Stunned

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'Christian is also a loser.'

Before crossing, he lived without accomplishing anything; after crossing, he remained unproductive.

Before crossing, he chased after illusory spells; after crossing, the spells lost their illusory nature, but he continued pursuing them, unable to fully commit. He lacked the courage to become desperate about spells, yet he stayed alive. At this point, he even felt somewhat inferior to his predecessor.

The predecessor was a third-rate screenwriter and a second-rate artist. Besides drugging women in wine, he had nothing in his life. But even so, he possessed something Christian admired, and that was his unwavering love and dedication for movies. He could endure a low-quality life, daily uncertainty, and sacrificing his dignity to swindle money from women for his movie dream.

However, reality wasn't like a novel. Justice isn't always present in the world, and there's not always a reward for trying. The predecessor's pain and sweat didn't yield fruit. After crossing, Christian pondered it. Yet when an opportunity to direct a movie emerged, he suddenly felt moved.

Was this influenced by the lingering personality of the predecessor?

Christian didn't think so. Setting aside how carefully he absorbed his predecessor's memories through 'Soul Recall', his current, entirely normal emotions were enough to convince him he hadn't experienced a personality split.

What came next?

Christian felt touched, just as one is moved to tears after watching a moving film.

It's like when he was young, he read Paul Kochanski's story and was deeply moved. Even though he didn't become steel in the end—just a piece of wasted wood—he couldn't deny the initial emotion, even if it seemed foolish as he grew older. Similarly, he couldn't deny that someone truly became steel due to that initial inspiration.

Some people seek out perilous situations to prove they're still alive. Similarly, finding a suitable stage, breathing life into it, and immolating oneself is a way to confirm one's existence.

"For the predecessor and myself—"

Christian raised his hand,

" I will give it a try"

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Westwood was desperate.

The director of his crew has vanished, along with the leading lady. And the reason? Off to the field...

'Dammit, Son of a...'

The assistant director refused to step up, having lost his motivation after a divorce—

Then why not lose your will to live?

The cinematographer declined to direct because he couldn't handle the pressure, or he believed he was jinxed by James Cameron.

Is this a valid excuse? Damn fragile nerves! Damn bad omens! Damn, Cameron.

As for the screenwriter?

This darn crew doesn't have a dedicated scriptwriter. The director himself oversees the script, naturally taking on the role of screenwriter, That Rascal.

Cursing vehemently in his heart, Westwood didn't reveal a hint of emotion on his face. This wasn't merely for the sake of professionalism and maintaining his producer's image; he understood that Old Gun and Addison Young refused to assume the director's role not solely for the reasons they voiced. There was an unspoken truth they all recognized.

Taking charge of the director's role at this late stage didn't just entail swiftly organizing the script and shooting plan; due to budget constraints, substantial alterations to the preceding director's vision were difficult, particularly for a low-budget horror film.

For these kinds of films, the likelihood of failure was exceedingly high.

In a place as cutthroat as Hollywood, up-and-coming directors without a distinguished track record had, at best, one shot. If they failed, it was tough to make a comeback. Even James Cameron, who went from a truck driver to a renowned director, experienced a setback after "Piranha 2" before getting the chance to direct "Terminator." This opportunity came with the help of producer Gale Anne Hurd—who later became his second wife.

So, if an inexperienced newcomer wanted to make it, besides possessing exceptional talent, they needed to have a streak of luck.

The first two were self-aware; they recognized they paled in comparison in terms of talent and looks.

Sighing in his heart, Westwood was on the verge of giving up, until—

"I will give it a try"

Upon hearing this statement, the producer's heart raced, as if the gates of heaven were opening before his eyes.

"Medicine, my medicine"

Westwood experienced similar sensations that made him anxious. He quickly patted his chest, finding the emergency medication still there, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"It must have been mere excitement..."

After regaining composure, Westwood shifted his gaze to the source of the voice—the crew's artist.

Yes, artists could also become directors. Didn't that rascal Cameron handle the art design for "The Abyss"?

"Mr. Booth, no, Christian, are you certain?"

"Absolutely"

Christian nodded, but before he could continue, Old Gun interrupted abruptly:

"Christian, do you grasp the gravity of your words?"

Old Gun seemed anxious, wildly signaling Christian as he spoke.

"Of course, I do"

Christian waved to his old, red-bearded friend.

"I'm fully aware of the risks of taking over as director at this point. Even when Alan directed this film himself, the chance of failure due to budget and crew constraints wasn't negligible. Now, with him missing, it's a disarray that can't afford another mistake. Is it okay for me to say that, Mr. Westwood?"

The beleaguered producer shrugged with a wry smile.

"However, only this chaos can provide an opportunity for someone like me, with limited experience and fewer credentials, to direct. It's an opportunity, not necessarily for success, but to see myself. Only a heart that beats passionately can drive me to turn the impossible into reality and make this film a success. On the other hand, if it fails this time, it might mean I'm no longer stirred by this ideal. Or, it could be I lack the talent, and then I'll bid adieu to the industry completely"

Listening to Christian's impassioned declaration, Old Gun found himself at a loss for words. After a lengthy pause, he sighed.

"If you're determined"

"So, Mr. Westwood, what's your decision?"

Christian turned to the producer.

"What can I say?"

Producer Westwood spread his hands,

"Leaving aside your resolute determination, the fact remains that with no one else around, you're my only option. I could also choose to halt the project altogether, but the issue is, with Christian here, like you, I can't just give up on this project"

Westwood suddenly grew animated, pacing the office.

"My health is faltering. Though I'm still young, this may be my last movie. I haven't created any notable films, I'm not a renowned producer, I don't even have a tagline. My expectations for this final film are modest—I only hope it sees a regular release without incurring losses. For such a seemingly lowly goal, I'd rather create a lifeline for that Alan. Let him take charge and establish authority on set—I'm sure some of you have already noticed—but that rascal has let me down. Even so, I want to roll the dice once more"

He stepped up to Christian.

"My director, what's your plan in this current predicament?"

"Well..."

Though the situation had rapidly shifted within minutes, Christian had somewhat adjusted. While his earlier words brimmed with enthusiasm and idealism, they were also driven by his "trickster" abilities. He hadn't acted on an emotional whim; instead, he pondered ways to make the most of the pause in his speech—

"First, I intend to streamline the script's plot and characters, removing some intricate scenes to save time and expenses. Regarding characters, I don't think we need a new audition for the leading lady. We can choose from the remaining three main supporting actresses. After all, for a horror movie, looks and physique are more crucial than acting, and these three are all equally attractive"

"But in that case, what happens to the original supporting actress role?"

Old Gun raised this question, transitioning the conversation and subtly facilitating the crew's acceptance of Christian's new role.

"We'll just cut it"

Christian understood that Old Gun was cooperating with him, offering genuine feedback as well as shifting the roles to allow others to adapt to Christian's change in status.

"Just trim it down to three main female characters instead of four. The primary changes will be"

At this point, Christian paused, as if recalling something.

"Gentlemen, I've heard people say that when discussing careers with others, bad folks talk about emotions and ideals, while good folks talk about money. You're all seasoned professionals, and I believe you understand this sentiment. I've been discussing ideals while acting like a bad guy. Now, I'll be a good person—Mr. Westwood mentioned earlier that, as a token of appreciation for taking on the emergency director role, I'll receive a share of the box office profits. Naturally, this hinges on the movie's success.

Although I don't anticipate it being substantial, I don't plan to keep that money for myself. Instead, I intend to allocate it as an incentive to increase our film's chances of success. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, if the film fails, I won't touch the money at all. So, as a director, I'm essentially in a situation where I have nothing to lose. Do you understand"

Christian grinned slyly, like a crafty fox.

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