Alfonso's words were blunt and straightforward, and hard to argue with.
If a filmmaker who's worked for years in the industry could be outdone by someone with barely any experience in film production, then what was the point of it all?
The film industry had become a fully industrialized, mature system with stable output. And the more industrialized an entertainment industry becomes, the less "talent" alone matters.
The young man, however, was not convinced.
He was a devoted video game player—and a passionate fan of the Final Fantasy series. Of all the games, Final Fantasy VII had left the deepest impact on him.
When he saw the movie trailer for Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children during the Gamestar Carnival and online, he was so moved that he nearly cried.
That kind of emotional investment in a game was rare and powerful.
So when Alfonso openly mocked Gamestar Electronic Entertainment and his beloved Final Fantasy VII, he couldn't accept it.
...
...
Then, suddenly, a thought sparked in his mind.
The trailer's visual effects!
"Mr. Alfonso," the young man said, "I've seen the trailer for your upcoming movie. The effects are decent. But if I'm being honest, the recently released online trailer for Final Fantasy VII looks far better in terms of visual quality. Do you really think your film can surpass Final Fantasy VII in that area?"
Alfonso's heart skipped a beat.
That hit him right where it hurt most—it was the one thing that had been gnawing at him lately.
Gamestar had used its in-house Unreal Engine to produce its film, dramatically reducing costs while maintaining impressive quality.
Even Alfonso had to admit: Gamestar was exceptional in this regard.
His own trailer's effects were around 85–90 in quality.
Meanwhile, the two Final Fantasy VII trailers clocked in at a solid 90.
A five-point difference might not seem like much—but when the young man brought it up publicly, it suddenly felt damning.
Alfonso was instantly annoyed. This brat... how rude can you be? Just calling out my weak spot in front of everyone.
Still, he kept a calm exterior.
"That's only because our last trailer was released a bit too early," he said coolly. "We're putting out a new one in a couple of days—that one will reflect the true quality of our final cut. So don't worry, kid. Once you pay to see my film in theaters, you won't feel like it was a waste. You'll walk away satisfied, realizing that a great movie isn't just about effects—it's about story and depth."
"No thanks. I'm never watching your movie," the young man shot back firmly. "Ever since you mocked my favorite game, you're blacklisted in my book."
He smirked and added, "If your visuals can't even beat Final Fantasy VII, I seriously doubt your story will."
With that, he sat down, arms crossed, watching Alfonso coldly.
Alfonso's face twitched in frustration. He turned toward the host with an expectant look.
Aren't you going to say something? I'm a famous director and you're just going to sit there?
But the host merely shrugged. It was just a verbal exchange—no insults, no swearing. He had no problem with it. In fact, he welcomed the tension. Drama brought ratings.
As for his relationship with Alfonso? Meh. Alfonso was just another guest.
The show ended with Alfonso fuming in silence.
He returned home with a dark expression, replaying the young man's words over and over in his mind.
Damn it… it's always the visual effects... I just can't get past this hurdle.
Why are people so obsessed with one thing? Can't they appreciate the quality of the whole film?
Effects, effects—damn these effects!
They're ridiculously expensive, and yet, they're all that audiences care about these days. If you can't match the standard, you don't qualify as a blockbuster.
It's not that I don't want to do better… If only I had access to Unreal Engine's cost-saving power, I wouldn't be in this mess!
Damn it!
Beep, beep.
His phone rang. Alfonso glanced at the screen, annoyed—it was the head of his company's VFX department.
He didn't want to answer, but in case it was something serious, he suppressed his irritation and picked up.
"Hello? What is it?"
"Boss, just wanted to ask… you're still really interested in the Unreal Engine, right?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
The voice on the other end grew cautious, glancing around before continuing. "Boss, I found a… special connection. This source claims they can get us access to the Unreal Engine—anonymously. No trail. No leaks. We can use it for our VFX and save a ton of money. What do you think?"
Save money.
That was the magic phrase.
It was the one thing on Alfonso's mind these days.
But it infuriated him that the only way to save that money was through the engine made by the company he had helped boycott.
Now, hearing that there might be a workaround—an anonymous way to use the engine—he couldn't help but be tempted.
"Anonymous? No way to trace it back?"
"Absolutely none," the VFX lead confirmed. "Basically, there's a company that already has a license from Gamestar, but they're not doing well financially. They're willing to license the engine to others—off the books. There'll be a small markup, of course, but it'll still be way cheaper than traditional VFX work."
So basically, a middleman making a profit.
Whether that company was actually struggling or not didn't really matter.
"You're sure no one will find out?"
"I guarantee it," the VFX head said confidently. "This is insider info—I've confirmed its safety personally."
Alfonso was intrigued.
He tried to keep a cool head. "Alright. You handle it. Just make sure—absolute secrecy. No one can find out."
He had to maintain his public image while still saving money.
After all, spending real cash like this really stung.