Quickly and almost without thinking, Billy tried to let out a long sigh. It was already December—or almost—two weeks away. Thanksgiving was near, and the air was growing colder. All that was left was to postpone the filming for a more special day; every one of his obligations was set to wrap by March. Only two scenes remained, but for now, the ending was magical and perfectly fitting. They filmed the final scene in the cold, but it didn't satisfy the director, who decided to call it a wrap. Only two short takes—five minutes at most—were left, meant to help refine and guide the script. Time and many little details seemed to capture those good days perfectly. And now, with snow falling like autumn leaves, all that was left was to wait just long enough.
—Another year —sighed the dark-haired woman, saying goodbye to Billy. Now her time slipped away like water through her hands. Another film, another era, another story, another year. Winona gave a long embrace, breathing in Billy's scent and quietly sighing. She loved him. There was nothing she could do while her thoughts remained tangled.
—We'll see each other at the year-end gatherings, maybe throw a small party for friends. Nothing fancy. There'll be wine, champagne, beer, and food so everyone can enjoy the night —Billy said.
He took a breath, and the warm embrace faded with the passing time, as swiftly as it came. With less than three days left in November, he already had a plan waiting in the grand city of Los Angeles, where, by chance, much of what he desired seemed to fall right into his life.
Narnia and The Magician's Nephew, an animated film, was set to premiere in ten days—a full-scale 2D production using the finest technology. The brilliance lay in how the drawings were crafted: full of life from every angle. The color, the motion, the interaction, and the design were pure wonder. The story itself was remarkable—it had taken fifty people, eight months, and another sixty outsourced artists to bring it to life, all contributing to something extraordinary.
—Don't tell me that, I've got a ticket to the premiere of your new film. I'll go, now that I don't have much to do —Winona replied, giving him a playful tap on the chest.
—I'm glad you're coming. I've invited several people from this cast —Billy answered—and, of course, some others from my previous films. A gala of stars. Billy sent out the invitations, and since many of them lived in other cities or countries, a plane ticket was included for their attendance. Everything added up to the production, but the stars never hesitated to attend, along with directors, producers, and others who were thrilled to be part of the event.
—Bring your friends. We'll throw a party after the premiere. I want people to mingle, at least at the galas our company hosts. What else could someone do? —Billy added, knowing how much people valued connections, friendships, and how, for now, the quality of animated films resembled the idea he'd been working on for a while.
—Parties in Hollywood are what people call… truly complicated —Winona replied, fully aware that they were expensive, crowded with a few unwanted guests, and often filled with the subtle hostilities that came with fame.
—I understand. A gala until six, nothing too surprising. They'll serve a few drinks, people will talk, it'll be simple. No one will bother to linger long. After that, it's someone else's problem. But listen, as a young company, it's important to build camaraderie with some people—at least with those I've worked with as both an actor and a producer. What else can one do, when in others we find the very thing we've been searching for? —Billy said to Winona.
***
In Los Angeles, a day later, The Magician's Nephew premiered at three in the afternoon—the first film of its kind. The idea was a logical production that left everyone curious. The only way for people to truly understand was by seeing how fantasy had now become a tangible, living space for those chosen to shape its world.
—I can say with certainty this will only be the beginning of a franchise —Billy remarked, holding a glass of whiskey, a strong drink that always made his head spin, though he savored it among the crowd.
—You sound very confident —said a director whose name he didn't quite catch.
—If we're talking entertainment, maybe we'll win. But if we're talking lasting success, that, I'm afraid, endures far longer than anything else —Billy replied, knowing well the insight he'd gained over time. The workers were relentless in their pursuit of excellence. The scripts were never limited; the strength lay in the visual storytelling above all else. It wasn't necessarily what most desired, but it was the perfection they sought—the harmony of effort that, under Billy's coordination, gave rise to something like a form of self-improvement. The settings mirrored those of England or the great cities; when creativity wasn't constrained, everything became magic.
The premiere was a gathering of hundreds of directors and actors, each surprisingly talented. Then came the animators and all who had taken part in the production process. Nearly 500 seats were filled across two theaters, every seat holding someone with an opinion—good or bad. Those two theaters became the stage for the thousands invited.
—Thanks for waiting for me —Monica whispered to Billy. She'd been speaking privately and intently with a few people for some time. Everything passed from hand to hand, each exchange sharp as a blade.
—Come on, it's about to start —Billy replied.
…
Digory lives with his Aunt Letty and his Uncle Andrew, a man who believes himself a magician and creates magical rings capable of transporting people to other worlds. Uncle Andrew tricks Polly into touching one of the rings, causing her to vanish, and Digory, determined to rescue her, uses another ring to follow her. The children arrive in the Wood Between the Worlds, a place filled with pools leading to different universes. They explore one and find themselves in Charn, a ruined world where they accidentally awaken Jadis, a sorceress who had destroyed her own planet. When they try to return, Jadis follows them to London, wreaking havoc with her power. To get rid of her, the children use the rings again—but end up in a completely empty world. There, before their eyes, Aslan creates Narnia with his song: stars, trees, and animals come to life.
Jadis flees north, where she will one day become the White Witch.
Aslan tasks Digory with planting a magical tree to protect Narnia from evil, and from its seed grows the Tree of Protection. Digory brings an apple from the tree back to London, cures his sick mother, and plants its seed in his garden; from that tree's wood, the future wardrobe will be made.
In each world, they used distinct color palettes—even if it took four weeks to calculate every detail—and those details made all the difference.
...