30 The Third Reward

"You could say that I am a big fan of his."

You answer your friend slowly.

"In another life."

You add with a smile.

You don't hate Michael Bay. In fact, in your previous life, you enjoyed his movies for what they are – popcorn flicks.

Michael knows his targeted audiences, regardless of whatever the critics say. His movies always racked it in the box office returns. This just mean that a lot of people enjoyed his movies. They are willing to keep paying him so that he can keep making those kinds of movies.

Profitability will always be the bottom line in Hollywood. If a franchise is bringing the big bucks despite the criticisms, it is a good franchise.

In other word, the audience matter, not the critics.

This was why Fifty Shades of Grey was a box office success and spawned two sequels, forming a trilogy despite being a critical failure.

However, if you must choose between Michael Bay and Christopher Nolan to direct your film, you will choose Christopher Nolan every time.

His movies are both enjoyable and artistic.

The Dark Knight trilogy is one of your favorite movies of all time. You would love to be part of the crew when it is in production in this universe.

You wonder where Christopher Nolan is right now. He should also be around your age, having born in the 1970.

Mark looks at you and wonders what the hell you were just saying. He shakes his head afterwards, not wanting to spend too much braincells on your antic.

"So, do you know him or not?"

Mark wants a serious answer, and you decide not to beat around the bush anymore.

Time are wasting, and readers are waiting.

"Nope. Never met the guy before."

You pause and then ask: "How do you know him anyway?"

Mark shrugs lightly. "He made some music videos. Pretty good, if I must say so myself. That reminds me. Music videos are super popular right now. It will help sells this song."

You nod in agreement. You know all about Music Television, or more commonly known as MTV. Music videos is still a great way to distribute music from the time you came from, especially in the era of self-broadcasting like Youtube and Twitch.

"Yeah, I know. We will produce them when we have some capitals and sign-on artists. It is not needed right now. Anyway, since you know Michael, can you set up a meeting for me? I will give him a proposal that he can't refuse."

"You're going to make a bet with him too?"

Mark asks.

You chuckle.

"Sure, why not… I just need to know what he is really into. But if everything fails, I will just throw hot girls at him. He is like me, right?"

Hot girls are super effective!

"I really don't want to know about that."

Mark answers and rubs his temple.

"As for Michael, I will give him a call right after I get off work today. I can't make any promises though."

Mark returns his attention to the console.

"Just try your best. I can't expect more than that. Also, give me a copy of the Christina's song. Actually, make me a dozen copies or so."

Mark creates a dozen copies in the form of cassette tapes for you.

"You're going to look for a publisher?"

"Nah, but you can try and find one if you like. Let them listen to the song and they will go nuts over it, probably. You can charge them whatever you think is appropriate. As for me. I'm going to send these copies to radio station around town."

You tell Mark before the cassette tapes vanish in your hand. You just stash them in your Inventory.

"The fuck? How did you do that?"

You smirk. "A magician never reveals his secret."

Mark winces at you as the cassette tapes appear back in your palm before vanishing again. You did a few more times just to annoy him before waving him goodbye.

"Fucking showoff."

You hear Mark cursing you as you left the recording room. You head outside to your car.

Once inside your car, you pop one of the cassette tapes into the player to listen to Christina repeatedly as you drive to the closest office supplies store and printing shop.

You need to print some business cards and buy some office supplies.

You got the business card easily since it didn't need to overly decorative. Just the name of your studio slash company – Delight Entertainment – and your name and position. All on a white background, no logo.

You should have gotten these business card a long time ago, likely just to spam at major companies in Hollywood.

As for office supplies, you need some envelopes, papers and pen. You pay for them instead of putting them in your Inventory and walking out of the store afterwards. That would be stealing.

You did stash the office supplies into your Inventory when you are outside of the store.

It is easier than having to carry them over to your car.

Your Inventory is useful that way.

People who saw stuffs magically vanishes in your hands are bewildered. You simply smile at them and be on your way. Let them think whatever. They cannot prove it one way or another.

You drive to the post office afterwards. There, you package each tape into an envelope with a letter of introduction. You address the envelope to some of the major radio stations in Los Angeles, such as KCRW, KDAY, KNAC, KROQ, KXLU, KCBS, KSWD – that is a lot of K.

You send one to ALT 98.7 just to stop yourself from being radio-cist.

By the time you are done, it is late evening and you are hungry.

You decide to drop by a pizza joint on your way home to have dinner.

After parking your car, you take out the golden chest from your Inventory. It is the reward you gained for producing your first song.

You wonder what kind of reward you get. You hope it is better than that black notebook sitting in your Inventory. Maybe it is a new skill.

You slowly open the chest, only to find it is emptied.

You open the chest fully and found that there is an emoji with tongue out carved into the bottom.

"What the!?"

The golden chest vanishes.

"What the fuck!?"