Chapter 23
Illium Entertainment News, Morning Broadcast Transcript dated 08132185.
Ozpolis: Greetings esteemed viewers, this one is known as Ozpolis, reporting as always from the entertainment hub of the galaxy. Our top story this morning is Blasto: The Hunt for Saren. Will it ever reach theaters? Sources have confirmed to our correspondents that executives at 6th Dimension Vids are close to canceling production on the latest entry in the top-grossing adventure series and writing off the loss. This follows a series of delays and mishaps during production, culminating in the star's hospitalization. Additional concerns were raised by a recent shooting incident, still under investigation by Nos Astra police, at the hospital where Blasto is recovering.
However, Blasto's co-stars are appealing to the public to keep the production from being closed. The stars have said the vid is mostly finished and would require only minimal shooting to complete once Blasto is sufficiently recovered. They are urging fans of the series to contact the studio and demand the vid be finished.
For more on this story, this one takes you to our esteemed correspondent, Narissa Theopta, who is reporting live from Dantius Memorial Hospital in downtown Nos Astra.
Narissa Theopta: Thank you, Ozpolis. This hospital has been the site of much drama recently. Not long after Blasto's admittance, gunfire involving Eclipse mercenaries and persons unknown was reported inside the building. Nos Astra police cordoned off the entire block and arrested the mercenaries. The police were forced to drop public endangerment charges against mercenaries, however. No witnesses to the shooting have stepped forward and the hospital's security camera footage was lost after the system crashed that night due to a virus. Most of the mercenaries are currently being held without bail on charges of having illegally parked their skycars outside the hospital, which, as our Nos Astra viewers know, can involve fines of up to 5,000 credits per day with compound interest.
The exact reason for the incident remains unclear, with some reports saying it originated on the same floor where Blasto is recovering. Eclipse Protection Unlimited, the organization's nonprofit charitable foundation branch, issued a statement which appeared to confirm this. Eclipse also said its members were the injured party, noting that a half-dozen of them died in the incident.
The statement reads as follows - "A group of Eclipse members who are also Blasto fans recently decided to go to the hospital and convey their wishes for his speedy recovery. While there, they were the victims of an unprovoked attack. Our people are guilty of no crime other than trying to defend themselves, which also meant they had to let their skycar meters expire.
"Eclipse is much more than just a mercenary operation. We are a family. A half-dozen of our sisters and brothers died during this ambush and we are mourning this tragic loss. It is beyond outrageous that some of our family must do this from inside the city jail. We demand the police release them immediately and focus instead on finding the real criminals."
I asked Eclipse who might have attacked them and was given the following additional statement. "We provide protective services to politicians, ambassadors, business executives, and independent research facilities, among others. We have also done extensive charitable work to help colonists across the galaxy have the security they need during the earliest stages of their efforts to build new homes for themselves and their children. This work sometimes brings us into conflict with various groups who may hold grudges, especially if they attempt to engage in a fight with our highly-trained, highly-efficient members. Those groups may try to extract revenge when our members let their guard down, such as when they make a trip to a hospital to try to cheer up a friend or a vid star like Blasto. This is the one of the burdens Eclipse members must bear for protecting others. They proudly accept it when they put on the Eclipse uniform."
Eclipse declined to comment on reports that three of its members attempted to take diners at a restaurant next to the hotel hostage. Eyewitnesses have told us the attempt was foiled by krogan actor Jorgal Dreed, who was dining in the restaurant at the time. Dreed, a co-star of Blasto's, had earlier gone to the hospital to wish the star a speedy recovery.
As for Blasto himself, the studio says that the hanar superstar is expected to make a full recovery but has not indicated how long that will take or divulged his current condition. As we have reported previously, we do know from multiple sources that it was a drug overdose that sent him to the hospital.
Back to you, Ozpolis.
Ozpolis: Thank you, Narissa. We now take you to our correspondent Garra Blekno, who is reporting from 6th Dimension Vids studios and has learned some new information regarding the vid's status.
Garra Blekno: The tension is palpable here at the studio, where most of the cast and crew of Blasto: The Hunt for Saren wait for official word on the production. One source with inside knowledge of the situation told me that some of the studio's investors were not happy with the creative direction the vid had taken and were inclined to stop the production even *before* Blasto was hospitalized. The source called the investors "short-sighted," noting the vid could still be a success and that not releasing it would be a far bigger loss for them and the rest of the galaxy.
Several actors on the project have agreed. They took the unusual step of placing an advertisement in trade publications. The ad called on 6th Dimension Vids to "honor the fans' wishes and finish the vid." The letter was signed by a dozen actors, including Tyruss Aklaysius and Adria S'Voz, the vid's other two top-billed stars after Blasto.
Several studio crewmembers have expressed similar sentiments to us. Earlier today, I talked with stunt coordinator Dar Rarbin.
[Interview footage featuring Rarbin] "It's the studio's choice, obviously, but it would be a damn shame if they pulled the plug. I mean, S'Voz did all her own stunts on this one, including several we didn't even plan. Those are the best kind, really. Plus, there's this scene where … Well, I won't spoil it. I'll just say even some of the non-action parts had me sitting up and paying attention, if you know I mean. Audiences are going to want to see this one."
I also spoke to a protester outside the studio who was demanding it not abandon Blasto: The Hunt for Saren. The same protester had previously glued himself to the studio's front gate in attempt to get it to stop the same production. The individual, a human who identified himself as Conrad Verner, a close personal friend of Commander Shepard's, said he had reconsidered his position.
[Interview footage featuring Conrad Verner standing at the studio gates and holding aloft a sign saying "Don't Stop Blasto - Stop Saren"] "Ms. S'Voz told me that Commander Shepard would want to see the production finished. I didn't believe it at first but she got one of the commander's crewmates, an asari living here on Illium, to contact me and confirm this. And if that's what Commander Shepard would want, then that's what I want and what everyone else should want too. So, I'm going to stay here and do my part by approaching the studio executives every time they arrive in the morning and leave in the evening. Ms. S'Voz said I was uniquely qualified to make them regret any decision to halt production."
However, not everyone at the studio likes the idea of waiting to finish the vid. Here's what special effects director Mara T'Rue told me.
[Interview footage featuring T'Rue] "The studio should just cut its losses. Honestly, I don't know why they haven't done that already. I'm sorry to the fans but, come on. It is clear that Blasto is in no shape to continue and who knows how long it will take before he fully recovers? Meanwhile, other studio projects we should be starting are left in limbo because of this. That's the reality of the situation. Let's just get on with it, ok?"
Ozpolis: Thank you, Blekno. We are now joined via a com-link by the honorable Tyruss Aklaysius, who is playing the part of the rogue Spectre agent Saren Arterius in the vid. He speaking to us exclusively tonight.
We are humbled by your presence on our program, Mr. Aklaysius.
Tyruss Aklaysius: Thank you, and please call me Tyruss.
Ozpolis: Very well, this one shall do as you request. So, Tyruss, what is the status of Blasto: The Hunt for Saren? There have been reports that the production has already been closed but the studio has not confirmed that. What is your understanding of where things stand?
Tyruss Aklaysius: Well, as recently as yesterday, I was told by producer Mlax Ventkad that I was still under contract for the part of Saren and to remain on call for shooting the remaining scenes involving my character. If any decision has been made to shut production down, it was literally done overnight and I have not been informed of it yet.
Ozpolis: You were jointly interviewed with the honorable Mr. Ventkad two days ago and he appeared to contradict your claim that production was ongoing.
Tyruss Aklaysius: Yes, well, if you watch the footage he merely declines to comment. To reiterate, the studio has *not* said production is closed. And to do so would be a terrible idea. The vid is very nearly finished, with, I would estimate, about 90% of the shooting complete, give or take. I have seen the early footage and it features some truly innovative cinematography that brings the action scenes to life in a way that left me breathless. Fans of the series will not want to miss this. They should contact the studio and urge them to finish it. I am certain that Blasto would want them to.
Ozpolis: Sources inside the studio have indicated to this program that the production still had many scenes involving Blasto that had yet to be shot at the time of his hospitalization. Does completion of the vid not hang on the actor's recovery?
Tyruss Aklaysius: There are some scenes involving Blasto that still need to be done, true. But this is not a typical Blasto vid. It is an epic about the battle on Virmire. It is an inspiring story that features a large cast involving veteran performers such as myself and several young actors that I am sure we will be hearing more of in the future. So, it is more of an ensemble piece, really. A lot people have put their hearts and souls into this production and I would hate to see their efforts go to waste. If it means I would have to put some of my future projects on hold in order to wait until Blasto can recover enough to complete his scenes that is a sacrifice I would happily make.
If necessary, I would even forgo the rest of my salary if that would help ensure completion. That is how strongly I feel.
Ozpolis: This one would be remiss if he did not ask about the controversy of casting an asari as the human, Commander Shepard. There have also been criticisms that no salarian has been cast in a speaking part despite the battle involving Special Tasks Group commandos.
Tyruss Aklaysius: No vid based on true events is ever 100% accurate. However, the STG's own Major Kirrahe, who led the forces in the actual battle on Virmire, has been advising the production. I can say without any exaggeration that thanks to his input Blasto: The Hunt for Saren will be far more realistic than anything 6th Dimension Vids has ever released before.
Major Kirrahe also supports completing the vid, incidentally. It is important, he told me, that the full story of the battle be told. In fact, he has been helping to organize this public appeal.
As for the casting of Adria S'Voz as Commander Shepard, I have always believed it is fundamentally wrong to limit an actor to only playing members of their own species. Acting is a craft and if the performer can get to the emotional core of the character, then the fact that their skin is blue instead of pink or brown or whatever should not matter. We should all be more broadminded about these things.
In any event, these are side issues. The important thing for Blasto's fans to know is that the next vid in the series is almost done and can be finished if the studio just does not give up on it. So, again, I urge the fans to let the studio know this.
Ozpolis: Thank you, Tyruss. This one wishes you luck in your endeavor.
Next up on Illium Entertainment Tonight, producer Francis Kitt announces his next project: the human ballet Swan Lake, done with an all-volus cast.