"A normal family can't afford this. They called the cops."
Zoroark threw out a classic three-line summary. Edward covered his face with his hand.
Seriously?
They were all here working as extras. How could they not know just how insanely expensive a camera is—especially an IMAX camera?
A regular camera might have been fine, maybe even manageable to replace. But an IMAX camera...
Edward could only conclude: that extra's family was probably headed for bankruptcy.
"Did they buy insurance?" Edward asked again. Renting an IMAX always required insurance, but sometimes people would cut corners—offering a kickback to rent it without full coverage.
"They did. The insurance company has already sent someone to investigate," Zoroark replied honestly.
Edward shook his head. The camera wasn't owned by them—it belonged to another company. So, they didn't have to pay for the damages. Since the extra had smashed it himself, the camera rental company would file a claim with the insurance company, which would in turn go after the one responsible.
And those people at the insurance company? No joke.
Especially the claim adjusters. In some ways, they were incredibly skilled.
They often had to do criminal investigations—some accidental death claims needed full investigations to determine if it was truly an accident or insurance fraud. They knew forensic techniques and were well-versed in legal loopholes, doing everything possible to deny claims.
That department, without a doubt, was the most hated part of any insurance company.
Now that the extra had their attention, Edward figured the poor guy was in for a world of pain.
"So… why did he even smash the camera in the first place?" Edward still couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Ah, well, the extra said he thought his acting was really good, but just lacked the opportunity. He heard you're known for making stars, so he wanted to get your attention by smashing the camera. He figured since he couldn't afford it, he'd just stay on the team and work it off until his wages could cover the damage."
Zoroark's expression was full of internal conflict.
Edward made the same face as that subway uncle looking at his phone.
What kind of devil logic is that?!
"Is he actually good at acting?" Edward asked out of curiosity. With that level of confidence, could he maybe be one of those hidden talents?
After the whole Daniel situation, Edward had realized that there were genuinely good actors out there with bad luck.
"He's… not. Very exaggerated. Super forced expressions. Honestly, even some unknown fresh-faced C-listers would act better than him," Zoroark said, visibly unimpressed.
Edward shook his head. If that was the case, there was nothing to be done. All he could do was wish the guy luck. Damaging something that expensive could easily land him in jail for a long time—and having to pay for an IMAX camera? That's a whole different league of consequences.
Sometimes, idle hands really do cause trouble.
"Let the insurance company handle it. Just rent another one," Edward waved the matter off.
Incidents like this were rare, but they did happen.
Still, it got Edward thinking. IMAX cameras were currently the best of the best. Expensive, yes—but for a reason. In the world of cinematography, you really got what you paid for.
"Actually… contact the IMAX company. Let's just buy a few cameras," Edward decided. Even if they weren't used all the time, they could be rented out to make money. Plus, Tom and Jerry, SherlockHolmes—those could all benefit from IMAX quality visuals.
"Got it, boss." Zoroark took note of it. As for his boss buying such insanely expensive gear? Zoroark didn't care. The boss was rich—he could buy whatever he wanted.
Edward took out his phone and opened the [Ghost Film Pictures Chat Group]. He typed out a message.
He had just had another thought.
Since he was going to buy IMAX cameras anyway, why not take the chance to upgrade all of the company's filming equipment?
After all, Sherlock Holmes Season 2 hadn't even started shooting yet, and they'd already secured a massive ad sponsorship—practically astronomical. No point pocketing all that cash himself. Better to reinvest it in the company's gear.
[Edward: Equipment team lead, come see me.]
[Ghost FilmPictures Equipment Head: On my way!]
When Edward got back to the office, he saw a man nervously pacing outside his door. He recognized him—it was the head of the company's equipment department, the one in charge of maintenance, management, and purchasing.
Edward got straight to the point.
"Boss, you mean… update all our equipment to the latest and greatest?" the man asked in surprise, his eyes lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning.
"Yep. I've also told my assistant to order the IMAX cameras—keep an eye on that process too." Edward took a sip of tea and let out a relaxed breath.
"Understood. What's the equipment budget?" the man asked, rubbing his hands together. IMAX cameras, huh… he'd never personally handled anything so high-end.
Edward thought it over. SherlockHolmes Season 2 had already brought in over 1 billion pokedollars in ad money—and it was still climbing. Every brand wanted in on this pop culture juggernaut. It was only fair they'd make a big investment in return.
"How much would it cost to replace everything?" Edward asked. If it went over a billion, he'd have to consider carefully. After all, part of that budget had to cover actor salaries, set rentals, staff wages, and all the rest.
"Roughly… 300 million?" the man estimated. He had personally handled all the deals, so he knew the numbers.
"Then go ahead," Edward waved him off.
Three hundred million was reasonable. It seemed the company didn't have that much equipment to begin with—otherwise, it might've cost even more.
The equipment lead happily left with the approval slip, practically skipping.
Edward picked up the file on his desk and glanced through it.
Meowth, James, and Jessie had all agreed to appear on the show. He was pleased. Those three might be members of Team Rocket, but they were more like Ash's mascots. Even when Team Rocket collapsed and the League cracked down on them, those three kept following Ash around all the regions.
Edward sometimes wondered—maybe they were actually League agents undercover in Team Rocket?
They sure made it look easy.
"Well… time to start outlining the script," Edward said, stretching.
(End of Chapter)
AN: Fun fact: The guy who smashed the camera? That part was inspired by a real-life case. Someone actually tried this. With the same logic.