The My Hollywood System

Chapter 36

Beeline Hall San Francisco.

The large glass building was only decorated in dim light. The courtyard leading to its entrance is decorated with a red ribbon that gives it an exclusive look.

Expensive cars and limousines will come and go by famous celebrities on the red carpet road leading to the entrance.

Nick Fernandez is a senior author of one of America's most popular newspapers, the Hollywood Times. He is best known for his accurate and descriptive reports on the Hollywood industry.

He had long been offered a higher position and proposed to work directly from the studio, but he turned it down, saying he preferred the way it works at the moment.

Paying attention to everything in Hollywood, from the rise of budding actors or directors to the downfall of some famous celebrities, is his hobby to write interesting articles related to Hollywood.

Today, he came here to attend a film festival with famous directors like Edward Friedman and Nicholas Smith.

Film festivals are events organized by universities, private organizations, local governments, art associations and film societies.

They provide an opportunity for unknown filmmakers to showcase their films in front of a live audience and their films are reviewed by professional critics.

Filmmakers whose films are accepted at a festival also get valuable press attention and exposure to potential agents and buyers, not to mention the sometimes sizable cash awards if they win.

Beginner filmmakers practice their craft away from the glitter of Hollywood. In the backyard, in a small studio or on a local set, they turn their vision into a film that they hope will one day be seen by thousands or even millions of people around the world.

They may lack budget and star power, but they do more than make up for it with raw ambition.

Independent filmmakers might have remained forever in obscurity if not for the film festival. The annual event is held worldwide, where films are screened and professionally rated. At the film festival, cinema fans can see new movies – and sometimes brave – that they will never be able to find in their local cinema.

Film festivals provide an opportunity for new talents to shine while showcasing the work of already famous and respected filmmakers.

Festivals can range from major star-studded events, such as the Sannes festival in France or the Moondance Film Festival in the United States, to small independent local awards that only garner a few hundred attendees. But all festivals have something in common: They celebrate film art, and they champion the artists who produce it.

A film that earned the 'Best Feature Film' award at last year's film festival became a blockbuster. That is how much impact the film festival has on the successful films in it.

Nick is a film enthusiast and one of the most famous critics in the United States. He was highly respected even by famous directors and actors, and everyone would try to keep a friendly relationship with him at least.

He was already in his mid-40s, but he looked to be in his thirties due to his health-conscious self.

He looked more like a star than a reporter with gray hair, sharp eyes covered by round glasses and a height of 5'11" as he walked proudly on the carpet.

As usual, the festival venue was large, and she looked around the wall decorated with movie posters.

As he walked in, he saw some staff members handing out some posters, and the people who saw the poster couldn't help but shout a little, causing a small commotion.

A female staff shared a poster with him as well, and the moment she saw it, even she felt strange.

[Lost]

[Joshua Leonard]

He saw words like 'lost', 'documentary', and 'Unknown' highlighted on the poster and inevitably saw them.

Apparently, it was the missing poster of an actor starring in a horror film that was to be showcased at the film festival. As a news writer, his interest was piqued, and he also checked out other posters.

He noticed that all of the film's three main leads had missing posters of their names being shared here.

Nick only smiled hearing this because he immediately guessed that it was an ingenious marketing strategy from someone, he said, and he could not help but praise her for successfully making her want to know more about the film itself.

It had to be the same for everyone who slowly started to gather around the designated screening room for the missing main actor film; when someone walked in, the, others who were hesitant earlier started to go inside to watch the movie as well.

Nick only laughed inwardly because of this and could not help but hope. She is a fan of horror movies, but recently, a movie that could make her really feel afraid of not showing up in Hollywood.

He entered the screening of the movie [The Blair Witch Project] as well, with a thought in his mind.

'You do well in marketing a movie, but if your movie doesn't match the level of action you do, it will all be for naught…. I really hope not to be disappointed for the first time in my life.'

***

It didn't take much time to spread the word that something unusual was happening inside the venue of the film festival. People who know the news about missing posters do not need to think much before knowing that it is a marketing strategy.

Still, it was something unheard of, so it made people curious. In the end, the screening room of [The Blair Witch Project] was filled with spectators.

Some people did not even know what the movie was about and had just entered the screening due to the crowd.

Immediately, the big screen blinked, and the movie began.

A few minutes passed, some people were so engrossed with the screen even to remember that what they watched was done as a first person, which was unusual.

Nick, who is an attentive critic, can't help but praise first-person executions. It was so subtle that people would not really feel it bothersome, they would feel more attractive.

***

(The scene is playing on the screen.)

As Mike and Heather hear Josh's voice, Mike starts running toward it, leaving Heather whose camera image continues to tremble in fear, and he tries to chase Mike.

"Mike, don't leave me!"

He yells at Mike and follows him, only to find him standing stiff; he can't help but ask.

"Is he here?"

"No."

Mike whispered as soon as he let out a low curse,

"Oh shit!"

From somewhere in the messy building, they hear Josh's muffled voice.

"No! Lord!"

Again, from his camera, Mike was heard whispering nervously.

"Oh, Jesus."

Mike arrives at the disheveled stairs and stops, pausing,

He started running up the stairs while continuing to hear Josh's voice.

"I heard it. I heardyou! Over where? I'm going upstairs!"

He began to climb upstairs to the second flight. Bloodied palms the size of a small child and strange occult symbols adorn the broken walls.

[The scene was cut to Heather's 16mm tape on the same set of stairs.]

"Overhmm!"

Mike hears Josh's muffled voice again as he becomes anxious.

"Did you hear that? Did you hear that?"

Mike asked in an unconvinced tone.

[The scene cut into the camera Mike looked back at Heather just as she was facing a fingerprint.]

"Where is he?"

Mikes asked in an agitated voice as Josh's incomprehensible cries and groans rang out everywhere.

[The scene cuts back to Heather's recording, hyperventilating at this point.]

Mike started running towards the voice, panicking and still holding the camera.

"Where are you!? Comeing! Josh's? I'm down! Comeing! I HEARD IT DOWN BELOW! Come on!"

He started running down. Heather was so scared that she could barely scream.

"Mmmm! Mike!"

"Come on! Josh!"

Mike kept shouting as he went downstairs.

"MIC!"

Mike arrives at the basement stairs; more occult inscriptions can be seen along the walls.

"Josh? Josh!? Josh, is that you down there!?"

Mike asked as he looked at the silhouette of a man.

Heather, who was some distance away from him, shouted with all her might.

"MIC! MIK!"

Up ahead, Mike descended into the basement as Heather continued shouting.

"Yes God... Josh?"

He said as he snorted suddenly, his camera was thrown to the ground, which focused automatically on the gravel of the basement.

[The scene was cut into a 16mm Heather recording.]

Heather, who had just arrived at the entrance of the basement, started shouting.

"MIKE! MIKE! MIKE! MIKE!"

"MIKE! IEEE! Mike."

He reached the bottom of the basement stairs. He turned the protruding wall and saw Mike standing there, facing the far corner.

“MIC! mik! IEEE! IE! HHH!”

The camera fell, and the picture began to shake. Suddenly a shadow of a monstrous figure appeared and ran straight towards the camera at breakneck speed, and the 16mm footage was interrupted as it was cut.

***

"...... fuck."

Almost everyone from the audience had a fear of jumping when the movie ended, and Nick was no exception when he even issued a low curse.

*Buk**Buk*

His heart skipped a beat, and he could feel his every beat as cold sweat flowed down his face. He took out his handkerchief and wiped his face as the screening room lights lit up.

Calls and commotion could be heard everywhere as everyone finally caught the breath they had been holding since***** film.

'There we go!'

As Nick's fear subsides, he can't help but get excited. The movie was perfect. The horror of Hollywood has lately declined, and then, this unexpected film appeared.

'here he is. This is what Hollywood needs right now. The film has not only reached the level; it has created its own standards!'

'Now there is a new level of difficulty in the horror genre.'

He thought to himself when the rush suddenly took over him, and he couldn't help but feel a little dizzy.

'Which genius director came up with such a perfect idea?'

He thought to himself; the film was something far above what he expected. It was so exciting and thrilling that he could not help but continue to praise her in his heart.

And in the end, the part where the shadow suddenly walked towards the camera was a leap that was bound to scare everyone.

*Tap*

As everyone regained their awareness of reality and clarity, someone from the crowd finally started clapping. It was supposed to be done right after the movie ended but was postponed due to the dizzy audience.

*Tap* *Pap* *Tap* *Tepuk*

Everyone followed after the clap as the screening room echoed with continuous applause.