hollywood system: art

December 31, 1988.

Time jump, six years.

In Billy's exhaustive quest to improve his acting skills, he participated in a series of activities that he is still embarrassed about. He served as scenery, playing the role of a tree was never as challenging as being a lion, or sun, and fulfilling some other extra roles to fill in the gaps. In some plays, he had a few lines, but at no point could he fulfill his repressed wish number 6.

-Yes. -

-Hello, Grandma, - Billy said on the phone.

-Dear, how was your New Year's party? - Helen Carson paused for a moment. --You should come to visit us sometime. Your grandpa has been working at the gas station a couple of blocks away. Remember, the one you used to go roller skating with. --

-I'd love to come at any time, - Billy said.

His grandma was always dedicated to her words.

-Happy New Year, young man. Your dad told me about your comic and the book you're about to publish. I'm so proud of you, - Helen Carson said.

-Yes, Grandma, -- Billy replied. -- Dad encouraged me to publish the two comics I'm working on, and the book will be self-published in his name. I couldn't find a publishing house that offered a decent deal. -

-Well, that's good, - Helen responded, making a peculiar mouth gesture, something she did when she struggled to find the right words.

-It's been a while since you visited; the Texas heat is always overwhelming. You get used to it over time. Your father told me you've started drawing in your free time and want to become an actor, - Helen said, almost pleading.

-It's a drama school, Grandma, not essentially just becoming an actor, - Billy argued.

His grandma wanted another lawyer in the family. Initially, his drawings were well received, and his sketches surprised the family. However, when he mentioned his intentions to pursue an artistic career, tensions with his grandma began to surface on different occasions.

-Yes, it's the same, - Helen replied. - Your father is a good lawyer; he's been working since he finished college. If you follow in the family business like he did, you may get a better job in ten years. -

-Thank you, Grandma, but my destiny isn't to be a lawyer. I'm meant to draw, write, and perform, -Billy said.

His father had just entered the living room, and he gave him a look of solace. -- Happy New Year, Grandma, -- Billy finished, trying not to shout, but it came close.

-We're going to San Francisco in ten days. Your grandpa has some business to attend to. I hope the issues... I hope your father can give us a clear answer, - Helen replied.

-Yes, Grandma. -

-Good night, young man, - Helen said.

-Happy New Year, say hi to Grandpa, - Billy repeated for the tenth time, clearly feeling uncomfortable.

-Mom's been so sweet ever since I moved from Texas to California, - Thomas Carson commented with a smile.

"I know, Dad. Have you finished work for today?" Billy asked.

-Yes, the divorce case I was handling closed this morning; they decided to settle. After dividing the assets, it turns out the wife wanted the house in New York, and the husband wanted the store in New York. They both believed they each wanted what the other did, -- Thomas said cheerfully. --Working in December when your son is on vacation is not my favorite thing to do. -

-In two days, do we have a meeting with your friend? - Billy asked.

-Yes, remember when you were eight, and you told me you wanted to be a great comic book artist, like Marvel Studios and DC Comics? We started to set up a production line in the garage, - Thomas said.

-Yes, I remember; you made me clean up, - Billy replied.

-I worked by mowing lawns throughout the neighborhood, doing the dishes, the laundry, and selling cookies, - Billy thought out loud.

-It was money well invested, - his father said.

For their investment, they purchased 140-gram offset paper. With the help of Thomas's contacts in the copyright office, they found a supplier who provided them with wholesale paper: 10 kilos for $14.99, 100 kilos for $215, and 1000 kilos for $1300.

They bought a special laser printer for comics, which cost a substantial sum of $1500. It was a high-quality color printer that produced two pages per minute. To save on costs initially, they purchased a special photocopier that provided 1800 DPI black and white copies. Each photocopier cost $999, and they could copy documents onto 140-gram offset paper on both sides.

The comic's size would be A4, almost like a pocketbook, with each volume consisting of 25 pages. They designed the covers on 200-gram matte paper. They aimed to start a production line for 40,000 copies to be marketed all over California.

In the 1980s, the comic industry experienced a surge in popularity due to TV series and Star Wars movies. However, this unprecedented expansion led to market saturation, and many comic publishers were liquidated due to a lack of creativity. By 1988, the comic industry was experiencing a downturn, and new technologies were diverting consumers towards video game purchases. In 1989, Sega Genesis was released, further intensifying competition with Nintendo in the gaming market.

-Don't get me wrong, son, -- Thomas chuckled, amused by his son's expression. -- It's all for your well-being. Thanks to your father, you've completed the national and international copyright registration for the two series you've created. -

-What are their names? They sound pretty interesting, - asked the elder Carson.

-Dad, you initiated the copyright registration process as original works, - Billy pointed out.

-They're Slam Dunk and Phantom Report, - the boy said resignedly.

Although Phantom Report is "Yu Yu Hakusho," the trend of Americanizing the series is indeed a novel idea. The plan is to develop the plot similarly but give it an American tone, making it a more planned series.

The copyright registration was done five months ago, and it's a cumbersome process with a main branch in Washington. First, an integrated copyright search is conducted in the main branch's databases. The whole process took a total of twenty days, and the registration was completed without any issues.

-These are fantastic works. The production level of both is perfect, - said Thomas.

Slam Dunk and Phantom Report both have a condensed development of 20 volumes each. The plan for this series is to create a linear story spanning 50 volumes.

-Have you started on the next volumes? Your dear father has been eager to know what will happen in the next volumes, - Thomas inquired.

-Yes, Dad. There are still some pages and panels to touch up, but volumes five of Slam Dunk and Phantom Report will officially be available. I've been focusing on the series of Samurai Jack and Hellboy to keep both series in sync with unified releases. I want to maintain a consistent publication schedule, -Billy replied.

-Both of those are very good as well, especially the Samurai one; it has this intriguing vibe that makes you want to read the next volume, - Thomas said.

-Yes, they are indeed good works, - Billy exclaimed.

-I haven't decided on the development of certain story arcs yet, but they'll be available soon. I want to give them a sequence and show the stories of some secondary characters so that the body of work has more meaning. I'm still working on the characters, - Billy explained.

This weekend, the registration for Samurai Jack and Hellboy will be done. He can't wait to earn points when the comics are published.

-Very well, tomorrow we have a meeting with the folks from Dark Horse Comics. Let's not rush it. Plan B is the company that went bankrupt a year and a half ago, Charlton Comics. It was bought by some enthusiasts, and there might be a deal there if we propose it. Although Dark Horse Comics liked your comics, - the responsible adult mentioned.

-Thank you, Dad. -

There was support from his father, though not unconditional. They set various conditions, starting with the requirement to complete his school subjects diligently and pass the final exams for each grade. It's nice to have support.

On the other hand, the beginnings in the academic field of performing arts for teenagers were based on fulfilling activities like pantomime, theater games, and improvisations.

-I've had fun, - Billy thought.

In a review of his wish fulfillment:

[Rencarnated's wish:

Publish a comic with sales of 100,000 copies.

To discover your next repressed wish, you must fulfill the first one.

…]

The number 1 wish was mysteriously fulfilled when he joined the theater group and participated in the play as an extra. He had a total of four short lines, but fulfilling the wish helped him raise his drawing skills to level 20 and gradually overcome his stage fright.

Task number 1 earned him a total of 100 points. Subsequent tasks assessed a total of 100 points with a progressive increase of 10 points for each task.

Although the subsequent development of each activity increased by ten points, the difficulty also rose. It was revealing that with every step, his heart shone. Each deeply rooted wish cleansed the dark feelings his heart had harbored.

-Status, - he whispered.

[Billy Carson:

Drawing: 21.53

Literature: 18.34

Acting: 6.34

Points: 0.3]

[Drawing Store

Purchased:

Samurai Jack: 15 points.Hellboy: 22 points. 1993Slam Dunk: 30 points. 1990Yu Yu Hakusho: 40 points. 1992…]

The idea is to go ahead with the basketball series Slam Dunk. Due to his drawing skills and the purchase of a series that he unlocked when he increased his drawing skills to level 20, the work became smoother. He managed to establish a timeline for Slam Dunk.

The system is simply a fantasy.

...

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