Chapter 20: Lights, Camera, Haction

"Seven some odd centuries ago," Petra intoned solemnly. "The quiet of this surrounding country side was irrevocably shattered!" Now dressed in a light tan 'bomber style' jacket, the actor pauses for a moment at the first bend of the walkway, away from the front of the actual shrine.

"An event, so cataclysmic," He continued gravely, carefully surging back in to motion, though the image of him and his surroundings, appearing noticeably grainy somehow. "That, only a sparse handful of those alive survived to chronicle the tale!"

"Even the land itself was scarred, forever changed." He gestured towards the distance, as the view of the actor continues to subtly alter, showing the beginnings of an increasingly pronounced black border. "A placid lake below now bears silent testament." Petra then nodded. "Merely, an Idyllic masking for a mammoth crater, gouged in the earth by the very same impact which formed the modest hill I now stand atop." He paused again for dramatic effect.

"A hill, and a valley, now shrouded in mystery and eternal legend." The now obvious video image pulls back at this point, further revealing a panoramic shot of the entire Shrine and its surroundings as Petra continued his narrative.

"Journey now with me as we explore these myths, and their basis in fact." He then turned, his had twisted slightly in to a mysterious. "Return, as through the magic of modern computer wizardry we reconstruct the genesis of the legend of Masaki Shrine!" Now almost at the main archway Petra again pauses, glancing about briefly as if, for all the world, to find his bearings.

"It is now still early spring." He resumed turning slightly, indicating the scene to his right. "Behind me, the humble terracotta shod building with its low outhouses provides much needed comfort for the yokels."

"CUT!" Someone suddenly yelled, forcing a blink from the actor. The line of his eyes then hardening.

"God damn it! What is the matter with you?" Wataru swore as he stomped out from behind the camera, then made his way angrily over.

"It's Lowly OUT BUILDINGS!" He stormed, holding a loose-leaf booklet up for inspection while he indicated the text in question with knife like jabs of a finger. "Provides much need SPIRITIAL comfort, for the LOCALS!" He added angerilly. "Why can't you just stick to the script?"

Now no longer seen through the slightly distorted the eye of the camera, Petra's appearance is strangely surreal due to makeup used to lighten his complexion. Drawing himself up, looking easily down his highlighted nose, he towered disdainfully over Wataru.

"I was ad libbing,!" He sniffed. "Simply adding a dash of romance to this otherwise dreary spectacle!"

"NO!" Wataru retorted hotly. "You're screwing around and pissing me off!" Looking down the length of the actor, Wataru couldn't hide a look of astonished disgust. "And what the hell is that thing you have on?" He asked acidly. "I clearly specified a dark suit for this shot!"

"I'm afraid I'm your culprit." Michele reluctantly raised her hand. "They said we're going to lower the light level of the shot." She added, shrugging painfully. "So I thought a lighter outfit would compensate." Wataru glanced mutely her direction.

"It's also why I lightened his complexion and highlights." She shrugged again. "He'd have a ghastly pallor on 'vid' otherwise." Now openly staring at the makeup artist, Wataru glanced back at Petra.

"Well, he looks like a lawyer for Circ-asshole-lay!" He swore turning toward the rest of his crew. "Ben?" He then asked. "What's this about lowering the light level?" Behind his portable A.V. panel Mr. Offer suddenly realized he was the one being addressed.

"Huh?" He said looking at Wataru. "I thought Tony talked to you about that!" Now all heads turned toward the photographer, as if attached to the same string.

"Whoops!" Tony said, face reddening. "Guess I got a little distracted!"

"Uh huh." Michele smiled. "By what I wonder? Or should I say who?"

"Ok!" Wataru began tersely. "Now that we are all communicating. What possible reason would I have to lower the light level?"

"Well all the trees are still bare!" Tony told him incredulously. "And frankly, boss, it looks a little ugly." Tony shrugged, grimacing mildly at his admission, studying the director.

"Oh!" Wataru grunted after a tense moment, seeming relieved. "I specifically chose this time of year because of that."

"Wha?" Michele drawled, amid a chorus of similar sentiment erupting from the entire crew spontaneous enough it made Wataru jump.

"The station already paid a computer image company to do the animation sequences." He recovered tentatively. "They specifically asked the building and surroundings be as free of ground clutter as possible ergo, no flowering trees." Wataru then paused looking slowly from face to face.

"And as to any wide angle shots and stills we might need." He turned, indicating the vista of the shrine behind and about him. "There is just no denying the power and beauty of this place!" Walking slowly over, Wataru clapped Ben on the shoulder. "Think of it!" He then nodded emphatically at where Todd was still crouched. "The trees all about us are poised!" He paused for effect, pantomiming branches with his fingers. "Ready to burst to life after their long winter slumber!" He then strolled excitedly over, next to Petra, extending an arm to touch the actor's shoulder.

"Can't you feel the anticipation?" he continued as Petra seemed to consider before Wataru turned, jerking his hand away at the last possible moment, leaving the actor to just glare. Wataru paused then studying them all As each one of the crew remained silent, being touched by the passion in his words in his or her own way.