Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: For Elise (2)
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The world of video direction is vast and deep.
How vast and deep? There are millions of professionals who make a living just pondering direction techniques!
And those people aren't exactly starving, either.
That means the market demand is enormous.
"90% of viewers have no clue about that kind of detailed direction—and couldn't care less."
There are few viewers with a deep knowledge of video direction.
They probably don't even have the inclination to learn.
I mean, why study something you're not interested in?
"Oh, of course, I'm not looking down on those viewers."
A creator getting high on art fumes and scorning consumers? That's a time-honored mental illness in the art world.
And plenty of people around to enable that art high.
It's a vicious disease with no cure.
I don't want my name on the list of junkies from Socrates' thesis-writing days.
"True commercial artists work for the 99% ordinary folks, not the elite 1% experts."
Sell to the 99% fools, not the 1% geniuses.
That's the basics of sales and business.
Personally, I think "experts vs. general public" is more accurate than geniuses and fools.
"Even experts are clueless in other fields."
Intelligence and knowledge are separate stats.
Think Einstein could solve a Jed Q puzzle?
Me beating Melon Musk in Tekken with teabagging doesn't make me superior.
Yet people who know more music or movies than others delude themselves. Mr. Musk, do you grasp the philosophy in this hitbox?
"Culture inevitably changes, and genres splinter."
The art junkies will never get it, but for me—a former cameraman and reporter—this was an ironclad fact and creed.
From classical music to pop.
From theater to film, film to drama.
From Go or chess to console and mobile games.
From portraits to comics and animation.
Culture evolves through mutual influence.
So arguing superiority between creators or consumers is pointless.
Even starting debates like that just invites trouble! Say "Michael Jackson doesn't hold a candle to Beethoven's toe," and watch the Lakshmi explode right there!
"Commercial artists can't get lost in direction only experts appreciate."
And trying to educate the masses? Even worse.
Let's stick to subtle opinionated remarks.
"But ironically, plenty of my main viewers hold those elitist views."
In a stream enjoyed by 100 people, one will hate me like I'm their mortal enemy.
Prioritize 99 general viewers over one expert.
But you can't satisfy all 99.
That's the paradox of commercial art.
"Still, there are directions most viewers will enjoy without fail."
What kind? What else—explosions, baby!
"Oh, downed another one."
I crossed my legs arrogantly in the master bedroom, turning down the monitor speakers as the explosion boomed.
"Folks, I've always thought: if conflict resolution or endings are a hassle, just blow it all up and call it done."
I sipped my coffee and chuckled at the horrific comment sparked by my quip.
The monitor displayed the Sealed Tower gate under assault.
"Squeee?!"
Ghost missiles swarming the tower, blood bats dropping one by one after getting hit.
Goblin fire sweeping away the blood bats.
A breathtaking, adrenaline-pumping sight.
My pre-clear plan was simple.
"Summon ghosts and blow 'em up. Easy, right?"
How straightforward! "It's exactly like the Absolute Defense Line strat." The difference? Both monsters and summons are airborne. Meaning way better visuals.
Even this near-cheat strat had viewers hooked—for that reason.
I picked one ghost as the main camera.
Of course, that doesn't cancel Wraith Charge.
This chase was a deadly race.
Ghost bombs slicing through the wind!
The blood bat panicked, pulling away.
Two aerial bodies twisting trajectories in pursuit across the sky.
Wind roared through the screen.
Endless explosions dotted the distant horizon.
Gravity-defying sharp turns and dogfights!
It was ecstatic visuals, like transplanting a fighter pilot's cockpit view.
"Yeah, even better than I hoped."
Blockbuster movie footage.
No wonder viewers were immersed.
"Reality sets it apart from movies."
No matter the historical accuracy, movies are fiction.
This dogfight? Raw, life-or-death pursuit.
100% real, stakes aside.
"Immersion hits different for viewers."
Why else would Hollywood lead the live ban push?
Unfair competition, so they tripped it up.
Thank you, Hollywood!
"Squeeee—!!"
Then—the blood bat's back loomed suddenly close in the ghost's pursuit.
The short clip ended abruptly.
"Ahem. Announcement for Yeoto Airlines passengers: our flight will soon crash into Bat Back International Airport."
I grabbed the mic, cackling like a captain.
"Mind the motion sickness."
Post-announcement: impact.
The kid ghost hit the blood bat and detonated.
Camera destroyed, screen went black.
Black box footage, as chat said.
The reactions exploded, deepening my grin.
"Humans are wired for flames and booms."
Fire and sound signal life-threatening danger.
Instinct demands focus!
"That's why explosions rule visuals."
Loud blasts hijack the mind.
Blazing flames seize attention.
Why backline mages top popularity.
"Everyone loves the flash."
Mind-melting hot action!
That's what strat stream viewers crave.
And explosion lovers rarely hate blasts.
Sometimes switch styles for hero-movie one-shots.
Light trails slashing the sky, popping off.
Perfect footage tool.
I could film a war doc solo!
Effort in direction paid off in reactions.
"Glad the planned strat works. This new gate was Pandora's box."
Still, I frowned slightly.
Spotted the combo's flaw.
"Power's fine. Got the wand."
Canyon Wand.
Boosts any magic attack from 1 to 151, no strings.
This gem guaranteed firepower.
Without it, not this potent.
"Issue is it's tough mid-fight."
Decent combo, but needed pre-setup for ghosts and Wraith Charge.
Takes minutes minimum.
And a bigger flaw...
Hard to keep my skillset secret!
"They noticed, huh."
No surprise.
Corpse Explosion looks different.
"How's my Necromancer normal?"
No-corpse ranged summons.
Ghost-compatible kamikaze and Wraith Charge.
Those two scream atypical Necro.
Why I skipped the usual boasting.
"Can't ignore the curiosity, though."
Unresolved buzz turns to rumors.
I faced the cam seriously.
"Curious about my skills, everyone?"
Figures. Decent buzz.
Time for an official statement.
I straightened my suit tie firmly.
"No choice. Promise: when I hit S-rank, I'll reveal my summon secrets."
Busted. Sharp bunch.
Can't hide face or skills forever.
Goal's S-rank and guild founding.
"Won't hide indefinitely, but no need to broadcast it myself."
Thankfully, concealing skills isn't bad manners.
No backlash for silence.
Proof: donations defending me.
"Didn't live in vain. Kinda touched."
Some truths are obvious but hard to voice.
Would've seemed try-hard from me.
Boosted by cheers, ghosts reached the tower summit.
The zone I'd skipped scouting.
The sole entrance packed with blood bats.
Like they were camping outside.
"That's why I couldn't scout inside."
Breaching pre-stream would've sparked combat.
I bailed on scouting here.
Now live? No issue.
"Plenty of footing at the entrance, huh?"
Grabbed a mana potion, grinning.
"Call: Dancing Specter El Ayla."
"If my liege calls, I come gladly."
The black-haired beauty appeared, sword in hand.
Chat cheers omitted. Not my first rodeo.
Cheer for me too, you harsh lot.
El Ayla charged, ignoring my sigh.
Scimitars slashed mobs like tracer fire.
"Cleared."
El Ayla, leveled up further since last.
Blood bat pack? Easy chow.
"Oh, just leveled me up too."
Perfect timing. Momentum's good?
"Boss fight might be sweeter than expected."
I shared vision with El Ayla, grinning.
My view and stream cam separate—no issue.
"Door's got an outside latch."
Simple push-lock.
Bats lacked the smarts.
Pushed the intact latch aside.
(El Ayla did, technically.)
"Boss fight anytime. Watch closely—no liability for scares."
Yeah, praise and enjoy, folks.
Win-win: you fun, me paid.
I chuckled, issuing orders.
El Ayla flung open the heavy stone door.