Director Edward

Chapter 237: Filming Begins for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure!

As Durin finalized the auditions within the Southern Border Guard and prepared to begin filming JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, the Empire itself was undergoing numerous changes.

The Rise of Magical Alchemy

First, at the Imperial Academy of Magic, the impact of Steins;Gate had sparked a surge in interest in magical alchemy. More and more mages began to delve into this emerging field, and some even achieved notable breakthroughs, earning their place in the newly established patent system.

Additionally, the influence of Steins;Gate led the Academy to place greater emphasis on foundational magic studies.

Previously, mages had focused their research on creating bigger and more powerful spells. Now, many had shifted their efforts toward basic yet essential areas of study.

Dean Hohenheim, the dean, and his colleague Scar integrated magical alchemy into the core curriculum for all disciplines.

Every student at the Academy was now required to study the basics of Magical alchemy, ensuring that this revolutionary field would become an integral part of magical education.

Lastly, Dean Hohenheim began preparing for a bold new initiative: opening the Academy's doors to ordinary people.

Given the radical nature of this idea and the potential to disrupt traditional norms, he proceeded cautiously, planning to officially announce it during the next year's enrollment season.

A New Era for the Magic Community

These changes, driven directly or indirectly by the influence of movies, marked the beginning of a new era for the Empire's magical community.

The shift toward collaboration, foundational research, and inclusivity heralded unprecedented innovation and progress.

...

Meanwhile, after returning to the capital, Emperor Hubbard issued a decree officially lifting restrictions on films.

He announced that the movie industry would now expand beyond the Southern Region, with screenings allowed in the Eastern and Western Regions.

However, due to logistical and political considerations, screenings were not yet extended to the Imperial City or the distant Northern Region.

Although the decision sparked some minor reactions, the absence of screenings in the Imperial City, the cultural and political center, ensured that backlash was limited.

Even the Church, which might otherwise have opposed this rapidly growing cultural phenomenon, had yet to take notice.

With minimal resistance, Emperor Hubbard turned his attention to a more pressing matter: establishing a network of hospitals throughout the Empire, ensuring better healthcare for all its citizens.

In this evolving backdrop of innovation and reform, Durin's ambitious project, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, would soon add another cultural milestone to the Empire's growing list of cinematic achievements.

To reduce the influence of the Church, Emperor Hubbard resolved to wrest the vital power of healing the populace from the hands of the clergy.

Though this was destined to be a difficult battle, the seasoned emperor, who had faced countless wars throughout his life, showed no hesitation. On the contrary, he seemed to relish the challenge.

For the sake of this human empire, the aging monarch, nearing the end of his reign, was determined to accomplish one final act for the nation before stepping down.

...

At the same time, in the Empire's Eastern and Western Regions, a movie promotion campaign spearheaded by Viscount Banil was gradually taking shape.

The campaign included, but was not limited to: posters plastered across towns, flyers handed out by the roadside, and personal accounts shared by those who had already seen a movie.

Through these various methods, one undeniable truth emerged: the term "movie," this novel concept, was beginning to spread among the people of the Eastern and Western Regions.

While most still had no idea what a "movie" was, the scarcity of entertainment in this world had left the populace with an instinctive curiosity and anticipation for anything new. As a result, many eagerly awaited their first glimpse of this mysterious phenomenon.

...

Norsrick.

Although the Frost Film Festival had ended, the popularity of cinemas and TV taverns remained astonishing.

Crowds continued to flood both venues day and night, like rivers of gold flowing into the pockets of those who owned these industries.

Faced with this scene, Viscount Rainier furrowed his brow tightly.

As a veteran noble of the Southland, he, like Viscount Banil, had inherited his family's theater. He had planned to use it to amass great wealth and live a life of luxury.

However, with the advent of films, his theater barely lasted a year before shutting down entirely.

The collapse of his theater was a devastating blow to Viscount Rainier. Not only did he lose a substantial amount of wealth, but his family's development also suffered greatly, starkly contrasting with Viscount Banil, who now dominated the Southland's entertainment industry.

Since the downfall of his theater, Viscount Rainier had been desperately racking his brain, seeking ways to reverse his family's decline.

Eventually, he found an answer. He gathered other nobles and theater troupes similarly affected by the rise of the film industry. Together, they resolved to create the perfect movie—to defeat their enemy with their enemy's weapon.

Rainier poured everything he had into this project.

He assembled the finest theater troupe in the Southland, acquired the most beloved script in the history of stage plays, hired a highly sought-after magical cinematographer, and enlisted numerous like-minded partners to fund and support the venture.

He firmly believed that with such a near-perfect team, they could create a masterpiece that would dominate the box office.

In his mind, he could already see the bustling crowds a month from now, hear the cheers of audiences thrilled by his creation, and feel the overwhelming joy of success.

"Heh, Durin Edward, Banil, don't think you're the only ones who can profit from movies. Since you've created such a golden age, why shouldn't we share in the spoils of this era?"

With that, Viscount Rainier let out a confident laugh, and the cheap wine in his goblet suddenly tasted much sweeter.

...

Time passed by steadily.

After Durin completed the actor auditions at the Southern Border Guard camp, he wasted no time and immediately gathered his production team to begin filming the new movie.

Due to the specific needs of the film, he purchased a castle in the Southern Region to serve as the main setting for the production.

Additionally, through the use of makeup and magical enhancements, Captain Brando and Warrant Officer Josen were transformed to appear as their youthful characters. With everything prepared, the filming was ready to commence.

At that moment, standing before the assembled cast, the production team, and a group of idle onlookers—including curious villagers who had heard about the movie production—Durin raised his voice confidently:

"Well then, the filming of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 1 officially begins!"

With his announcement, the production kicked off.

Although the movie's storyline was extensive, its settings were relatively few, requiring minimal scene changes. As a result, the filming progressed smoothly for the most part.

The only hiccup was the overzealous performance of a certain military captain.

While fully immersed in his role as the villain, he didn't seem to notice at the time how exaggerated and dramatic his actions were.

However, Durin suspected that once the captain reflected on his performance, his embarrassment might lead him to shut himself away for a while.

Still, despite any future embarrassment, Captain Brando's portrayal of Dio was nothing short of brilliant.

He captured the very essence of the character so perfectly that Durin couldn't help but wonder if the Southern Duke's family might actually have some vampire blood in their lineage.

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