The movie was based on the legendary tale from Earth, "The Legend of the White Snake".
Filming the movie was easy, the recording tools used did not involve cameras capturing a 2D image but crystals that were able to record a whole 3D record within a certain range.
Of course, this meant that Rexford did not need any revolutionary or creative camera work but it did put more pressure on the creativity of the editing team.
That said, Rexford did want to see just how much talent he needed from the actors. The ability to freely manipulate any recorded event within a given zone allowed Rexford to remove the need for actors to be wary of a camera or have "camera talent".
All he needed was for them to be able to act but how much talent in acting he needed, the first movie to be created in this world revealed just that.
The script he created was simple, a knight Ferrand was saved by an apothecary. After getting better, Ferrand thanked the kind woman but her beautiful face and kind smile became a memory that he could never forget.
Moreover, his dear brother, a knight named Claude had taken interest in the apothecary's sister.
The two brother's, not blood brothers but knightly brothers, then went on a journey to fight against an army led by vampires.
During the battle, Claude had been injured, Ferrand brought him to the apothecary knowing that his own brothers in the order would order for Claude's execution should they learn about his injury.
In the end, the two were unable to do anything and Claude ended up being turned into a vampire.
The apothecaries, masters of healing, knew of a way to hide the fact that Claude had become a vampire.
It involved faking a curse and Ferrand, unwilling to see his brother killed, allowed for the process. But Claude, after becoming a demon, was able to sense the presence of others who were "not human".
He found out about the secret of the sisters and confronted them after writing a letter which he planned to send out should he perish.
The confrontation resulted in Claude learning that "demon's aren't the enemy of humanity".
The order he and his brother were in had believed that "The Demon race was created to end humanity and we must eliminate them by the will of God".
They held holy weapons that only worked should their fate be strong, and the knights believed that God was on their side.
Yet the sisters revealed that Claude was still capable of using his holy powers despite becoming a demon, the enemy of God.
Claude ended up accepting the sisters and keeping the secret safe, moreover, he also learned that the elder sister, a white snake lamia named Suzanne who his brother fell in love with also had the same feelings for Ferrand.
Moreover, Anais, the younger sister had initially rejected Claude because he saw demons as "mere monsters" but after his change of heart, she chose to accept him.
But their calm lives did not last long as Rexford accidentally found the letter his brother made and sent it out.
By the time Claude found out, it was already too late. Without alerting Ferrand, he made a plan with the sisters to escape the human nation; they would exile themselves in the demon empire where the sisters had revealed that even humans, elves and dwarves could live freely so long as they accepted the rule of the Empire.
Ferrand only knew that they were going on a mission to save humans captured by demons. So when their group was ambushed by the knights, Ferrand did not do anything but allow the sisters to get captured while Claude maintained his silence and was commended by the Commander Leon.
After the capture, Claude and Ferrand returned to the village where the sisters stayed and Ferrand confronted his brother about the situation, away from the eyes and ears of their fellow knights.
Claude admitted that he knew but challenged his brother to go through the items left by Suzanne before leaving to rescue the two sisters after making a false report of their investigation on other potential threats.
The climax of the movie came with Claude making a false report of demons having a "hidden village" ; it was at a remote area where nothing could be obtained, the perfect place to set up a secret base. In reality, the area was Claude and Ferrand's secret base where they go out to relax when not on duty.
While most of the pegasus knights were led away, Claude then requested to see the prisoners. After which he rescued them and led them away.
They were about to cross the border when Commander Leon arrived.
Claude immediately pushed the sisters away while he blocked the bridge that led to the path towards the border.
But just as Claude was about to be killed by Leon, Ferrand arrives and saves his brother while leading the sisters away.
The chase continues and just as they are about to get over the border, the pegasus knights arrive.
Surrounded, the four could only make a desperate last stand, both Ferrand and Claude revealed that they still had their holy power which instead of weakening for their "heresy" got even stronger as they stuck to their values and the oaths.
In the end, Leon struck Claude incapacitating him and stabbed Ferrand with his spear, at that moment, Ferrand was able to immobilize Leon with a curse and just as he was about to take his brother's head, he dropped his sword.
Ferrand revealed that none of the knights were killed and the only one to die that night was Ferrand as he restated his oath, "To protect all those I love with my life".
The ending of the movie focused on Ferrand, Suzanne, Anais and Claude, all four sinners being showered by a golden light as they slowly turned to unbreakable stones and a small shrine emerged where a scripture was written saying, "May the stone break when the tragedies has come to an end".
Two weeks, a bit under two hours, the movie came to a close and Ortrun was already hiding her face.
"Wonderful"
Regulus whispered after the ending credits started to roll.
"I believe having a scene of the future where Leon brings his Elven wife to the four statues after the shine broke would send a stronger message"
Rutherford calmly commented, but to his words-
"No there is still an ending sequence, a better one", Delilah responded to him which garnered a response-
"Huh?"
This time it was Rexford who, despite being part of the editing team, was unaware of an ending sequence. He planned to sit through the credit role ensuring that it had no flaws.
After all, the hardest part to edit turned out to be the credit sequence.
Most of the movie was recorded and edited through magic, but the credit sequence was basically pure illusion magic forcefully added into the record. It was a difficult task as the illusion magic was like a bug that could have corrupted the whole record.
When they were adding the credit roll into the final cut, they had to be extremely careful and in fact, about 247 copies of the movie were scrapped because of the credit roll, yet an ending sequence was added without Rexford knowing?
Unfortunately for Rexford, despite being the one who wished to improve the ability to manipulate records, the person who actually developed the technique was Delilah.
Of course, Rexford had improved his ability somewhat but Delilah still ended up becoming his editor.
Because of Delilah's words, some people who were about to live sat through the movie and as they did, the final ending sequence played.
…
It started with the closing of a book, on it was a title - Legend of the Stone Crossing"
The perspective panned out and as it did, it revealed the reader of the book, Delilah, sitting inside a study room filled with books, papers and other writing materials.
"I believe this tale could have been ended better, a hopeful resolution, maybe a merciful escape"
She complained while turning around to reveal Ferrand- no, the actor for Ferrand, Rexford Diabolus. But, instead of the attire he wore in the movie, he was now dressed in a casual fit of a messy plain white dress shirt and tan pants.
He sat before a table furiously scribbling away.
"A happy ending would mean that reality is even happier, we can't tell a story of joy and hope when the reality of the world is harsh and cruel. All the people would do is enter into a false sense of security, a lie to run away from the truth ultimately leading to self-destruction"
Rexford did not turn around, only answered while still focused on what he was writing.
"Then what are you writing?"
At this question, Rexford turned to Delilah, his face was smirk yet his expression, due to his attractive countenance, made it hard for one to see it as evil or just playful.
"It's already morning, if you write anymore, we'll end up missing the shoot"
"Oh crap! Today's the start, right?"
"Yes"
"Shit! Hurry!"
Rexford arranges the papers on his table, locking them in a hard case to ensure that they won't be blown by the wind or be damaged. As Rexford left the room the perspective followed his actions, framing Delilah by the edge while focusing on Rexford leaving and heading for the door.
The perspective shifted once more, this time, outside the room as the door opened. When Delilah was left alone, the image went still for a second before it moved forward but instead of Delilah, it headed for the table accompanied by dramatic music.
Then the big reveal showed the cover of the papers which Rexford had been focused on writing and on it were the words, "The Monsters and Cinderella".
…
After seeing the ending sequence, Rexford felt as if he was watching the first Avengers movie once more. When he thought that everything had ended, a big reveal came up and the opening to a cinematic universe was made.
'She did that without the small amount of experience we had with this film? What the fuck?! Is she a genius? No… Well, she is but what?! That's fucking unfair!'
Rexford complained internally, while he was basically plagiarizing ideas from another world, Delilah was being a "true creative" and doing things that only experienced directors and producers could achieve!
The witch was doing a calculated move that shook the entire entertainment industry of earth, reignite the passion for an IP and even created a multi year phenomena that brought a failing studio to the apex of the industry!
She did it without even watching a single film!
How could Rexford not complain? HE was the one who came from such a world yet the first person to think of doing such a revolutionary move was Delilah!
'What a fucking joke…'
If that weren't enough, Delilah even added him into the picture, making it appear as if everything was planned by him.
Others would have gratefully scoffed at her actions but Rexford understood the meaning behind it all-
"You have a good wife"
Rutherford said as he patted Rexford's shoulder.
"No shit, I didn't know anything about this…"
"That's why she's a good wife", Regulus also chimed in when Rexford tried to speak against Rutherford's comment.
The last person who the Third Prince could rely on, Ortrun who was relishing the experience of watching Rexford give up his life for her-
"This is my loss"
Only muttered such words leaving Rexford unable to do anything but sigh in defeat.