"I won't run away next time," Yumi sobbed as the female corpse's hand slowly came to a halt. Watching this scene unfold, Edward nodded in satisfaction.
Aunt Hana's acting had been surprisingly good. While it certainly didn't reach the level of a professional actor, for someone brought in as a temporary performer, she had managed to deliver the effect Edward wanted. That alone was worth commending.
Then again, the role of a female corpse didn't demand much in terms of acting skills. The only major requirement was that she shed a single tear at the end. Aunt Hana had managed that quite naturally, so of course the scene passed inspection.
Even so, Edward still requested an additional take be kept as backup, to allow for more flexibility during editing.
After the shoot ended, there weren't many scenes left to film for One Missed Call. Being a horror movie, it didn't require an extensive number of scenes. Edward estimated that with about one more week of shooting, the entire film could be wrapped up.
"Boss, you have a lecture this afternoon," Zoroark approached him and whispered.
Edward's mouth twitched when he heard this—he had nearly forgotten he had agreed to give a lecture today.
He glanced at his phone. The timing worked out, so he clapped his hands and officially wrapped up the day's shoot. Then he headed to Naranja Academy with Zoroark in tow, where they were welcomed by Clavell, the school's headmaster.
"Ah! Director Edward, we're so grateful that you've come to give our students a lecture," Clavell greeted him warmly, not putting on the airs of a traditional headmaster—he was quite laid-back and friendly.
Edward quickly responded with polite modesty, saying that it was his honor and privilege to be invited, the usual kind of small talk. Zoroark, standing behind him, listened with an amused smile.
The human world, he thought, was always so complicated.
Soon, Clavell led Edward into a well-prepared amphitheater-style classroom. After a short wait, a large crowd of students began to pour in, filling the room with chatter and excitement. These students came not only from the directing department, but also from performance arts, and even journalism. The sight made Edward's eyelid twitch a little.
Wasn't this a bit too many people?
Clearly, if he didn't bring out some genuine substance today, the crowd would be disappointed.
"Today we'll be talking about montage theory." Edward decided to start with the subject he was most familiar with—montage theory. It was something he had studied in-depth in his previous life, and compared to other cinematic theories, he had the strongest grasp on this one.
At first, Edward was a bit stiff and reserved in his delivery. But once he warmed up, he completely opened up and spoke passionately, sharing the insights and perspectives of great masters from his previous world with this new one. The students below listened intently, hanging onto every word.
The lecture lasted about an hour and a half. By the time there were only twenty minutes left, Edward had finished going over the general outline of montage theory. Though it was a rough overview, it was enough to give these students something to ponder and gradually master.
"So lastly," Edward said with a smile, "let's talk about the concept of Chekhov's Gun."
He smoothly transitioned into his final topic.
"The so-called 'Chekhov's Gun' refers to the idea that if a gun appears in the scene, then it must be fired at some point later in the story. More specifically, the act of firing that gun should occur in the third act of the film, and the setup for it must be laid down as early as the first or second act." Edward explained the principle in detail.
This principle wasn't only useful in film; it applied to storytelling in general.
Take Naruto from his past life, for example. One of the biggest criticisms of the series' ending was the sudden appearance of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, a character who had no real buildup. This abrupt reveal was a common target for fan complaints. Had she been properly foreshadowed, the ending might have been received more favorably.
Once he finished discussing Chekhov's Gun, Edward concluded his lecture. The students below erupted into enthusiastic applause. Edward waved his hand and smiled warmly in return.
"Director Edward! Are you filming a new movie here at our academy? When will it be released?" a particularly excited student stood up and asked, eyes shining with curiosity.
"Yes, it is a new film. If all goes well, it'll be out next month." Edward took the opportunity to promote his latest work, One Missed Call. However, he didn't mention the film's title or genre. He wanted to maintain an air of mystery. Once the movie premiered with its specific marketing campaign, it would hopefully make a strong, explosive impact.
After leaving the lively amphitheater, Edward finally let out a long breath of relief.
"What did you think of today's lecture?" Edward asked Zoroark as they walked side by side.
"It was pretty good," Zoroark replied with a grin. "Although I didn't understand a word of it."
Edward rubbed his face. Who knew giving a lecture would be this exhilarating? It was certainly a unique life experience.
"Director Edward!" a surprised and delighted voice called out.
Edward turned his head and saw a girl running toward him with joy, waving a notebook in her hand. He paused as she ran right up to him, then bent over to catch her breath. After a few deep gasps, she stood up straight and looked him in the eye.
"Director Edward, may I have your autograph?" she asked, holding the notebook in both hands, eyes full of anticipation.
Edward smiled and took it, beginning to sign his name.
"What's your name?" he asked, intending to write a personalized note.
"I'm Nemona!" the girl beamed brightly.
Edward instinctively wrote, "To Nemona," and then suddenly paused, stunned.
Nemona?
He looked up at the girl before him. She had long hair tied in a ponytail, with a few strands in front dyed a shade of green. When seen this way, her appearance lined up perfectly with the Nemona in Edward's memory.
The same Nemona who had been a rival in the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games—one of the Champion-level trainers in the Paldea region, and a close companion to the protagonist. Bold, somewhat careless, and very full of personality.
"Nemona… If I remember correctly, you're a Champion-level trainer, right?" Edward asked with rising interest. This was the first time he'd encountered a game rival in person.
Back in Hoenn, he had also known the names of some notable rivals, but Edward had never paid much attention to trainers. His interests simply didn't lie there. The only rival he had known much about was Green.
He only knew about Green because he was Professor Oak's grandson. When Professor Oak released an updated version of the Pokédex and was interviewed by the Pokémon League, Green had appeared in that interview.
"That's right! Are you interested in a battle, Director Edward?" Nemona's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. She had already spotted the two Poké Balls on Edward's waist and naturally deduced that he was also a trainer.
"I…" Edward was about to decline, but just then, he felt one of the Poké Balls at his waist tremble lightly.
Suddenly, he remembered something.
He had promised Q that he could have a good, satisfying battle—but he still hadn't made good on that promise. He hadn't even gone to find his older brother to make it happen.
Now might be the perfect opportunity.
(End of Chapter)