The early performances of 'Produce That 100!' were mostly perford live. The contestants' solo performances, duet rap performances, and so on. Of course, that applied to vocal-focused performances, and whether it was live or lip-synced didn't matter much for dance.
Then, the first ti the 'Produce That 100!' contestants perford as a team in a group setting was in 'Produce'.
However, the focus was on dance.
The next instance of the group performing vocals, dance, and rap simultaneously as one team ca with the new the song ‘Survival 100’. From this point on, dostic and Japanese mini concerts were scheduled, and the 'Produce That 100!' contestants had never experienced an event of this scale before. Therefore, due to reasons such as the quality of the performance, intense choreography, and lack of experience among the contestants, lip-syncing was incorporated.
Strictly speaking, the contestants had experienced both MR (live) and AR (lip-sync), and depending on the situation, they would mix Live AR (LAR) and Live MR (LMR). (TL Note: MR = Music recorded. AR = All recorded. You can get more detailed explaintion here -> skpopbehind/2015/07/about-mr-ar-lmr-and-lar-do-kpop-idols.html)
Of course, the audience was inford in advance, and the broadcast displayed clear labels. The production team's implicit ssage was that since our kids had no broadcasting experience and were still amateurs, please be understanding.
So, for all ten contestants including Kang Rojun, it was their first ti performing a fully live team performance. To be blunt, since the final evaluation was freedom, lip-syncing wouldn’t have been an issue. Even lip-syncing would involve their recorded voices, and viewers were well aware that they were not professionals. Viewers likely wouldn’t take issue with it and would vote based on the overall stage performance.
However, the contestants chose live vocals for their first group stage and entered the evaluation.
It wasn’t strange that the judges were surprised.
“L-live??!”
Doing sothing for the first ti brings fear and concern to people.
The less experience you have, the more so.
All the more when it’s a final evaluation performance tied to survival.
Nevertheless, the ten contestants positioned on the stage began the evaluation song ‘Bold’ with a calm deanor, exuding a sowhat professional vibe. As tension rose, a grand yet subtly eerie lody resonated.
-Swish.
Kang Rojun stepped forward holding a gaphone. Naturally, the gaphone had a small microphone attached, and Rojun, wearing a black cap pulled low, stared at the floor. His face was hidden as he didn’t raise his head. In that state, he spoke the lyrics in a tone slightly faster than a narration.
[I'll be rich, I'll be famous]
[I'll be a star, I must win]
The short lyrics ended and repeated again. However, compared to before, his voice now carried more strength. The tone of the song as well.
[I'll be rich, I'll be famous]
[I'll be a star, I must win]
When the sa lyrics ca up for the third ti, Kang Rojun, still holding the gaphone, faced forward. At that mont, the lody suddenly cut off. Only the organ lody spread quietly. Rojun slowly lowered the gaphone to the floor.
Then, slowly. He turned his body smoothly.
Nine contestants were waiting. A circle ford by six, supported by the other three. Soon, the organ’s lody gradually intensified and then.
-♬♪
The lody that had stopped resud with the drums. The beat was faster than at the start. Purple lighting was added by the spotlight.
-Swish.
Kang Rojun turned his body again and took one step forward. The six who had ford a circle moved to his sides. The remaining three took two steps forward in a straight line.
Their movents crossed naturally.
The choreography had already begun. The movents of the front and back rows differed. The front moved big and high above their heads, while the back row crouched and used their legs more. At that mont, 26Do-kyung in the back row stepped all the way to the front.
He delivered a rap.
Once 26Do-kyung’s part ended, he moved to the far left, and 58Si-hoo erged from the right. It was the lead vocalist’s turn. When he ca out, the previously fast beat felt like slow motion, and so did the choreography. Except for 58Si-hoo, the other nine spread out powerfully but smoothly.
Up to this point, the mood of the song and the contestants’ expressions carried a strong sense of darkness.
That changed with the appearance of Kang Rojun.
-♬♪
He looked at the cara and smiled. A naturally cast eye smile. A stable vocal that changed the atmosphere of the song. The climax built up and then burst out in a high note. Smiles also spread across the faces of all ten mbers. A rehearsed and coordinated performance. The choreography, too, unfolded fully using their whole bodies. As if a flower was blooming.
With all ten moving in perfect sync, it was a sight to see.
The five judges stared at the final evaluation performance without a twitch. It wouldn't be wrong to say they were dazed. The first to speak was choreographer Lee Han-na.
"......The choreography is well done?"
She was shocked they were doing it live, but she hadn’t expected much from the choreography. She had been watching the contestants all this ti and thus knew their shortcomings well.
'Who choreographed this- was it Kang Min and a few others? It's amazing.'
But seeing the results, it exceeded satisfaction.
'There are even so intense moves, and yet they weren’t scared to perform them live.'
And despite the short preparation ti, the ten mbers were perfectly in sync. It showed how desperately they had practiced.
'Up until now, only Rojun really stood out in choreography. Of course, he's still good now. But today... the overall balance is solid.'
As a choreographer, Lee Han-na knew well. Just how grueling it was to have a group of that size perform choreography as one body. Hadn't they already experienced that in 'Produce' and ‘Survival 100’? That's why Lee Han-na was proud of those ten kids.
'Well done, really.'
Song Min-geun, too, was covered in chills.
'The song is killer. If songs like this co out so easily, Si-hoo is a treasure. No need to even talk about Rojun, who wrote the lyrics.'
Even from the perspective of a top-tier composer, the performance of ‘Bold’ was high-level.
'Who would believe that’s their first live? People will think they’re skilled idols. Of course, there are disappointing parts but it's fine. Their pitch was accurate too.'
The other judges were also stunned by the contestants’ astonishing live performance, breathing, and performance quality.
'This performance is the very essence of ‘Produce That 100!', what viewers were really hoping to see.'
By this point, Kang Rojun and the contestants finished the instruntal break and entered the second verse, with the atmosphere and tone ramping up to make hearts pound even more. PD Woo Han-suk, the head of the 'Produce That 100!' production team, was all smiles.
'I'm so happy myself. Just imagine how much the viewers will love this.'
It was obvious that the thrill the viewers would feel, being invested in the contestants, would be several tis greater than what the staff and judges were experiencing now. The contestants had prepared this final evaluation performance themselves and were performing it live. Then Woo Han-suk focused his gaze on Kang Rojun on stage.
'Everyone is important, but especially Rojun is the key. As the main vocal, he explodes the performance with power, and it’s the sa with choreography. No need to ntion the visual center. Though he passed the rap to soone else this ti, he's not lacking there either.'
A true all-rounder who fits anywhere, showing presence in every position.
'If such a guy gets thrown into the current idol market after 'Produce That 100!' ends, there'll be a lot to watch.'
Eventually.
-Swish.
The contestants, having completed the second verse, stopped in a shape similar to the beginning. The final performance, ‘Bold’, had ended. Sitting in the circle ford by six was Kang Rojun.
“Huff- huff.”
Even as he exhaled heavily, he looked straight ahead. The judges and dozens of staff mbers were silent.
'What? Isn't it a bit too quiet??'
For a mont, worry flashed through Rojun’s mind. He thought he had done his best, was it bad? Was it a failure? The contestants standing around him, sharing similar feelings, subtly started to observe the reactions. Their own mistakes were flashing through their minds.
‘Ha- shit, was it because I slipped a little during the dance earlier??’
'I couldn't pay attention to expressions and eye contact because of the choreography.'
‘Ugh... live is so damn hard.’
It was then.
-Clap clap clap clap clap!
The sound of applause began to spread through the wide hall.
-Clap clap clap clap clap!
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
It quickly filled the room. All five judges, PD Woo Han-suk, the writers, and dozens of staff mbers were giving their praise to the contestants. Only then did Kang Rojun, now relieved, regain his smile and instruct his teammates.
“Line up, let’s bow.”
A mont later.
After the final evaluation performance ended, the judges’ assessnts followed.
“Absolutely shocking! The fact that you created the entire performance with your own strength is amazing, and the live vocals were really well done too! Truly! It’s hard to find live performances of this quality even among idols.”
No, rather than an assessnt, it was a series of high praises.
“I want to complint the choreography. I learned a lot just by watching it, you know??”
From the first evaluation to now, the judges had been both teachers and senior ntors to the contestants. And those very people were giving only favorable comnts, without a single harsh critique. The contestants couldn’t help but feel like they were floating.
“Rojun handled a lot, didn’t he? Leader, main vocal, and more. Everyone did really well, but I especially want to praise Rojun for holding the center so firmly.”
When many gazes landed on Kang Rojun, for so reason, he was reminded of the beginning of 'Produce That 100!' When he had sung ‘Farewell’ on this stage.
‘I sohow made it this far. It’s almost absurd. The final performance is already over. What kind of thing will happen next, I wonder.’
The shoot continued for about an hour, and then PD Woo Han-suk spoke to the contestants on stage.
“Now, two things remain for you all: the choice of the viewers. And your own choice.”
To elaborate, after the final evaluation performance is broadcast, six of the current ten will be eliminated, and the final four winners will be given the right to choose their entertainnt agencies.
“This performance will be aired on the 6th of this week, and as always, the final announcent will be on Wednesday, when voting ends. You’ve all worked very hard.”
The performance will be broadcast on Episode 16 of 'Produce That 100!' on November 6. At this mont, sothing dawned on Kang Rojun.
'6th- ‘Rental Lover’ also premieres on the 6th.'
anwhile, at the sa ti.
A studio where several filming teams had gathered. Right now, an interview with a famous writer was underway. Two people were sitting in front of the cara. One was a female reporter conducting the interview, and the person answering her questions was the bob-haired star writer Han Seo-ryeong.
“Writer-nim, what’s the storyline of the new work you’re starting?”
Han Seo-ryeong, fitting her status as a veteran writer, answered with poise and elegance.
“I’ve just finished writing episode 1, it’s basically a dical drama. I’m working hard, but there’s so much research to do that it’s exhausting.”
“Co on- it’s you, Writer Han Seo-ryeong-nim, so I’m sure it’ll be another amazing project. I’m super excited too.”
“Thank you.”
“Recently, there was an article suggesting that Choi Rina-ssi might be cast as the female lead. What do you think about that?”
“Actress Choi Rina is a wonderful actor. I’m sure I’m not the only writer hoping to work with her. She’d suit this project very well.”
The interview mostly focused on Writer Han Seo-ryeong’s new project, with so questions about her personal life scattered throughout. Then the female reporter flipped a cue card and changed the topic.
“We can’t not talk about ‘Culture Drawer'."
'Culture Drawer' was Korea’s leading writer managent agency.
“‘Culture Drawer’ has beco a dream managent agency for many rookie writers and directors, with so many star writers and master directors under its wing. What do you think was the driving force behind such growth?”
“Hmm- the driving force. Let’s see. I think it’s probably our strict focus on ability. We only look at the capabilities and potential of writers and directors. We don’t do any recruitnt based on blood ties, regional connections, or school ties in our managent.”
“Oh, I see.”
“We do our best to support our writers and directors so they can perform in top condition.”
Just by her answers and expression, it was clear how much pride Han Seo-ryeong had in 'Culture Drawer'. Soon, the female reporter shifted to a new question.
“But ‘Culture Drawer’ is also known for not having rookie writers or directors, right? So when you say you evaluate based on ability and potential, what exactly do you assess?”
“Hmm- we do recruit rookies, ‘Culture Drawer’ does.”
“Huh?”
"Since 'Culture Drawer' ca up, I should share so new information."
“Oh- what kind?”
Sweeping back her bobbed hair, Writer Han Seo-ryeong quietly stated,
“Writer Rojun has decided to join us at ‘Culture Drawer'."
At that mont, the female reporter’s eyes widened in shock.
*****
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