บท 53: LOTR Action!
(Arthur POV)
The makeshift studio buzzes with nervous energy as we prepare for our first scene. I scan the set, taking in every detail. The crew scurries about, making last-minute adjustments, while the cast runs through their lines one final time.
My eyes land on Shafel, our Galadriel.
She's chatting with Firfel; they seem to be getting along well.
I have to admit, while Firfel will always hold a special place in my heart, Shafel has a certain ethereal quality that's perfect for Galadriel. It's not just about beauty - it's about presence, and Shafel has it in spades.
Taking a deep breath, I clap my hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, folks, this is it. We're about to start rolling. Everyone to your places."
The chatter dies down as the three elven actors - Shafel and two male elves whose names escape me at the moment - take their positions.
I make my way to the director's chair, feeling the weight of expectation settle on my shoulders.
"Quiet on set," I call out, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach. "And... action!"
The scene springs to life. Our elven actors slip on their rings with practiced grace, their expressions shifting to one of wonder.
The camera zooms in on Shafel, capturing every nuance of her fascination.
I nod to Elizabeth, our resident wind mage. "Cast the wind spell."
A gentle breeze sweeps across the set, making the actors' hair dance. But suddenly—
"Cough!"
Jason, one of our male elves, chokes on the unexpectedly strong gust.
"Cut!" I call out, unable to hold back a chuckle. The set erupts in laughter, the tension breaking like a dam.
As we reset for another take, Jason approaches me, worry etched on his face. "I messed up... Will I be replaced?"
I shake my head, still grinning. "No, no. It's not your fault." I turn to our overzealous wind mage. "Elizabeth, try dialing it back a notch, yeah?"
"Yes, boss," she nods, looking slightly sheepish.
Jason still seems on edge, so I give his shoulder a reassuring pat. "Hey, don't sweat it. If you're worried about wasted film, don't be. We'll use it for bloopers."
"Bloopers?" Jason echoes, confusion replacing worry.
"Yeah, you know, funny outtakes. Trust me, the audience loves that stuff." I flash him a conspiratorial wink. "Now, let's nail this scene, shall we?"
As everyone retakes their positions, I can't help but feel a surge of affection for this ragtag bunch. We might not be the most polished crew in the business, but damn if we don't have heart.
"Alright, people. Take two. And... action!"
The first scene wraps quickly - just a few seconds of the elves gazing at their rings in wonder, Shafel's golden hair dancing in the magical breeze. It's short, but powerful. I can already envision how it'll set the tone for the entire film.
We move on, scene by scene, each one a piece of the puzzle that will become our epic tale. The furnace where the rings are forged glows with an otherworldly light, casting long shadows across the set.
Next up are the dwarves. Seven of them, decked out in intricate costumes that would make any dwarf lord proud. They cradle their rings, their eyes gleaming with a mix of awe and greed that sends a shiver down my spine. It's perfect.
The human kings follow, six noble figures succumbing to the allure of power. Then come the demons - our stand-ins for the nine mortal men. For their scene, I've gone all out with the set design. Flames lick at the edges of the frame, shadows dance ominously. It's deliciously over-the-top, and I love every second of it.
Hours fly by as we shoot and reshoot, perfecting each moment. By the time we wrap, I'm exhausted but exhilarated. We're making progress.
There's just one piece missing - Sauron forging the One Ring in Mount Doom. But that can wait. The armor will make Sauron easy enough to cast, but first, we need our army of orcs.
As I wrap up for the day, my mind's already racing ahead. Casting orcs in a world where they actually exist... I've got to admit, it's a fascinating challenge.
But 'fascinating' doesn't mean 'easy'. A few days back, I bit the bullet and spent a whopping two hundred thousand Entertainment Points on a powerful spell called the Nether Surge. It's some seriously dark magic that boosts mana and magical power.
Now my Entertainment Points are practically on life support. Even with "The Demonfather" still raking in cash - 170 million and counting, a record-breaker if I do say so myself - the influx of points has slowed to a trickle. I'm down to about ten thousand points. It's still growing, sure, but nowhere near the flood it was before.
Was it worth it? I'd like to think so. I've been holed up in the training area, practicing this new spell until I'm blue in the face. It's all for the orcs, though. From what I know, they only respect raw power. So that's exactly what I'm going to give them.
The plan is simple: walk into orc territory, flex some magical muscle, and hope they're impressed enough to willingly join my little film project.
***
Filming's never a walk in the park, but we're managing. It's funny how a few seconds on screen can eat up hours of our lives. But that's the magic of cinema, I suppose.
With the interior scenes wrapped, it's time to head back to Green Forest. I don't need to drag the whole studio team along - I've got another crew camped out there, ready and waiting. It's a bit extravagant, having two full teams, but hey, that's what those millions in the bank are for, right?
I step through the portal, and bam - I'm back in Green Forest. The crew there jumps like they've been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Guess they were enjoying the downtime a bit too much.
"Boss, you're here already- um, welcome back," one of them stammers, trying to look busy.
I can't help but chuckle. "Alright, guys, vacation's over. Time to earn your keep."
Morning breaks over our makeshift Shire, and we dive right into Gandalf's arrival. The old wizard's meeting with Frodo is pivotal, setting the stage for everything to come.
Watching Kurt bring Frodo to life is something else. Sure, he flubs a line here and there, and we have to reshoot a few times, but there's an authenticity to his performance that gives me goosebumps. The kid's a natural, no two ways about it.
As night falls, the set transforms into a bustle of activity. It's Bilbo's eleventy-first birthday, and we're pulling out all the stops. The air crackles with excitement - and magic.
See, fireworks in this world aren't just gunpowder and pretty colors. They're imbued with honest-to-goodness spells, capable of conjuring fantastical displays that would make even the most jaded pyrotechnician weep with joy. It's costing us a small fortune, but the authenticity it brings to the scene is priceless.
People here will see these magical fireworks and instantly connect. It's not just special effects - it's a slice of their reality, elevated to cinematic proportions.
But I couldn't resist adding a touch from my past life. Working with our wizard department, we've crafted a special firework. It's a dragon, just like in the original film, brought to life with a complex cocktail of illusion spells and other magical trickery I can barely wrap my head around.
The scrolls for this particular firework cost more than some people's yearly salary, but as I watch it soar over our Shire set, scattering hobbits (well, our half-human half-dwarf actors) in its wake, I know it's worth every penny.
This, right here, is the magic of moviemaking.
It's taking the familiar and making it extraordinary. As I call "Cut!" on another take, I can't help but grin.
We're not just making a movie - we're creating a whole new world.
บท 54: More difficult
(Arthur POV)
The sky above our set explodes with color, each firework more dazzling than the last. Even from here, I can see the awe on the faces of the folks from Grass City. It's a spectacle alright, one that's drawing a bit too much attention for comfort.
Demonfolk start creeping onto our set, their curiosity getting the better of them. It's wreaking havoc on our carefully crafted scenes.
"Keep them back," I call out to my team. "We can't afford to lose these shots."
My crew springs into action, forming a human... well, demon barrier. But these onlookers are persistent buggers.
Watching Clara, one of my crew, get knocked over by an overeager fiend demon, something in me snaps. Time to bring out the big guns.
I activate the Nether Surge, feeling dark energy crackle around me. The air grows heavy, thick with power. Even I'm a bit taken aback by the intensity.
The fiend demon who pushed Clara freezes, his eyes going wide with fear. He's not the only one - I can see the terror rippling through the crowd, even my own team looks shaken.
"Go away," I say, my voice unnaturally calm.
It's like I've flipped a switch. The crowd parts, demons scurrying away like they've seen... well, something scarier than themselves.
As the set clears, I let the power ebb away. Damn, that spell packs a punch. Mental note: maybe tone it down a notch next time. Don't want to give the crew nightmares.
But as I help Clara to her feet, I can't help but think - if this is how demons react, how will the orcs handle it? Guess I'll find out soon enough.
For now, though, we've got a party to film. "Alright,," I call out, clapping my hands. "Back to work."
The fireworks resume, painting the night sky with bursts of color and magic. From my vantage point, I can hear snippets of conversation from the now-subdued Grass City crowd.
"Did you see that? I never expected the weak prince to have such intimidating power," one voice whispers.
Another chimes in, "Maybe we're just imagining it. It's probably because we've seen 'The Demonfather'. We're confusing him with Michael."
"You're right," a third agrees. "It must be Michael we're scared of, not the prince."
"That's the only explanation that makes sense."
I can't help but chuckle to myself. They've written off the Nether Surge as some sort of collective hallucination. Fine by me - less explaining to do.
With the distractions gone, we power through the rest of the night's shoot. It's grueling work, but seeing Bilbo's party come to life makes it all worth it.
As we finally wrap up, exhaustion hits me like a ton of bricks. My crew and I trudge to our tents, dead on our feet but satisfied with a night's work well done.
"Don't forget the protection spell," I remind them, stifling a yawn. "Last thing we need is a pack of hellhounds crashing our beauty sleep."
One of the crew members nods sleepily. "On it, boss. No hounds are getting past us tonight."
Hellhounds roam the Green Forest in packs, their glowing eyes piercing through the mist. But they're not the only creatures to watch out for.
The Thunder Bears stand tall among the trees, their massive forms crackling with electric energy. One swipe of their paws can send bolts of lightning through an unsuspecting traveler.
The forest floor crawls with Luminous Slimes, gelatinous beings that pulse with an eerie, internal light. Shadowcats prowl the darker areas, their fur absorbing light and making them nearly invisible in the gloom.
High in the canopy, Sprite Monkeys chatter and leap from branch to branch, trailing sparks of magical energy in their wake. And in the deepest parts of the forest, ancient Crystal Tortoises lumber about, their shells encrusted with valuable, magical gems.
Thoughts of forest creatures fade as exhaustion takes over. I'm out like a light the moment my head hits the pillow.
We've wrapped Bilbo's party and Gandalf's ominous warning to Frodo. Not bad for a night's work. Tomorrow's another beast entirely - we're tackling the Black Riders chasing Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. It's going to be intense.
***
Morning comes too soon. The set's buzzing as we prep for the Black Riders scene. I give our Nazgûl a once-over, impressed by the armor my art team's cooked up. It's menacing as hell - perfect.
"How's it feel in there?" I ask one of the extras, eyeing the hefty getup.
"Manageable, sir," comes the muffled reply.
Fair enough. I turn to the crew, clapping my hands to get their attention. "Alright, people. Places. We're rolling in five."
The set falls silent as everyone takes their positions. I feel my expression harden, slipping into what the crew jokingly calls my "director mode."
"Ready when you are, boss," my AD calls out.
With a final glance around the set, I give the nod. "And... action!"
***
It's been over a few weeks since we started filming, and we've made decent progress. We've captured Frodo's escape and Gandalf's return to Isengard. The Isengard scenes... now those were a challenge and a half.
I've sank thirty thousand dollars into building the exterior of Orthanc, Saruman's imposing tower. It's just a facade, mind you - all show and no substance. We erected it near our Shire set, taking advantage of the 100,000 square meters we've got in Green Forest. It's far enough not to ruin the Shire's quaint vibe, but close enough to be convenient.
We have a model of Isengard for the sweeping shots, so capturing the city's vantage point won't be a problem.
The tower itself is real enough, but everything beyond is smoke and mirrors - or in this case, magical projections and clever camera work. It's not perfect, but it's selling the illusion well enough.
The interior scenes with Saruman and Gandalf's magical duel were easier to pull off. Having actual wizards for actors has its perks - they can sling real spells. Of course, we've amped things up for dramatic effect. Can't have our wizards' duel looking like a schoolyard scuffle, after all.
It's a constant juggling act, balancing realism with spectacle. But seeing it all come together on film... it's worth every headache and every dollar spent.
Though it's becoming clear that bringing "Lord of the Rings" to life is a whole different beast compared to "The Demonfather". Sure, having actual magic at our disposal helps, but it's a double-edged sword.
The illusions we're using are burning through our budget faster than a dragon through a village. And while real magic makes fight scenes more authentic, it's also raising the bar for what looks convincing. It's a constant battle to make things look spectacular enough for a fantasy epic, but still believable in a world where magic is commonplace.
Take Saruman and Gandalf's confrontation. In my old world, Saruman's telekinesis was mind-blowing. Here? It's Tuesday. I had to completely reimagine the scene, amping up the magical duel to something that would actually impress our audience. The result is intense, maybe even more so than the original, but getting there nearly broke my brain.
This obsession with authenticity is slowing us down considerably. We're weeks into filming and barely halfway through. If we had CGI, we'd be flying through scenes. But everything's practical effects here. It's painstaking work, but the results... well, they speak for themselves.
Today's a big day, though. It's finally time for my debut as Aragorn. As I suit up, I can't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. It's one thing to direct a fantasy epic. It's another to star in it. Here's hoping I can pull it off without making a complete fool of myself.
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