It seems the project has officially kicked off.
Photos that Biju sent kept popping up in our group chat.
Biju [I’m eting with the choreographer now~!]
Biju [(photo)]
Biju [So happy..!!!]
After our individual eting wrapped up, it looked like she was going straight into booking the choreographer. I was really curious to see what kind of stage they had in mind.
If it were any of the other mbers, I might have been a bit worried—but she’s so capable that I felt more curiosity than concern.
“But....”
I wasn’t worried about her, but I was definitely worried about Senior Ran and Haru, who ended up on the sa team.
I asked Mingi, who was sitting next to .
“Hyung, do you want to see this?”
“What is it... hah!”
In the photo, Haru and Ran already had dark circles under their eyes, and the choreographer’s expression stood out too. Seeing Biju beaming alone in the center was like watching a vampire draining everyone’s energy.
“I bet everyone wanted to team up with Biju. I think after the first broadcast, everyone will avoid her.”
“True. Even I wouldn’t want to team up with Biju....”
“Better than them, right?”
“Absolutely not.”
When I narrowed my eyes at the whole “better to roll together at the top than under” comnt, our manager shifted his gaze.
I grinned and sent a “Fighting!” NewBlack sticker on my phone. While the other mbers were cheering her on too, an FD who’d been wandering nearby called over.
“Uju!”
“Yes?”
“We’re getting ready for the next scene!”
“Okay~”
This was the indoor set for Our Family Is Aliens. Since it’s a sitcom, the house interior and other recurring backgrounds were all built as sets. It was amazing the first ti I saw it: plywood and beams tangled behind the walls, but from the front it looked just like a real ho.
“Ah~ I’m so happy~”
A cool breeze from an air conditioner wafted by as Seo Noeul, playing the alien family’s leader, twirled like a Swiss milkmaid. Then our eyes t.
“.......”
“.......”
A silly laugh escaped as Noeul said,
“Our maknae~”
“Yes, sunbaenim.”
“Shooting indoors is pure bliss~ Ah, this blessed indoor shoot~!”
With a booming, theatrical voice like a musical actor, she sang “La la la,” and the crew laughed. Actor Jung Inwoo, standing nearby, smiled and said,
“She’s always had low stamina. She only joined this sitcom because she thought if she did another drama, she’d keel over.”
“I saw when you did that night shoot last ti.”
Back then she’d looked like soone who’d won the lottery and blown it all by the wood stove. Now she looked so healthy she could chew through rebar like Pepero sticks.
“I love sitcoms~~”
“I do too~”
Even Ara jumped in, and the three of them spun around hand in hand, making everyone on set burst out laughing. The mood was fantastic. No wonder—the majority of the shoot was indoors, as Noeul sunbaenim had ntioned.
With a weekly 50-minute episode, the schedule was relaxed. Apart from special location shoots, almost everything took place on indoor sets, so the actors were all in top condition.
“La la la~ la la la~ la la la la la~”
“One is one, but two is two~ Two is two, after all~”
Now even Inwoo had joined Noeul and Ara, the three of them spinning in circles. Honestly, the mood was this good because everyone felt this was going to be a huge hit—and, if I’m honest, partly because of the promotional boost I’d bring.
“Everyone! Here’s our lucky charm~!”
“Lucky charm? I’m....”
They ford a circle around , waving their hands like they were praising a totem of fortune. I stifled a laugh and extended my hand solemnly.
“Catch it, please.”
“La la la la~”
The four of us spun around laughing. Yang Okbun, sitting on the set’s sofa and sipping coffee, chided us.
“Stop teasing our maknae. She’s busy enough—don’t tire her out. She must be out of her mind.”
We all protested.
“Uju likes this stuff!”
“Honestly, if you line up the normal and the abnormal, she’s furthest to the right....”
“We’re NewBlack, you know, sunbaenim!”
“Oh, enough with the chatter—quiet down!”
Okbun sunbaenim gave us all a look, then chuckled at our mock wails and scurried away.
At first we were all a bit reserved, but after two weeks of playing family, we’d already developed a weirdly strong bond. The atmosphere made work feel fun....
“Hmm....”
What if the premiere flops? During my trainee days at TJ Entertainnt, Hyun and I hyped up a stage and got crushed. I did think this drama would be a success...but what if it isn’t?
“What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, noona.”
At Scarlett Ara’s question, I quietly said,
“I was just thinking... what if, just in case, it doesn’t go well....”
Heh.
Ara, who’d been laughing, fell silent and said,
“You didn’t hear?”
“Hear what?”
“A few days ago the Variety Departnt did an internal screening of Episode 1....”
My throat went dry. Ara said,
“They said the reaction was amazing.”
“Really?”
“The Variety Director told them to push the promotion hard. I don’t know the details, but it’s apparently great.”
“Whoa...!”
“But, Uju.”
“Yes?”
“If we’re bringing in Hailey Blue as a cao, you really shouldn’t worry....”
I smiled awkwardly, and Ara laughed.
“Alright! Everything’s set—let’s roll the scene! This is the last one for today. After this, you’re free!”
Director Hwang Jeonggu called us, and the actors took their marks. The lively energy vanished and everyone slipped into character. As they say, when things are going well, they just go smoothly—and the shoot went off without a hitch.
[Aaah!]
[If this falls, the Earth will blow up! Agent!]
[Seriously... when are you people ever going ho!?]
It was the scene where Kim Uju and the alien family bounced an antimatter bomb like ping-pong balls with frying pans. We had a few NGs from actual laughter, but we wrapped quickly.
“Great work, everyone! You were aweso today.”
At the cut, we applauded and got ready to wrap. I was about to head back to the dorm to welco Biju when the director motioned over.
“Uju.”
“Yes, director.”
“You’re free this Sunday night, right? We’re all watching Episode 1 together.”
“Of course—my schedule’s clear.”
The cast and crew planned to watch the live broadcast of Our Family Is Aliens together. One thing held back, though: the mbers kept whining in our chat,
“Can I co to watch with you guys~? I have the perfect review... oh, I can’t watch?”
“I was going to make nightti snacks for hyung....”
“Don’t co back acting like you’re the maknae and get treated special.”
I felt guilty and asked cautiously,
“Director, can I bring the mbers...?”
“Oh? That’s what was holding you back? Bring them. It’ll boost the mood.”
Since Biju had a cao and the crew had already hosted the food «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» truck, there was no problem. When they said Scarlett would co too, I laughed in relief.
“Thank you,” I said, bowing as we parted.
“Ah.”
One more question popped into my head.
“Director.”
“Yes?”
“Have you seen Episode 1 yet?”
He burst out laughing at my odd phrasing. When I asked what he thought, he said,
“You’ll know co Sunday.”
He turned, chuckled, tripped over a cable, staggered, and hopped away.
“.......”
I didn’t know much, but I was sure this was going to be one extraordinary drama.
Back at the dorm, we imdiately got to work on the snacks.
“If cooking’s too hard...”
“Just order in~!”
“Thank goodness for restaurants!” I laughed.
We brought out Biju’s favorite plates and arranged the delivery feast.
“We even set up lighting.”
Ri Hyuk looked around, and the dorm was elegantly decorated with glowing mood lamps and LED candles—cozy enough for an ASMR fireplace video.
“All that’s left is Biju hyung. Ah, I really want to see Biju hyung.”
The maknae stamped her foot, missing her hyung, and I laughed.
“You’ll be like this during reserve army training, too?”
“What are you talking about? Hyung and Biju hyung are different. Biju hyung cooks delicious als for us.”
“.......”
Rain poured in my heart.
“I’m kidding. I’d miss you if you weren’t here, too.”
“Right?”
“...Ri Hyuk told to say that—hah!”
“You tricked !”
The two maknae laughed, slapping the table in delight.
“.......”
I actually missed Biju more than anyone. A few minutes later, Biju returned to the dorm.
“I’m ho~ Oh my!”
“Whoa!”
We both jumped. Biju’s eyes widened at the spread on the table and the glowing lights. We stared at her in turn.
‘Wow... how much energy did they drain from her?’
‘Look how luminous her skin is.’
‘It’s like baby skin.’
She looked radiant. I could imagine whatever trials Ran and Haru had gone through.
“......So that’s what happened!”
Biju sat down and, between bites, recounted the day’s events. Her eyes lit up as she spoke, and we asked,
“How did the competition go?”
“Oh! They do the movie script like a musical! Eritrea? So classic film. Jiho, do you know it?”
“Eritrea...? Oh, I know that black-and-white film.”
True to her film-buff maknae status, she answered imdiately.
“It’s really old... but yeah, probably perfect for dramatization.”
When Biju asked for help with stage design and acting, the maknae happily agreed. Mid-serving jokbal onto Biju’s plate, Junghyun asked,
“No rap needed?”
“Hyung, don’t you need vocals?”
“No, I don’t think they’ll need that.”
As they looked a bit disappointed, I asked,
“What about background music? You’ll need BGM. Want to help arrange?”
“That...,” Biju said, smiling sheepishly, “I thought of you while imagining the soundtrack, but the PD asked not to ask you.”
“Why...?”
“Because no one could top your arrangents....”
We all burst out laughing. I had wanted to help, but indeed, fairness issues can arise on competition shows. It was right to exclude that possibility.
“So Senior Ran will look into that.”
“That should keep things above board.”
The choreographers Biju texted with daily were world-class—Clay Tyler and Han Ayun, one of the top dostic nas.
Biju smiled and said,
“But this isn’t an elimination-style show, so we don’t need to worry about that.”
“How was the atmosphere?”
“It felt like a sports day—everyone cheering each other on.”
I laughed, understanding exactly that vibe, then asked,
“So what’s your role this ti?”
“I’m in charge of practice!”
“Oh my....”
“Yes?”
“Oh my! That’s perfect—practice lead!”
Biju tapped her phone grinning.
“So I’m packing lunch boxes on my practice days—breakfast, lunch, dinner.”
“Breakfast, lunch, and dinner...?”
“Yeah. I thought snacks might be overkill.”
Not exactly three full als in lunch boxes, but before I could tell her it was too much, she said,
“I’m thinking of onigiri. Saves ti—I can eat in 30 minutes!”
“.......”
“Couldn’t think of anything faster to eat.”
We all shared a glance, then nodded warmly.
‘It’s not for us.’
‘She’ll be fine~’
While we chatted, Biju smiled at the cozy living room.
“I thought you’d have made a ss, but everything’s fine. I was kind of worried.”
“What do you an? We’re not kids.”
“Ha ha ha!”
“It’ll be just like when hyung’s out.”
We laughed, and Biju surveyed the room again. Then she squinted.
“Turn on the lights.”
“......!”
“No matter how I look at it, sothing’s off...? Turn on the lights.”
“Aah... no!”
We all grabbed Biju as she tried to stand. Ten minutes later,
“......!”
Hellfire descended upon us.
The second week of August flew by. While handling individual schedules, we also attended a friend’s wedding.
“Hello!”
“What... why, how, why are you here... uh! Uh-huh! That....”
Nam Dohoon, greeting guests in the lobby, was stunned by our lively entrance.
“No, why....”
“Why are we here? We ca to sing the congratulatory song~!”
“...You’re the congratulatory singers hyung hired?”
“Yes!”
“I didn’t expect you to actually co.”
Dohoon sunbaenim, a mber of Mr. Producer and the groom, looked thrilled. At the showcase, we’d done a wedding-fortune reading for him, and he’d looked so excited.
The MC, Lee Uiji, had arranged our performance.
“One, two, three! Hello! We’re NewBlack!”
“Wooooaah!”
When we broke into the song, applause erupted like at a concert. Celebrity guests stood and fild us.
“Congratulations on your wedding. We prepared a very special song.”
Dohoon sunbaenim watched anxiously, but soon relaxed into our ballad, built with layered harmonies around Ri Hyuk. The crowd loved it.
“You sing so well... oh right, they’re singers.”
“Wait, NewBlack’s singing the congratulatory song?”
“Looks like they’re doing it for Mr. Producer.”
Guests murmured, and the bride’s parents widened their eyes. Dohoon sunbaenim bead next to the bride, and we felt warm inside.
“Thank you. Be happy.”
We waved and departed the ceremony. As guests, staying longer would have drawn too much attention.
“Cough....”
“My eyes....”
So of the younger mbers wept silently. After the wedding, we attended the press conference for Our Family Is Aliens, airing soon.
“Hello! I’m Uju.”
Having done plenty of press, I handled the Q&A smoothly.
“A lot of idols use their real nas when they debut as actors. Why do you use Uju?”
A strange question—it seed they wanted to tie to other idol-actors. The other actors flinched briefly, and I smiled.
“There’s no special reason. My na is Uju, so I go by Uju...!”
In monts like that, a polite non sequitur is best. The reporters laughed, and the actors shrugged, calling the maknae.
After the conference:
—‘Our Family Is Aliens’ D-1 “Will sitcoms make a coback?”
—“Alien family’s uproarious Earth adaptation,” airs August 14
—[Photo] “Floral? I am the flower,” NewBlack’s Uju “Agent Kim Uju” transformation
Gon Pictures and the actors’ agencies flooded promotions. All that remained was Episode 1’s broadcast.
On Sunday at 10 p.m., after TBC’s weekend drama, our sitcom would air. We gathered at a restaurant in Yeongdeungpo.
“Hello!”
“Oh, Uju’s here?”
As we entered the rowdy restaurant, actors and staff greeted us.
“Ah, Juseon’s here!”
“Sunbaenim, how have you been?”
After greeting Song Hoon, whose face rarely appears under the Maltese narration, I introduced my younger mbers to the actors.
“These are my siblings.”
“.......”
The actors paused for a second, then stood and bead.
“Well, look who’s here!”
“Welco!”
“I really wanted to see you... co sit. I have questions!”
The actors’ warm welco made the mbers go “Huh?” before breaking into smiles. anwhile,
“.......”
The actors kept looking at the mbers with serious eyes as they chatted. The mbers glanced at .
‘What did they talk about us?’
‘Nothing.’
I shook my head with a smile, though I felt a pang.
—“It’s hard acting like aliens. What expression should I make?”
—“Sunbaenim.”
—“Yes?”
—“One of our mbers totally fits that character.”
Seeing the actors ready to research alien behavior as if an actual extraterrestrial family had appeared, I smiled warmly.
“.......”
This had to stay our secret.
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