Chapter 98 - Politics of Reel Industries

April 12, 2012 – Thursday 10 am – Clambu City – Black Deer Pictures

"F.u.c.k. Our movie didn't make it?!" A man in his 50s huffed in frustration as he extinguished his cigarette on the ashtray. The man's fancy and spacious office has its appearance tainted by the cigarette smoke lingering in the room.

"Yarag. I told you before that it's not about the movie budget. It's about the basic quality of the film." A woman, who is of same age, replied. "Well, isn't the script we chose already the best? You said so yourself." Yarag replied.

"Okay. That's fair. But in my defense, I told you too that hiring famous actors won't work. Hiring actors that 'fit' the role is a better choice. We could have saved a lot of money from less famous, and more fitting actors. You didn't listen." The woman replied.

"Oh yeah? I admit those. But why am I taking all the blame? Huh? I knew hiring your son to direct the thing wouldn't work. Damn. That must have been the dumbest decision I have ever made as chairman." Yarag said.

"Hey! I know my son did great in directing! We both saw the film!" The woman defended.

"Oh yeah? I'm not an idiot. I was a producer, then an executive producer. I know what a good film looks like, I know which films would sell. Our movie could have been better!" Yarag said.

"That was years ago! You've been stuck in your 'throne' for so long, what do you know?" The woman countered.

"What do I know? I'll tell you what I know, Jundiel! I know that even though our films didn't win any awards over the years, they still sold well. I also know that the movie YOUR SON directed is AVERAGE! Just pray to whatever god you worship that the movie would not flop! So shut up before I remove your production powers." Yarag finally has had enough.

Jundiel's confidence faded at Yarag's tirade. Black Deer Pictures did not grow to its size without Yarag's expertise after all. She is also afraid that Yaraw will do what he just said. Jundiel has not reached her position as the Vice President in charge of productions at Black Deer with her abilities alone. She has been friends with Yarag when they were just producers, and with that friendship, she rode on Yarag's coat tails. Yarag has given her power, he can also take it away.

"OH! TEUNGEB!" Yarag's secretary suddenly exclaimed from his table. "What was that Kyer?" Yarag asked his secretary. "Oh… uh… nothing." Kyer's head receded to his shoulders as if he did something wrong.

Jundiel then walked towards Kyer's table to look at his computer. "Sorrento Selections… Why are you still looking? Our movie didn't make it." Jundiel said, venting her frustration at Kyer.

"Sorrento Selections? Teungeb? Another Teungeb film was selected?" Yarag however quickly connecting the dots and asked for clarification. "Yeah…" Kyer said but didn't bother explaining because of Jundiel standing beside him.

"Where is it?" Yarag got up from his table and walked to Kyer's table. Kyer, feeling he's been rescued, sighed in relief. He doesn't get why the two has to walk towards him. They're not wearing their reading glasses, so they can't read his monitor anyway.

"Here it is. 'September Ninth' an indie film." Kyer said, smiling. He's a fan of movies, and also an ultra-patriot, so seeing a Teungebian movie getting a nomination at the most prestigious international film festival; he could not help but feel immense pride. In contrast to his expression however, Yarag and Jundie's faces look strange.

"Who the hell is this Isaac Yawat?" Jundiel said. "I don't know. Look him up, Kyer." Yarag ordered. "Here… uhh… musician?!!" Kyer exclaimed as he read the search results. He also could not help but click at a video link with Tayaw in the thumbnail. "Hmm.. Preacher preacher, come save me…" Tayaw's song started playing through Kyer's speakers and his voice tickled the trio's ears.

"So… A wolar." Kyer said, gritting his teeth. A 'wolar' is the derogatory term used by Teungebians to call Teungebians who were raised abroad. Tayaw, having an excellent English pronunciation, Kyer assumed that he is a Teungebian - American.

Yarag, hearing the term, slapped Kyer on the back of the head. "F*cks sake. If you weren't competent, I would have fired you just saying that." Yarag scolded. "He's a good musician. Find out if he has other films." Yarag ordered again.

Kyer tried various combinations of Tayaw's names and movie terms, but all he found was Tayaw's music. "No. *aherm* I think … uh …" Kyer does not dare say what he thinks. "What? Spit it out." Jundiel commanded. "I think… this movie is his debut work." Kyer finally said in conclusion to Yarag and Jundiel. The Kyer does not dare to look at the faces of the two big bosses and kept looking at the monitor.

"Are you sure?" Yarag asked. "No. But I think … it has to be his debut work. I can't find anything about him relating to movies." Kyer replied. Yarag and Jundiel, after a few seconds of acceptance, finally nodded as Kyer's words made sense.

"Oh. Can you look at the awards it's competing for?" Jundiel asked Kyer. "Wait a second." After some keyboard clacking and mouse clicking, Kyer was silent once again.

"Something wrong?" Yarag asked. "No.. I'm just surprised. Here. It's competing for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Jury Prize." Kyer spat out. The list made the recovered Yarag and Jundiel dizzy.

"Here. I think my guess was right. He's also nominated for Camera D'Oro." Kyer concluded. 'Camera D'Oro' is the award for directors who have not previously made a full-feature film. It's a newcomer award that directors only have one chance of winning, and that is their debut film.

"What kind of film could it be? This is not possible." Jundiel said, sighing. If it was any other debut work, the three would have assumed that the film just got lucky. But looking at the list of awards it was qualified to compete for; even an idiot would see that luck has little to do with 'September Ninth'. The three could not help but admit that they were bested, dominatingly so.

"Can you look at the credits of the film? We should know someone." Yarag commanded. Kyer who just happened to be already reading the credits of 'September Ninth' read aloud "Director – Isaac Yawat. Screenplay – Original by Jouny Yalen. Editor – Isaac Yawat. Soundtrack – Isaac Yawat."

"Soundtrack?" Yarag asked, not sure if he heard it right. Soundtracks are not usually credited in films. Kyer did not answer however, so Yarag and Jundiel looked at him. They were both confused at Kyer's serious and pondering expression. "Something wrong?" Yarag snapped Kyer out of his daze.

"Yeah. It's just … I know the screenwriter, Jouny." Kyer began explaining. "I know her since secretarial school. Do you remember 'Her Shadow'?" Kyer asked the two. "Yeah. The movie we made some years ago?" Jundiel answered. "Yeah. That's Jouny's screenplay. That's also the second screenplay she wrote that made it to the screens. I thought she stopped writing screenplays after we made that." Kyer concluded.

"Do you have her contact number?" Yarag asked. "Yeah. You want me to call her right now?" Kyer said and pulled out his phone. "Yeah. Put it on speaker phone." Yarag nodded.

*Ring Ring* [Hello? Kyer, it's been a while.] Jouny answered, to Kyer's relief. It's been a while indeed, and he's thankful she's still using the number he has saved. "Yeah. How's it been since 'Her Shadow'?" Kyer started with small talk. [Well. Same same. I'm still working at the Writers' Guild. How about you? Still working for 'The Big Man'?] Jouny asked. Kyer almost blushed at this. 'Big Man' is what he calls Yarag when he's with his friends. Fortunately for Kyer, Yarag didn't seem to mind the moniker.

"Yes. Why would you think I'm not?" Kyer continued. [Nothing. Haha. What's with the call? Something happened?"] Jouny asked. "I heard you wrote a screenplay for a movie recently? Congratulations!" Kyer said. [Thank you! As expected for the 'Big Man's assistant, you even heard of that.] Jouny said, to Kyer's hidden embarrassment once again. Kyer, Jundiel, and Yarag were interested at 'you even heard of that'.

"Alright. Stop with that. I actually thought you already stopped writing. It's a pleasant surprise when I found out." Kyer said. [I actually did! I was just lucky that someone bought one of the first scripts I already wrote.] Jouny explained. "I see. Well luck might have something to do with it, but your script must be good enough to sell." Kyer fished for more. [Hah! The 'good script' is the one I wrote 8 years ago. Remember the one our friends wanted me to scrap? That's the one!] Jouny said excitedly.

Kyer, on the other hand, almost dropped his phone. He did not read the script but he's heard of the script that Jouny never gave up on selling. "That's the one?! Well.. That's unexpected." Kyer could only say. [Yeah. Hah! It's great that I didn't give up. The director who bought it made it into a great film!] Jouny said in pride.

"Yeah? It is that good?" Kyer asked. [Oh you have no idea. It's the best film I've ever seen in years! I can't talk about it yet, but trust me, it's like my characters really became alive!I don't know when it will come out, but I hope many people would see it. I'll give our friends tickets… I'll show them. Humph.] Jouny started rambling.