MDL Production

As a long time fan of books, tv shows, and dramas, one of the side effects is acquiring an overactive imagination. Sometimes it's a curse, many times I can see plot twists from a mile away and though there's a satisfaction in saying "I knew it", it gets really disappointing when everything goes exactly like you first imagined, unless you imagine anti cliché twists, in that case it never happens.

On the other hand, the fun side of having an overactive imagination are the never ending drama scenarios and dream casting ships, and that kinda turned into a running joke around here, the MDL Production dream~

So, in light of Dramaworld 2,  which is somewhat "fanmade" by VIKI, why not MDL! In this article, I'll mention nine of my dream stories, but bear with me, I'm horrible at making up titles and names. xD You might also see some repetitive casting (that's why the running joke is to call this WDH productions ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), we also go by XingFly or ButterBack) but all of them are "supposedly" different in characteristics, and we end up with some unusual pairings in the process. ;D

My female leads will be different and diverse, I want the FLs to be self assured; people don't need to be arrogant to be confident, crying is not a weakness but they don't need the ML to save their day, friendly but still shy and definitely not a pushover; women have friends! They don't need to be the center of attention and loved by everyone, but we all know the basic social manners while navigating life, not everyone is friendly but not everyone is out to get the FLs, same goes with style, trends come and go but "not rich" women can also be into fashion, even a T-shirt with jeans can be stylish if one pays a little attention.

For the MLs, they'll not be jerks; they don't have to be sweeties but they also know basic manners on how to deal with people, they won't be "chaebols" (beside the 1st "prince"), they can be softies without being doormats, and they also can be fashionable with friends. ;)

Even though the name is "MDL", this is by no means officially associated with MDL and these are my personal views, though I always say anyone is welcome to join and share their own ideas and we can laugh about them on the feeds. So if you feel offended by my casting choices, please be kind cuz I am still just a normal person and a fan with feelings. ;)

Also, special thanks to @The Butterfly, i.e. my partner in crime and the one who listened to my crazy ideas and helped me make them better~

The Fairytale

• Genre: Fantasy, Sci FI, NOT historically accurate
• Tags: Fairytale, Royalty, Warrior Female Lead, Sweet Male Lead, Bromance, Sismance
• Muse: Arthdal Chronicles, Bloodlines Series (book), EXO

Cast	Role	Inspiration
Seo Ye Ji	Nation A Princess/Queen
Woo Do Hwan	Nation B Prince/King
Gong Yoo	General
Kim Da Mi	Nation A 2nd Princess
Side Characters
Seo Ji Hoon	Jin Ki Joo	Lee Jun Young

I had so much fun with these posters especially that I made two! ;)

This was probably our first production, I can't mention many "muses" for this, when I discussed it with @The Butterfly we talked about how it should be more like the full on fantasies in  C-Dramas. Lately with the whole thing around historical fantasies not being "historically accurate", it does make this genre of full on fantasia like fantasy a great investment, though don't let the Knetz know C-Historicals were the inspiration. xD

I personally never watched any of those C-Historicals, mainly because they're loooooong and 16 episodes are my limit, plus I don't like when the focus goes to the side characters (I have a lot of dislikes), so most of the inspiration credit here goes to @The Butterfly.

Though I've been a huge fan of urban fantasy and I know a lot about mythical creatures and "Fae". This could be in a different universe, about nations of the four elements; earth, water, air, and fire. (Or add more and make it like EXO! xD)

Seo Ye Ji, Kim Da Mi, and Gong Yoo would be from the Earth nation, the power associated with it would be healing, nature and growth, and Woo Do Hwan is from (Fire cuz he's so hot) the Air nation, I feel like air would also be utilized as telekinesis with a possibility of teleportation.

There will be a dark threat that's not political and some issues that'd make the nations unite against it, and therefore create "conflict". ;) Gong Yoo might also get tempted by the dark force and thus his wings change. ;p

*The romance is between Seo Ye Ji x Woo Do Hwan, there's no romance between Gong Yoo and Kim Da Mi.

The Rock

• Genre: Slice of Life, Music
• Tags: Bromance, Friendship, Second Chance, Dream, Reverse Harem
• Muse: Hospital Playlist, The Box, Mr. Sunshine
  

Cast	Role	Inspiration
Kim Jae Wook	Guitarist/Sub Vocal
Byun Yo Han	Drummer/Sub Vocal
Kim Tae Ri	Artist
Jang Dong Yoon	Main Vocalist
Woo Do Hwan	Electric Guitarist
Kim Ji Soo	Pianist/Guitarist
Kim Da Mi	GG Guitarist
Side Characters
Han Ji Eun	Shim Eun Woo	Stephanie Lee

Kim Jae Wook is a rock star that was never able to achieve his dream of performing on a big stage with his band, time passed and his band disbanded until one day he decided to chase his dream again so he asks his friend Byun Yo Han to restart the band.

Since none of their old friends want to pursue that dream again, Kim Jae Wook and Byun Yo Han cast the new kids Jang Dong Yoon, Woo Do Hwan, and Kim Ji Soo.

Kim Tae Ri is an artist that wants to start her own gallery so she rents the space next door to the Band's practice room and this will lead to a sweet, mature (i.e. not childish, non-cliché) romance between her and Byun Yo Han. 

Kim Da Mi is a guitarist in her own girl band and she'll have a cute romance with Woo Do Hwan. Han Ji Eun is Kim Jae Wook's wife;

"completely un-drama like, happily married and communicate to resolve issues. And use humor to diffuse situations. Understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses to help each other out. I’m so tired of the bickering, back biting couples. " - quote from  @The Butterfly.

Shim Eun Woo is Jang Dong Yoon's cute wife cuz why can't we have a young happily married couple as well, and Stephanie Lee is paired with Kim Ji Soo just because I want to relive the Prettiest couple ;(

The story is not too heavy on the band stuff, it'd be a slice of life balance between work, dreams, friendship, and love.

* I added Mr. Sunshine for reference on the reverse harem, I want them to admire her, not particularly fall in love with her. ;) And Byun Yo Han will have a beard. ;p

Fashion Runway

• Genre: College, Romance, Slice of Life
• Tag: Slow Burn, Fashion, Youth
• Muse: Plus Nine Boys, Honey and Clover, Paradise Kiss

Cast	Role	Inspiration
IU	Fashion Designer
Woo Do Hwan	Professor
Kim So Hyun	Law Student/Model
Lee Jae Wook	Fashion Student
Stephanie Lee	Fashion Student
Yeo Jin Goo	Architecture Student/Model
Side Characters
Jung Da Eun	Ahn Ji Ho	Kim Hyang Gi

The story would revolve around a "fashion club". IU is a prestigious fashion designer that visits the university and becomes their mentor. Woo Do Hwan is a professor that was forced to overlook the club. Stephanie Lee and Lee Jae Wook are fashion students and friends, Kim So Hyun and Yeo Jin Goo end up in the club and become their models.

The love line revolves around IU x Woo Do Hwan, Kim So Hyun x Lee Jae Wook, Stephanie Lee x Yeo Jin Goo. The main story would revolve around the big fashion competition and the sweet, unexpected bonding between the club members~

I hate stress but I guess the conflict would be whether each student chose the right major, what's their next move after graduation and all that college stress no one warns you about. Also, Yeo Jin Goo's already acting like he's in his late 20s so I want to force him back to the youngster vibes. xD

*Includes 3 different stories, the adults, the seniors and the freshmen.

The Spies

• Genre: Action, Mystery
• Tag: Sismance, Strong Female Characters, Female Centered Plot
• Muse: Good Casting, Totally Spies, Alias

Cast	Role	Inspiration
Kim Tae Ri	The Leader
Nana	The Ace
Kim Yong Ji	The Maknae
Nam Gyu Ri	The Boss
Yoo Teo	The Guy
Woo Do Hwan	Office worker
Side Characters
Lee Shi Young	Han Ye Ri	Jung Hye In

Lol, for this actually I could name so many people! It'd be a total full on female power, that includes the villains. xD It won't lack in the male cast but the girls would never depend on the guys, those have their own missions. 

Woo Do Hwan is Kim Tae Ri's unsuspecting, clueless, cute boyfriend. Maybe his office would deal with confidential stuff and she would be assigned to it, then we get a funny yet not delayed big reveal.

*I know the outfit inspirations are from kpop styles, but since one of the muses is Totally Spies there's nothing wrong with being fashionable and professional! (The chains are weapons. ;p)

The Duo

• Genre: Action, Mystery, Thriller
• Tag: Bromance, Dark, Murder, sci fi
• Muse: Beyond Evil, Nobody Knows, Circle

Cast	Role	Inspiration
Woo Do Hwan	Detective A
Jang Dong Yoon	Detective B
Lee Kwang Soo	The Villain
Seo Ye Ji	Undercover Cop
Im Hwa Young	The Chief
Side Characters
Kang Ha Neul	Kim Seul Gi	Jung Eun Ji

I personally am in a crime slump so I don't know how to build this. It'll be serious and it will be dark with good amount of twists that aren't overwhelming or super expected. That's why I thought about maybe making this a sci fi would make it better, but it won't be Alice level of sci fi. xD

Lee Kwang Soo will have a reversal type of dark villain role, while Woo Do Hwan and Jang Dong Yoon are the dream detective team. ❤ I suddenly remembered that Happy Together: Season 3 episode of Kang Ha Neul and Kim Seul Gi together and I just needed to fit them into the cast. xD

I noticed the lack of Seo Ye Ji in my article, so I'll add her here as another villain. ;D Plot twist, she's a cop. xD

The Heist

• Genre: Action, Mystery, Thriller
• Tag: Sismance, Teammance, Mild Romance
• Muse: Heist Society (book), Ocean's 8, 38 Task Force

Cast	Role	Inspiration
IU	The Con Artist
Kim Tae Ri	The Ballerina
Yeom Hye Ran	The Boss
Lee Joo Young	The Brains
Choi Shi Won	The Joker
Kim Nam Hee	The Muscle
Kim Hee Jung	The Maknae
Side Characters
Kim Min Kyu	Yoo Yeon Seok	Jung Yoo Jin

By this point, I've lost my creative juice but I love a good heist, not evil, "bad" guys type of thing. This would be a team of unexpected players brought together by Yeom Hye Ran and IU to steal things. Maybe they'll steal things from evil bad guys as part of a revenge scheme for each of the main characters, so every two episodes would revolve around one of the heists. While Kim Min Kyu, Yoo Yeon Seok, and Jung Yoo Jin are the cops chasing the team.

I just wanted to add more to that "bad guy" action type of shows and to have a more female centered cast. And if I had to add Woo Do Hwan in this, he would be a "villain" and Kim Hee Jung's brother.

1930s

• Genre: Action, Fantasy, Thriller, Romance
• Tag: Enemies to lovers, 30s
• Muse: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Assassination, Mr. Sunshine
  

Cast	Role	Inspiration
IU	FL
Byun Baek Hyun	ML
Stephanie Lee	SFL
Woo Do Hwan	SML
Kim Da Mi	TFL
Jang Dong Yoon	TML
Lee Da Hee	FFL
Yoo Teo	FML

After seeing both IU and Baekhyun's newest solo music videos, I couldn't help but see the similarities (i.e. the train and the "gangsta" vibes) so that soon I wished for a somewhat "reincarnation" or better yet, a do-over of Hae Soo and Wang Eun. Now IU's video is inspired by 70s style, but we're getting Snowdrop and maybe Oasis so it's nice to get more things in the 30s, like even a Mr. Sunshine sequel type.

This could be somewhat historically accurate, and since I'm not too knowledgeable on Korean 30s history, I'll leave the plot mostly empty. xD

In Moon Lovers, Baek's character was a cutie teen, but I'm sure if they let him be 1 % of his real, calm self (behind the cams), he'd nail the serious type well.

*Romance is between IU x Baekhyun, Woo Do Hwan x Stephanie Lee, Kim Da Mi x Jang Dong Yoon.

Historical Musical

• Genre: Musical, Romance, Historical
• Tag: Music, Friendship,
• Muse: The Tale of Nokdu

Cast	Role	Inspiration
Kwon Ik Hwan	Pansori Singer
Kim Tae Ri	Poet
Jang Dong Yoon	Prince
Seo Ye Ji	Painter
Kim Ji Soo	General
Kim Jennie	Pansori Singer (or a princess)

After watching the latest ep of I Can See Your Voice: Season 8, I realized something. Kdramas never did a historical musical! Sure, the closest thing to a musical I can remember was Dream High, but beside also wanting a modern Korean musical, a historical one would be AMAZING. It could be a somewhat actually accurate story about the origin of Pansori and if the timeline matched, the other traditional instruments of Korea. And tbh, this is the ONE I need Kdrama writers to notice. Kwon Ik Hwan's voice was so addicting and since it is inspired by him, I'll gladly "cast" him as the Main ML.

Just because of this CLIP from The Tale of Nokdu, don't mind me while I mention Jang Dong Yoon and Kim Tae Ri again as the main couple here. xD This would be another thing I wish Kdramas tried more often, the 1st ML is a stand alone character while everyone knows the romance revolves around the 2ML and 1FL.

Also, I'll add Seo Ye Ji and Kim Ji Soo because I need them in a historical (beside the fantasy one) and I found Jennie in a hanbok while searching and I just had to add her!

ICSYV also had many talented female traditional singers so we can have more talents~

*Click on the gif for the performance.

EXO the Movie

• Genre: Musical, Sci Fi, Fantasy
• Tag: Music, Friendship, Bromance, Dance
• Muse: EXO, Power Rangers, W.I.T.C.H, WINX 

EXO's concept is honestly one of the best in Kpop and just like how they have their own comic, I wish SM would make it into a movie, of course with the members acting as themselves.

It could be a great 10th anniversary special, showing everything from MAMA till Power while also adding Lay's parallel universe theories, and they could finally give us answers!

The fans already know the basic story, EXO come from EXOPLANET and each of them possess a power, then the dark force comes into play and they try to capture EXO. SM did a great job complimenting that into each comeback but we need the big story! And we need super high quality special effects to make EXO's "embarrassing" powers shine. xD

There might be a few sudden musical numbers, just because. xD

While making these stories up, I could feel the pressure of the real writers. When @The Butterfly asked me about setting and conflict, my first reaction would be "I'll add mystery", but I always hated that random murderer on the loose. So the question is, what's a good conflict that drives the story? 

I could get away with "it's a slow burn slice of life" with Fashion Runway, but I can't reuse the same move. I guess even though I criticize a lot, I'm still not a professional writer myself and it's really hard, but then again all those Kdrama writers actually do it as a profession so I guess they should still try to be better than me. xD

I never really tried to learn the actual basics of script writing, but I just love making up stories. I also felt bad about casting big names as side characters, but something we never do on MDL Production is to treat our sides as time fillers, we treat them as solid characters with real purpose. ;p

Therefore, even if I'm not 100 % sure on the progress, things you'll never find in MDL Productions would be: random mystery, past connections, bickering couple (not to be mistaken with enemies to lovers), sudden corruption (well, any real politics hopefully), inevitable episode 14 - 15 breakup, evil father/mother/uncle/aunt, type casted main leads, and well, actual hope for any of these to be made in reality. ;)

Though if anyone with real connections to the industry sees this, don't hesitate to DM me and I'll sell the rights in exchange of only supervising the overall drama while getting paid the 5 star hotel room and the expenses of me going to Korea (or a chance to come on set everyday xD). Am I writing another fanfic here? ;p

This became one of my longest articles, I've been writing it for a month but it's been fun and a great medicine to my drama slump.

What's your favorite out of these? And please help me pick better titles xD

All credits to rightful owners, though I did crop all of these pics after finding them on google and all of the "posters" are fanmade by me~