"Max, listen to me. If you open an E-rated director's studio, the higher-rated ones won't let your films run on the screen," Jameson warned.
"Why? I haven't done anything to them," Max replied.
"Even if you do nothing, they'll still bully you. I've seen what happened to other E-rated directors over the last five years," Jameson said, his voice filled with concern.
Max didn't feel scared hearing Jameson's words because he had the MC's invincible weapon, the SYSTEM, with him. Why would he be afraid? "I'll know more later; for now, I just want to open the studio."
"Ever since he woke up from the coma, his way of thinking has completely changed," Jameson thought, looking at the confidence on Max's face.
As they were talking, a girl at the table next to Max suddenly screamed in excitement.
"What a fantastic movie! I'm totally obsessed with it!" a girl shouted excitedly in the cafe.
"Yeah, Alisa, it's amazing! I can't wait for the second part of Try Me," her boyfriend replied, his face lit up with excitement. They must've just seen the morning show together.
"Trek, are you going to review this movie on your channel?" Alisa asked.
"Of course, Alisa. That's my job! I'll upload the video tonight," Trek said with a grin as he sipped his coffee.
"Hey, Max, don't pay attention to them," Jammy said, noticing Max staring angrily at the couple discussing the movie next to them.
"Yeah, I won't," Max replied, turning back to Jameson but muttering to himself, "Such foolish people, giving so much credit to a trash movie."
After a moment of thought, Max finally gave in and awkwardly asked, "My Beautiful Lady Dolly, could you tell me how to open a studio?"
"Of course, trash soul," Dolly replied, making Max's face flush with anger, though he said nothing. Dolly continued, "You need to go to the Director's Guild and ask about opening a studio. They'll give you a form. Just fill it with your studio name and other details, and they'll guide you through the rest of the formalities." With that, Dolly let out a yawn. "The queen needs her beauty sleep now. Don't disturb me, trash soul," she said, vanishing from sight.
"You and a queen...!? The amount of arrogance this crazy doll has..." Max thought, silently cursing Dolly as he replayed her words in his mind.
"Jammy, didn't you know you could open a studio by just going to the Director's Guild?" Max asked, wondering why Jammy hadn't applied himself if he knew this.
"I found out later, after I had already signed a five-year contract as an assistant director at KD Studio," Jammy replied, regret clear on his face.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize all you'd been through these last five years," Max said, apologizing sincerely.
"It's alright, buddy. Besides, my contract ends in just three months," Jammy said, smiling a bit.
"So, shall we head to the Director's Guild?" Max asked, inviting Jammy to come along.
"If you've made up your mind, then I won't stop you," Jammy replied, standing up from his chair. The two of them prepared to head out together.
Director Guild HQ in Los Angeles, spanning 200-300 acres, was a sprawling hub for training and supporting filmmakers. As Max and Jameson arrived at the impressive complex, they stepped inside, feeling the weight of the place's history and significance.
At the front counter sat a young woman, appearing around 23, her face bright with a friendly professionalism. Seeing them approach, she smiled. "Hello, gentlemen, how can I assist you today?"
Max leaned forward, meeting her gaze with a calm smile. "I'm here to open my own film studio."
The receptionist's face lit up. "That's great! Just a second." She reached under the counter and lifted a compact device with a handprint scanner attached. "Please place your hand here," she instructed, positioning the device closer to Max.
Max raised his right hand and pressed it firmly onto the scanner. The device scanned his fingerprints, and within moments, details about his profile appeared on the screen before her.
Max Kingston
Age: 23
Rating: E
Position: Director
Certification Year: 2119
Movies Directed: None
The receptionist's eyes widened slightly. Usually, even recent graduates had a few credits under their belt, perhaps as an assistant director or supporting roles. But Max's record was a blank slate—no projects, no credits, no industry experience since graduation. She couldn't hide her surprise.
"Um, Mr. Kingston… have you been... away from the industry for a while?" she asked, her tone cautious, trying to understand the unusual profile.
Max, fully aware of the years he'd lost, gave a subtle nod. "You could say that. Life got in the way."
The receptionist nodded, visibly intrigued but respecting his answer. She handed him a digital form with additional details about studio registration. "Once you complete this, you'll be on your way toward starting your studio. If you have any questions, our team is here to help."
Max was carefully examining the digital form in his hands. The form had thick black bars on both the top and bottom ends, with a few white buttons near the bottom. Taking a seat with Jameson, they started discussing studio names.
"So, have you thought of a name for your studio?" Jammy asked excitedly.
"I'll name it after my family—Kingston Studio. In short, KSS," Max replied with a smile.
"Nice, people will like that name," Jameson complimented.
Max started filling out the form, which was voice-activated; whatever he spoke appeared directly on the screen. The advanced technology reminded Max of sci-fi movies on Earth, but now, he was actually using it himself.
He filled in all the required details, including insurance and security options. Some of it was unfamiliar, but he clicked "Yes" for the options anyway. Once completed, Max took the digital form back to the receptionist.
"Just a moment, sir," she said as she pressed a button on the form. Placing one hand on the top bar and the other on the bottom, she pressed them together. Instantly, the form absorbed, and the information vanished from the screen.
Max was watching in awe, mouth slightly open in surprise. Just then, a message popped up on his phone: "Congratulations! Your studio registration form has been successfully submitted. You will receive a notice from us within 20 working days. Thank you!"
Seeing the notification, Max's excitement grew even more.