Chapter 207 : OST by STaY
Chapter 207: OST by STaY
The day of the press screening.
In front of the screening hall prepared at KW Cinema Samsung Branch.
Amid the lively crowd, I stood there for quite a while, staring only at the poster.
“Wow......”
It was beautiful.
The atmosphere, the copy.
Even the message contained within the poster.
The poster looked like this.
A man was lying in a grassy field, gazing up at the sky.
Beside him, a small music notebook lay slightly open.
It was sunset.
The faintly purple sky was filled with stars.
At first glance, they looked like scattered constellations, but upon closer inspection, they had been arranged in the shape of quarter notes.
As though they were the footprints left behind by someone who had walked across the heavens.
[ A Farewell Left Behind as Musical Notes, A Story That Became a Star ]
<Footprints That Became a Star>
Directed by Director Oh Seungju / OST by STaY
It was beautiful.
So beautiful that I wanted to hang it right in the center of my room after moving into my new house.
My eyes lingered on the words 'OST by STaY' for a long time.
I barely resisted the urge to run my fingers across the lettering.
Did movie posters usually print the OST composer's name this prominently?
People hurried busily past me.
It felt as though I was the only one standing still.
I wondered how long I'd been there.
A large hand rested on my shoulder.
It was Director Oh Seungju.
“Do you like the poster?”
Without saying anything, I smiled and gave him a thumbs-up.
After quietly studying my face for a moment, Director Oh Seungju asked again.
“Don't you regret it?”
“What?”
“We prepared a seat for you at the press conference table... I was a little disappointed when I heard you wouldn't be coming up. Ah, not disappointed exactly. I just thought it would've been nice if you could've talked about the music yourself.”
Director Oh Seungju let out an awkward laugh.
“I'm not a filmmaker.”
“But no matter what, Composer Stay's music is the true protagonist.”
“Everyone who participated in the movie is the protagonist. The actors, the staff... the doggies...”
“That's true. Every single one of them worked hard.”
“Yes. So just thinking of me was already an honor.”
“...That's really a shame.”
He probably meant it.
When I told CEO Kim Minsoo that I wouldn't be appearing at the press screening, he asked me three separate times if I was sure.
Eventually, he simply said,
'The director's really going to be disappointed. But if you're uncomfortable with it, Taeyoon, then it can't be helped.'
After that, he didn't ask again.
Instead, I prepared several Q&A answers.
So the director could answer them on my behalf.
Even that had been an incredibly enjoyable experience.
“Thank you for attending. I'll make sure to talk a lot about Composer Stay today.”
“Oh, you're too kind.”
I heard staff members busily calling for the director.
“It'll be starting soon. Composer Stay, you have to stay until the very end, okay?”
“Yes. Of course!”
Fortunately, I was able to watch everything—from the preparations for the press screening to the movie itself.
Even the unfamiliar experience felt enjoyable.
Ever since I went to the theater with Mom and Auntie the other day...
I'd truly come to love movies.
For two whole hours, music I had created played continuously...
It was overwhelming.
I felt so full of emotion I thought I might burst.
Before the screen lit up.
The theater was unusually quiet.
Only the faint murmur of conversations could be heard.
This wasn't an audience of ordinary moviegoers.
These were industry veterans who had seen it all.
Journalists, critics, filmmakers, distributors, investors, and directors.
In other words...
This was the place where everyone judged just how far this movie could go.
What expressions people made.
When someone left their seat.
Who failed to hide their emotions.
A place where everyone observed others while being observed themselves.
Before the movie began, everyone put on large headphones.
One staff member whispered quietly.
“Wow... They actually got these as sponsorships.”
As if they'd been waiting for it, exclamations erupted all around the theater.
“Aren't these Sonya's flagship headphones? How much do these cost?”
“Great music deserves great headphones.”
“This definitely helps you focus more on the music.”
“Shh! It's starting.”
Ta-dan—
With the refreshing sound of a piano, the movie began.
It had been a long time.
Since I'd seen a film that completely captivated both the eyes and ears.
There were no lyrics.
Yet no one felt they were needed.
If anything, lyrics might have interfered with the emotions.
An actor ran across a sunlit grassy field with a dog.
There was no laughter behind the smiles.
Like a meadow at four in the afternoon.
It quietly told its story.
But the audience clearly heard something.
The sounds of laughter.
And the music.
As the film's main theme began playing, the atmosphere changed.
An ordinary scene on a grassy field transformed into a letter settling deep inside one's heart.
The audience didn't react.
More accurately...
They couldn't react.
'Wow......'
'How could something like this......'
Silent amazement spilled across their faces.
They exchanged glances, unable to hide their surprise.
'...This is really an OST?'
'No wonder the movie didn't need dialogue.'
'Impossible.'
By the latter half of the movie, the dog was gone.
Only the man remained.
The final scene.
The man looked up at the night sky.
The same stars from the poster floated overhead.
The moment everyone realized those stars formed the shape of quarter notes—
Scratch, scratch—
The hands of journalists and critics suddenly sped up.
Using the glow of the screen as their light, they hurriedly began writing.
Sometimes...
There were emotions that simply had to be poured out somehow.
Though there was no dialogue, the movie said so much.
Perhaps because there were no words, its message reached even deeper.
The Footprints That Became a Star shimmered across the screen.
Slowly, the stars faded away.
The ending credits began to roll.
The names of countless staff members filled the screen.
Then, at last—
'OST by STaY'
appeared clearly.
A brief silence followed.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—
The silence gradually transformed into cautious applause.
People finally managed to open the mouths they'd unconsciously kept shut.
“It's perfect.”
“Ah... I don't even know how to describe this feeling...”
“It leaves you longing, doesn't it?”
When the movie ended.
The lights inside the theater came back on.
Everyone busied themselves hiding their expressions.
Director Oh Seungju slowly walked onto the stage and picked up the microphone.
“Thank you all for joining us today at the press screening of <Footprints That Became a Star>.”
With those opening words, the discussion began.
Everyone was excited about the film, but true to the nature of a press screening, they asked calm, carefully worded questions.
Most of them revolved around the film's intentions and themes.
Among them were a few lighthearted questions.
“I've been curious ever since the trailer. At the beginning of the film, who was the man playing with the dogs in the distant meadow?”
“Ah! I was about to ask that too!”
“Exactly. I don't think he was even listed properly in the credits.”
That made sense.
The only person they knew was 'STaY.'
And the name 'Seo Taeyoon' in the credits was simply listed under the role of Man No. 5.
“Ah~ Him?”
Director Oh Seungju turned his head.
His eyes immediately found someone wearing a mask, nervously darting his gaze around the theater.
“Well... the assistant director handled the minor casting, so even I'm not entirely sure... Haha.”
“Aww~”
Playful groans broke out briefly.
But thanks to the movie's charm, people's curiosity about the memorable extra quickly shifted elsewhere.
Watching everyone's reactions, Taeyoon quietly let out a sigh of relief.
After a few more questions...
Director Oh Seungju began his closing remarks.
“We've prepared a special gift for everyone who attended today.”
After speaking, Director Oh Seungju's gaze remained fixed in one direction.
Click— Click—
Among the countless camera flashes.
Although he wore a mask, the face shining brighter than any flash belonged to Taeyoon.
Their eyes met.
Though they were far apart, it seemed as though Director Oh Seungju smiled with his eyes, silently saying,
'Thank you.'
'Or perhaps...'
'You worked hard.'
After giving a slight nod of greeting, he continued.
“To the true protagonist of this film, STaY, who created its OST, we'd like to express our sincere gratitude. We've prepared a limited-edition album. We hope this won't remain merely a fleeting afterglow, but will stay as a part of your lives.”
The true protagonist of the film.
Stay.
No one disagreed.
Immediately after the press screening ended.
People emerged from KW Cinema wearing excited expressions.
Journalists.
And film critics.
Gone were the cold, detached faces they'd worn before the screening.
Everyone tightly gripped their notebooks and laptops, unable to contain their impressions.
“Did you cry?”
When one veteran critic lightly tapped a colleague on the shoulder and asked, the woman wiping her eyes answered calmly.
“Normally, music simply supports a film a little.
But this time...
It felt like the movie existed to elevate the music instead.”
A famous film magazine journalist couldn't hide his excitement either.
“To be honest, when I saw the composer's name printed so prominently on the poster, I thought it was arrogant. I figured Director Oh Seungju had completely lost it.
But after watching it...
I understand.”
“Exactly. When they said the music was the protagonist of the film, I laughed.
I never imagined they were telling the truth.”
They spilled out onto the streets in small groups, endlessly discussing the movie and its music.
“There aren't many films that carry the entire narrative through the OST. I think this one's going to be remembered as a successful example for years.”
“I had no idea Director Oh Seungju was capable of something like this.”
“Didn't you absolutely tear him apart last time? What about now?”
“Oh, come on. Of course not. Good thing I'm wearing a mask.”
The fastest journalist had already finished submitting his article.
[<Footprints That Became a Star> Surpasses the Limits of Silent Cinema — 'The OST Is the True Protagonist']
It had been a long time.
Since a movie left behind such lingering emotions.
Even now, it felt as though the refreshing piano melody still echoed in his ears.
He gently pushed his laptop aside and added,
“At this level... it might even have a shot at the Academy Award for Best Original Score.”
As everyone nodded in agreement...
Someone suddenly trailed off.
“...I didn't expect Baek Seokhwan to attend, though.”
A black shirt.
A black jacket.
A man walked out slowly, expressionless as the Grim Reaper.
A notorious critic known for his merciless reviews across both pop music and film.
He confidently strode into the center of the crowd.
The moment Baek Seokhwan appeared, suspicious glances were exchanged.
No one spoke to him.
They simply held their breath and watched his mouth.
Perhaps sensing everyone's attention...
Without saying a word, Baek Seokhwan walked through the center of the lobby before stopping in front of the poster.
OST by STaY.
He studied the words carefully.
Then quietly spoke.
“The music stands too far in front.”
Leaving behind only that single sentence...
Baek Seokhwan turned and walked away.
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Is he saying the music overshadowed the movie?”
“What does he mean? Did he like it or hate it?”
“Just ignore him. He's always trying to sound profound.”
“Man... the atmosphere was great until he ruined it.”
Now everyone was curious.
Just what kind of review would Baek Seokhwan write?
“Well, our real work starts now.”
“Let's get to it.”
“Take care on your way home.”
Normally, days like this called for a round of beers.
Yet not a single person suggested grabbing a drink.
Movie reviews were all about speed.
Formal reviews could wait until after the general screenings.
But spoiler-free SNS impressions were perfectly acceptable.
In less than an hour...
<Footprints That Became a Star> climbed into the real-time SNS trends.
@cine_note_park (Cine Note Reporter)
I was worried because it was described as a silent-film-style movie, but now I feel guilty for doubting it. Why is the sadness so overwhelming when there's barely any sound? Thank you for the OST album.
#FootprintsThatBecameAStar #Stay #RevivalOfSilentCinema
@film_scriptor (Freelance Film Critic)
There is no dialogue.
Only melody.
Yet I heard more from this movie than any other film I've watched in the past year.
If memories could be replayed through music...
Maybe this is what it would feel like.
#OST #FootprintsThatBecameAStar #NotASecretThatICried
@cutbycut_director (Editor-in-Chief of The Screen)
Thank you to the organizers for preparing the OST album as a gift.
I can't stop listening to it.
It's a shame I couldn't meet Composer Stay, but...!
I suppose composers are meant to greet us through their music.
#OSTbySTaY
@cinebeat_jinsoo (CineBeat Reporter)
This isn't a dog movie.
Nor is it a family movie.
It's a movie about memories.
A movie that doesn't show you—
It lets you hear.
No words are necessary.
Just go watch it.
#SilentComfort #FootprintsThatBecameAStar
The glowing review from the notoriously nitpicky CineBeat reporter sent the movie community into an uproar.
[(Today's Best) I'm incredibly curious. They're saying the music carries all 120 minutes. Has there ever been a movie like that?]
↳ Plenty.
↳ The Sound of Music?
↳↳ Grandpa detected;;;
↳ Seriously though, there are a lot. La La Land, Whiplash, August Rush... Even Between Calmness and Passion.
↳↳ And don't forget Sister Act!
↳ Man, those nuns in Sister Act were awesome. The beat change gave me chills lol.
↳ Those movies definitely had amazing OSTs too, but this one's a little different haha. It's because of the silent-film style.
↳↳ You've already seen it???
↳↳↳ Yep. I watched it yesterday haha. You absolutely have to see it in theaters. In the headphone screening!
After the press screening, VIP screening, and general preview all concluded successfully...
<Footprints That Became a Star> officially premiered at KW Cinema.
At the same time, film critics published their full reviews.
As expected, most of them were overwhelmingly positive.
However...
One particularly negative review stood out.
Its source was none other than Baek Seokhwan.
[The Music Remained, But Where Did the Movie Go?]
The audience laughed.
The audience cried.
But I did neither.
This wasn't a movie.
It was simply a well-made music video album...
Kim Minsoo immediately rolled up his sleeves, furious.
He exploded in anger, insisting the review was clearly malicious.
“...Is this guy out of his mind? Can't he read the room?”
Taeyoon, however, remained calm.
Watching him, Kim Minsoo clicked his tongue.
“Seo Taeyoon, are you in Seo Taeyeon Mode again today?”
His reply was composed.
“No matter how famous a critic is, he's still just another member of the audience, isn't he? People are allowed to have different opinions. Don't get so angry.”
“When did I get angry? Ahem.”
He tried to hide it with a cough.
But he couldn't conceal the irritation plainly written across his face.
Still, there was no arguing against a published review.
What should he do?
As Kim Minsoo pondered, Taeyoon answered calmly.
“In the end, it's the audience who decides whether a movie succeeds or not.
Let's just wait and see.”
“Hmm......”
Sure enough.
Before long, sharp words from readers began turning against Baek Seokhwan.