The translucent blue screen hovered quietly in front of Blake's eyes.
He blinked once. Then again. His hand reached out on instinct—and passed through the light. It didn't flicker. It didn't vanish.
"What the hell...?"
Was he hallucinating from hunger? Was it stress? Delusion? But the screen remained—calm, blue, persistent.
There, in the corner of the screen, was a glowing button:
[Continue]
Cautiously, like tapping a phone, he reached out again.
As soon as his finger passed the area, the screen shimmered—and changed.
[You have been selected as the user of the 'Cinematic System'. Congratulations, your journey begins now.]
Blake stared.
A system?
He'd read web novels. A lot of them. Especially My Hollywood System, where the main character made it big in the industry thanks to a similar interface.
Could this really be happening?
Before he could dwell on it, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Hey kid, theater's empty. No rewatching on the same ticket."
Blake jolted. A middle-aged employee stood in the aisle, arms crossed and clearly impatient.
"Sorry!" Blake blurted, gathering his things.
He hurried out, still dazed.
Back in his tiny, dusty apartment, Blake closed the door and slumped against it, breathing heavily.
The screen was gone.
"Shit."
He closed his eyes and thought: System.
With a soft chime, the screen blinked back to life. As if it had always been waiting.
Blake exhaled slowly. "Alright. Let's see what this is."
Another prompt flashed.
A glowing gift box floated before him. He thought Claim — and the box burst open.
Three items appeared:
Project Brief: Paranormal Activity
Project Brief: The Spectacular Now
Project Brief: Safety Not Guaranteed
Blake narrowed his eyes. These were familiar titles... but memories of their full stories flooded into his mind — not scripts, but the entire film's key scenes, characters, tone, and pacing. He understood the plots instantly.
Project Brief: Paranormal Activity
A low-budget horror film concept. Found footage style. Set entirely in a suburban house.
Budget: <$15,000
Genre: Horror, Supernatural
Market Potential: Very High (if executed well)
Synopsis: A couple experiences unexplained events in their home. They set up a camera to document it. Tension builds as supernatural forces torment them. The story ends in horror and ambiguity.
Notes: Strong selling point: "It feels real." Shoot with unknown actors. No big sets. Minimal crew. High ROI.
Project Brief: The Spectacular Now
Budget: <$3 million
Genre: Romantic Drama
Market Potential: Moderate to High (dependent on casting)
Synopsis: A high school senior coasts through life, avoiding responsibility, until he forms an unexpected bond with a shy, grounded girl. Through her, he begins confronting his broken family and uncertain future.
Tone: Intimate, grounded, emotionally raw.
Note: Ideal for indie production companies or festivals.
Project Brief: Safety Not Guaranteed
Budget: <$1 million
Genre: Indie Sci-Fi, Comedy, Romance
Synopsis: A jaded magazine intern investigates a classified ad from a man seeking a partner for time travel. What begins as a joke turns into an exploration of loss, belief, and human connection.
Notes: Quirky tone. Balanced humour and emotional weight. Potential cult classic.
Blake's mind raced.
So the system doesn't give me the full script. Just the memories and the brief. I have to write it myself.
He frowned but nodded. This wasn't a cheat for instant success — it was a real challenge.
A new notification appeared.
[Script Checker Unlocked!]
Submit your script drafts to receive:
Overall rating (out of 10)
Story structure feedback
Character depth analysis
Market readiness score Suggested improvements
"Okay, that's useful," Blake muttered. "I can improve before selling."
Another screen blinked on.
[System Currency: Fame Points]
1 Fame Point = $10
Fame Points can be earned via:
Script Sales
Awards
Viral Success
Industry Recognition
Completing System Quests
Fame Points can be exchanged for:
Skills (e.g., Script Formatting, Dialogue Writing, Directing)
Access to Resources (equipment, staff, connections)
Script Checker Pro (Advanced Editing Feedback) Distribution Help (Marketing, Agent Negotiation, etc.)
Blake checked his balance:
Fame Points: 5 (Starter Pack)
He blinked in surprise.
A Starter Pack?
Five points to invest in basic skills like Scriptwriting Novice, Dialogue Writing Novice, and Formatting Novice.
This was new — something Will's system didn't have.
If I level up these skills, I can improve faster.
His excitement grew.
He stared at the three briefs.
He stared at the three briefs again. Paranormal Activity was tempting. Easy to shoot, low budget. But he didn't even have a camera.
Safety Not Guaranteed? It'd be fun, but required a tone he wasn't confident in right now.
That left...
"The Spectacular Now," he whispered. "Grounded, emotional… and something I can write on my own."
He tapped the Spectacular Now brief.
The memories flooded his mind: the characters' struggles, the small moments, the tone. His fingers itched to write.
But before he could dive in—
ttring~ ttring~
His phone vibrated. The name lit up the screen:
Uncle Martin
He searched the new memories in his mind—Howard Martin, his father's best friend, and an agent at RCA (Robert Cannon Agency). A well-known one, at that.
He'd been checking in on Blake every week, especially since the funeral.
Swallowing dryly, Blake answered.
"Hello?"
"Blake?" came the familiar, warm voice. "How are you holding up, kid?"
A long pause. Blake closed his eyes.
And smiled.
"Honestly? I think I just got my first bit of good news."
Author's Note:
So What you guys think? Let me know in the comments