บท 123: About to film the Part 2
(Arthur POV)
My next project is, without a doubt, the film many in this world are itching to see - "The Demonfather Part 2".
Mob boss Anubis Flameworth, in particular, has been pestering me about it. The guy even followed me to Horn Kingdom - he's becoming an eyesore, honestly.
It's like I owe him a huge debt - which, to be fair, I kind of do. He helped start the "Hellfire Agency" and smoothed the transfer of assets to Horn Kingdom. Apparently, Anubis has connections with politicians here. No wonder things went so smoothly.
Making this film without the VFX Studio will be challenging, but I can manage. Horn Kingdom's modern city already has backdrops that'll work fine for the film, like Repulse Bay for Michael Corleone's birthday celebration scenes. Getting filming permits won't be an issue either.
Knock Knock
"Enter," I said.
Klein walked in, looking excited. "Boss, our VFX Studio is officially complete! That dwarf-based company SCULPTURE finished quickly, and I think it's even better than our former studio!"
I nodded, feeling a thrill of excitement myself. Films like "Star Wars", "The Wizard of Oz", and "Harry Potter" suddenly seemed within reach.
"That's great. But we won't be using it much. We'll be filming our next project without the VFX Studio," I said.
Klein frowned, looking disappointed. "Why? We can make our next film project there!"
I understand how he feels, but it has to be done. To get that {Creator's Realms}, I need to sacrifice the VFX Studio use.
"Well..." I thought for a moment, then said, "Our next film doesn't require much VFX, so it'll save us on the budget."
I added, "I also want to prove to the world that making great films without fancy and expensive VFX is possible."
Klein looked conflicted but seemed to be trying to understand.
After a brief chat, he left with slumped shoulders. I felt a twinge of guilt, but reminded myself of the bigger picture. Sometimes, you have to take a step back to leap forward. And with {Creator's Realms} as the prize, it'll be worth it in the end.
Klein probably won't be the only one asking why I won't use the VFX studio, but I'll just give them the same reason I gave Klein. Honestly, what I told him makes a lot of sense.
It's true that indie filmmakers in this world are struggling to survive in an industry where only VFX studio productions seem acceptable. Especially when VFX studios are only affordable for big studios.
Well, I'm partly to blame because my films raised this world's standards. But that doesn't mean great films always need VFX.
Sure, there's "Lord of the Mage" by Mouse Entertainment that beat my "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" at the box office. And Lava Pictures' recent film "The Legendary Spell" is decent, though not matching "Lord of the Rings". But filmmakers shouldn't have to rely on VFX studios all the time.
After all, it's risky. If a VFX-heavy film flops, like Titan Pictures' attempt, they lose a huge amount of money. VFX is a money burner.
Proving to the world that VFX isn't everything might inspire more indie filmmakers.
Thinking about it, I wonder if the system is trying to teach me something. Like not relying solely on VFX, and being more efficient with film projects.
If there's a real-world backdrop available, why use VFX that requires a huge budget?
***
(3rd Person POV)
A few days later, Arthur met with Anubis Flameworth in an expensive restaurant. Anubis's reaction when Arthur informed him about "The Demonfather Part 2" was priceless.
"Re-really? You're finally making the Demonfather sequel?!" Anubis's eyes widened in shock.
"Shh!" Arthur looked around nervously. "Why are you acting so dramatically? Someone might have heard you!"
Anubis quickly covered his mouth and nodded. He glanced around, realizing he'd attracted some attention. "I apologize for that."
Arthur sighed, both amused and exasperated by Anubis's enthusiasm. He'd known the mob boss would be excited, but this reaction was beyond his expectations.
Anubis regained his composure and said, "I lost my cool there for a moment."
"I understand," Arthur sighed. "You want to be part of the film, right? I think I have a role for you..."
"Before that, Mr. Morningstar," Anubis interjected, "Actually, I also wanted to recommend some people for the cast of the next Demonfather. It's okay if you don't agree with this request."
"Oh?" Arthur's curiosity was piqued.
"I have a group of friends also interested in being part of the film." Anubis took out his wallet and produced a few pictures. "This is what they look like. I wonder what roles you could give them?"
Arthur examined the pictures. His eyes lingered on an old demon - a scale demon with antennae reminiscent of Piccolo from Dragon Ball.
"Who is this demon?" he asked Anubis.
"That's Don Leviathan - he's a boss of the Leviathan family from Apple City," Anubis explained.
Anubis continued, pointing to another demon about his age, "This is Anus Leviathan Hades, Don Leviathan's nephew. Also a soldier in the Leviathan family."
"Anus?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "What an interesting name..."
Anubis smiled as he pointed out more pictures. "These are my friends interested in being in a movie."
Arthur stroked his chin thoughtfully. Don Leviathan could fit the role of "Hyman" perfectly. He definitely looked like a lizard - ideal for a villain role.
As for Anus Hades? What a bizarre name. Anus, combined with "Hades," the king of the underworld in his previous life? That name could be interpreted in many ways.
These unconventional characters could add an interesting dynamic to the film. Plus, casting Anubis's friends might secure his continued support. But he had to be careful not to compromise his vision for the sake of appeasing a mob boss.
"These are... interesting candidates," Arthur said diplomatically. "I'll certainly consider them as we move forward with casting. But remember, the right fit for the role is crucial for the film's success."
Anubis nodded eagerly, clearly pleased that Arthur was at least considering his suggestions.
After the meeting with Arthur, Anubis's excitement was palpable, even to his men. He turned to his right-hand man, declaring, "Cancel all my schedule around August 8—"
He abruptly stopped, seeming to realize something, before amending, "Nah, just cancel all of my schedule for the whole of August."
Miguel, his right-hand man - a name Anubis had chosen due to his obsession with 'The Demonfather' - looked confused. "Why, boss? You have a meeting with an important person from the Devil Triad!"
Hearing this, Anubis's expression grew complicated. "Don't worry about it. I'll just send that person a letter. And as a token of apology, give him my..." He gritted his teeth before continuing, "My precious Katana as an apology for not attending..."
Miguel's jaw dropped in shock. "You... You will give your precious Katana to-to him?" He knew how important that 'katana' was to his boss. It was a gift from that beautiful fox demon in Japon.
"I- I can only do this," Anubis looked fearful. "We can't offend the Devil Triad just like that."
Miguel gulped and nodded. Then he asked, "Why can't you just attend the meeting, boss?"
Anubis's mood seemed to lift as he smiled, "It's because I will be focused on the production of Demonfather Part 2!"
"Demonfather Part 2!?" Miguel exclaimed, surprised.
Anubis realized he'd just revealed the secret Arthur had asked him to keep. He sighed and said, "You better keep your mouth shut about this, or I'll cut your head off!"
Miguel nodded fearfully, "Of course, of course!"
Anubis continued, "I am fortunate enough to not only be part of Demonfather Part 2, but also to oversee its production to see if it's any good or not."
Miguel looked at his boss with admiration.
Anubis kept on talking, saying that he would take on the role of the young Vito Corleone.
As Anubis rambled on, Miguel couldn't help but wonder how much of what his boss was saying was true and how much was exaggeration.
บท 124: The artifact is shivering
(3rd Person POV)
Films like "Lord of the Mage" and the new "The Legendary Spell" were huge successes, raking in millions of dollars. The world was witnessing the dawn of a new era.
Gone were the days of simple colored films. Media outlets were calling this the "VFX Era" - a transformation sparked by Arthur's films "Lord of the Rings" and "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly".
Filmmakers around the world initially thanked Arthur for bringing such groundbreaking films. However, as they struggled to keep up with the rapidly changing world of cinema due to limited VFX budgets, many began to resent Arthur Morningstar.
Even renowned critics like Caedan were uneasy about this development. Despite his love for "Lord of the Rings", he said in an interview, "A masterpiece can still be made without VFX Studio - such example was The Demonfather, which, in my opinion, couldn't be matched by Lord of the Rings in terms of storytelling."
Of course, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" stood as a testament to successful films made without VFX studios. Though its popularity was waning, it remained a topic of discussion.
Morningstar Kingdom media outlets continued to rave about it, particularly Damien Darkflame's involvement. Headlines like "Damien Darkflame Redeeming His Career With Arthur's New Martial Arts Film" were common.
Indeed, Damien's career had been on a downward spiral due to the scandal of assaulting his manager and agent. But with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", he was slowly making a comeback.
This demonstrated the power of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", a film created without VFX Studio. However, due to its significant decline after the first week, many believed it still couldn't compare to the new VFX-heavy films in terms of box office performance and visual effects.
The future of the film industry was a hot topic, with media outlets featuring it prominently in their newspapers. Amidst this discussion, surprising news surfaced: Arthur Morningstar was set to make another film without using VFX Studio.
Headlines blazed across newspapers:
"Arthur Morningstar Defies Trends: New Film to Forgo VFX Studio" - Horn Daily reported, "Hellfire crew members spotted scouting locations across Horn Kingdom, with preparations underway at Repulse Bay."
Science Daily took a more critical stance: "Hellfire's New VFX Studio Complete, Yet Arthur Opts for Non-VFX Film - Will It Disappoint Like His Martial Arts Film?"
Media outlets speculated wildly about the potential outcome of Arthur's film, but public excitement seemed muted.
Major studios with upcoming VFX-heavy films exuded confidence. They'd witnessed Arthur's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" fall to VFX-laden competitors - proof that the ex-prince wasn't invincible in the entertainment industry.
In an interview, Titan Pictures chairman Alexander offered a biting analysis: "Arthur lacks confidence in his ability to craft quality films even with VFX Studio at his disposal. He's setting up a convenient excuse for when his film inevitably flops."
This reasoning struck a chord, sparking heated debates about whether Arthur was running out of ideas.
***
Meanwhile, at Repulse Bay, tourists and locals frolicked in the sea and on the beach, oblivious to the transformation taking place at the resort. Arthur and his crew were busy redecorating the entire place for their upcoming shoot.
Having purchased the resort outright for the production, Arthur had free rein. He altered designs, completely changed layouts, and reshaped the resort to fit his vision.
He'd also acquired a villa on Victory Peak to serve as the Corleone Family mansion.
Even before filming began, Arthur had invested tens of thousands of dollars.
Arthur's substantial investment in "Demonfather Part 2" didn't faze him. He knew the film's profitability would more than justify the expense.
Purchasing filming locations like the resort and villa was a strategic move. Arthur envisioned future profit from fans eager to visit where Michael and other Demonfather characters "lived and breathed."
Anubis's connections smoothed the property acquisitions, and the mob boss even pitched in with the resort setup.
***
Anubis watched the production unfold with growing excitement - auditions, casting, location prep - everything was progressing smoothly.
'As expected of Arthur,' Anubis thought, observing Arthur skillfully manage his crew.
As Anubis spent more time on set, his admiration for Arthur grew. The ex-prince's directorial prowess impressed him, but what truly astonished Anubis was Arthur's ghostly workforce.
Seeing specters working alongside the living crew had initially left Anubis dumbfounded. It was his first encounter with actual ghosts, and the fact that they had names of their own only added to the surreal experience.
"Diddy, can you rearrange those props up there?" Anubis called out to one of the ghosts, pointing at a high shelf.
Diddy turned, eyeing Anubis disdainfully. "You think you can just order me around?"
Anubis chuckled, well aware that the ghosts only feared and obeyed Arthur. "Well, it won't be me who's angry if something's amiss on set. Mr. Arthur will be the one furious-"
"Can't you reach it yourself?" Diddy grumbled, but floated towards the shelf.
"I'd rather not waste time, and it's hardly difficult for you," Anubis shrugged.
Diddy sneered at Anubis, purposefully pushing through him as he passed.
The chill of the ghostly contact sent a shiver down Anubis's spine, but he grinned. Working on this film was unlike anything he'd experienced before.
Though Anubis wanted to teach the ghosts like Diddy a lesson, he knew he wouldn't be able to touch them unfortunately. His hands would just pass through their bodies. He was having a hard time understanding how Arthur could make them so obedient just like that.
While Anubis was pondering how Arthur could hire ghosts like Diddy, Arthur was having a talk with the crew. They prepared the set the whole day, and everyone went home exhausted.
***
The next day, the resort was finally ready for the upcoming shooting. The cast began to arrive for the scenes where Michael celebrated his birthday.
One by one, they arrived, and later on, Firfel came to the resort.
Her eyes taking in the grand and luxurious surroundings. After setting her belongings on a nearby couch, she felt an unexpected sensation. The ancient amulet suspended from her necklace suddenly quivered against her skin.
She froze, startled. 'The amulet... it's finally reacting. But not to my magic,' she thought.
Firfel had been attempting to elicit a response from the amulet with her magical power for weeks, but to no avail. Yet now, out of nowhere, it trembled?
Cautiously, she channeled her magic into the amulet, establishing a connection. She wasn't expecting much, but suddenly, she could sense the amulet in a way she never had before. Though she couldn't glean much information, she could somehow perceive its... feelings?
Astonishment washed over Firfel as she processed what the amulet was experiencing. An artifact with feelings? It defied logic.
The overwhelming emotion radiating from the amulet was fear. Puzzled, Firfel shook her head, trying to refocus on the task at hand - preparing for the upcoming shoot.
As she approached Arthur and the others, the amulet against her chest intensified its shivering.
Confusion clouded Firfel's mind. She reinforced her magical link to the amulet, only to find herself unexpectedly affected by its emotions. "What's causing you such terror?" she murmured.
Despite the unsettling sensation, Firfel found herself drawn in the direction of the amulet's fear. When she realized it led straight to Arthur, shock coursed through her.
Surely Arthur couldn't be the source of the amulet's dread. It had never reacted this way to him before.
Yet, as she maintained her magical connection to the amulet, Firfel's gaze was inexplicably drawn to Arthur's golden ring.
'Could that ring be responsible?' Firfel mused internally, though she strongly doubted it.
"Firfel!" Arthur's voice cut through her thoughts. "You've arrived. Come join us, we're discussing the upcoming shoot."
Firfel nodded, keenly aware of the amulet's constant tremor of fear. With a steady hand, she tucked it beneath her clothing, pressing it close to her chest. Its trembling eased, though the unease lingered faintly.
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