by Rick Lakin
“The Safety Buddy is now implemented at a rudimentary level on all Tovar HoloPads. Give me an hour for the industry safety research.”
“Alert Grayson. He might want to run it by the Industrial Safety office.”
“Boss, there's one more thing you need to consider. You created some valuable intellectual property. You might want to look at the possibility of marketing our apps outside of Tovar.”
“You're right, Sami. I probably need to bring Mom into this. Keep me posted on the progress of the Tovar Safety Buddy”
Jennifer got home right before her mother.
“Mom, I need a lawyer. Can I ask you to represent me on a legal issue?”
“Somebody's suing you on your third day?”
“No, I created some apps on the new HoloPads at the studio, and Sami suggested that I try to make some money off of them. They'll increase productivity and improve employee safety. Sami thinks they might be marketable. I sent you my intern contract.” Jennifer described the four apps that she created.
“Yes, there's a clause that your work product is owned by the studio, but it says that if you create content beyond your ancillary duties, the company may ask for a maximum royalty of twenty percent. Did your supervisor ask you to create this intellectual property?” Sheila said.
“Script Assistant helped me do my job. I created the others to help employees use their HoloPads and to promote safety. But not at anyone’s request,” Jennifer said.
“You are right, the Script Assistant falls into a grey area, but the others should be straightforward.”
“What's your advice?”
“I know an attorney at Tovar who handles intellectual property. I’ll try to get an addendum to your contract granting Tovar an unlimited license to the IP you create and twenty percent of the royalties you receive outside of Tovar. That should cover any of the apps that you might create this summer.”
“Do you think that what I described is worth anything?”
“I do. Especially the Safety Buddy. That can be marketed widely in the entertainment industry and adapted for any other industrial app. It might even become a consumer app.”
“Is it enough to pay for dinner?”
“As soon as I agree with Tovar, I can see GGG offering you a contract in the high six figures.”
“Ooh, nice dinner.”
“Did you use Sami and your shared computing resources at UVN?” Sheila asked.
“Yes, I did.”
“When we set up the student-study agreement with UVN, they assumed that you would use their hardware and software for creative endeavors. They requested that you assign ten percent of your royalties to UVN in the form of a donor contribution to the university. In exchange, they provide all of the online classes and tutors that you request and shared computing space for Sami and your other projects.”
“Lab Rat One?”
“Yes, they deferred to you on your name for the project.”
“Have we sent them royalties before?”
“Yes, we have. I assigned the school ten percent of your royalties from the Galaxy Warrior series. They have been very grateful for the two-hundred, twenty-thousand dollars that you sent them so far.”
“Wow, how much money is in my bank account?!"
“A little over a million. Taxes are rather bothersome.”
“Okay, continue the assignment of ten percent to the University."
Sheila, Jennifer and her step-dad, Allen, went to a celebratory dinner that evening. Jennifer shared her successes at Tovar.
Jennifer ended her first week when the episode of Virtual Detective wrapped. “Jennifer, I'm releasing you today,” Olivia said. “You helped immensely and gave me some good tools to build on. Harper Jennings has requested for you to be her script assistant starting Monday on Sound Stage One.”
Jennifer’s eyes sparkled, “Brilliant?”
“Yeah, you get your dream job. They are starting the second week of interiors.”
“Thank you so much, Olivia.”
“You earned this one. Check in with Harper before you leave today. And, she wants a HoloPad with your Script Assistant so it might help if you came bearing gifts.”
“I'll head right over to IT. Thanks for everything.”
Jennifer entered Grayson’s office. “The safety people are afraid that you're putting them out of business,” Grayson said. “They want you to make a presentation Monday morning. You’ve created a great demand on the lot for the HoloPads. The new toys are changing how we use technology.”
She got to Sound Stage One as they were breaking for the weekend. She walked up behind a man with grey hair. “Sir, can you point me toward Harper Jennings?”
He turned and said, “Beatles shirt. Over there,” He pointed. “And who are you?” Jennifer realized that she was talking to the Navvy Kelrithian.
“I’m Jennifer Gallagher.” She was almost speechless as she remembered the story that brought Navvy and Brilliant to Earth….
Mojave Desert - 2027
Brilliant appeared in the sky and began to descend, the film crew did not know how to react. Most of them ran behind the nearest object and hid. The Producer and the consultant, a former NASA designer, stood and watched as the silver-grey vessel from the cover of a science fiction novel softly touched down eighty yards away from their location film set. A ramp dropped down, and three people began walking toward them.
The Producer looked at the consultant, “Is this one of yours?”
The consultant said, “I left NASA five years ago. I assure you we had nothing like this on the drawing boards. It has to be a black operation.”
A thirty-something man with an unmistakable air of command spoke to the two, “I'm Navvy Kelrithian, this is my wife, Hanna, and our pilot, Jack Masing. Is it possible that we could meet the person in charge?”
Hanna gave Navvy a quick look of amazement and then just shook her head.
“I'm William Mason, producer of The Lost Starship from Tovar Studios, and this is John Nascimento, a former NASA designer, who is acting as our consultant.”
“What agency built your ship? You are not from NASA. It must have taken a lot of funding from our programs to build that ship.”
“Why don’t we hold those questions? We got sidetracked from our shakedown mission, and we happened to run out of supplies. Is it possible that we could impose on you for lunch? Then we can give you a tour of Brilliant,” Navvy said.
John interrupted, “You are obviously from a secret organization, and you might be a threat. We need to see your identification….”
“John, these travelers are obviously hungry. They left their ray guns on their ship. Why don’t we have lunch? Navvy, call me Bill. Craft Services are over here.” The other crew members emerged from cover. Bill called the Assistant Director over. “Tell the crew to break for lunch.”
They settled down to an excellent lunch, and the conversation began.
“So, tell me about this film that you're making,” Navvy said.
“Navvy, I'll be honest. We may have bitten off more than we can chew. Tovar Studios has been flirting with creditors for the last five years. I came across this science fiction property and ran the numbers. Unfortunately, we are way over budget. We may have to close down unless we can convince our money people that we can make a profitable film.”
“What kind of problems are you facing?” Navvy asked.
“Our star is ready to leave the film because we can’t pay him. We have no idea how we're going to shoot the space exteriors. Paramount has premiered a film with a new 3D process, and we just cannot afford the technology.”
“Again, speaking for NASA, I must insist that you identify yourselves and the government agency that built that ship,” John said.
Navvy looked annoyed and then said, “Okay, NASA, I can't tell you where we are from but if I promise to share some, not all, of our tech with NASA, will you be happy? We'll give you a walk-through of our ship and then you can call your buddies in
Houston.” The consultant relaxed and nodded. “Bill, let’s introduce you to StarCruiser Brilliant.”
“StarCruiser? That's preposterous,” John said.
“Nascimento, you are my employee,” Bill said. “You signed a non-disclosure agreement. You keep your mouth shut, or I'll sue your ass right out of this business.”
After they finished lunch, Navvy asked Hanna, “Hanna, please take our NASA designer through the lower decks. I'll take Bill to the bridge. Jack, stand by the ramp and answer questions.”
Navvy and Bill arrived on the bridge and Bill looked around. “Navvy, I've been around space technology for years. You're not from around here, are you?”
Navvy looked at the small viewport at the forward end of the bridge and nodded. “I was born in Philadelphia, but yes, the date on my birth certificate has the year 2193.”
Bill gasped.
“Brilliant is a brand-new ship. She had an engineering casualty on our shakedown cruise, and we jumped back two-hundred years.”
“Can you get back to your home?” Bill asked.
“No, we're stuck here. My wife, Hanna, is pregnant. Jack has left his parents behind. So, let’s discuss how we can mutually benefit from this."
"Have you ever thought of becoming a filmmaker?”
“I am a fast learner,” Navvy said. “Where do I start?”
“Here is a laptop that has a large library of screenplays,” Bill said. “Look at the classics and then follow up to the space operas like the genre we are shooting."
“That’s a good beginning,” Navvy said.
Two days later, he came back. “Bill, I have analyzed the budget, the shots you have already, the problems with your actors and your screenplay. I think we should throw it all out.”
“Navvy, you know nothing about this. Your idea would cost the studio one-hundred million dollars," Bill said. “We've already shot our entire budget.”
“Read this.” Navvy handed Bill a one-hundred-fifteen-page document titled, StarCruiser Brilliant, The Lost Starship. “We can do it with a hundred-and-fifty million dollar capital investment.”
“Where the hell are we going to get a hundred-and-fifty million dollars?!” Bill asked.
“You read my screenplay, and I'll take care of the money,” Navvy said.
Navvy went over to the NASA Consultant.
“How do you like StarCruiser Brilliant?”
“None of this technology is known to me. First of all, why won’t you tell me where this ship was built? The technology on that ship is impossible. It's science fiction. If it weren’t for my non-disclosure agreement, I would have NASA out here in a heartbeat,” John said.
“John, can we stipulate that, right now, I cannot tell you where or when the ship was built?” Navvy said.
“Yes, I suppose.”
“Can we further stipulate that the technology on Brilliant is real, not fiction?”
“That’s a reach but yes, for argument’s sake.”
“Do you understand that I cannot release all of the technology at one time because it would disrupt too many industries?”
“That’s reasonable.”
“Finally, can we agree that you would like to become a rich man?”
The NASA engineer rubbed his face and throat. “Yes, of course.”
“Here is what I have in mind.” Navvy explained his plan by which John would set up a company that would act as an intermediary between himself as the ship’s designer, the large aerospace technology firms, and NASA.
“This will be worth billions of dollars,” John said.
“All I need is a couple of hundred million in three months,” Navvy said. “Can you do it?”
“I would need staff, location, patent attorneys….”
“I will be the senior partner and give you all of the advice you need.”
“I can do it.”
“Let’s start by getting a high-powered corporate attorney in here to write this up.”
“I'll start right now.”
Two hours later, Bill Mason emerged from his trailer and came up to Navvy. “This is the best sci-fi screenplay that I have ever read, but there is one major problem. You use the term 'SFX TBD,' which I assume means special effects to be determined. Those details make the budget half-a-billion dollars. How are we going to afford all of the outer space shots with expensive models and the interiors with all of the exotic technology?” Bill said.
Navvy pointed to the ship he designed.
“Omigod.”
“I have a device on board called a fabricator. Hanna and I can design and create spaceborne cinedrones that can capture Brilliant at any angle. We can place cameras anywhere you want and generate any view that you need.”
“We will have to recast the entire picture,” Bill said. “The only actor you kept was Ellie Johansen. She has no experience. Who can we use as the captain and crew?”
“How about Jack Masing as the captain? He has the looks and the starship experience. I think he and Ellie can develop some chemistry. Hanna and I can fill in the crew. You can cast the rest.”
He took another long look at the ship. “Omigod, this will be….”
“Brilliant, StarCruiser Brilliant,” Navvy said.
Eight months later, StarCruiser Brilliant, The Lost Starship starring Jack Masing and Ellie Johansen, premiered to the highest opening gross of 2028 and went on to become the first motion picture to earn three-billion dollars. The following February, Bill Mason accepted the Best Picture award and screenwriter Navvy Kelrithian received the Best Original Screenplay award.
John Nascimento formed a very successful consultancy to work with NASA and act as a liaison between the agency and his partner, Navvy Kelrithian. Five years later, NASA finally established a colony on Mars.
Sound Stage One - 2067
Jennifer hesitated when she saw Navvy, then said, “I’m sorry to bother you, Mr. Kelrithian. I'll be interning on Brilliant with Ms. Jennings as her script assistant.”
Navvy paused and sized up the sixteen-year-old. “You’re the one who has been shaking things up at Tovar.”
“I didn’t mean to create problems.”
“Keep shaking, young lady," Navvy said. "This industry runs on new blood and you are saving me a lot of money,”
“Thank you, Sir. I’m a fan. I’ve read all twelve volumes of the Brilliant Tech Manual.”
“So, you’re the one. That’s a difficult read. Welcome to Brilliant. Keep in mind that you are now working with the best in the business. Good luck and I’ll see you Monday.”
They shook hands. Navvy headed back to his office and Jennifer walked over to Harper Jennings. “Ms. Jennings, my name's Jennifer Gallagher. I'm assigned to you as your Script Assistant next week. Call me Jen.”
“Call me Harper. I hear that you are pretty good with your magical pad and your Jedi mind tricks,” Harper said.
“No magic; no tricks. Here's your HoloPad. I already set up your Script Assistant app. Just log in with your name.”
“Thanks, Jen. I heard that you're good with wrangling information and mining data. Right now, this shoot is ten percent over budget, and we need to streamline the production. You'll work with me and the Assistant Director, Brooklyn Nascimento, to direct traffic, update crew with current information, prevent duplication of effort, and keep the mistakes in check. If you see a possible fix, tell us, and we'll direct you to the person responsible.”
“I'm just an intern. Are you sure you want me to have this responsibility?” Jennifer asked.
“This task is essential but not mission critical. You have shown you have a mastery of technology and data and you can think on your feet. Are you up to this challenge?” Harper asked.
“I need access to the data. I need scripts, schedules, financials, and logs.”
“Jen, you do have access.”
“I guess I have a busy weekend.”
"Yes, you do. And be careful with our young star on the tennis courts. Have a nice weekend.”
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Jennifer’s eyes got huge. “News travels fast.”
“But not far. Tovar is a small place. Welcome to Brilliant.”
“Thanks, I'll get started right away.”
Jennifer walked toward her car. “Sami?”
“I'm gathering data. I have script, financials, schedules, and logs. I found something that may be slowing things down. The virtual actors and virtual sets are very slow and sluggish because they are sharing the system on the back lot with all the other Sound Stages. HumanAI recommends a HoloTurbo accelerator for locations that use HoloTech intensively.”
“Can you run the numbers?”
“I’ve already done that. The cost for the three virtual stages and one edit suite totals $198,000. It’ll pay for itself in about forty shooting days, speed up productions, and optimize post-production. HumanAI can install the hardware this weekend.”
“I have to go to Mr. Kelrithian. Send me the details and contact Harper.”
Jennifer sat in her car to make the call. Harper answered. “Harper, I found a solution that'll save $5000 per day on the entire lot. I need to get in to see Mr. Kelrithian before five p.m. The front-end cost is almost $200K. It'll speed up shooting and help in post-production.”
“We just talked thirty minutes ago. Can’t this wait until Monday?”
“They can only install on weekends. Otherwise, it slows the whole system down for a couple of days.”
“Okay, I'll give Kathy Sakai a heads up that you are coming. Good luck,” Harper said.
“Sami, I guess we're going to get home a little late.” Jennifer walked toward the executive suites. "Sami, set up a holographic presentation with the numbers, and send his assistant the proposal and the funding request.”
A pause from Sami “Ready for your review.” Jennifer looked over the presentation. “Send it.” She entered the executive suites at 3:15 p.m..