Chapter 221: First Class Again
Some time ago.
At an upscale restaurant in Los Angeles, America.
Several people had gathered inside a private room reserved off to one side.
Every one of them was a member of the 'Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,' otherwise known as AMPAS.
Among them were legendary figures in the film industry who held voting rights in the music category.
There were over a hundred film scores eligible for consideration at this year's awards.
From those, fifteen had been narrowed down through the preliminary vote.
The list, known as the 'Shortlist,' lay on the table before them.
Only five of those fifteen would survive.
And those five would become the final Academy Award nominees announced during the worldwide live broadcast.
Countless names would disappear.
Only a handful of melodies would remain.
And among them.
Was Stay's composition.
The Academy members gathered there spent every day listening to and discussing those fifteen works.
Many other members also possessed voting rights, and the final decision would ultimately be made through a confidential online vote.
But before that, close acquaintances gathered like this to socialize while exchanging opinions.
They weren't simply listening with their ears.
They dissected the composer's intentions and techniques hidden within every single note.
What instruments had been used in each scene?
How did the music heighten the emotions of the visuals?
And how meticulously had every element been calculated?
There was no room for sentimental praise.
The only thing that mattered was the answer to one question.
'Did this music perfectly support one pillar of cinema as an art form?'
"Why did this piece even make it through the preliminary voting?"
"I know, right? It's lacking both experimentation and emotional depth."
"Was it because of the Academy's preference for traditional lyricism?"
"That's just the basics. The structure is decent, but there's no originality."
"It'll probably have a hard time getting votes in the next round. What about the next one?"
"The orchestration is flashy, but it's far too safe."
"I agree. It's pleasant enough, but it leaves no lasting impression."
"It might make the final nominations, but I don't see it winning."
"What about this one?"
"It felt like a variation of last year's winner. It seemed far too conscious of the previous winning score."
"I feel the same. Familiar, but emotionally flat."
Amid the heated debate.
There was one piece that captured the members' attention.
No.
To be more precise.
It captured their hearts, not their ears.
"I vote for this one."
"It's remarkable. The main melody is calm, yet deeply moving."
"I was especially impressed by the interlude. It matched the pacing of the film perfectly."
"Ah, what caught my attention was the arrangement. Blending strings and electronic sounds this seamlessly isn't easy."
The title of that piece was...
"<Footprints That Became a Star>, right?"
"Yes. The interlude, in particular, left a strong impression. It elevated the emotional atmosphere of the entire film in an instant."
"I agree. Although... I couldn't help wondering if it leaned a little too heavily into emotion. From a European perspective, it might feel somewhat too direct."
"Korea, huh. A few directors have gained attention over the past several years, but traditionally, it's rare to see a Korean name in film scoring."
"That's true. In that sense, this nomination is quite unusual. Still, you can see the limitations of someone who isn't yet accustomed to the Hollywood system."
"That unfamiliarity could actually be its greatest strength."
"The real question is how much of this foreign sensibility the Academy is willing to embrace."
Great music always invited differing opinions.
This piece was no exception.
Some members admitted it had completely captivated them.
Others questioned its credibility because of its nationality and background.
"Let's judge it purely on musical merit. We have to admit it's one of the finest works here."
"I see it differently. Frankly, isn't it overly sentimental? It feels like a Korean melodrama."
The opinions of those two, in particular, clashed fiercely.
"And why is that a flaw? I'd say it's refreshing. It's an approach traditional Hollywood composers simply don't have."
"Refreshing...? It looks more immature to me. It may work in Korea, but whether it's worthy of the Academy stage... hmm."
Crack.
A curly-haired Latino member adjusted his glasses before responding.
"Isn't judging it based on its country nothing more than prejudice? The language of music transcends nationality. All that matters is whether it suits the film."
An elderly gentleman with long white hair removed his bowler hat, trying to calm the discussion.
"...Yes. I understand what you're saying. But I don't think people will accept this Eastern sensibility that has suddenly become fashionable so easily."
"Tradition isn't always right. For the past century, we've evaluated music almost exclusively through a Western lens. This piece breaks that mold. If we ignore it, wouldn't that simply mean we're falling behind the times?"
The atmosphere inside the private room turned icy for a moment.
Even so, the OST of <Footprints That Became a Star>, which had been playing for discussion, continued looping.
Ahem—
Someone cleared their throat before breaking the silence.
"Regardless of our opinions, one thing is certain. This is the most hotly debated score among this year's candidates."
Another member nodded.
In fact, every score before <Footprints That Became a Star> had been judged in less than a minute.
Marked either as likely eliminated or placed on hold.
"The film's premise certainly played a part. Imagine a movie where the only dialogue is people calling their dogs."
Exactly.
Which meant the music was practically everything.
The story wasn't carried by dialogue.
It was carried by melody.
Silence returned to the room.
Their expressions differed, but they were all thinking of the same thing.
The film, <Footprints That Became a Star>.
Memories of beloved pets.
The combination of piano and strings.
It was a pairing that could have been predictable.
Yet it left an overwhelming aftertaste.
Especially the interlude.
The moment the strings entered, the audience had fallen silent all at once.
The music had forcibly drawn out their emotions.
Everyone agreed with the criticism that it possessed the emotional sensibility of a Korean melodrama.
But it was precisely because of that sensibility that the film had been possible.
In a film where the only spoken words were calls to a puppy.
This piece proved that music could replace sorrowful dialogue.
The curly-haired member cleared his throat before speaking again.
"Rather than speaking from the heart, let me rephrase it in a way everyone can agree on. Now then, let's return to the music itself."
He focused on the OST echoing through the room before continuing.
"Its true value lies in the arrangement. You can hear these complex harmonic progressions and subtle rhythmic changes, can't you?"
"...Hmm."
"It isn't relying on emotion alone. The composer crafted this with advanced technique and meticulous calculation. That's true professionalism."
As the music that had told the story without words was interpreted through refined analysis.
The elderly gentleman finally loosened his tightly sealed lips.
The curly-haired member smiled with satisfaction.
And <Footprints That Became a Star> shattered every doubt—not with its foreign sensibility, but with the sheer perfection of the music itself.
Before long, the discussion moved beyond the next round of voting and toward one topic.
Its chances of winning.
After <Footprints That Became a Star> officially premiered in America, movie communities and social media were buzzing with discussion.
A quiet yet heartbreaking film.
Accompanied by an OST with an exotic atmosphere.
Emotion knew no nationality.
[ You have to watch <Footprints That Became a Star>. I cried my eyes out. ]
↳ I just got back from watching it, and I'm speechless. The moment I got home, I hugged my dog and cried :,(
↳ Same. I completely lost it when the ending credits rolled. The music was the real main character. You could feel everything without a single explanation.
↳ It said OST by STaY in the ending credits. Who is that? I heard it's a Korean movie. Is STaY Korean?
↳ I'm curious too. Who even are they? Maybe someone from K-pop?
↳↳ wtf STaY? How am I only finding out now?
↳ I'm Korean. They're a famous producer in Korea. They mostly work on K-pop, but not only that. They also compose for bands.
↳ Holy crap!!!!! I'm a Signum fan!!!! That person made this OST? I'm watching this movie immediately.
↳ The director intended to make every eye turn toward the music. And the composer's talent fulfilled that intention perfectly. You won't understand until you watch the movie.
All sorts of videos were rediscovered through YouTube and social media.
Fast-moving YouTube channels compiled videos introducing Stay's work as a producer, the songs he had participated in, and the rumors surrounding him.
Naturally.
In English.
[ Who Is STaY, the Composer Everyone Is Talking About? ]
↳ Oh, these songs are good.
↳ Amazing at K-pop and film scores!
↳ Every now and then, a genius like this comes out of Korea.
↳ Face. Show us the face!!!!!
↳ Seriously. I'm curious.
↳ LOL at this point I'm actually hoping they win an Oscar just so we can finally see what they look like.
↳ Isn't Signum's <Avalanche> their best song?
↳ Oh. I heard <Super Ride> in Japan. I had no idea it was K-pop.
The comments surpassed several thousand almost instantly.
Meanwhile, Korean online communities were also in a festive mood.
No Korean could possibly ignore a topic this exciting.
After all.
Stay had reached the final round for the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
This wasn't just Stay's achievement.
It was a matter of national pride.
Just making it past the preliminary nominations and into the final five had already thrilled people as if he had won the award itself.
[ Seriously, this gives me goosebumps ㄷㄷㄷㄷ. The lineup is absolutely stacked. ]
↳ Honestly, there's no way he'll actually win, right?
↳↳ The other scores are all monsters;;;;;
↳ I heard the movie's ticket sales are also near the top in America.
↳ Wow, I never imagined Stay would become this famous ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ
↳ Everyone who told me to shut up when I said the movie would do well in America—come out here. I was right, wasn't I?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
[ I always knew Stay would make it big. I had that feeling the first time I heard Han Yujin's song. But wow... the Academy ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ. No matter what anyone says, Stay is the number one K-pop composer. I won't accept any arguments. ]
↳ Here comes another "I knew it all along" guy ㄷㄷ
↳ Busan Goblin vs. Stay? Stay wins without question.
↳↳ Come on. Busan Goblin still crushes him in terms of output.ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
↳ Don't even compare anyone to an Academy nominee.
↳ I heard the two of them are friends. Comparing them like this feels weird;;;;;
[ Wait a second. Shouldn't we all be praying for Stay to win? We briefly saw the side of their face while directing Signum, and now I'm dying to know what they look like ㅠㅠㅠ ]
↳ Why does a composer's face matter?
↳ Come on, if they're handsome, the songs automatically sound better.ㅋㅋ
↳↳ What kind of logic is that?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
↳ I am curious though. There's barely anything about them publicly.
↳ They seem young.
↳↳ Nah. I think they're actually a veteran composer using a new pen name. A rookie couldn't possibly give off those vibes.
↳ I've said this before, but music isn't something determined by age.
↳ From that side profile, they did look pretty young.
↳↳ Exactly. I honestly think they could even be a high school student.
↳↳↳ A high schooler? Yeah right.ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
The final five nominees for the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
My name was among them.
Honestly.
It still didn't feel real.
Even making the preliminary nominations had already surprised me.
But reaching the final round?
That only made it feel even less believable.
Meanwhile, CEO Kim Minsoo had been talking beside me all day.
He'd explained just how incredible it was and how unprecedented it was so many times my ears were practically bleeding.
Then, all of a sudden, he looked at me.
"What's with that expression?"
"Huh?"
"You look miserable. Aren't you happy?"
"Oh, I am. I'm really happy, but..."
I needed to be more careful about letting all my emotions show on my face...
I still had a long way to go.
After thinking for a moment, I finally answered.
"What about Lunatic?"
"...Seriously. Even at a time like this, you're worried about the club."
"How can I not be? I'm the main DJ..."
The public still didn't know that Stay and DJ Blackhole were the same person.
So I couldn't exactly tell everyone I was leaving because I was attending the Academy Awards.
"At most, you'll be gone for ten days. I've already arranged everything."
"How?"
"A special performance by Cheongseong."
Oh?
"...I know the Cheongseong seniors are more famous than I am, but I'm not sure whether they'll really be a good substitute for people my age..."
"Ah, I also asked your manager. Signum's going to help out for a bit too."
"Whaaaat? Even I want to see that!"
"Exactly. So just take care of your schedule and come back."
If that was the lineup, then the club would probably be fine even if DJ Blackhole disappeared for several days.
"Once I receive the invitation, is attendance mandatory?"
"What do you think this is, a military draft notice? No. There have even been people who skipped the ceremony because they thought they wouldn't win, only to hear their names called. Why? You don't want to go?"
Not at all.
How many people ever got the chance to attend the Oscars in their lifetime?
Especially as a nominee.
"Of course I want to go. It'd be an incredible honor."
"Oh, and don't worry about anything regarding the trip to LA. Just make sure you bring your passport."
"Does the Academy cover the expenses?"
For some reason.
Those were the things I was curious about.
CEO Kim Minsoo gave me a look that seemed to say, What kind of question is that? before smiling.
"No. But don't worry. The KW Group will cover everything. Flights, hotel, clothes, local management—the full package."
"Wow... They're really generous."
"Generous? Even chartering a private jet wouldn't be enough. There's only one thing you need to do."
"What's that?"
"Enjoy yourself. See lots of great places and eat lots of good food."
"You already did all that for me last time."
It was true.
When I went to Aether Sound, I'd visited practically every major tourist attraction.
I'd even gone to Disneyland.
Was there really still more to see?
"LA is enormous. By the way, you're okay with your face being shown publicly, right?"
"I think it's fine if the cameras only catch me for a moment."
I wasn't going there to win an award.
Being shown briefly should be fine.
Who would actually be interested in seeing a composer's face?
"The schedule is next month..."
Several weeks passed.
And I boarded the plane to LA for the second time in my life.
Ah! Thankfully, it was First Class again.
Long live the KW Group!