Chapter 138 - Science of Audio Visual Recording

July 20, 2012 – Friday 7 pm – Ironstone, Ouigab

"Done? Right? … … HUDDLE!!!" Jenna screamed in delight! "Huddle!!!" The boys of the band also did and they huddled. 

The band finally finished their re-arrangements of the songs in their album. While they are still not confident, and that Tayaw might still say something for them to amend, they have done their best in polishing their songs. While they can still brainstorm, they do not have the confidence to make their songs sound any better. 

"Payew! Come here, big guy! You've helped us too!" Ramil pulled Payew to their huddle. 

Payew, in only two weeks or so, and with the band's welcoming attitude to his inputs, helped the band in making their lyrics catchier, easier to sing, and easier to understand. While he changed some words, the band were fine with it as the changes either did not change the songs' message, or even made the message possibly simpler to communicate to listeners.

"Alright. Alright. Congrats guys. I'm going back upstairs." Payew said as he pulled away from the group hug.

"Man, you're just like Tayaw, you hate physical contact, huh? Go, go. Fancy school guy." Ike said. 

"Cool. Let's record." 

Meanwhile, upstairs, Payew started swimming in his textbooks once again, however, he cannot concentrate.

A few days after he moved to Ironstone, he was contacted by Rinowra School for a tour along with incoming grade 11 students. He noticed that some of the incoming grade 11 students look younger than usual. He then found out that they are only around 12-14 years old, a year or two younger than the average students of their grade. Payew himself was an average 15-year-old grade 11 student before enrolling to Rinowra. 

The age difference and achievement of some of the incoming students made Payew very insecure and intimidated to attend Rinowra. 

Payew opened his laptop and went online. He checked to see if Tayaw is online, hoping to have a video chat with him. 

/Hey man. Sorry for not talking to you for a while, I was busy./ Tayaw picked up the call, giving Payew a sense of relief.

"Hello. It's fine. It's understandable. Chala said that you just released your film there." Payew said.

/Ah. Yeah. And the movie's doing better than I expected. Anyway, how's it going there in Ironstone? Do you like your new housemates?/ Tayaw asked. 

"Oh, they're cool. They even asked me for my input, and some bits of my ideas made it to their songs." Payew said, underselling his contribution intentionally, feeling guilty of neglecting his studies for a bit.

/I see. That's very good then. BUT… you must have done more than just 'a bit', yeah?/ Tayaw chuckled as he asked.

"w-. Well, I did change some words and re-arranged the stanzas, but that's it. I'm still studying a lot!" Payew defended himself immediately.

/Hah. Don't worry about it. I know that it's fun alright? And I know you're responsible, so I can trust you're doing your best for school./ Tayaw said. 

"How did you know by the way? That I did more than what I said?" Payew could not help but ask how easy his lie was caught.

/Well, I know those three, Bay-an, Hoon, and Inson, are very very protective of their songs. They even argued a lot with their band mates when they started arranging. So, them letting you touch their lyrics, that tells me that they must have at least valued your ideas./ Tayaw said. 

"Ah. I see… Hey…" Payew's tone changed.

/What's troubling you man?/ Tayaw asked when he saw the hesitation on his brother's face.

"I just had a tour of Rinowra. The kids there are talented, Tayaw. I don't think I can go there, or I'll be the dumbest guy." Payew said.

/Hmm.. I don't think you'll be the dumbest there. You know what? Let me give you some truth./ Tayaw prefaced, and Payew is anxious to hear what Tayaw is about to say.

/We were born in a middle class family. We weren't poor, nor were we rich. We didn't have the resources that the kids in your new school have, so our education was average. Despite that, why are you still number one in your grade in Okuba?/ 

"I don't know? I studied harder than anyone?" Payew said.

/Yes. You did. Now, imagine. Had we been rich since we were born, and you still studied as hard as you can? Do you think you'll also be like those students in Rinowra?/ Tayaw asked.

"I don't know man." Payew shook his head.

/I think you could have. Hell, I think I could have too, and I was a worse student than you. So, now that you have the resources, make the best use out of it to catch up to those kids. Also, don't be scared to be around them. If they're as smart as you think they are, then hang out with them. Surround yourself with smart people and you will challenge yourself to be just as smart. / 

"But what if I can't catch up?" Payew said.

/Well, you have to try to catch up first. Even if you can't, you're still smart because you made it to the best high school in North Teungeb. If you graduate with good grades in Rinowra, that will assure you to get to the best universities in the country. Hell, you can even apply for the best schools here in America./

/Also, just do what you've been doing. Learn as much as you can. There are a lot of kids who will kill to take your place, so squeeze as much as you can from Rinowra./ Tayaw encouraged.

Payew's confidence slowly rose. He does not know if it's because of Tayaw's words or Tayaw's voice, but he is now not as insecure as he was.

"Alright. I'll do my best, Tayaw. Thank you for paying for my school man, I'll pay you back someday. Haha." Payew said.

==============

Tayaw does not know if it was because of the sincere gratitude or something else, but Payew's words moved him. "Okay. Just make me, mom, and dad proud and that's enough payment for me." Tayaw said. /Ugh. What a bullshit price. I'll make you guys proud AND I'm paying you back./ Payew said, his reply amusing Tayaw. 

After telling each other what they're up to, Tayaw ended the call in a brighter mood. 

Tayaw for the past few days have been in quite an odd mood. For the past few days, negative reviews of his film started popping up.

'Too much swearing.'

'Too violent.'

'S.e.xual scenes were unneeded.'

The criticisms mostly came from Christian groups in the United States, which Tayaw did not expect his movie would attract attention of. 

While the negative criticisms came from very few people, they are a very loud minority. Tayaw could not help what the reactions would be from these people once his next film comes out, and how these people would affect it. 

Another concern that Tayaw is having is about his script. It has been 15 days since he started reading and gathering information about Gonzalo's story. It has also been 12 days since he got to know Gonzalo. 

There have been very conflicting anecdotes about Gonzalo's life from what Tayaw gathered from both people who owed the Coniglio Family, and Coniglio Family's members. Thankfully, while Gonzalo did not agree to a sit-down interview, he was fine with confirming some facts for Tayaw. 

Tayaw also realized how difficult it really is to write a screenplay. He is struggling to write places and sets, how to set the general plot, and how to write good dialogue.

"Agh. I already gone this far, might as well finish what I started." Tayaw shook his head. 

When it comes to the general plot and the sets, Tayaw is planning on going linear; he will tell his version of Don Gonzalo's life from childhood to his rise to power. To make the story compelling, Tayaw is thinking how to embellish Gonzalo's journey. 

When it comes to dialogue, he is planning on spending more time with Gonzalo and his friends who are still alive to capture how they speak. 

In addition to his struggle in writing, Tayaw also is currently pressed with time. Even though Don Gonzalo might still have a few years left, no one can be too sure. He is however, is still optimistic he can finish the film and have Gonzalo enjoy watching a fictionalized version of himself. 

He already has Steven's newly formed team start on working on the virtual sets of 1920s Quarteri Spagnoli and the 30s, 40s, and 50s Queens, Brooklyn, and Las Vegas. According to Steven, him and his team can finish all the virtual sets that Tayaw needs first in four month's time at the quickest. 

Regarding physical sets and costumes, Tayaw also found them more accessible than he thought. Had Tayaw finished his script, he could already start filming the film's villa scenes using his own house. He can also start filming scenes for Gonzalo's younger years at Lower East Side, which is filled with vintage apartments, boutiques, and bars. 

New York, being the home of Broadway, offers Tayaw excellent stage designers. He will hire stage designers instead of film and TV set designers as stage designers are more experienced in making historical sets. 

"Ahh… Then there's 'The Halfling'" Tayaw shook his head. 

The movie about Gonzalo is not the only thing that is on Tayaw's mind, but also the film version of the Halfling. Since his discussion about Steven regarding the virtual sets, 'The Halfling' film version has become more achievable in Tayaw's eyes.

While Tayaw found it more achievable, he still does not know where to start. As he has no idea how to start, Tayaw is getting more and more inclined to agree with Chala's suggestion of selling the movie license to a movie studio.

============

A few hours later, Tayaw finally received the first recording of the songs that Percussive Corrections have worked hard on in the past 6 months. 

Even though Tayaw now has raised standards compared to his past life, he still finds Percussive Corrections' first songs listenable.

"These'll do. A few adjustments and they're good." Tayaw chuckled to himself as a sense of pride rose within him.