Chapter 74
Chapter 74: Afterlife Restaurant Announcement (1)
Music director Yang Bokseon had been busy recently with the post-production of “Afterlife Restaurant.”
“Her skills have definitely improved.”
Listening to the OST composed by Baek Seunghee, he smiled in satisfaction.
Currently, three songs written and composed by Baek Seunghee had been selected as OST tracks for “Afterlife Restaurant,” and he was reviewing them.
“She really makes teaching worthwhile.”
Since her first OST track “Glass Doll,” Yang Bokseon had occasionally shared the know-how he had accumulated as a music director.
Each time, Baek Seunghee absorbed everything like a sponge, and as a result, her skills had improved to the point where it was embarrassing to compare her to when he first met her.
Although it hadn’t even been a year since her debut as a composer, she no longer felt like a rookie at all.
“Even Jiyoung and Gaemi will have to stay on their toes.”
Kim Jiyoung and Gaemi,
They were highly skilled female artists known for their vocal ability and emotional depth, often called queens of OSTs.
Yang Bokseon was confident that once the OST of “Afterlife Restaurant” was released, Baek Seunghee would be evaluated on par with them.
“But this part is the problem.”
The smile on his face faded, replaced by concern.
The music production, which had been going smoothly, had hit a wall.
It was for the highlight scene of “Afterlife Restaurant,” where Baek Seungchan and Cha Minhee recognize each other but are forced to part again.
“It’s lacking something.”
He had received quite a few tracks, and some were quite good.
But each one felt slightly incomplete.
“At this point, it might be better not to include anything at all.”
Especially for this scene.
The acting of Baek Seungchan and Cha Minhee was so outstanding that even slightly lacking music would disrupt immersion rather than enhance it.
For someone who believed music was a crucial element in completing a drama, that was unacceptable.
“Still… was it too difficult?”
He had heard that Baek Seungchan was composing an OST.
But as someone who composed music himself, he knew how difficult it was.
Even so, he couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
He had secretly been hoping.
Baek Seungchan had always exceeded expectations in every aspect.
And he was even a disciple of a gayageum intangible cultural heritage master.
That made him even more curious.
But as expected, it seemed the composition wasn’t easy.
“I should just revise the existing tracks.”
There wasn’t much time left until the drama’s release.
He decided to focus on modifying the existing songs.
Just then, a message arrived.
“Oh!”
Yang Bokseon brightened upon seeing it.
It was from Baek Seungchan.
“Let’s see.”
Baek Seungchan had sent the completed track.
“Hongyeon… the red thread of fate? Nice title.”
Yang Bokseon smiled at the title.
It perfectly described the relationship between Baek Seungchan and Cha Minhee in the drama.
“Let’s hear it.”
He pressed play.
Ting—
The song began with a clear yet weighty gayageum melody.
“….”
The moment he heard it, goosebumps spread across his body.
The sorrow embedded in the oriental sound of the gayageum gripped his ears and scratched at his heart.
Ting, ting—
Then came the piano.
An eastern instrument and a western one.
Though they seemed incompatible, they blended into a perfect harmony.
The familiar yet unfamiliar sound drew him in.
“From the day I first saw the light of this world, the bond destined by fate…”
The moment Baek Seungchan’s voice entered, Yang Bokseon felt chills.
A unique vocal style blending pansori and ballad.
A rough husky tone mixed with a soft and high clear voice.
Combined with the gayageum and piano melody.
And the lyrics.
Everything was in perfect balance.
“An invisible red thread ties us together.”
Yang Bokseon forgot he was evaluating an OST.
He was completely immersed.
The final scene he had seen during filming replayed vividly in his mind.
No, it felt as if he were there.
“When we meet again, I will smile at you.”
After about three minutes, the song ended.
“….”
Yang Bokseon sat there in a daze.
The impact was overwhelming.
“…How is this possible?”
The lyrics, melody, vocals—every musical element.
It was hard to believe this was composed by someone so new.
“It’s perfect.”
He had always believed perfect music didn’t exist.
But as an OST for the drama, this was perfect.
“There’s nothing”
He decided immediately.
Baek Seungchan’s “Hongyeon” would be the OST for the highlight scene.
“I should send it.”
He sent the track to producer and director Park Taeho.
Though he was the music director, the final decision rested with the director.
He sent the audio along with a short message.
“Time to call it a night…”
With the issue resolved, fatigue hit him.
Ring—
Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang.
It was Park Taeho.
“Bokseon! This is amazing!”
Even through the phone, his excitement was clear.
“I knew you’d like it. Let’s go with this for the highlight OST.”
“Yes, it’s great. But who made this? I didn’t know we had such a talented composer and singer.”
“Ah, I forgot to include the name.”
“Yeah, I only saw the title Hongyeon. So who is it?”
“Someone you know very well.”
“Really? Park Hyungseok? Lee Jongsin? Jo Seunghoon?”
He listed famous composers.
“That impressive, huh?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
“Then who?”
“Don’t be surprised.”
“Just tell me.”
“It’s Seungchan.”
“….”
Silence.
“Who?”
“Baek Seungchan. The lead of our drama.”
“What?!”
Yang Bokseon couldn’t help but laugh at the shocked reaction.
While the “Afterlife Restaurant” team was busy with post-production, there were others just as busy.
The “Surviving in the Jungle” production team.
They had to edit two weeks of footage before broadcast.
And because of Baek Seungchan, there was too much usable content.
“….”
Producer Lee Jeonghun sighed deeply.
“This is impossible…”
There wasn’t a single scene worth cutting.
Normally, the challenge was finding enough good footage.
But now it was the opposite.
Too much good content.
They had been scheduled for four episodes.
But the footage exceeded that.
“I’ve never experienced this before.”
With nearly 20 years of experience, this was new.
“…We can’t waste this. Let’s request more airtime.”
After days, he made a decision.
Programming director Kang Chanhee was not in a good mood.
Ratings for both dramas and variety shows had been poor.
Especially the Friday-Saturday 9 PM slot.
Around 1% ratings.
And after that slot, “Afterlife Restaurant” would air against MBS’s anticipated “Ghost Real Estate.”
“…What timing…”
Though he trusted Baek Seungchan and Cha Minhee, the competition was strong.
Top actors Kim Jaewon and Shin Migeong.
A top OST singer.
A-list director and writer.
Even top OTT distribution.
Everything was against them.
Even the genre overlapped.
“…I just hope it does okay…”
There wasn’t much he could do.
“I hope the jungle show does well…”
Since it aired first, it could boost the drama.
Knock knock.
“Hyung, it’s me.”
It was Lee Jeonghun.
“You again. Come in.”
“What is it?”
“Give us more airtime.”
“What nonsense is that?”
The schedule was fixed.
“I know. Just watch this first.”
He showed a 10-minute edit of Baek Seungchan.
After watching—
“Okay! How much do you need?”
It felt like finding light in darkness.