Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!

….

[Next Day]

[August 8th, 2010]

….

Los Angeles, California.

Regal sat in an unfamiliar coffee shop, waiting.

He ordered himself a cup of coffee, the bitter aroma filling his surroundings in the quiet space in the corner.

The warmth of the mug seeped into his palms, grounding him as his mind churned through what lay ahead.

His so-called break had ended yesterday.

So… it was all work from now on.

And the reason he was here right now? That, too, was work-related.

Regal's decision to bring Darren and Simon on board as official Line Producers was already bearing fruit. Because they understood one fact that this wasn't just about making a movie for any of them.

This wasn't just about making a movie for them or for Regal - this was about proving themselves as more than a one-hit wonder.

Fifty five million dollars.

That was the budget they had 'settled' on after long, back-and-forth meetings and… a couple of friendly arguments.

====

$20M - would be CGI (Ryuk, Rem, Effects)

$15M - would be Cast & Crew Salaries

$15M - Production (Sets, Filming)

$5M - Post-Production (Editing, Music)

Total Budget Estimate: $55 million

====

Darren, especially, had been adamant about keeping things in check - making sure every dollar spent was necessary, serving either the script or the overall quality of the film.

Honestly, seeing Darren this serious brought Regal a deep sense of relief… and happiness.

It had been a while since Regal had seen him invest in something - maybe not since their first short film, when they were just two ambitious film students with nothing but passion and a camera.

….

Coming back to the present, Regal sat in the quiet corner of the café, waiting.

He glanced at the time - 9:45 AM. The meeting with the VFX teams wasn't until 10, but he had arrived early to prepare.

This was going to be one of the most crucial steps in bringing [Death Note] to life. The team he chose wouldn't just be responsible for Ryuk - they would shape the entire visual language of the film.

He sat as the laptop in front displayed concept art of him.

The laptop screen in front of him displayed the latest concept art.

Ryuk.

His long, skeletal limbs stretched in the dimly lit render, his jagged grin frozen in something between amusement and menace. The glowing eyes felt like they were staring straight through the screen, mocking him.

This damn Shinigami had cost him weeks of arguments with Darren.

It was regarding its budget.

….

As the clock struck ten, the café door swung open, and two men stepped inside. Their eyes scanned the room before locking onto Regal. They made their way over, moving with the casual confidence of people who had seen it all.

Leo Woert and David Scott.

Founders of Unique FX, a mid-sized VFX studio.

The two men settled into their seats across from him.

Leo, slightly scruffy with a well-worn leather jacket. David, clean-cut with a precise, almost calculated demeanor, was the balance to that chaos.

After the initial greeting, Regal went straight to the point. "Shall we begin?"

"Of course." David replied smoothly, leaning forward just enough to show he was engaged.

Regal wasted no time. He turned his laptop toward them, revealing an image on the screen -

It was a detailed sketch of a figure perched on a streetlight, an apple in hand. The figure exuded an unsettling presence, a blend of intrigue and menace.

Leo's reaction was immediate. "Wow, that guy is seriously creepy."

David nodded in agreement, his brow lifting slightly as he studied the drawing.

Regal offered a small smile. "That's Ryuk." He explained. "A Shinigami. He is called the God of Death."

David tilted his head thoughtfully. "Umm, so kind of like a Grim Reaper?"

"Close enough." Regal said, nodding. "But there is more to him. This character is part of my next film. I came up with the concept based on Japanese folklore."

"Japanese folklore?" David echoed, glancing at Leo, who seemed equally intrigued. Then, addressing Regal, he asked. "So what is our job?"

"Let me start with the basics. This is the script for the project I am working on." Regal slid a neatly bound manuscript across the desk. Its title, [Death Note], was written in bold letters on the cover. "You can read it when you have time, but for now, I will give you a quick rundown."

Leo picked up the manuscript, flipping through the first few pages. "[Death Note]? Is that some kind of a diary?"

Regal nodded. "Hmm, nope. But it is central to the whole concept."

He started off giving a brief. "Here is how it works. In this world, Shinigami maintain the balance of life and death. They do this by writing names in their Death Notes. When a name is written, the person dies, and the Shinigami gains the remaining years of their life."

David nodded back as he processed the concept. "Interesting… so they are extending their own lives by ending others?"

"Pretty much." Regal confirmed. "The Death Note is a powerful tool. If a Shinigami writes a human's name in the book while picturing their face, that person dies. The method of death can be specified, but if it's left blank, the default is a heart attack within 40 seconds."

Regal continued, maintaining the flow. "The story begins with a Shinigami named Ryuk. Unlike most Shinigami, he is bored. The Shinigami realm is a dull, lifeless place, and he is curious about humans and their behavior. So, he drops his Death Note into the human world - just to see what happens."

"The Death Note falls into the hands of the protagonist, and what follows is a mix of moral dilemmas, power struggles, and the unraveling of what it means to hold that kind of power."

….

David leaned forward, studying Regal with an expression that hovered between curiosity and amusement.

Honestly, Regal had somehow become a surprising bonus cameo in their lives.

A few months ago, he had reached out to Unique FX for VFX work on his indie film. Nothing out of the ordinary - it was common for their startup to take on private commissions and small freelancing gigs.

And despite the project being a feature film, what Regal requested had been relatively minor.

So they took the job. Finished it. Moved on.

Only… the budget he gave them? The timeframe he set?

It was actually reasonable.

After over a decade of dealing with impossible demands - tight-fisted producers expecting Hollywood-grade effects on a shoestring budget, or worse, clients with no concept of VFX limitations, Regal had been a rarity.

A filmmaker who knew exactly what he wanted and didn't treat them like an afterthought. And then, as if that wasn't surprising enough, the damn indie film actually worked.

Not just worked - it blew up.

It became the sleeper hit of the year.

For Unique FX, it was an unexpected win.

Their name was now attached to one of the most talked-about films of the year, even if their involvement had been so small that they almost forgot about it - until the credits rolled and their inbox started filling up with inquiries.

Regal had been a wildcard in their deck. The kind you don't see coming until it changes the entire game.

So, David asked, trying to get themselves on the same ground. "So, you want to create a full CG model of Ryuk and animate him?"

Regal looked back at him, clearly calm and confident. "Yeah, that's the idea."

Leo, who had been quietly processing the idea, finally spoke up.

"I can tell you seem pretty knowledgeable about VFX and CG techniques." He said. "But why didn't you think of Motion Capture, or even better, why not just use prosthetics? You could pull it off, right? I mean, Hollywood has come a long way with that stuff."

Regal paused for a moment, already racing the same suggestion for the nth time he couldn't remember.

Despite being relatively still quite foreign technology - Motion Capture, a blend of CGI built around human action, is indeed making its presence felt in live-action films from the past couple of decades in Hollywood.

And another option - It is unanimously agreed that Hollywood certainly mastered the craft of prosthetics and makeup.

For a character like Ryuk, it wasn't out of the question.

Ture, his sharp cheekbones, skeletal features, and glowing red eyes - they are all indeed inhuman.

But. But he still looks like a human with two legs and two hands, and that's what it matters - so it's logical and almost too easy to just go the prosthetics route.

Ryuk's elongated limbs, spiky hair, and that skull-like painted face could be recreated with makeup and prosthetics.

With a little bit of CGI to enhance the supernatural elements - the glowing eyes, his eerie, weightless movement, or some of the more intense actions that might be impractical for real-life prosthetics - it would be a workable option.

But that was exactly where the argument between him and Darren had started.

Regal had a completely different vision.

He exhaled slowly, giving Leo and David a long look. "We can go that route, sure. But here is the thing. I want Ryuk to feel timeless. I want him to have this… mystical, otherworldly quality that doesn't fade over the years. Imagine the way people still think of Santa Claus. That kind of mythical presence."

It is exactly what he spilled out - If Regal chose to cast an actor for the role, it might strip him of that aura.

Sure, either with Motion Capture or with prosthetics and makeup Ryuk would look great for the scenes.

But it's not the same. Eventually, an actor would still only be that …an actor.

Regal knew he was being stubborn, but he had his reasons.

I mean, for his defense, even the MCU from his previous world - who are known for their majority of least human characters played at least partly by a human actor - chose to make Ultron from [Avengers: Age of Ultron] built in fully CGI.

However, if thought about, it makes sense - Ultron's entire persona is built around his contempt for humanity.

So creatively, it is perhaps fitting that he is completely CGI.

And sure, maybe the MCU wasn't the best example of artistic integrity anymore, but even at their peak, when they had the freedom to go practical or digital, they made creative decisions that fit the character.

So if it meant spending extra millions on CGI to get Ryuk right? If it meant pushing the VFX team harder to nail the perfect balance of realism and the unnatural?

Then fine.

That was why he hadn't taken those big studio offers. Because if he had, they would be the ones deciding what was best for the movie.

And lately, something else has solidified that belief.

Watching the applause roll in, not just for the headliners like Keanu and Andrew, but even for actors in what were essentially extended cameos, the police officer, the blackmailer - Regal felt something deeper than pride.

Fulfillment.

And that was when it hit him.

He liked seeing good talent get its due.

Not because of a billion-dollar marketing push, not because of a viral gimmick, but because they earned it. Because they delivered performances that left an impression.

Of course, there was always that exception.

A character popped into his mind instantly.

That one case where an actor in a suit wasn't just a guy in a suit.

David exhaled, shaking his head with a half-smile. "I still don't completely get your reasoning, but… I think we can make it work. The challenge is going to be making him feel real - like he belongs in this world, even though he shouldn't."

Leo nodded slowly. "And making him look damn creepy while doing it."

Regal smiled, glad the discussion was taking shape.

.

….

[To be continued…]

★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★

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