Korea representative called first and suggested releasing just 8 parts, half of the 16 parts, as Season 1.

I could roughly understand what Netflix was thinking.

They wanted to row the boat of Season 1 while the tide of interest in “Toema Hwan Ya Dam” was high.

Certainly, operating as a seasonal series in this way could speed up the service of “Toema Hwan Ya Dam”.

It would even be possible to start the service before the end of this year.

However, when I first received this proposal, I couldn’t guarantee when “Toema Hwan Ya Dam” would be completed up to Part 8.

This was because I hadn’t fully adapted to the role of director yet.

So at that time, after discussing with Festa Entertainment, we postponed the decision, but now it was different.

I had already adapted to the role of director and could somewhat estimate when Part 8 of “Toema Hwan Ya Dam” would be completed.

After I explained this far, Director Kang Han-sung thought for a moment and then nodded.

“It’s certainly not a bad method. It’s true that there was pressure to complete ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam’ quickly before public interest fades.”

“That’s right.”

“Yes. But I don’t understand how dividing the 16 parts into two seasons like this becomes advantageous in terms of cost.”

Certainly, this was something Director Kang Han-sung wouldn’t understand.

I hadn’t explained the latter part fully yet.

“I was also curious about that part at first. But my thoughts changed when I received an additional proposal. Would you like to see it?”

I found and showed Director Kang Han-sung the additional proposal provided by Netflix.

At the same time, Director Kang Han-sung let out an “Ah” in admiration.

“This is…”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s content saying they will proceed with additional investment if we provide ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam’ divided into two seasons.”

I was also a bit surprised when I first received this proposal.

I didn’t think Netflix would bring up additional investment first like this.

But thinking about it a little, I could easily understand why they brought this up.

From Netflix’s perspective, we were a production company that complied with their unreasonable demands.

Moreover, Netflix had already been making large-scale investments in K-content for several years.

They even put forward a policy of increasing the number of K-content among their total works.

So from Netflix’s perspective, there was no reason to hesitate in deciding on additional investment in “Toema Hwan Ya Dam”.

After hearing my explanation, Director Kang Han-sung replied.

“If that’s the reason, I understand Netflix’s additional investment plan. By the way, with such a proposal, shouldn’t we unconditionally divide it into two seasons?”

Director Kang Han-sung was right.

Now, it was advantageous in many ways to provide “Toema Hwan Ya Dam” divided into two seasons as per Netflix’s proposal.

This way, we could quickly satisfy viewers’ interest, and also gain additional production costs and time.

We were already struggling with filming, editing, and CG problems until just now.

Operating as a seasonal series could solve all these problems at once.

“Above all, I like this method because it helps improve the completion of ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam’.”

“That’s right. It’s excellent. However, to operate as a seasonal series, we’ll have to rewrite the contracts with the cast and production team.”

“It might be a bit troublesome, but everyone will gladly sign the new contracts. We’ve already promised to film 16 parts together anyway.”

Moreover, Netflix’s additional investment costs weren’t just for additional set decoration and expanding the CG team.

Naturally, some of the amount was also planned to be invested in employment costs for the cast and production team.

So, Director Kang Han-sung and I organized our thoughts.

Thanks to that, we were able to finish today’s editing with a much more relaxed mind.

Even if “Toema Hwan Ya Dam” was operated as a seasonal series, the reality for us two was that we couldn’t rest from editing to complete the work up to Part 8.

* * *

With the confirmation of seasonal operation, Festa Entertainment began modifying contracts.

Fortunately, the cast and production team readily agreed to the contract modifications.

Even though it became a seasonal series, the filming amount remained the same at 16 parts, so the atmosphere was rather welcoming of the new contracts.

Most seemed to think of this as a concept of increasing appearance fees or salaries.

It was a somewhat reasonable thought.

While modifying the contracts, filming of Part 6 and editing of Part 4 proceeded in parallel.

As the schedule became more flexible and the atmosphere on set improved, filming and editing went smoothly.

And in the process, news of my brother and I becoming Louis Vuitton ambassadors was announced.

[The Lee Si brothers beloved by Louis Vuitton! Selected as ambassadors!]

[Now they’re Louis Vuitton ambassadors…. Lee Si-hwan, Lee Si-joon have done it again!]

[Brothers’ fantastic chemistry! What kind of image will the Lee Si brothers show as Louis Vuitton ambassadors?]

[Lookbook revealed along with Louis Vuitton ambassador news! The shining appearance of the Lee Si brothers!]

[Service schedule for ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam’ ignites again with ambassador news!]

[When does ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam’ start? Curiosity amplified with new news about the Lee Si brothers!]

[Seasonal series confirmed! ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam’ to appear on Netflix a bit faster!]

[Did viewers’ voices reach? First 8 parts of ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam’ to be released!]

[Netflix Korea: “Thanks to the interest, we’ve moved up the service schedule for Toema Hwan Ya Dam”]

Along with this, interest in “Toema Hwan Ya Dam” amplified again, and news of the seasonal series naturally spread.

As expected, viewers welcomed the news of the seasonal series.

This was because the expected service schedule was significantly moved up with the confirmation of the seasonal series.

I felt again that choosing a seasonal series was a good decision.

‘The most important thing is the viewers’ reaction after all.’

And another piece of good news was delivered.

It was news that Festa Entertainment had solved the CG team personnel problem.

Festa Entertainment chose both methods of increasing the existing CG team’s personnel and contracting with a new outsourcing company.

Thanks to this, we no longer had to worry about CG being delayed.

As all the worrying parts were resolved, the filming of Part 6 also reached its latter half.

The latter part of Part 6 depicted the process of gathering people suffering from the epidemic and those trying to treat them.

While Seo-hee posted notices on roads leading to ‘Yeongi-ri (present-day Sejong City)’ saying she was gathering people, and went around each village rescuing patients,

Yi-hyun separated the patients from the gathered people in Yeongi-ri, prepared security to prevent the government army from setting fires recklessly, and proceeded with treatment.

Yeon and Wi-rang took on the role of helping Seo-hee go around villages to rescue patients, and when the situation in Yeongi-ri stabilized to some extent, they set off on a journey.

“This is all the charm papers I have. If you attach this to the bodies of people who are helping patients closely, they won’t catch the epidemic.”

“Is it okay to give us the charm papers? Don’t you need to use them to defeat Jeoqui?”

“It might be a bit difficult, but if we use other spiritual objects, we should be able to defeat Jeoqui somehow. Above all, I have Wi-rang by my side, don’t I?”

Thus, Part 6 concluded with Yeon and Wi-rang setting off on a journey to defeat Jeoqui.

Now, Part 7 was set to deal with the process of Yeon, Seo-hee, and Yi-hyun each obtaining clues about Ma-yeok-ryeong while fighting Jeoqui in their own ways.

* * *

Part 7, Scene 6.

A week after Yeon left.

Seo-hee is still moving busily.

This is because there are still many villages that haven’t received help.

But what’s frustrating Seo-hee now isn’t the existence of villages that haven’t received help yet.

It’s the government army that sets fires first under the cover of darkness without considering the circumstances.

The government army is the most troublesome existence for Seo-hee.

Swoosh- Thud!

An arrow pierces a soldier’s arm.

It’s not just one arrow.

Swoosh- Thud! Swoosh- Thud!

Arrows fly into every arm holding a torch.

The captain leading the soldiers shouts.

“Who’s there!”

And as if in response, Seo-hee slowly reveals herself.

“You dare attack government soldiers, wench?”

Seo-hee silently nocks another arrow and shoots.

The captain, flustered by this sight, gives an order.

“Return fire! Kill that wench!”

But the soldiers’ arrows don’t reach Seo-hee.

This is because Seo-hee avoided all the arrows with quick movements.

“Eek!”

While the captain groans in frustration,

Another arrow flies and this time pierces the captain’s shoulder.

Realizing his life is in danger, the captain raises his voice to order a retreat.

“Fall back! Everyone fall back for now!”

Seo-hee, having barely driven away the soldiers trying to set fire to the village, sighs.

Then, as she moves towards the village, she notices something where the soldiers were and stops.

Seo-hee quickly approaches and searches the spot where the soldiers were, finding something.

It’s a piece of a charm paper similar to what Yeon had given her.

Part 7, Scene 7.

Meanwhile, Yi-hyun also confronts a punitive force that has appeared to burn down Yeongi-ri.

Yi-hyun shouts from atop the palisade.

“How can those who eat the king’s salt try to harm the people!”

At Yi-hyun’s authoritative voice, the punitive force members hesitate, unsure what to do.

Then the punitive force captain steps forward defiantly and retorts to Yi-hyun’s words.

“And who are you to try to disobey His Majesty’s orders?”

His Majesty’s orders.

Yi-hyun’s expression hardens at these words.

Is this truly Father’s will? His heart was troubled.

The punitive force captain, having raised morale, gives the order to attack.

A battle breaks out around the palisade.

Yi-hyun clenches his fists and resolves to face the punitive force to protect the people.

A scene of arrows falling everywhere and swords clashing.

Fortunately, the militia, armed with a resolute mission, force the punitive force to retreat.

“We’ve won!”

“Hurrah!”

“Hurrah!”

While the militia are enjoying their victory in joy,

Yi-hyun, like Seo-hee, discovers an ominous object on the body of a fallen punitive force member.

It’s a charm paper in a more complete form than what Seo-hee found.

Surprisingly, a black energy briefly appears on the charm paper and then disappears.

Same shape, different energy.

Yi-hyun instinctively realizes that things are not going as he thought.