Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!

….

For now, Zack pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present.

Without delay, he grabbed the script Regal had handed over and began to read.

That was the moment everything he thought he knew began to unravel.

It started subtly.

The script started off well.

Far better than Zack had expected.

Still, he didn't let himself get carried away.

Anyone can write if they have imagination, but not all can shoot what they wrote.

To him, this script seemed almost too good, like it might end up wasted in Regal's hands.

But then came the storyboards. When Regal laid them out in front of him, Zack's skepticism took its first serious hit.

What's with these genius framing choices? And, gulp, these mirror shots… there is no way he could pull them off, right?

Zack leaned closer to the script, scanning the meticulously planned sequences.

He read many articles and research papers to know all too well the nightmares mirror shots could unleash on a production.

The precise positioning, the potential for unwanted reflections, the sheer choreography involved - it was the kind of thing seasoned directors approached with caution, if at all.

But the kid sitting across from him had laid out something entirely different.

The notes detailed a quirky, almost unconventional approach to these shots, ideas that bordered on the audacious.

Zack could see the creativity - bold, inspired, and just a little insane.

Still, these were just words on paper. Theory.

Could they actually pull it off in practice?

However, one thing was certain - someone who is capable of coming up with these techniques can't be an amateur.

By now Zack has acknowledged his writing skills and his imagination.

Does he even need me? The question lingered in Zack's mind as he slowly closed the script.

For the first time in years, he felt unsure about his own readiness - if Regal had truly managed to capture the shots the way they were framed in the script, then the responsibility of combining that vision would fall squarely on Zack's shoulders as the editor.

Another thought surfaced.

Do all indie projects operate at this level now? Had the entire industry evolved so drastically during his time away?

Zack didn't have an answer.

Not yet.

But he would come to understand just how mistaken he had been.

This project would set a new benchmark for him, recalibrating his perception of what raw footage and direction could achieve.

Working on other films after this would feel jarring, a struggle to adjust to anything less polished, less visionary.

It would take time, several projects, in fact, before he would find his rhythm again.

By the time his realization hit, Zack would finally grasp the magnitude of who Regal was, the kind of filmmaker he got to work with on his first indie project.

….

As Zack's doubts washed away, he took Regal, and Simon were taken to his editing studio.

He really wanted to see how Regal had translated his words into something more real.

Zack plugged in the hard drive, quickly booting up the footage.

Regal sat next to him, while Simon stood behind, arms crossed, watching the files populate on the screen.

Zack skimmed through the folders - raw footage, audio tracks, temp score.

He clicked on one, bringing up a clip.

A shaky tracking shot of a dark alley filled the screen, footsteps echoing in the silence.

Zack hit pause and glanced at Regal. "...this was shot by…"

"Me." Regal said flatly, with no hint of pride or apology in his tone.

Zack nodded, leaning closer to inspect the footage. It wasn't polished, but the framing had intent. He hit play again, this time letting the clip run longer.

"You have got a decent eye." Zack muttered, half to himself.

Regal smirked faintly. "Better than decent. Keep watching."

Simon chuckled, crossing his arms. "You two are like old dogs sniffing each other out. Just admit you are impressed already, Zack."

Zack and Regal both turned their heads toward Simon, almost in sync, before turning back to the screen without a word, the message clear - don't talk, don't disturb.

Zack started playing the unedited clips one by one, Regal staying close, chiming in with behind-the-scenes details or story notes here and there.

The footage was rough - background noise, multiple takes.

But Zack didn't skip a single clip, nor did Regal ask him to.

There was an unspoken rule: watch it all.

Each take, each frame, they both watched it all, absorbing every detail.

Zack explained how he could fix things, tighten the pacing, and smooth out the rough edges, while Regal pointed out what he liked and what he didn't but always kept it to the point.

Every now and then, they would pause, pull up the score Regal had brought, listen for a few moments, then dive back into the footage.

Meanwhile, Simon shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

The back-and-forth between Regal and Zack was intense, and there was no room for him to jump in.

Sitting too long in place, he started to feel bored. He could feel his eyes growing heavier by the second, the urge to move becoming unbearable.

Without saying a word, he quietly stood up, gave a small nod to Regal and Zack, and slipped out of the room, trying to be as quiet as possible - though it didn't matter as they were too absorbed in the footage.

….

Forty-eight minutes into the footage, Zack finally hit stop.

His eyes remained glued to the now-paused screen for a long moment before he slowly turned toward Regal.

"When do you intend to start? How short on time?" He asked.

Regal immediately caught the underlying meaning, it wasn't really about the deadline. Beneath the guise of the question, Zack was signaling something else entirely: he was in.

The realization brought a subtle grin to Regal's face, one that didn't escape Zack's notice. "Whenever you are up for it. We have the world's time, but we just need to make sure it is done within a week. So, yeah, let's take our time."

The corner of Zack's mouth twitched, almost betraying a smile. "Let's dive in right now then."

He knew now that his first client as a film editor was quite demanding.

Regal nodded back. "Yep… let's."

Creak-!

Before either of them could say more, the door swung open with a creak, and Simon strolled in, carrying a crinkling bag filled with cans of beer and an assortment of snacks.

"So, how is it going?" He asked, his voice cheery, clearly trying to break the tension that had been hanging in the air.

Zack shot him a sideways glance, raising an eyebrow. "You are a bit late to the party, don't you think so?"

Simon grinned, tossing the bag onto the counter with a thud. "Hey, I am just making sure you guys don't work yourselves into the ground. Plus, I had to grab the essentials."

Regal and Zack exchanged a quick look, then both let out a resigned sigh, sharing a silent understanding.

They cracked open their drinks, taking a short break before diving back into the work.

Soon, the glow of streetlights outside signaled that night had arrived.

The studio, once alive with energy, now hummed with the quiet intensity of long hours of work.

They could have stayed up all night, and no one would have complained, but they all knew when to call it quits… at least on the first day.

Zack stood up and stretched. "Got one last little patch-up to do. Should be done in about thirty minutes."

Regal and Simon nodded, deciding to stay for a while longer. After all, they were the reason the work had been delayed.

About thirty minutes later, Zack finished the small wedding clip he had left to polish, the last task before submitting it the next day.

He turned around, expecting to find Regal and Simon still there.

Simon was lounging in a chair, another beer in hand, but Regal was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Regal?" Zack asked, eyebrows raised.

Simon snapped out of his daze, looking around.

"Huh?" He glanced over at the couch, where Regal was fast asleep… and his shades were now put off, revealing him to see a few dark spots under his eyes.

He chuckled quietly. "He is still a kid, huh?"

Zack shook his head with a smirk. "He has got more passion than most people I know."

Simon took another sip of his beer, glancing at Zack. "So… is it good, man?"

Zack knew exactly what he was referring to.

"You have no idea." He said, the excitement clear in his voice.

….

.

[To be continued…]

★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★

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