Chapter 125: Three Episodes in a Row
The next morning, Durin gathered a large group of people in front of Norsrick only teleportation array, preparing for an inter-town transfer.
Recently, the teleportation array in Norsrick had seen unprecedented activity. Previously, it might not have been used for months, with the high-ranking mage managing it spending most of his time in the Mage Tower. However, with the surge in the movie's popularity, the teleportation array lit up almost daily. The high-ranking mage overseeing Norsrick teleportation array had made a fortune during this period, becoming one of the few hidden wealthy individuals within the Mage Tower. Knowing who was responsible for this influx of wealth, he had privately arranged with Durin that Durin and anyone he brought could use the teleportation array without paying any fees.
Having planned everything meticulously, Durin glanced at the bustling crowd and promptly activated the teleportation array. In the next moment, everyone found themselves in Winter City, the location Durin had previously scouted for filming.
Due to "The Garden of Sinners" being set entirely in the modern world, similar to "Fate Zero," Durin's primary adjustments were related to the plot. The location requirements were not stringent, with the only major requirement being a tall building for panoramic views. Therefore, Durin chose the northern region for filming, as Winter City and its surrounding towns had tall walls built during the war, making them perfect for the shooting location.
As soon as he decided to film "The Garden of Sinners," Durin had already made arrangements with Alyssa, the guild leader of the northern region, to use this distant border city for filming.
...
Meeting with Guild Leader Alyssa went smoothly. In fact, Durin and his team received VIP treatment due to her inexplicably warm attitude. They were escorted by various guides and attendants, making Durin feel like they were being received like corporate executives visiting a foreign country.
After a lengthy conversation with Alyssa, Durin finally understood the reason behind such hospitality. It all traced back to the success of "Goblin Slayer," which had previously been shown in the northern region.
Yes, "Goblin Slayer" not only addressed the reckless behavior of young adventurers in the northern region but also boosted tourism to some extent. Recently, many wealthy merchants from the southern region and some nobles who appreciated the movie had developed an interest in the northern region, one of the most dangerous areas of the empire. With sufficient protection, they ventured here to experience the environment depicted in "Goblin Slayer."
This was understandable, as Durin had clearly indicated the filming locations in "Goblin Slayer." Observant viewers could easily identify these places. As the movie's influence grew, the resulting boost to tourism was expected.
For the Duke of the northern region, who unexpectedly benefited from the economic upswing brought by tourism, this was a boon. Naturally, he was grateful to Durin and the Northern Adventurers' Guild, who produced "Goblin Slayer." This gratitude led to an increase in Guild Leader Alyssa's influence, explaining the current comprehensive care and attention they were receiving.
While this treatment was pleasant, even overwhelming for some actors, Durin, upon arriving at the Adventurers' Guild, promptly asked Alyssa to tone it down. He stated bluntly, "Ahem, I brought these people here to shoot a movie, not for a grand tour. Treating us like merchants and nobles is just too strange."
Realizing her mistake, Alyssa responded with a sigh, "Well, some nobles enjoy this kind of treatment. I assumed you, Director Durin, being a noble, would appreciate it too..."
"Pfft, that's a rather stereotypical assumption. Anyway, tell them to stop. Is the location I requested ready?" Durin asked.
Nodding, Alyssa replied, "Yes, I have coordinated with the nobles managing those abandoned walls. They are delighted that these old structures will shine again in your movie. Though, I suspect they hope those places can be developed into tourist attractions like the 'Goblin Slayer' sites."
"In that case, everything is set. Alyssa, please guide us to the filming location as previously arranged. I need to brief the actors on the script first."
With that, Durin turned around. Behind him, all the actors for the first chapter of "The Garden of Sinners" were assembled. The main cast of "The Garden of Sinners" was considerably smaller than "Fate Zero," meaning most were merely extras, with only a few being key participants in this film.
However, among the lead actors, aside from the Archmage Rosa, who was specially called by Durin to play Aozaki Touko, the actor for Ryougi Shiki was not from the Snowflake Troupe. Instead, Durin selected a young girl from the audition under General Wilhelm's command, chosen for her striking resemblance and fitting demeanor to Ryougi Shiki. The reason for picking someone from the military was due to her exceptional skills, ensuring she could handle the demanding action scenes of the story, which an ordinary person from a theater troupe might struggle with.
For the role of Kokutou Mikiya, Durin chose an actor from the Snowflake Troupe, who had previously played a minor role as a passerby in the Clock Tower segment of "Fate Zero." His fitting aura and acting skills led Durin to select him after the audition.
Initially, Durin was concerned about the potential lack of chemistry between actors from different backgrounds. However, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that the actors for Ryougi Shiki and Kokutou Mikiya were childhood friends who had drifted apart due to their respective paths. Their instant recognition of each other upon reunion proved fortuitous, sparing Durin the effort of building their on-screen chemistry, which contributed to completing all pre-shoot preparations within a week.
Apart from the three main actors, there was another key character—Fujou Kirie, the antagonist. Interestingly, the role was played by a summoned undead banshee, whom Laetitia had conjured using magical materials obtained from Saiki. The number of banshees summoned matched the script's requirements for "The Garden of Sinners."
With the cast assembled, filming for "The Garden of Sinners" commenced at a rapid pace. Durin's ambitious plan was to premiere the series with a three-episode back-to-back broadcast, marking the debut of the new television station. He meticulously scheduled the entire summer, ensuring ample time for the later filming of "Fate Zero."
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