….
[Same Day]
….
After the screening of the [Whiplash] - the moderator had no choice but to intervene.
"Alright. I think we all need to take a breath. That was… something. We are now going to open the floor for questions. Please raise your hand, and I will get a mic for you."
It was accurate.
The audience really needed a break.
….
Soon, the Q&A was arranged - a smaller, more intimate setup than the red-carpet chaos outside, but no less important.
Four people sat behind a long black-draped table, each with a silver microphone angled toward them.
From left to right: Alexandra, Stephen Jr., Ross, and finally Regal.
Bottles of water stood beside them, condensation dripping under the harsh glow of stage lights. Reporters filled the rows in front, some leaning forward with recorders, others scrolling through notes on their tablets.
First hand up from the middle row, an older man in a dark tweed jacket.
"Alexander, first off, congratulations. I have been a music teacher for thirty years, and I have to say this film terrified me… in a good way. But I want to know. Do you think Fletcher is a villain, or is he a necessary evil in producing true greatness?"
Alexander gave a measured nod. "That's the debate, isn't it? I think Fletcher believes he is a necessary evil. Whether he is… I leave that to you. My point wasn't to give you a clean moral answer. I wanted you to feel the tension between excellence and abuse, and decide if one can exist without the other."
The second question came from a younger woman, maybe early twenties, a film student by the look of the camera strap around her neck.
"I loved the editing and the pacing. It felt like a drum solo in itself. But I have to ask… was there a fear that the film might be misunderstood as endorsing toxic teaching methods?"
Alexander half-smiled. "Oh, absolutely. And it still might be. But I think films should be allowed to provoke, and that was exactly what was present when I got the script from Regal. However, we need to know that we are not here to hand out moral guidelines. We are here to make you sit in discomfort and think about it afterwards."
….
The questions continued to bounce around the table for the next twenty minutes.
The next question came from a man in the second row, his voice confident, but carrying that slightly sharp edge journalists sometimes used when they wanted to dig deeper.
"Mr. Alexander… you know, it's not exactly an easy thing for a director to get his first real shot at making a movie, and you, well, you got one quite quickly. Now, I don't mean that in a way that takes away from your effort, or the work you have clearly put in. But I think everyone here knows that for most first-time directors, the road is long… and brutal."
He took a space, and added -
"Usually, before you even get to thinking about the art of making the movie, you are hit with the business of making it. You have got to convince a producer to take you seriously, most won't even read your script unless your name's already worth something. Then there is securing the budget, which is almost its own full-time job, and if you can't find someone to put up the money, a lot of first-timers end up sinking their own savings into the project… sometimes mortgaging their houses, calling in favors, or begging family members to invest."
A ripple of nods moved through the press row - this was familiar ground for anyone who'd ever tried to make a film.
"And that's just the start, you still have to find your cast, who will often walk if they smell uncertainty. Crew members might jump ship if the financing feels shaky, then you have got location permits, equipment rentals, insurance - oh, and once you actually shoot the thing, you have still got to find a distributor willing to take the risk of putting your movie in theaters, and let's not forget, festivals can be political, critics can be merciless, and there's always someone telling you your dream isn't worth the risk. A lot of filmmakers never even get to see their work projected on a white screen, so end up taking bad deals just to get their work seen, sacrificing creative control or giving away percentages they can never get back, and after all that, there is still no guarantee anyone shows up to watch it. So… with all that in mind, how exactly did you manage to get here without going through what most would call the usual gauntlet?"
The room was silent after the question - not because it was hostile, but because everyone knew the man was speaking the truth.
Every word he had listed was the reality of filmmaking, the kind of struggle that broke more dreams than it made.
The reporter leaned back, giving a small shrug that said. 'You know I am right.'
"So… considering all that." He continued, voice almost casual. "How is it? The feeling… That you have managed to avoid these hurdles and get your first film out in such a short span of time?"
It wasn't just a long question - it was loaded.
More than anything, it was clear the guy knew exactly how hard it was to make a movie.
Maybe he had even tried himself.
The pure, unfiltered jealousy was practically radiating off him, and he wasn't even trying to hide it.
If you asked Regal, jealousy wasn't a bad thing.
In his eyes, it was a trait anyone who truly wanted to achieve something should have, that restless, uncomfortable fire.
All eyes turned to Alexander.
For a second, he looked genuinely at a loss, caught somewhere between wanting to answer honestly and not wanting to sound smug.
"Aha…" He started, then stopped, rubbing his jaw like he was rethinking his words.
Finally, he leaned toward the mic.
"Actually… I didn't go through all those hurdles you are talking about. In fact, I didn't even know there were that many things you had to overcome just to get a movie out."
He paused, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.
"I am not saying that as some spoiled brat who had it all handed to him. No, I had my own difficulties as an outsider - I really did, but I will admit, I had it easier. Easier not because of connections… but because I happened to be in the right place at the right time. For me, that place was what I call 'Regal's school.'"
The audience murmured at that, and Alexander's tone warmed.
"The funny thing is, that 'school' isn't a building - it's him, Regal is the guy who did fight through every single thing you just listed."
"The funding battles, the compromises, sleepless nights and of course the rejections. He carved a way through it all, and because of that, people like me… we don't have to start from scratch in the dark. So now this is making me think that maybe… Regal didn't just struggle for himself, his fight was for everyone who stepped into the light because of him - and for all the people who will follow after."
He sat back, letting the words hang.
The crowd shifted, some nodding, others glancing toward Regal, whose expression hadn't changed much, but his eyes had.
Everyone in that room understood now - whatever else you could say about him, what Regal had achieved was no small thing.
Then came the next question.
It was aimed at Regal.
"How does it feel to have a billion dollars in your account and become the youngest to ever achieve that, Mr. Regal?"
Before Regal could even lean forward, Ross cut in, voice flat and blunt as a hammer.
"We are here for the movie [Whiplash], I produced. I would recommend not going off-topic just because you were given a mic."
The reporter froze, his mouth snapping shut.
Ross wasn't wrong, but his delivery was the kind that left bruises.
Regal, in the only way Regal could, stepped in to diffuse it, he turned to Ross first, his voice light but with a faint edge.
"Why do you try so hard to make people hate you, Mr. Ross? Can't you be nice for once?"
It was a small jab, but in front of cameras, only Regal could get away with it, then he faced the reporter.
"Mr. Ross might be a little… direct, but he is right. We are here for a different film. Still, since you have brought it up, I will answer that question… and one more related one. Then that's it."
He leaned into the mic, almost deadpan.
"As for having a billion… First of all, I wish I did have that much."
That was all… and everyone knew why - just because a movie earns big doesn't mean all the money ends up in one place.
The follow-up came quickly-
"About [Harry Potter], Mr. Regal… is it true you won't be directing the next one?"
Regal didn't hesitate. "It's true."
The simplicity of his answer made the confirmation hit harder, cameras flashed.
A low murmur rolled through the room.
Off to the side, Ross smirked, almost amused at the reaction.
What no one realized was that Regal let those off-topic questions slip through, part of it was him being the polite man he always was.
But the other part? Marketing.
Harry Potter fans would watch this interview just to hear that bit of news.
Clips would circulate online, and sooner or later, someone would ask - What event was this from?
They would see the movie title [Whiplash].
A small trick, but effective, at least for the people who paid attention to the film world.
Then came the most hyped and controversial question from a few months back, dropped straight at Stephen Jr.:
"How is it being a father at such a young age?"
Ross's patience snapped again. "For the last time, we are here to talk about a movie you just watched. Are you that clueless?"
This time, Regal didn't stay silent. "I agree with Mr. Ross."
Stephen stepped in before things escalated. "Thanks for the support, guys… but I will handle this."
He turned back to the reporter.
"It's tough…" He admitted. "And I am still learning."
"Rumors say that, it was unplanne–"
"Thank you. Next question please." Stephen cut in.
"Right…"
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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