Twelve people surrounded by cameramen and staffs were brought into a wide-spaced hall with a small stage in front. In front of that, though, was a set-up view of a projector screen.
"Alright, dear participants! I once again welcome you to the show Make Your Idol!" PD Bang stood by the projector with a hand-held mic, though it wasn't really necessary with just the few of us here,
Cheering and clapping came for a few seconds.
"Thank you, truly. Now as you know, you have all worked hard in the your first performance and achieved the highest grading in this show, grade one!"
PD Bang applauded to himself. "But of course special people must receive special treatment, which is why I have gathered you here to receive your reward: early access to watching our theme song!"
"You've explained everything already, so please show it to us, PD," I shouted from the back, earning a few laughs here and there.
The joyful PD, most obviously, laughed and went along with my request. "Alright, alright! I understand the impatience. From here and until half an hour passes, you can all replay any part of the video as much as you like. I'll be standing on the side, so have fun, boys!"
This PD... is eccentric in some ways.
He clicked play and truly vanished, joining the staff behind us. Never minding that, I paid attention just as if this is the first I've heard the music, though I wanted to focus more on the choreography.
But just as the projector screen reflected the video played, it first faded to black, then showed captions of the lyrics for the song.
I waited and waited for the black background to fade away, but there was only text to see and music to hear.
Was there really no choreography to see?
The others were confused for a second, but they focused on remembering as much as possible in the thirty-minute advantage. But it's different for me since I'd already memorized the song pretty well. I pretended to pay attention to what was there as well.
By the end of the song, some people couldn't help but clap, which I almost forgot to join in doin
The PD didn't say anything even as we were starting to question the choreography thing. I had some guesses, in which we'd have to make our own, but it felt a little too far fetched to have a competition as early as second episode. This is probably the only advantage the group gets, whereas the choreography would be viewed fairly.
"I don't think we have the time to leisurely ask questions right now," I said, cutting the loud murmurs down. "Let's focus on memorizing the lyrics, guys. It seems to be part of the director's plan, anyway."
My advice was met with agreement from the other participants, so we continued to put the video on loop and practiced together.
Just like that, half an hour passed, and the participants in grade two, three, and those woth no grades, came filling in like moths. The once spacious hall was now just a tad bit cramped, but everyone fit in.
I sat at the far back and told my roommates to do the same, making sure the newcomers get a closer view of the screen. Sure, we'll have to learn the choreography as it is new, but I convinced them by saying it's more spacious at the back.
Unsurprisingly, Dojun chose to sit next to me instead of at the front.
"Chan!! I missed you so much! Did you have breakfast earlier?"
"I did, now pay attention."
At the front, PD Bang was already talking again, welcoming the newcomers as well as shoving cameras in front of everyone's faces. We received another 30 minutes to view the theme song, which meant us first grades got a whole hour to memorize the song. Even I know it well by now—the song playing on loop in my head whether I like it or not.
But...
One strange thing was this: there was still no choreography!
This time, we were all in disbelief.
"No way..."
"This is crazy."
"Are you kidding me?"
Murmurs filled the room for the next half an hour, though most of the participants eventually settled down and focused on memorizing.
Those who had already got everything down, though, were pretty loud.
"Chan, you got to see the video first, right? Was there also no choreography?"
Of course Dojun was one of the few that didn't need much time to memorize shit.
"No, we also only got the song and lyrics. Maybe it's a surprise," I mumbled, trying to sound optimistic. "Eyes on the screen. Maybe it'll show up at the end."
"Alright..."
Despite my hopeful comment, there was nothing even as time ran out. Before everyone got to chat about it, PD Bang had gone to the front again, mic in hand.
"Haha, you must be very surprised, aren't you?" Gosh, I'm starting to hate this guy's laugh. "Some of you may have already noticed, but I will say it to our dear viewers at home... It's because we haven't made a choreography!"
"PD, did you run out of money or something?" I couldn't help but yell out from the back. This was the nicest way I could tell this guy to cut to the case already.
The PD just laughed as a response. "Haha, of course not. This is actually going to be your first mission ever this show!"
Are you impatient yet? Want to know it already? Cause my blood sure is boiling.
Because I'm nice like that, I will skip over the PD's yapping and go ahead to the mission:
"So for the first mission, you will perform the theme song and create your own choreography! Yay!"
A staff member from behind the scenes told us to cheer lightly.
"Wow... how very exciting or something.."
"Chan, you should be more sincere, you're an actor," Dojun teased, whispering beside me.
Honestly, this isn't the time for that, I'm pissed. It's not that I'm mad we have a mission this early on, It's the fact that Admin-nim told me nothing of this. Getting the song as early as from last night isn't even that helpful now. It would've been the same with the one hour I had to memorize it.
Okay, so maybe I am a little angry for having to stay up all night for nothing.
Anywho, this is it. This was final. It was the actual mission, and let me tell you this: it's fucking chaotic.
.
"It's really just like those other shows, huh... Wall mirrors, squeaky floor, and even the AC here is nice!"
"I guess so. This is really your first time in a dance practice room, Chan?"
"Mhm. Never been before."
Indeed, just as you heard, it was my first time walking into one of those practice rooms I had seen online. Wooden floor and bright lights—I'm sure even for those who have one in the company they train at, they all vary from one to the other, but no one else seemed surprised.
I entered this room that had the label 'First Grade' stuck on the door, along with eleven other participants who earned that title.
As soon as I did, camera's welcomed everyone, yet a staff member held a mini whiteboard. There, the words "Act natural" was written. I barely spared a glance and continued being loud to the group.
I'm not sure if it was just me who felt it, but the aura these guys held was no joke. Everyone acted as if they had a 'limit' set and a goal in mind—no one was too loud or too quiet—except for Daniel, I guess. He just stood by Mahesha without a word.
I think it's because I've been surrounded by actors since young, but most of the kids here were pretending, just not obvious enough that others wouldn't catch it.
If you don't get it, the way everyone wordlessly came together and sat in a circle, smiling and introducing themselves without being asked to, is one of my examples.
Not that introductions took long since everyone's stage names were printed on their black shirts. (Seriously, I still don't get how every shirt was made so quickly.)
"Well, anyways. The PD's words was pretty clear, no? We have to create a choreography in a week," said David, holding a tablet in his hands.
That's right, all we got was a whole week to create some dances to a two-minute long song. That producer is damn messed up if you ask me.
The others didn't seem so troubled, though they still didn't have ideas.
The following silence was the first time we were visibly awkward. As the big bro (probably) off the group, I had to step up.
"Well, first off... has everyone memorized the lyrics already? Who hasn't yet?"
No one raised their hand for a while, until Akira did, laughing awkwardly. "The whole thing is in English, so it's a little hard to memorize it all..."
"That's fine, as long as you can hum the song easily," someone quickly answered.
"Yeah, just ask one of us out if there's a word you don't know."
Akira seemed a little started at the almost immediate responses, but he chuckled and nodded. "Thanks a lot, guys."
After that, more silence came.
"..."
At this point, I just had to say anything to keep it going. Thankfully, Mahesha had my back.
"I'm sure we all understand, but just to make sure, let's first list of what we can and cannot do, how about it?"
I chimed in, "Right, right. I didn't expect this show to have a theme song since it's more famous in K-pop survival shows, so some of you might want a re-run."
Honestly, there doesn't seem to be much problem, but everyone knew it was better to be agreeable.
If you're also wondering what Mahesha meant, here are a few things that differentiate theme songs and K-pop group songs:
1. A theme song doesn't have centers, which means no one stands out more than the other. But sometimes, there would be one or two people that get to have some screen time on their own.
2. The second thing is the line distribution. Everyone sings every part from start to finish, so, again, no one stands out without their own charm.
3. Lastly is the song arrangement. PD Bang Inho said this song was made by Jacob Brown, the producer who was also one of the judges, which was end of the story. What I mean is we're not supposed to touch the lyrics or instrumental, as it is the theme song.
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"So.we really just need to make a choreography?"
"That...sucks," one guy muttered under his breath.
Honestly, I thought this was the second best option. I was glad we at least weren't told to arrange a whole ass song just for the second episode alone. But...
"I think you guys are missing a key point, though?"
Everyone turned to look at me curiously as I cut through their personal brainstorming.
I pointed to the tablet that was now held by Daniel and continued,
"We still get to decide on the theme."