1 Ch 1: The Entertainment System {Edited}
{1st Person POV}
I found myself in my room, perched on my bed, immersed in contemplation about my present circumstances.
You might be wondering, what exactly was this situation?
Well, it was a scenario that anyone who'd ever delved into novels or internet fanfictions might dream of. To clarify, I'm talking about reincarnation or the classic isekai concept, though neither term precisely applies to my situation. I now inhabited a different body with a different name, and it had been just a month since I arrived here. The body I now occupied was already twenty-one years old.
In other words, I was experiencing transmigration. I had been sent back in time to 2007, effectively turning back the clock by sixteen years. Every aspect of this world mirrored my own, politically, historically, and technologically. Except for one notable exception—the Entertainment industry.
In this parallel world, none of the movies, books, animations, shows, songs, or games that I knew from my world existed. Not even the studios, actors, directors, or celebrities, at least as far as I could tell.
Well, I can't say for certain about actors, directors, and celebrities, but the absence of studios was apparent. So, there was that, I suppose.
Now, let's dive into the more profound aspects of this situation. I wondered though, was this world tailor-made specifically for those who were part of the entertainment industry in my previous world? Was it designed as an experiment by the Gods?
But then again, maybe I was overthinking it. Creating a whole world solely for such a purpose seemed like an extravagant endeavor and a giant waste of time even for immortal deities.
Could this be an alternate universe, with subtle differences emerging naturally over time? Maybe.
The real question that gnawed at me was, why was I here? I had just graduated from film school with no real experience. What was my purpose in this place?
Exhaling deeply, I lamented, "This is so confusing!" my voice echoed as I threw my head back, gazing up at the ceiling.
I had an ardent desire to create movies from my world since they didn't exist here, but that was no easy task. I couldn't recall every scene or line of dialogue, and I lacked real-world directing experience. How could I possibly bring these visions to life?
That question haunted me relentlessly, and I kept getting reminded of it due to the fact that I had little else to occupy my time with. I couldn't help but mull over my situation. And pondering my circumstances invariably led to one crucial question.
How had I even ended up here?
My memory was hazy, but I could distinctly remember a fatal car crash. My father was driving me home after my graduation, and the last thing I saw was a massive semi-truck hurtling toward us on the freeway, ending in a catastrophic collision. Then, I woke up here, a month ago.
"Sigh."
Oh, I should introduce myself. My name is Oliver Christopher Knight, or rather, that's the name of the individual whose body I now inhabit. Originally from the UK, this body is twenty-one years old.
Regarding my family, my father in this world passed away due to a heart attack just last month, a rather tragic turn of events. As for my mother, she had died from cancer when I was eight years old. The only living relative was "my" grandmother and some distant family members.
What had my father left for me? A sum of about $35,000, which might be a considerable amount elsewhere, but in California, it didn't stretch very far. Nevertheless, it did help me get through the first month, and for that, I was thankful to him.
Yet, a question loomed large in my mind. What was my path forward?
Unlike the protagonists in the novels I had read, I lacked any cheat ability or system to guide me. So, I roamed aimlessly, devoid of any means to achieve my dreams.
I had two choices—try to break into Hollywood with my existing skills, or find another way. The former was something I had planned in my previous world, so it wasn't all that daunting. However, the latter option, well, that seemed like an insurmountable challenge.
Suddenly, a searing pain gripped my head. In an attempt to alleviate it, I massaged my temples and took a tablet, washing it down with water before lying back down on the bed, swiftly falling asleep.
***
*Ding!*
A shrill sound pierced my slumber, forcing me awake.
Blinking, I scanned the room for the source of this intrusive sound. It didn't take long to locate it—a translucent blue screen displaying the words [System Download Complete]
"Ugh. Go away, floating screen! Shoo!" I grumbled, wishing to avoid further aggravation. I tried to return to slumber.
However, in a sudden jolt, I sat upright. "Wait just a minute!" I exclaimed.
I stared at the spot where the screen had initially appeared, rubbed my eyes, pinched my cheeks, but it refused to vanish. I was left utterly speechless.
Could this be real? Was it a divine gift or an unimaginable stroke of luck?
I had a SYSTEM!
A system, something I'd only encountered in fiction, something I'd always yearned for.
[Do you want to become the greatest director known to man? To become a superstar? To bring the most incredible games from your world to life? To amass countless awards? To direct movies beyond your wildest dreams? To lead the entertainment industry?] the screen inquired.
This couldn't be real, right? What if it was all a dream?
[The system will assist you in achieving all of that!] it claimed.
I slapped myself repeatedly, until my cheeks were red and my breaths came ragged.
"This is real," I murmured. With a surge of hope and excitement, my expression transformed. "This is really happening!" I cheered.
The screen continued to provide information. [The system contains all the books, movies, TV shows, and animated content from your world in written form. It offers numerous features to aid you. Would you like the system to explain them to you?]
"Yes!" I exclaimed. I couldn't wait to explore this 'Entertainment system.' My excitement was palpable.
Upon selecting "Yes," the translucent screen displayed a guide.
[All scripts are categorized by their release format and genre. Books are divided into short stories, novels, manga, manhua, manhwa, and comics. Animation is categorized as short films, movies, and TV shows, further divided into 3D, 2D, and Stop Motion. You can search for scripts and access the System Store, using 'Entertainment Coins' as currency. These coins are 100 times more valuable than USD and can be converted into real currency through the System Bank.]
"Entertainment Coins? A store? That's amazing!" I thought.
The guide concluded, [These are the current options at your disposal. You can summon the system by simply thinking about it. The system hopes you will use it to become the Emperor of the Entertainment world.]
"*Gulp*... Now I have a system. Finally, I have something to do!" I exulted.
Yet, the elation was short-lived.
I pondered, "What am I going to create? I can't recreate my favorite films; they're far too expensive. I have to start somewhere, and with something. Something that is cheap."
A light bulb flickered to life above my head.
There it was, the genre renowned for its low budgets and high returns, the very genre that had propelled directors like Sam Raimi, James Wan, James Cameron, James Gunn, and many others to stardom.
"Horror," I murmured softly.
Summoning the system, I pondered how to find the right material. "System, open the movies Movies section and then select the Horror genre."
The blue translucent screen returned, displaying posters and titles of various horror movies.
I noticed the 'Sort By' button in the top corner and clicked on it. The options were extensive:
- Highest grossing domestically
- Highest grossing internationally
- Highest grossing worldwide
- Best rated by Critics
- Best rated by Audience
- Best rated by Cinemascore
- Worst rated by Critics
- Worst rated by Audience
- Worst rated by Cinemascore
- Most Expensive
- Least Expensive
"That's a lot of options, huh?" I mused aloud. "But at least it's convenient."
Opting to explore the 'Highest Rated by Critics' category, I found even more subcategories within, showing the lists from various websites and trade publications, including IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic. For the time being, I chose Rotten Tomatoes.
Finally, a list appeared before me, presenting various movies. Some of them weren't strictly in the horror genre, such as the original 1933 King Kong. Nevertheless, there were plenty of great films I could create, including classics like Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Alien, Aliens and the modern 'masterpieces' like Get Out, Scream, and It Follows.
But one film, in particular, caught my attention. It was affordable, relatively simple to produce, and one my favourites in the horror genre.
"Halloween," I exclaimed with newfound determination.
As I looked at that title, a surge of inspiration coursed through me. Michael Myers, the masked killer, stalking his unsuspecting victims through the quiet streets of Haddonfield, Illinois, was a character that had always intrigued me. This was it; this was my starting point.
I thought about the techniques I had learned in film school, the principles of suspense and tension, and the art of storytelling through visuals. I could apply all of that to recreate the eerie atmosphere of the original Halloween film.
With newfound vigor, I decided to explore this classic more deeply. My system was my key to unlock the doors of creativity. But it wasn't just about replicating the film; it was about making it my own, infusing my own unique perspective and ideas.
I could hear John Carpenter's iconic Halloween theme playing in my mind as I envisioned each scene, the slow, deliberate pacing that built anticipation and dread. This was going to be a challenge, but it was a challenge I was willing to embrace with open arms.
The 'Entertainment system' was my gateway to the world of creativity. It was my opportunity to take something familiar and make it extraordinary or completely fumble the bag. Hopefully, it would be the former.
The possibilities were endless, and my enthusiasm was boundless.
As I continued to sift through the options, I considered not only making movies but potentially expanding into television shows, animations, games and more. I had access to an immense library of scripts and ideas from my world, waiting to be transformed into something new and captivating in this one.
The thought of introducing these stories to a world that had never seen them was exhilarating. It was a chance to be a pioneer, to shape the entertainment industry from the ground up. This system had not only given me a second chance but an opportunity to leave my mark on a world that was still untouched by the familiar narratives of my own.
With determination in my heart and a spark of creativity in my eyes, I whispered to the 'Entertainment System', "System, show me more. Show me everything I need to know to bring these stories to life."
And so, the journey began. I delved into the world of scripts and ideas, crafting my vision and forming a plan to start small with Halloween, but to aim high and create something that would captivate this world, just as the original had captivated mine.
The possibilities were endless, and the road ahead was long, but I was ready. With the 'Entertainment system' as my guide and my passion as my driving force, there was nothing that could stand in my way.
And so, in the quiet room, the story of Oliver Christopher Knight, the filmmaker from another world, unfolded. With each page of the script I read and each idea I formed, a new chapter in the history of entertainment in this world was being written, and I was determined to make it a story worth telling.
