[POV: Elian Verma]
The hum of electricity in the projection room was familiar — comforting, even. Elian had spent more nights than he could count surrounded by dusty film reels, the sharp smell of acetate in the air, the worn-out seats of the dying theater his only audience. He'd died there, ironically, just after rewriting the screenplay he knew would've changed his life — if only he'd lived long enough to sell it.
Now, he opened his eyes in a room that wasn't the projection booth.
It was… unfamiliar. Spacious. Sunlight spilled through cream-colored curtains. The scent of fresh paper and coffee beans lingered in the air. He sat up quickly — too quickly — and clutched his forehead.
"This… isn't my body."
He was taller. Leaner. His hands looked different — the skin smoother, the nails manicured. He swung his legs off the bed and caught a glimpse of the full-length mirror across the room.
Elian Verma had transmigrated.
There was no panic. No existential dread. Just a slow, creeping realization — and then, a spark of opportunity.
He examined the room again. On a nightstand, a sleek tablet blinked to life, recognizing his movement. The interface was streamlined and strange — a mix between modern tech and something more advanced.
Suddenly, a ding echoed in his mind.
[ System Activated: ScriptForge System Initialized
Welcome, Elian Verma.
Your creative potential has been unlocked. ]
His breath hitched. A soft glow manifested in his peripheral vision, forming a transparent UI screen:
[ Host Identity: Elian Verma
Age: 24
Profession: Screenwriter (Novice)
System Functions Unlocked:
• Script Archive (Past Life Access)
• Script Modification Studio (Real-Time Editing).
• Scene Visualizer (AI Simulation)
Industry Buffs (Locked)
Mission 1: Write and sell your first screenplay in 30 days.
Reward: Industry Buff (Networking Boost Lv.1) ]
Elian blinked.
"Not bad," he murmured. "System, can I access my past scripts?"
[ Accessing Archive…
Recovered: 12 Full-Length Scripts | 31 Outlines | 56 Draft Concepts ]
His lips curled. Scripts that took him years to draft in his last life were now neatly organized and instantly available. Some of them had the spark of genius. Others needed work. But in this world?
In this new body?
He could make it.
Elian stood, tested the stability of his legs, and walked toward the glass desk where a digital pen and film industry magazine lay open. The cover article was titled: "Why StarStudio is Dying — And Who Might Save It."
"StarStudio… why does that name sound familiar?"
The door opened suddenly.
"Elian? You're up?" A young man peeked in — short hair, square glasses, and a clipboard clutched to his chest. "Thank god. You missed the morning pitch meet. I covered for you, but Ms. Saara's pissed."
Elian narrowed his eyes. "And you are?"
"...You're kidding, right?" the man asked nervously. "It's me. Rishan. Your assistant-slash-friend-slash-overworked roommate? You've been working day and night for StarStudio. Don't tell me you forgot your own life again."
Elian smiled inwardly. The former Elian Verma must've been a struggling junior screenwriter in this world. Lucky.
"No, I just had a weird dream," he said smoothly. "One of those 'Who am I?' types."
Rishan chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, well, maybe that brain reset will help. You've been stuck on your Blood Moon Lovers script for three months. They gave you a deadline extension, but if you don't deliver a pitchable draft in 72 hours, they'll drop you."
"Blood Moon Lovers?" Elian pulled up the draft on the tablet with a mental command. It was… terrible. Pacing issues, shallow characters, and the dialogue — cringe-worthy.
"System," he said in his mind. "Can I rewrite this?"
[ Permission Granted: Activate Modification Studio? ]
"Yes."
A new UI appeared. On the left was the current script. On the right, a glowing cursor blinked next to suggestions from the system. It analyzed audience preferences, genre trends, and even competing studio projects.
As Elian worked, words rearranged themselves like obedient soldiers. Dialogues sharpened. Scenes merged. A love subplot became a psychological thriller twist. The vampire lore was upgraded — less sparkle, more gothic dread.
[ Estimated Pitch Value: 8.2/10 (Above Market Average)
Recommend: Submit draft for internal review]
He smiled.
"Rishan," he said aloud, "tell Saara she'll have the draft by tonight."
The assistant's jaw dropped. "You're serious?"
"Very."
---
[POV: Saara Trivedi – Executive Producer, StarStudio]
Saara drummed her nails on the glass desk.
It was nearly noon, and Elian Verma — her most unpredictable writer — had missed the pitch meeting again.
The boy had potential. She saw it the first time he presented a horror short that made a jury of five grown men flinch. But he lacked consistency. And in a dying industry, consistency was survival.
She opened her inbox again. Then blinked.
{Subject: Blood Moon Lovers — Final Draft (V3)
From: Elian Verma
Time: 11:58 a.m. }
She clicked it open. Half-expecting to be disappointed, she skimmed the first five pages. Her eyes widened.
The pacing was taut. The dialogue carried tension. The world-building was elegant, purposeful — as if it came from a writer who understood his craft inside-out.
She reached page ten before whispering, "Who are you, Elian Verma?"
Then, she opened the studio messenger.
{ (To: Development Team)
Schedule an emergency script read-through. Elian's version 3 just went from B-list to black-list contender. }
---
[POV: Elian Verma]
The sunlight was warmer now. He stood on the balcony of his apartment, watching the skyline of a city that looked like Mumbai merged with Tokyo and something entirely unfamiliar.
This world was similar — but better. More polished. More cinematic.
And he had an advantage.
Twelve finished scripts. A modification system. Access to trends and predictions. All he had to do was play smart, stay low, and not draw too much attention too fast.
[ Mission 1 Progress: 87%
Projected Completion Time: 14 hours
Next Unlock: Industry Buff — Networking Boost Lv.1 ]
He leaned on the railing and smiled.
"Time to direct my own future."