Hollywood Art: System of sunnys

Hollywood studios always have a magical allure for new minds watching from the outside, the hustle and bustle of people coming and going with various projects, and the movie stars appearing in different places. And the charm of the studios, the productions, and the filming crews.

He entered a small room and saw Paula Sullen, Betty Cohen, and another unknown man, whom Anne whispered in his ear was Scott Sassa, the vice president of Turner Broadcasting.

-Billy, good day. It's great that you've come today, we have the filming of the series "Ghost Report." - said Betty Cohen.

Interrupted by a cough.

-My manners, you already know Paula, but Mr. Scott is still unknown to you. He's what you call one of the big bosses. - said, Betty.

-Come on, Betty, I'm just a firefighter who appears from time to time. Scott Sassa, man. - said the man with Oriental features.

-A pleasure, sir. I hope you like my work. - said, Billy.

-Oh, I've had the chance to glance at some reports, but today I'll enjoy what we've invested with Hanna-Barbera. The goals we've set are sky-high. - said Scott Sassa.

-Oh, dear Scott, don't scare the boy. He has worked with us in creating two series wholeheartedly, and I must say they are really good series. - said Betty Cohen, winking at Billy.

-Not at all, just stating a fact. Some friends are coming too. Unfortunately, our dear president sent invitations to Fox, Viacom, and Disney. They showed up. The new surprise of a children's television channel is something they can't overlook. Expect some fierce competition. - said Scott Sassa.

-Incredible! But that doesn't mean you should burden others with expectations only bosses believe are possible. Everything requires meticulous work, and sometimes asking for more than 100% is just crazy. - said Betty, throwing jabs at Warner.

-I have to apologize; the boss expects to meet with me before the channel's transmission begins. - said, Scott.

A man with white hair, and hardly any noticeable eyebrows. The most impressive thing about him was his tie with unique designs. He was chatting with a group, all dressed in suits, although one of them curiously wasn't as formal as his colleagues, slim, much shorter, and with a bewildered attitude.

-Those over there are Ted Turner, Terry Semel, and Rich Cronin. The last one is an executive from Fox Network, all big shots. Don't be fooled by their appearances; in this show business life, looks only help actors get roles. Behind the scenes, they are very dangerous individuals. Try not to make enemies with them. - said Betty Cohen, in her unique grandmotherly voice.

-Why do you say that? - asked Billy.

-Just things you should know. - Betty replied casually.

-I like you, you're a hardworking and polite kid. Sometimes we make many mistakes without thinking about the consequences when we are young. You see, everyone is interested in your drawings. With the premieres of your series, they will come one after another in waves. - said, Betty.

The message was clear, don't make enemies. The circle is smaller than you might imagine, and any mistake can have consequences.

-Thank you for your advice. - Billy sincerely thanked her.

He felt Anne's invisible support behind him; she was nervous about Betty Cohen's words, which she said at a very low volume, but Anne managed to catch some things due to her proximity to Billy.

-Don't worry, kid, it's just a warning. Talented people like you are often well-supported. Our negotiations are based on your inherent talent. After all, talented individuals are the lifeblood of Hollywood. What would this show business be without talented people? - said, Betty.

Billy could only nod his head.

-Paula, stay with Billy. - Betty said, her gruff voice becoming evident.

Both Billy and Anne looked for Paula, who was hiding behind a notebook.

-Ahh, I think it's better if we head to the screening room. - said Paula Sullen.

The screening room was a cinema hall with at least 90 seats, some even located on the second floor. It was used to view unreleased projections of major works or to present some films before their premiere, allowing executives to evaluate them and critics to analyze them.

-We are located in section C, which is for creators and participants. Usually, this distribution is only done when there are many guests. - Paula Sullen said, leading the way to the grand theater, with elegant red seats and reclining chairs; it was undoubtedly one of the best theaters in the country. Everything screamed wealth.

-Okay, I'll wait in the seats. - Billy said, taking a seat in section C, which was off to the side of the theater on the lower level.

-Perfect, I'll be back in about ten minutes. Don't move from here. - Paula said, hurrying away.

-There's a board meeting later. - Anne mentioned.

-Well, let's just go with the flow. I think after the ceremony, some people will want to talk to the company. - Billy said, taking a seat at the end that was against the wall.

-I hope it doesn't take too long; I want that hamburger. - Anne lamented.

-It won't be much longer, my dear Anne. I don't want to be here either, but it's something necessary to fulfill public relations. It's good to build relationships with these bosses. - Billy replied.

As time passed, the theater filled up, the lights dimmed, and there was still no sign of Paula Sullen. The show began with a poor trailer about the new Cartoon Network logo; Cartoon Network Studios presented Warner's new project.

A short 5-minute clip went over the Warner Bros. logo, along with the classic Hanna-Barbera and MGM cartoons. The Flintstones, Looney Tunes, The Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Woody Woodpecker, Popeye, and a subtle nod to original series that were making a comeback for the channel's relaunch, such as Batman, co-produced with Warner and Fox, Johnny Bravo, and Ghost Report towards the end of the commercial.

All interwoven with a beautiful design, the animators put in the effort to create this new Cartoon Network logo and letters. The screen changed to a bright white and then turned off to play the introduction of the new Batman series. It was splendid; even though it lacked the fluid animation typical of anime, the beautiful design with simple frames and planes evoked a sense of nostalgia for an era that has yet to be revitalized since Walt Disney's time.

-Our direct competition. - Anne whispered.

-Our competition is Disney. - Billy replied. - and Nickelodeon. If the Batman series is appealing, kids will watch the channel more, and consequently, they'll watch our cartoons too.

-Ohhhhh... but it's still indirect competition. - Anne whispered back.

Billy pondered the challenges of programming on television channels.

-It could be a problem, but I have faith in the cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera and Lux Comics. - Billy said.

-Well... - Anne whispered, this time slightly louder than a normal whisper.

The first episode of Batman was a rather short prologue about the new Batman. It had an implicit mystery embedded in the series' representation, which was very famous, having been one of the biggest hits on Fox Kids; now, that success was being devalued for the Warner network in the coming years.

In the future, it would be regarded as one of the greatest animated series with excellent reviews, from its gothic style, dark tones, and hand-drawn animation, it was sensational. If only all series could be made with such skill, but the budget for animated series limited the conceptual creations of such animated series.

-A perfect episode, Anne. One of the best series I've seen. Everything was meticulously detailed, and the producers didn't hold back. - Billy said, surprised by his lack of knowledge about this series.

-We can't wait to see your programs. Two of your series are part of the lineup. - Anne replied.

-Thanks, I hope there will be some extra surprises. They have put a lot of effort into the new channel; there might be another series among the chosen ones. - Billy said.

He was surprised by the animated short of Taz-mania and his family. A new series has come out, expanding the Looney Toons family and the animated universe. New animated series have been introduced, and Billy was perplexed by the timeline of this series. Will there be some new series that will premiere earlier than planned, or will they stick to the content they have for now?

-You were right; Taz-mania is endearing. - Anne commented.

Lastly, the introductory arc of Yuyu Hakusho/Ghost Report began. The American '90s style gave it a Blade Runner vibe, with buildings against a dark background illuminated by neon blue and green sparks. The soundtrack had a powerful piano and descending drumbeats in some rock ballads. Billy and Paul Higgs's drawings were well-highlighted, and the characters of Ghost Report stirred Billy's heart. The series starts with Yusuke's early death and his re-entry into the fantastic society, closely following Akira's design concept.

-Incredible. - Billy said to himself.

How many ideas are scattered and wasted in the corners of the world due to a lack of economic support, exposure, and opportunities? A world where animation is present for different animators.

The fast credits rolled, signaling the end of the first episode of Ghost Report. The translated black background with white credits was captivating. The lights were fully turned on after nearly two hours of animated shows - way more than the executives of the major franchises could handle.

Paula Sullen approached Billy with a huge smile.

-Your animated cartoon is undoubtedly of great quality. - Paula Sullen said, pleased with the success of the animated premieres, the satisfied smile of Betty Cohen, and Marcus's thumbs-up. It says more than any words could.

-Thank you, Paula. Although you and your team also deserve credit, you have more than satisfied me with the production of the series. - Billy said.

-The big bosses are pleased with the work you provide. - Paula said. -Let's continue with the informative meeting; there are some topics to discuss.

What a long day - Billy thought.

...

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