Chapter 202 : Too Good to Only Make Music
Chapter 202: Too Good to Only Make Music
The film industry—the ultimate embodiment of capitalism.
It was a place overflowing with hyena-like investors who came running the moment they smelled money.
But every now and then, there were people who opened their wallets for emotion.
People willing to throw in their own money and time for the faintest possibility.
Even the film industry had angels like that.
We called them angel investors.
For example...
The eccentric who invested in a project that was highly likely to fail while shouting, “But it's fun, isn't it?”
Or the pretentious fellow who invested in promising films because he fancied himself an art connoisseur.
Whatever the case, they all shared one simple philosophy.
'Isn't it pretty cool if a movie I picked gets made?'
Most people called them crazy.
But there were also those who acknowledged it as romance.
At the end of that romantic road, some lost everything.
Others popped champagne after making hundreds of times their investment.
Perhaps Taeyoon wanted that champagne too.
“Could I invest in it?
There's something called an angel investor, right?
I've always wanted to try being one.”
Who knew.
Meanwhile, the director and assistant director sat there completely dumbfounded.
Did we hear that wrong?
Oh Seungju simply blinked repeatedly, while the assistant director beside him covered his mouth with both hands in shock.
Only one person looked at Taeyoon with complete disbelief.
Kim Minsoo called out to him in a low, steady voice.
“Writer Stay...?”
“Yes?”
Taeyoon answered brightly.
Kim Minsoo rubbed the back of his neck before replacing his expression entirely and turning toward the other two.
“Director.
Assistant Director.
This is your first visit to KIM Entertainment, isn't it?”
Silence briefly filled the room.
But it didn't take Oh Seungju long to realize.
The instincts he'd developed from surviving in the film industry immediately kicked in.
That was silent pressure saying,
'We have something important to discuss, so please excuse yourselves for a moment.'
“Ahem.”
After clearing his throat once, he stood up.
“Ah, yes. Your company looks wonderful. Would it be alright if we looked around a bit?”
“Of course.
I've already arranged it.”
Dragging along the oblivious assistant director, who was about to blurt out,
“What? Why all of a sudden? This is important! He said he'll invest!”
Oh Seungju pulled him out of the CEO's office.
The moment the door closed.
Kim Minsoo turned toward Taeyoon with an icy expression he'd never shown before.
“Taeyoon.
You know what what you just said means, right?”
“About being an angel investor?
Of course I do.”
“Haa...”
Kim Minsoo stammered as if he'd been inflicted with a status ailment.
The instant Taeyoon brought up angel investing,
it felt as though cold air spread from Kim Minsoo's entire body.
Meanwhile, Taeyoon absentmindedly fiddled with his earlobe, completely unaware of the reason.
“Why?
I heard their investment fell through.
Doesn't that mean they can't make the movie?”
“You're half right.”
“So that's why I said I'd invest.”
“I'm against that.
Because...”
Kim Minsoo paused.
Out of the countless thoughts floating through his head, he searched for the most appropriate words.
A musician should only make music.
That was the heart of it.
Even someone indifferent toward money...
The moment they sensed they might lose it, it became difficult to stay mentally unaffected.
Especially in the film industry—
The greatest gamble of them all.
This wasn't simply about whether <Footprints That Became a Star> would succeed or fail.
Kim Minsoo himself leaned toward believing it would succeed...
But that was merely the outcome.
For investments like this, the process mattered far more.
“CEO, why are you looking at me like that?
You're starting to scare me.
Is investing in a movie because I liked it really that wrong...?”
Kim Minsoo interpreted Taeyoon's impulsive behavior as youthful competitiveness.
The guy had never traded stocks or bought cryptocurrency even once.
How was he supposed to deal with the consequences if he lost money investing in movies?
So Kim Minsoo proposed an alternative.
“Let's have KIM Entertainment invest officially instead.
We'll cover the entire production budget.”
“Huh?
KIM Entertainment will?”
At Taeyoon's question, Kim Minsoo simply nodded.
Taeyoon genuinely couldn't understand his reasoning.
It wasn't as though Kim Minsoo could casually throw around hundreds of millions of won.
To be honest...
He didn't care about movies.
Then what was this?
He decided to consider it an expense for his artist's mental well-being.
“Instead, since your song is the centerpiece, once we recover the investment, I'll give you twenty percent.
How does that sound?”
Taeyoon's mouth fell open.
“...Why?”
“If it succeeds, that's only fair.
You wanted to invest, and I stopped you.
If the movie becomes a hit and KIM Entertainment keeps every penny of the investment return, won't that mess with your head?”
Only then did Taeyoon finally understand the situation.
'I don't really have anything to lose though...'
The promise Kim Minsoo had made from the very beginning.
That he'd let him focus solely on music.
This was simply an extension of that promise.
That was how Taeyoon chose to see it.
Thinking about it carefully...
It wasn't wrong.
Making a movie would cost hundreds of millions of won at the very least.
If he had that much money tied up...
Would he even be able to sleep properly?
...He wasn't confident.
To think he even worried about something like this for me.
That was honestly touching.
Rubbing his nose with his index finger, Taeyoon lowered his head.
“...I'm sorry.
And thank you.
I liked the movie so much that I got carried away.”
“Exactly.
The movie looks like it'll be fun.
I think so too.”
A short while later.
Oh Seungju and Kim Seongyong returned.
In that brief span of time, Oh Seungju's eyes had noticeably sunken.
He had sensed that something serious had happened.
'So the rumors about CEO Kim Minsoo not being easy to deal with were true.'
Kim Minsoo had talked Stay out of it.
That was the best solution Oh Seungju could imagine.
He felt a little disappointed.
But he didn't show it.
He was simply saddened.
He'd boldly declared that he could just withdraw his jeonse deposit.
But no one truly wanted to end up homeless.
He was used to rejection.
Yesterday had been no different.
Thinking that way, he forced a smile onto his face.
“This is a wonderful company.
The coffee was excellent too.”
“Thank you.
Please have a seat.”
Watching the two cautiously take their seats, Kim Minsoo extended his right hand.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Pardon?”
As Oh Seungju and Kim Seongyong stared blankly, Kim Minsoo calmly explained.
“Private investments involve complicated procedures and rights issues.
Therefore, we've decided that KIM Entertainment—not Stay personally—will fully invest in <Footprints That Became a Star>.”
“What?
All of a sudden...?”
“I know you've probably received investment offers from many places for such an outstanding project.
We're also grateful that you chose Stay's song as the OST.
Since we've met through such a wonderful opportunity, we'd appreciate it if you would allow us the chance to invest.
We'll do everything we can to support you so you can focus solely on making the film.”
After finishing, Kim Minsoo stood and bowed politely.
“Goodness...”
Oh Seungju's eyes turned into hearts.
Kim Minsoo.
He was far more romantic than the rumors suggested.
To be honest...
His eyes even welled up slightly.
He probably already knew every investor had rejected them.
Yet he'd gone as far as saying it would be an honor to invest.
It was deeply moving.
Oh Seungju made a decision.
Starting today, he'd buy every album released by KIM Entertainment.
No—
He'd buy extras and give them to everyone he knew.
He'd leave positive comments on every online article too.
Respect.
Consideration.
It had been a long time since he'd experienced such gentlemanly behavior.
Perhaps unaware of how moved he was...
Kim Minsoo continued speaking with a purely businesslike mindset, carefully outlining the conditions.
“However, since Writer Stay's music will be the centerpiece, KIM Entertainment will retain all music usage rights, copyrights, and performance rights.”
“Yes, of course.”
“As for recovering the investment, we'll follow the industry's standard distribution ratio.”
“Thank you.”
Swallowing the admiration rising to his throat, Oh Seungju sprang to his feet.
Then he bowed deeply.
“Thank you sincerely.
I'll make this without any regrets.
And thank you as well, Writer Stay, for allowing us to use your OST.”
Huh?
Realizing everyone's attention had shifted toward him, Taeyoon hurriedly spoke.
Now or never!
In this warm atmosphere, he wanted to say what he needed to say as well.
“Director.”
“Yes?”
“Considering the runtime...
I don't think one OST will be enough.”
“Huh?
What do you mean?”
“After reading the screenplay all the way through, I think it'll need at least three more songs.”
“......!”
“We'll use <Footprints That Became a Star> as the ending song.
But during the walks...
When they go out together...
When they meet other friends...
Each of those moments should have different songs.
I think that'll make the movie much richer.”
Oh Seungju was on the verge of fainting.
He was so overwhelmed with joy that the world nearly started spinning.
Was this a dream?
Or reality?
Not only was the movie fully funded...
Stay was even offering to compose more songs.
Did KIM Entertainment sit on blessed land or something?
Kim Minsoo aside...
Not only was Stay kind, but even the employee who guided them around had been unbelievably courteous.
Oh Seungju!
You've hit the jackpot!
Receiving this much goodwill, he couldn't just sit there.
“I'll leave the entire OST in Writer Stay's hands.”
“Oh?
Really?”
“Of course.
You've already read the entire screenplay, and I'm sure you'll make it better than anyone—”
He froze.
The director stopped mid-sentence.
Taeyoon's expression had suddenly changed.
“Just a moment.
There's something I really want to mention.”
As if he'd been waiting for this opportunity, he pulled out a notebook and placed it on the table.
Then, with careful hands as though opening a sacred text, he spread it open.
Tap.
After neatly setting down the fountain pen gifted to him by Kim Jinsoo, Taeyoon began a briefing that absolutely no one had requested.
“First of all, the main theme will include three key changes.
A triple modulation.
That's the core.
You know—that feeling of emotions layering on top of each other?”
Nobody knew.
Yet nobody dared stop him.
“For the opening sequence, I'm thinking of using ambient sound to maximize the feeling of loss.
A gentle arpeggio over lo-fi beats, then spacious reverb to make it feel like memories drifting through the air.”
“I see...
I see.”
The assistant director nodded for no reason at all.
He had no idea what any of it meant.
But nodding made him look knowledgeable.
“And for the scene where the dogs come running through the park.
I'm thinking of using a lo-fi style with a light layer of strings to create a soft, fluffy feeling.
The drums will only keep a simple rhythm using brushes.
What do you think?”
“Th-That sounds great!”
Kim Minsoo merely flared his nostrils.
The expressions on the director and assistant director's faces were priceless.
Kim Minsoo was already used to scenes like this.
But for those two...
They were witnessing something they might never see again.
“And during the walking scenes, I think jazz-style scat vocals would work nicely.
When they meet other dogs, I'll create short melodic motifs that reflect each dog's personality and use them as character themes.
Then during the farewell scene, I'll reconstruct those motifs into piano melodies and turn them into variations to emphasize the sadness...”
W-What an incredible music nerd!
“And!
The important question is whether it'll be diegetic or non-diegetic.”
Even Kim Minsoo looked startled at that point.
This kid even knows about that?
I... don't.
Since when did he start studying film music too?
“Die... what?”
“Oh.
If the characters inside the movie can hear the music themselves, that's diegetic.
If it's only background music, it's non-diegetic.
What I'm planning is an intentional blend.
At every transition, I want the audience to think,
'Huh?
I thought this was just background music... Wait, the dog can hear it too?'”
Oh Seungju's mouth slowly fell open.
“That's refreshing.”
The person who should've opened a notebook was actually Oh Seungju.
He hurriedly pulled one out from his bag.
An unexpected treasure.
That was exactly the right description.
“In the latter half, I'll completely overlap the score and environmental sound until people can't tell them apart.
What do you think?”
“Pardon?”
“I want the music to feel so natural that people can't tell whether it's the score or ambient sound.
That's my goal.
By the time the movie ends, I want only the music to remain in the audience's minds.”
Didn't his throat ever get tired?
Taeyoon carefully continued reading through his notebook.
Finally...
The last page.
“For the ending credits, I'm planning to use a modified bossa nova rhythm.
I'll slightly rearrange <Footprints That Became a Star>.
A low bass layered with rain samples in an ASMR style, making it sound as if the protagonist is reading a letter to the dog...
Hm?
Why are you all looking at me like that?
If there's anything you don't like, I'm willing to revise it...”
Taeyoon was the only one who hadn't noticed.
The atmosphere inside the conference room had completely changed.
Oh Seungju nodded in admiration.
“...I don't think we need to worry about the musical side at all.”
Kim Seongyong suddenly grabbed Taeyoon's hand.
“Writer Stay!
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you!”
“...Huh?”
“I was honestly terrified I'd end up living with the director.
Thank you for protecting my tiny, precious home.
Hahaha!”
“Haha?
Hahaha.”
Not understanding a thing, Taeyoon laughed along anyway.
The contract moved forward quickly.
That very night, after finalizing the investment agreement, Oh Seungju and Kim Seongyong sat across from each other at a street food tent.
Grilled hagfish and a bottle of soju.
A modest yet joyful feast.
Clink—
The sound of their glasses colliding felt especially refreshing today.
It was their own little celebration.
Then—
“What a waste.”
“Huh?”
On such a wonderful day, Oh Seungju suddenly let out a deep sigh.
“...What now?”
“Writer Stay.
What a waste.”
“...Ah.”
They really were on the same wavelength.
As Kim Seongyong refilled the director's glass with soju, he nodded vigorously.
“You mean he's too handsome to only make music, right?”
“Yeah.
Seriously.”
“Should we casually bring it up sometime?”
“Nah.
Let's not pressure him already.”
“Sigh...”
“We've still got plenty of time before filming starts.
There'll be opportunities.”
The person who was supposed to hand out the rice cakes hadn't even thought about it.
Yet these two were already enthusiastically drinking the kimchi soup first.