บท 60: Hellfire VFX Studio
(Arthur POV)
It's been a few days since I brought the orcs on board, and I've got to say, they're exceeding expectations. Even the team and cast seem impressed by their acting chops.
Ugo, Oguga, and the others have really thrown themselves into their roles. Right now, I can hear them chatting with some of the cast about the script.
Oguga's booming voice carries across the set. "Sauron is a very powerful lord, yet he was defeated in one slash?"
Gerald Matthew, our Gandalf, patiently explains, "Because he was exhausted when he fought with Elendil and Gil-galad."
Oguga nods, then asks, "Who played Sauron? Is it the boss Arthur?"
Hearing my name, I wander over to join the conversation. "No, no one's played Sauron yet. We haven't filmed the flashback fight scenes because we were short on orc actors." I look at Oguga and the others, grinning. "But now that you guys are here, we're about to change that."
Oguga's eyes light up. "Oh! Can I play Sauron?" he asks eagerly.
I chuckle at his enthusiasm, but before I can reply, Ugo cuts in. "No, Oguga. I'll play Sauron. I match his height and appearance better."
Oguga's face falls, and we all share a laugh. "Well, looks like you're out of luck, Oguga," I say, patting him on the shoulder. "You should just be satisfied with your role."
Oguga sighs dramatically. "But father already took the role of playing Lurtz, Saruman's chief Uruk-hai."
I burst out laughing. "Well, your father really matches the looks of the characters I had in mind." Oguga just sighs again, the picture of dejection.
After spending some more time with the cast, we dive back into filming. A few more days fly by in a blur of takes and retakes.
Then, out of the blue, George pulls me aside with news that sends a jolt of energy through my tired bones. The arena we've been converting into a full-on studio is finally complete.
Suddenly, I'm wide awake, despite the exhaustion of daily filming. I clap my hands, calling for everyone's attention. "Guys, listen up! We're going to continue filming the overall scenes at the studio that's just been completed. We're heading back to the capital today."
The cast looks confused - this is the first they're hearing of it. But my crew? They erupt into cheers. No more roughing it in the wild. No more battling the elements. We're going back to civilization, baby!
"Pack it up, people!" I shout, unable to keep the grin off my face. "We're taking this show on the road!"
As everyone scrambles to gather their things, I can't help but feel a surge of excitement. A real studio, with all the bells and whistles. This is it. This is where "The Lord of the Rings" is really going to come to life.
***
After a day's journey, we're back in the heart of civilization. The city sprawls before us, a stark contrast to the wild forests we've called home for weeks.
"I missed the air here in the city," one of the crew members says, his voice thick with emotion. You'd think he'd been exiled for years instead of a few weeks of filming.
Oguga, ever the contrarian, wrinkles his nose. "The air is not fresh at all," he grumbles, not bothering to hide his disdain.
The other orcs, though, are wide-eyed with wonder. "So this is the city," they murmur, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of urban demon life. Some even look a bit misty-eyed. It's probably their first time seeing anything like this.
As we make our way down the street, the locals can't help but stare. Whispers follow in our wake:
"What are orcs doing here?"
"Are they attacking? Should we run?"
"Maybe it's some kind of parade?"
"Look at their weird clothes! Is this some new fashion trend?"
An elderly demon clutches her purse tighter as we pass. "In my day, orcs knew their place - far away from decent folk!"
A group of young demons, on the other hand, seem thrilled. "Whoa, cool! Real orcs! Can we get a picture?"
I can't help but chuckle. If not for the orcs' civilian clothes and the hefty bribe I paid the city guards, bringing a horde of orcs into the city would've landed me in some serious hot water.
As we chat, we finally reach our destination - the former arena turned studio.
"Whoa. This building is massive," the orcs gasp in unison, craning their necks to take in the structure.
"Let's go in," I say, unable to contain my excitement.
As we step inside, I'm struck dumb. The place has been completely transformed. The spacious arena with its rows of seating is gone, replaced by a marvel of magical engineering.
Illusion artifacts line the walls, their soft glow hinting at the power contained within. Intricate runes cover the floor and walls, pulsing with energy. These aren't just for show - they're designed to physically move and reshape the environment to match the projected illusions.
It's like a real-life CGI setup. The illusions serve as our "green screen," while the magically manipulated walls and ground provide the tangible elements to sell the effect. It's Hollywood magic meets actual magic.
As we enter further, the demon operators greet us. "Boss, this is the studio built to your specifications," one says proudly.
Another chimes in, a hint of awe in his voice, "This studio alone cost us millions of dollars!"
I nod, taking it all in. "You demons did great," I say, my mind already racing with the possibilities this place offers.
Turning to the orcs and the rest of the crew, I can't help but grin. "Welcome to the future of filmmaking."
Turning to the orcs and the rest of the crew, I can't help but grin. "Welcome to the future of filmmaking."
Their eyes widen in wonder, and Ugo's voice trembles as he speaks, "Did- did I hear that right? This place cost millions of dollars?!"
I chuckle, gesturing around. "What do you think?"
Oguga's jaw drops. "Royal family must be so rich!"
I'm about to respond when Mochi, one of my crew members, jumps in. "No! Boss Arthur's money isn't from the royal family! He earned it all himself!"
"Easy there, Mochi," I say, patting him on the shoulder. "They're new to civilization, let alone 'The Demonfather' box office numbers."
Mochi's face flushes with embarrassment. "Oh, right..."
I turn back to the orcs, who look thoroughly confused. "Let's just say I made a little film that did pretty well. This studio? It's just the beginning."
Ugo scratches his head. "A film that makes millions? Now that I'd like to see."
"Stick around," I say with a wink. "You might just end up in the sequel."
I turn to Gerald and the others, suddenly realizing that Firfel and some of the cast and crew are still probably back in Green Forest.
As if on cue, George enters the studio with Firfel, Imkrag, Kurt, and the rest trailing behind him. Their jaws drop as they take in the place.
Firfel's eyes sparkle with wonder. "I feel like I've traveled back to the ancient times."
"Oh?" I raise an eyebrow. "You've been living since ancient times?"
She laughs, a musical sound that echoes through the studio. "You think I'm some ancient elf that lives for thousands of years?"
"Oh," I mumble, feeling a bit foolish.
Firfel's still chuckling as she explains, "It's just that this place, filled with runes and magical artifacts, reminds me of pictures and paintings I've seen of the ancient world."
"Like the ancient dungeons?" I offer, trying to save face.
"Yes, exactly," she nods, her smile warm.
I can't help but grin back. "Well, if we're going for ancient dungeon chic, I'd say we nailed it. Though hopefully with fewer traps and more craft services."
Firfel laughs again, and I feel a flutter in my chest that has nothing to do with the magical energy surrounding us. I quickly turn to address the rest of the group, hoping no one noticed my momentary distraction.
"Alright, we'll film the rest of the scenes in this studio," I announce, and predictably, the orcs have questions.
Gugu, one of the elder orcs, frowns. "We'll be filming in this place? It doesn't match the backdrop for the scenes at all."
I can't help but chuckle. "Well, you're in for a surprise."
I gesture to the demon operators, who approach eagerly. I hand them the architectural drawings of Mount Doom, carefully sketched from various important angles. With a nod, they set to work.
The operators begin their spell, directing it towards the drawings. The papers dissolve into glowing ash, absorbed by the illusion artifacts lining the walls.
Suddenly, the world around us shifts. The orcs' jaws drop in unison. Even my team and Firfel, who knew about the illusion effects, gasp in astonishment.
The bare studio transforms into the hellish landscape of Mount Doom. The ground beneath our feet trembles and shifts, causing everyone to stumble as if caught in an earthquake. When the rumbling subsides, we're standing at the base of a towering volcano, complete with rivers of molten lava.
"Anu ul!?" Oguga breathes, his eyes wide as saucers.
Firfel reaches out tentatively, her fingers brushing against a nearby rock formation. "It feels... real," she marvels.
I can't keep the grin off my face. "Welcome to Mount Doom. Pretty impressive for a dungeon, eh?"
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บท 61: Wrapping up and unexpected visitor
(Arthur POV)
While everyone's gawking at the Hellfire VFX Studio's handiwork, one of the demon operators pulls me aside. "Boss, maintaining this state is costly. We should start filming or shut it down."
Right. Can't forget the bottom line. "Got it," I nod, then turn to the crew. "Alright, people! Let's get moving. We're burning daylight and magic cores here!"
The team snaps to attention, and we dive into the Mordor scenes. Ugo, decked out in Sauron's armor, looks like he's about to topple over. But he's a trooper, and we make good progress.
Days fly by, and I've got to admit, this VFX studio is a game-changer. We're saving a ton on logistics and effort. But my wallet's feeling the pinch. An hour of illusion backdrop sets me back a hundred bucks. It's like watching money evaporate.
We're burning through C-Grade magic cores like they're going out of style. A hundred dollars a pop, and they barely last an hour. I'm on the hunt for B-Grade cores - they'd give us five solid hours for three hundred dollars. A better deal, but they're as rare as a friendly Balrog these days.
Between takes, I've been checking on "Harry Potter" sales. The book's doing well, flying off shelves. It's not exactly a phenomenon yet, but there's a growing fanbase. They're all curious about this mysterious "J.K." who penned it. If they only knew it was the "infamous prince" behind it all.
"Harry Potter" has brought in about twenty grand so far. It's no "Demonfather" blockbuster, but for a new book, it's nothing to sneeze at.
For context, the kingdom's bestseller, "Primal Evil" - some pulpy tale about Satan's evil offspring - rakes in 500k annually. But even that didn't hit 20k in sales when it first dropped. The critics are buzzing, calling "Harry Potter" the next big thing. Not bad for a side project.
***
Weeks have flown by, and we're in the home stretch of filming. But we've hit a snag with the Balrog and dragon scenes.
My fancy VFX studio can morph the backdrop, sure, but it can't conjure up a moving, breathing creature. The ground and walls just can't mimic the intricacies of a body in motion.
But I'm not one to back down from a challenge. After some tinkering and consulting with illusion experts, we've stumbled onto something interesting. Turns out, we can draw runes and cast illusion spells on animals.
We tested it on one of the elephants. Drew some runes, muttered a few incantations, and presto - we've got ourselves a pretty convincing monster. It's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than trying to wrangle an actual dragon.
As I watch our transformed elephant lumber around, looking decidedly more menacing than usual, I can't help but grin.
Klein speaks up, his tone measured. "Boss, we've been training this elephant for weeks now. I'd say he's become decent at acting."
"Decent?" George scoffs. "An animal that can act isn't something you see every day. The elephant's a great actor, if you ask me."
I nod, considering their points. "George has a point. But Ron still needs work to nail the Balrog role. He's close, though."
Ron, the elephant I've been training to play Balrog, trumpets softly as if in agreement. We've burned through a small fortune in magic cores for his training, but if he pulls this off, it'll be worth every penny.
Meanwhile, our Wind Parrot has been surprising us all with its dragon performance. Its talent for imitation is proving invaluable.
I glance at the latest report from Gloomstone Forest. The trolls we hired to control the ancient trees for our Ent scenes just wrapped yesterday. Another piece of the puzzle falling into place.
"Alright," I say, turning back to the team. "Let's run through Ron's scene one more time. And someone make sure he doesn't snack on the set this time."
***
As December draws to a close, we've finally wrapped filming on "Lord of the Rings". It's been a hell of a ride, costing us about 15 million dollars - and that's not even counting the VFX Studio.
I'm saying my goodbyes to the cast when I reach Firfel. "I'll definitely miss your lips," I say with a grin.
Firfel rolls her eyes. "Those kissing scenes... you're one shameless director, you know that?"
"You didn't hate it though, right?" I chuckle.
She's quiet for a moment, then looks at me seriously. "I've been meaning to ask... do you have feelings for me?"
My heart skips a beat, but I'm a demon, damn it. I don't get intimidated. "What if I do?" I shoot back. "You're quite a beauty in my eyes."
Firfel's eyes widen, clearly caught off guard.
Feeling bold, I press on. "Would you consider a relationship with this great demon?"
She looks conflicted. "Sorry, but... I want to focus on my career right now."
Oddly, I'm not disappointed. Her response leaves the door open. "Oh? So you're saying there's a chance?"
"Stop it," Firfel laughs, swatting my arm.
"Firfel, what's taking you so long?" Shafel calls from a distance.
Firfel glances back, then turns to me. "Well, see you around." She walks off with Shafel.
I can't help but smile as I head back to the studio with my team.
Lilith pipes up, sounding exhausted. "Boss, are we pulling all-nighters for editing again?"
"Not this time," I say. "We've got an easier editing process ahead."
Their eyes light up. "So no overtime?"
"Well, not exactly," I clarify, watching their faces fall. "But don't worry. I've got an editing tool that'll speed things up."
"Editing tool?" my team echoes, curiosity piqued as we enter the studio.
I nod to George, who disappears for a moment before wheeling out our invention.
The team gathers around, eyeing the contraption with a mix of confusion and interest. "Is that our editing tool, boss?" someone asks, sounding skeptical.
"Yes," I confirm, gesturing to the film strips nearby. "I've prepared binary code to program the editing process. The computer will process the uploaded files, but we'll still need to manually fine-tune everything. It's not perfect - we'll need to double-check its work and make adjustments - but it should speed things up considerably."
Their eyes widen as they process this information.
"I didn't know something like this existed," one of them mutters.
I can't help but feel a hint of pride as I explain, "That's because it didn't until now. George and I created this editing tool. We're the only studio with this technology."
The surprise on their faces deepens. I can almost see the gears turning in their heads as they consider the implications.
"So... we're not out of a job, right?" Zeke asks, only half-joking.
I laugh. "Far from it. We still need your expertise to make this work. Think of it as a very clever assistant, not a replacement."
***
As the calendar flips to 1272, there's a palpable sense of change in the air. The new year ushers in a new era for the picture industry, with colored films becoming more and more common. It's a far cry from the black and white world we left behind.
Days blur together as we hunker down in the editing room, piecing together our epic. The new tool is a godsend, but it still requires our constant attention and creativity.
I'm deep in concentration, debating between two cuts of a particularly tricky scene, when there's a commotion outside. Curious, I make my way to the lobby, only to be greeted by an unexpected sight.
Lucy Morningstar, my elder sister, stands there, tapping her foot impatiently. Her presence is as commanding as ever, filling the room with an almost palpable aura of authority.
"You've finally deigned to show up," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've made me wait long enough."
I blink, momentarily thrown off balance. It's been... well, I can't even remember the last time I saw Lucy. What could possibly bring her here now?
"Lucy," I manage, trying to keep my voice neutral. "This is... unexpected. What brings you to our humble studio?"
Her eyes narrow, and I can practically feel her gaze burning through me. Whatever this is about, I have a feeling it's not a social call.
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