[Title : The Hawking’s]
….
Christopher's eyebrows arched, clearly intrigued. "That's high praise, Kiara."
"...."
For a moment, the room fell into a reflective silence.
The person Christopher had initially dismissed as inconsequential had managed to earn such glowing remarks from someone as discerning as Kiara.
That was no small feat.
Finally, Christopher's face changed, replacing his earlier skepticism.
"So let me g...
[Title : I Was Lucky]
….
After exactly ninety-seven minutes and some seconds -
Clap! Clap!
- a single resounding clap filled the small room.
"That was amazing! Too amazing!" Stephen clapped and leapt from the couch the moment the credits rolled.
His excitement seemed to overflow as he dashed toward Keanu, pulling him into an unexpected hug.
It didn't matter that they had only met an hour and a half ago - Stephen's ...
[Title : First Screening]
….
[Same Time]
Iconique Talent Agency HQ.
CEO Office.
"How did the classes go? Think they will help?" Christopher asked, his voice light but probing.
Grace paused for a moment, her gaze distant. "They were good. I am leaning toward the one-month course."
"That makes sense." Christopher gave a thoughtful nod. "We should probably hold off on auditions for now - unless something big comes up."
Gr...
[Title : You Can Go Now]
….
“That movie is going to work.”(Brad)
?!!.. John, standing behind him, froze, blinking in confusion.
He stared up at his higher employer, unable to mask his bewilderment. If the movie was going to work, why reject it?
"Sir…?"
Brad ignored him, picking up a pen and idly tapping it against the desk. His tone remained indifferent. "Contact the director and negotiate to buy the complete rights to the fi...
[Title : Things Didn't Work Out]
….
27 Days Later.
June 3th, 2010.
.
Regal walked out of a commercial building.
Behind him, Keanu trailed with a scowl etched on his face. He kicked his leg off in the air as he stepped onto the sidewalk.
"Those bastards… to think they reject us without even a proper reason?" He growled in deep annoyance.
Regal continued to walk ahead, seemingly unbothered, but his bent back gave away...
[Title : Editing (2)]
….
For now, Zack pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present.
Without delay, he grabbed the script Regal had handed over and began to read.
That was the moment everything he thought he knew began to unravel.
It started subtly.
The script started off well.
Far better than Zack had expected.
Still, he didn't let himself get carried away.
Anyone can write if they have imaginatio...
[Title : Editing (1)]
….
Zack had been caught off guard but couldn't deny the flicker of curiosity and maybe a little excitement.
Now here Simon was, standing just inside his studio, still exuding that larger-than-life energy Zack remembered so well.
However, he wasn't alone.
Trailing behind him was a young man, maybe in his early twenties, dressed in a hoodie and sneakers. The younger guy's eyes darted around the studio, taking it all in ...
[Title : Zack Barg]
….
Currently, his [Editing] skill is at [Novice], and the best he will be able to afford to upgrade is to [Intermediate] level, if he collects the rewards.
Anything beyond that would be a waste of EP he could better allocate for future purchases rather than wasting it only on basic skills.
And, yes, Regal did call the [Intermediate] level basic.
Ever since his recent jump in [Writing] from [Novice] to [Expert], he had ...
[Title : Wrap. And Dinner]
…..
May 7th, 2010.
.
"Shot's okay… and it's a wrap for [Following]!
Regal's voice echoed through the small, enclosed prison set, signaling the end of the day's shoot and also the film's.
The crew and cast burst into a collective cheer, their excitement palpable as the tension of the final take gave way to exhilaration.
"Whooohooo!"
"YahhooOOoo!" - some cheered, and the energy was contagious...
[Title : First Day Of Filming [Following] (3)]
….
Seren let out a warm laugh, shaking off the tension. "That's just a nice way of saying he is a pain, isn't it?
"...." Grace didn't respond, but her silence spoke volumes - because Seren wasn't wrong.
"Don't worry too." Seren added with a wink. "You will get used to him. If I can survive being his sister, you will be fine."
Grace stared at Seren in silence for a moment, her expression unread...
[Title : First Day Of Filming [Following] (2)]
…..
====
Scene 22: Bill's and Cobb's First Confrontation.
Extras: 6 people walking the streets (no dialogue) and 1 with a long shot (no dialogue).
Bill: Two lines of dialogue.
Cobb: One line.
====
Despite its outward simplicity, the scene was deceptively ambitious.
Regal had planned it as a single, one-minute, twenty-two-second-long take - a single,...
[Title : First Day Of Filming [Following] (1)]
….
April 5th, 2010.
.
It's the first day of filming.
[Following] timeline covers approximately two weeks or a little over a day.
And Regal knew with the right planning and pre production, the film could be shot over 30-32 days.
So he did exactly that.
The script doesn't require many expensive and extensive locations, making it simple to scout and get permits.
Moreov...
[Title : Comics]
….
April 4th, 2010.
.
["So, how is the new place treating you?"]
Gwendolyn's voice crackled through the phone, intrusively. ["Wait-! Can I even call it just a house? Seems like you have gone all-in on this work from home philosophy."]
Regal chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, now you are asking? It's been over ten days since I moved in, Gwen. Are you always late to check in?"
There was a faint note of...
[Title : Iconique Talent Agency]
….
Two Days Later.
.
Iconique Talent Agency HQ.
Christopher Bennett, a man in his mid-forties and the CEO of Iconique Talent Agency, sat comfortably in his high-backed office chair, exuding an air of practiced authority.
Beside him stood Anne Whitmore, his ever-efficient assistant, holding a tablet in one hand and a small stack of documents in the other.
"How did the university visits go?" Chr...
[Title : Script Readings]
….
March 27th, 2010.
.
"Well, now that everyone is here, I would like to introduce myself again."
Regal began, his voice steady yet carrying a subtle authority that naturally commanded attention.
"I am Regal Seraphsail. Thank you for making the time to join this reading session, especially considering that we haven't formally signed the contracts yet. Rest assured, I will have those ready by the next sess...
[Title : Auditions]
….
Five Days Later.
March 16th, 2010.
.
"Hello there! I am Ben Azelart. Nice to meet you!"
Regal glanced up from his notes, momentarily caught off guard by the sheer force of Ben's enthusiasm, which seemed to fill the room the moment he walked in.
"Hello, Ben. I am Regal." He gestured to the chair across the table and offered a polite, if somewhat strained, smile. "Please, take a seat. Here is the scene. N...
[Title : Art For Art’s Sake]
….
Regal's next focus was the casting for the film.
The most important are the two main leads.
These roles were the foundation of the entire film.
So, they had to be strong enough to hold the audience's attention, commanding the screen in every scene.
The story would make or fall based on their performances.
Fortunately, Regal had already found one of the leads - Keanu Reeves - his sister's bo...
[Title : Finaaaalllly!]
….
.
Despite not getting any answer, Gwendolyn caught it, the brief pause in his movements, the way his gaze flicked toward her out of the corner of his eye.
Regal had heard her.
"Give me a minute…" He murmured, his voice hoarse from hours of work.
Gwendolyn stepped closer, her gaze scanning him carefully. She didn't want to interrupt, but she couldn't stop herself from assessing his state.
He didn't...
[Title : Five Days]
….
"[Following]?" Gwendolyn murmured aloud, her brow furrowing slightly. "That's the name?"
"Yep." Regal confirmed, glancing at her briefly before returning to his work. "The movie title."
Her eyes rolled upwards with thoughtfulness. "Sounds mysterious."
"Is it about me… following you around like this?" She added eliciting a small, involuntary pause in his typing.
"Not quite." He replied, smirking despite hims...
[Title : Writer Boy~]
….
Casting actors. Renting equipment. Hiring a crew. Scouting locations. Securing permissions. Organizing schedules and rehearsals. Filming. Editing. Marketing.
…and the biggest challenge of all?
The distributors.
That was the roadblock that stood between him and success, the one that would make or break everything.
Forget about the range of success - getting it noticed was always the hardest part.
Ev...
[Title : Rewards]
….
Regal pushed to his feet, grabbed a nearby towel, rested it on his shoulder, and slipped himself into the bathroom, getting another last glance of her before shutting it.
He hung the towel onto another hanger, moved under the shower, and turned it on, letting the cold water hit his face.
After a few more minutes he was done bathing, a quick swipe with a towel to dry himself, getting under his usual t-shirt and pants, he was o...
[Title : Still Sure About This?]
….
Regal pulled into his apartment parking lot, the car came to a stop as the engine shut off, allowing the silence within the car stretched, thick and charged.
"It's late. Want to come up?" Regal finally broke the silence, his voice casual but expectant.
Gwendolyn didn't hesitate.
"Sure." Gwendolyn replied without missing a beat. A small smile played on her lips as she pushed open the car door before he c...
[Title : I Used To Be His Girlfriend]
….
"Hey, Gwendolyn, pull over to the side here for a second, will you?" Regal said, leaning slightly forward in his seat.
Gwendolyn glanced at him, her hands steady on the steering wheel.
"The convenience store? Why?" She asked, already easing off the accelerator as she reached for the gear shift.
"I want to pick up some refreshments for the next few days." Regal replied casually, motioning toward the...
[Title : Impact Of Our Baby]
….
Gwendolyn crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced. "And do you even have a script? A team? And what about funds?"
Regal nodded. "I have got the script. The team will come. As for the funds… this check will do."
Maggie chimed in, skepticism etched on her face. "You do realize how risky that is, right? Movies aren't exactly a guaranteed success. In fact, you might ruin your reputation."
"I know." Regal said fi...
[Title : Rumors]
….
1 Month Later - March 4th, 2010.
.
"Maggie, do you think I am not pretty?" Gwendolyn tilted her phone, examining her reflection like it held the answer to life itself.
"...." Maggie stared at her, face blank, her expression screaming - what is wrong with you?
"Come on, just say it!" Gwendolyn whined, her voice dipping into a childish pitch.
Maggie sighed. She wasn't in the mood for Gwendolyn's the...
[Title : First Time Claim Reward]
….
The book was officially launched yesterday.
Now, the waiting game began.
Regal, however, wasn’t one to waste time.
Yet, starting anything new wasn’t an option, he simply didn’t have the funds.
At least, not until his first paycheck arrived, which was still a month away. Of course, whether the book would be a hit or not was a question hanging heavily in the air.
It was not about him...
[Title : Launch Event]
….
February 2nd, 2010.
.
The Next Morning.
By 10 a.m., one of the sections in the independent bookstore called Books & Books in Miami, FL, started to buzz in preparation for the launch event of a book.
Regal and Gwendolyn arrived thirty minutes later. By then, the space was alive with activity.
Everleaf Press ground staff were already done with the main things, like setting up the stage with decorat...
[Title : Junior - Senior]
.….
The next morning, it was official - the contract between Regal and Everleaf Press was signed.
Editing and proofing took center stage as the entire editorial team at Everleaf Press dove headfirst into the manuscript.
Every editor in the room knew the stakes, and they were ready for what they thought would be an exhausting, detail-heavy week.
From their first glimpse of Regal's work, they would know the stakes ...
[Title : Why Don't You Audition For My Film?]
…..
After the misunderstanding was cleared up, Regal and Seren returned to their seats.
But this time, there was a new face sitting beside her, like some unexpected cameo.
Regal took a slow sip of his coffee, his eyes drifting toward the guy who now seemed to have comfortably wedged himself next to Seren.
His lip twitched, a wry grin forming. Well, looks like I am not the only one who fin...
[Title : Twin Sister. And Her Boyfriend Is…]
.....
After finalizing the last details of the contract, Regal stepped out of the building.
He was informed that after another round of discussions and a few verification steps, the final signing would take place tomorrow.
Catching the bus, he was already on his way to the next and final destination of the day, his thoughts shifting to the text he had sent earlier that morning - to his sister.
...