Chapter 84 - Finality of Film Production (Please read my note at the bottom)

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 19, 2012 – Sunday 11:30 am – Arkesyas, Clambu City

Uranto is currently standing on the famous cliff of Arkesyas. "WHYYY??!! I JUST WANT TO LEAVE!! *Sob* I just… want to f*ckin leave..." Uranto screamed his lungs out until it cracked and his voice became hoarse, devolving into a defeated whisper as he collapsed on his knees, his hands on the rocky ground.

"And… CUT! THAT'S A WRAP EVERYONE!" Tayaw announced to all the cast and crew present. *CHEER**APPLAUSE**HUGS*. The crowd could not help but celebrate, especially the actors. 16 days grueling days their suffering had finally ended.

Before shooting 'September Ninth', the actors were expecting to shoot the movie using the conventional method. They would memorize the scripts, practice the scenes, and act like it's a play. If they did not mess up in their lines during the shoot, then it would be considered a good take.

Tayaw's method, however stressed the actors out very much. It's much more surgical and would take a few to tens of takes to just to shoot a scene. For the first scenes they were in, when they did not see what type of acting Tayaw wants, they were strictly coached, and scene by scene, they were yelled at almost every time. Many times, they would argue with Tayaw but it rarely goes their way. In the end, they are left with no choice but to learn and adjust quickly as the filming went on, they all also got better.

Despite being stressed out and had to take a lot of yelling at, none of the actors quit. Them having no theater training, would rarely chance upon a role in a film like the opportunity given to them by Tayaw. They also cannot complain about the workload because they all knew that as heavy as their workload is, Tayaw has even more work as he had to be there in all their scenes.

Uranto, the lead actor, also helped in motivating the cast. 'Look. If this movie becomes a hit, who are the only actors who can act in his next film? US! We're the only ones who he taught. Even if he casts other actors in his next film, we have an edge over them in the next audition.'

"Great job Mr. Virenza. I loved that! The way you curled up in the end was the icing on the cake.." Tayaw said complimenting Uranto's subtle improvisation. "I could not have if you didn't teach me." Uranto said sincerely. "Ah. Don't be polite. If it was anyone else, they would not have given me that." Tayaw said as he patted Uranto's back and they walked away from the dangerous edge of the cliff.

"Alright gather around!" Tayaw said and all of the cast and crew surrounded Tayaw. As the crew was supposed to transition shifts at noon in case they weren't finished filming today, both halves of the crew are all present in the site.

"I want to thank you all for contributing in my first ever film. We've had some disagreements but in the end, we all have one purpose; to make 'September Ninth' a great film." Tayaw began his impromptu wrapping-up-the-film-speech. Over the past 16 days, they have all come to respect Tayaw very much.

They never saw him sleep while working, in fact, they never even saw him sleep at all. Despite that, he would still work energetically and motivate the cast and crew to do better. When they do do better, Tayaw would spare the energy to appreciate their efforts and hard work.

"As you all know, the film is not finished yet. BUT you can trust me in stitching up all of our efforts to make a movie we can all be proud of."

Tayaw has a process called 'on-set editing' where he will stitch up the scenes shot during the breaks. He would take all the footage from all the four cameras, cut and paste, to complete a rough cut of the scenes. This gave the cast and the crew a peek to what the movie would look like once it's finished. Despite having only taken a peek, they also realized that the movie will be like no other.

Unlike the conventional films where the films would be like theater drama plays plastered in real-life backdrop, Tayaw's film looks like a doc.u.mentation of someone's life and experiences. The actors would look like real people with real lives, not stage actors whose behaviors on film would subconsciously tell the audience that it's all an act.

"Your efforts in adapting to my vision will not be wasted. In the future, when I do my next film, you are all my first priority hires." Tayaw said, to the satisfaction of the cast and crew.

"Now. Let's all pack up and go home! Have plenty of rest. Oh! To express my gratitude, I invite you all this evening at 9 to Silvertone Hotel for some food and drinks. Please invite each other. Actors, the crew, I want everyone to be there!" Tayaw said as he concluded the production process.

-

"Ahh.. What do you think, Jouny? Should I keep this thing?" Tayaw said after packing up all the cameras to the back of his pick-up truck, he could not help but look at the mobile home he rented, which was attached to his own pick-up truck. "Which thing?" Jouny asked in confusion as the cameras are all his. "This mobile house." Tayaw clarified.

With the busy 16 days of filming, Tayaw opted for the main and supporting actors to stay in mobile homes or trailers so they can always be close to the filming locations at all times. Tayaw did the same and chose a mobile home; complete with the bed, a kitchen, and a bathroom with a shower, it was perfect for Tayaw's needs for sleeping and hygiene.

"I don't know. You seem to have grown attached to it. But, do you really need it?" Jouny just shrugged her shoulders. 'Do you really need it?' replayed in Tayaw's head, and chuckled. He MIGHT need one in the future, but it is not wise to buy one for now.

"True. Now that they're taking back the trailers, can I have shower at your house?" Tayaw asked as they got in his pick-up truck. "Alright. Let's go to my house then. We've reserved 'Steven's room' for you anyway. My husband and I expected you will need somewhere to stay, but we underestimated how different your filming method would be." Jouny said.

"I would have actually stayed there but I needed to speed up. But, that would have taken the filming another month." Tayaw explained.

"Well, you bear all the expenses after all. Couldn't you have asked investor- oh. That's right." Jouny was about to ask why Tayaw never sought investors but considering her script and the film being Tayaw's first , no investor in their right mind would risk their money.

"It's not about the money. It's about catching the deadline for Sorrento." Tayaw said, to the surprise of Jouny. "Sorrento Film Festival? Wow. You really dream big." Jouny said, chuckling, suppressing her excitement at her screenplay being seen at the most prestigious film festival in the world.

Sorrento Film Festival is a film event held annually at the beautiful Italian coast town of Sorrento, overlooking the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea in the spring month of May. The film festival is where the best film makers in the world would submit their films for a wide range of audiences would see for free.

As much as Sorrento locals would enjoy seeing the world's biggest names in the film industry flock to their beautiful town, the film festival is exponentially beneficial for film makers. The film festival is where film makers and actors would search for both prestige and money.

For prestige, the Sorrento Film Festival would grant awards for different categories of films. The film festival would have three main categories of submissions; short films, student films, and full-feature films. The film festival's board of directors would also annually choose the year's jury; 10 judges who will decide which films would get which awards. These judges would be chosen by the board based on the judge's critical success, body of work, and respect from other film professionals.

Film makers would receive prestige by winning awards like 'Sorrento Award for Short Film', 'Sorrento Award for Best Picture', or 'Sorrento Award for Best Director' and the most prestigious 'Fiore d'Oro'. Meanwhile, actors would gain respect by winning awards like 'Sorrento Award for Best Actor/Actress', 'Sorrento Award for Best Supporting Actor/Actress', or the elusive 'Sorrento Award for Best Ensemble Cast'.

When it comes to money, film distributors all over the world would also attend the film festival to bid against each other to either buy the movies, or buy the distribution rights of the films. Film makers who happened to produce the most critically-acclaimed films acknowledged by Sorrento Film Festival would bank big. Even if their films had not won any awards or received any nomination, as long as the film they made is marketable to the eyes of film distributors, they would still hit the jackpot.

This is the same for the actors who would win awards or would be nominated; their future employment would be assured from the acclaim they received.

"Of course I'd dream big. I��ve invested time, effort and money. Hoping for an award or a selection at least, is much more beneficial than not hoping for one at all. Imagine this. Jouny Yalen – Winner for Sorrento Film Festival Award for Best Original Screenplay. The long-ass f.u.c.kin title you get from that just sounds grand, isn't it?" Tayaw said. Jouny's eyes also gleamed at the idea.

"Tayaw Dagem – Winner for Sorrento Film Festival Award for Best Director. Hey. Maybe we'll get Best Picture too." Jouny also started day-dreaming. "Correction. It's 'Fiore d'oro'. See? Let's be positive. Imagine if you win an award, you would be in-demand. So, you should think up some crazy script again. This time, it will surely sell. You can have it auctioned among film production companies." Tayaw also indulged Jouny on her day-dreaming, hoping it will help Jouny to squeeze more of her creative juices.

"Anyway. Do you need help in the post-production?" Jouny offered her assistance. Throughout the production process, she has not contributed at all because Tayaw refined the script and the lines to be as close to reality as possible, which Jouny did not know how to do. Even though Tayaw did not hire her, she would still show up in the filming locations from time to time to watch the process of how Tayaw would give her story life.

"No. I'm the only knows who knows how to do it. For now at least. And, editors always work alone." Tayaw said. "Oh. That's true. You're the only one who exactly knows what you want in your movie, so you might as well do it." Jouny nodded. Any professional working in TV and Film would know that editing is the most important process that may make or break a film's quality.

"Have you considered the music, by the way?" Jouny raised an important question and Tayaw is glad that she brought it up. "Yep. I'll make them." Tayaw said simply, his confidence made Jouny speechless.

"You'll MAKE it? Why would you even? It's not a musical." Jouny asked.

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Good day Dear Readers,

It's been five months and I thank you all, loyal readers. However, I feel like I'm going to betray you all by doing this, so I'm sorry.

I've decided to go premium. I know I don't have enough collections or enough readers to actually make money from chapter purchases, but the minimum pay offered has tempted me for a while now, and I could not refuse. I need the money. This must be what it feels like to sell-out, only in a puny level.

Starting January 28, the chapters after chapter 75 can only be unlocked with coins and fast passes. However, I still encourage you all to subscribe to my chapters. Starting January 28, I will also start releasing daily chapters and even double day releases with at least 1,600 words each chapter.

Unlike other novels that got premiums where their qualities dropped, I assure you all that mine will not. I'm not letting my first novel be something that I will just f*ck up and drop. No, no.

I've hold grudges against authors who wasted my coins and fast passes from their works' descent in quality and subsequent drops, and I promise you all I'm not going to be one of them now that I'm in their situation.

I hope that many of you will still read my novel. It's just unfortunate that now that I've mapped out where the story will go, less people will see it because of me going premium.

Thank you all again, and see you in the next chapter.

-Intayaw Din Dagem-

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