"I really like your subject Hinata, but it needs to be real and raw. I didn't get excited about it as I thought I would. What do you think you can do to make it a little more real and exciting?" Her principal, Lady Tsunade said as she watched her very rough draft of a video. She was having a difficult time trying to piece everything together. For once, she was in a block.
"I wanted to portray the real Sasuke, what I see from him and what he puts out there is a mask. I've seen him be sincere especially with his band. The band is his baby, his fans mean the world to him even though it doesn't seem like it. He is always so stoic and I want to see him show the emotions he shows me to the world." she said to Tsunade, it was true she believed if she got this video out it would build up a bigger fanbase for the band too.
"Okay, I see what you are envisioning, you just need to follow through with it. You only have a few months left until you have to submit your final project. Trust me I want you to win, I placed my bet on you winning the whole thing." The blonde replied as she went though Hinatas paperwork for the film contest and looking through the video once more.
"You got it Lady Tsunade I won't let you down! May I ask for one more favor, if you could excuse us for classes for the rest of the day I would appreciate it!" Hinata asked, it was Friday and she promised Itachi she would come over to set up with Kiba and Shino before they started shooting on Saturday.
"Yeah, yeah don't worry about it. Have a great weekend and see you next week for an update okay? And tell Kiba he needs to clean out Guy Sensei's office by the end of the day on Tuesday" Tsunade said as Hinata walked out of the door. She couldn't believe the film festival was coming so soon and she is stuck in a lull. She the walked to the computer lab to see what Shino was working on. The room was pretty much dark with only one computer screen on illuminating Shinos head. Right next to him was Kiba laying on the table playing with his Nintendo Switch.
"How did it go Hinata?" Shino asked as he was typing away paying attention to his computer program.
"Not good, she said that it needs to be real and raw and that it isn't exciting as she thought. I think I just need more footage. After the music video is done I can focus more time on the film." She said explaining everything as she started writing in her notebook what needed to be done next. Today her, Itachi and the boys are supposed to start setting up cameras and getting paint for the final scene in the music video.
"What about Sasuke, have you talked to him since Tuesday or are you still not talking to him?" Shino asked
"Well he texted me that night, but I don't have the guts to talk to him" She said as she ran her hand along her head scratching her scalp. Right after he kissed her she didn't know what to do, her instinct was to ignore him. Three days had passed and she still wasn't talking to him, but he would text her everyday to apologize for what happened.
"Well, this video is about him you have to talk to him sooner or later. On top of that I don't think you can ignore him this weekend either since you do have to go to his house tonight and make a music video for his band" Shino said bluntly. Sighing Hinata felt defeated, they all knew Shino was right. It would be awkward either way, placing her camera in her hands she took a close up of Shino in the zone on his computer and a shot of Kiba playing his game with his tongue sticking out.
"Do you guys want to just meet me at the Uchiha's then?" She asked as she turned off her camera.
"That sounds like a plan, I just need to update the software and a few more things before I can leave." Shino told her as he still seemed laser focused. Kiba nodded in agreement as he waved her off to go ahead. Placing her backpack on her shoulders she left the room and out of the school grounds. Today she was headed to the Hyuuga mansion, she had a quick meeting with her father before she went to the Uchiha house. Hiashi knew that she had the Kohona high entry in the film festival and wanted to know how her progress was going on. He didn't like her subject, but he knew a human interest film is what usually wins in contest like these.
The Hyuuga family was a family of directors, producers, screenwriters, cinematographers and casting directors and she was hoping to be in the bulk of that. Her cousin Neji is one of the head screenwriters in the industry at the moment and just headed to Hollywood to start working on a action movie. She was so proud of him and was hoping after she graduates to intern under his wing, but first she has to impress everyone at the film festival. Once she wins, she will get a scholarship to The American Film Institute and will be able to pursue her dreams of becoming a director.
It was quite a quiet afternoon for it being a Friday. Looking around she passed Ichiraku Ramen shop, from what she could see there were a few people getting in a late lunch. She then passed her aunts dango shop as well looking in she could see a few people getting a order of the beloved snack. Smiling to herself, she really enjoyed the view the sun in her face and the sky blue as ever, taking a deep breath she closed her eyes. The cool crisp air expanded in her lungs, if she would move to Los Angeles she knew she would miss it here, from what Neji was telling her the air was a little heavy.
Finally arriving at the Hyuuga mansion she proceeded to walk into the kitchen, looking in the fridge she decided to just make a bowl of cereal before she went to go meet with her father. It was so quiet, Hanabi was at school, Neji out of the country and her father most likely in his office probably having conference calls before their meet up. Sitting at the kitchen island she started to eat her cereal, her metal spoon clanking against the bowl. Taking out her notebook she started scribbling down some notes and preparing for her meeting with her father. She had to prepare, she knew he was going to ask her about her progress and how she was going to edit everything. Every Hyuuga in her family entered the competition and every Hyuuga wins it, she couldn't lose, her family reputation was on the line.
"Hinata, are you ready for our meeting?" A deep voice asked as she turned it was her father standing at the kitchen door. She nodded before grabbing her book bag following behind him leaving her bowl. Maybe she should have prepared a little more earlier. They went along the long Hyuuga hallway before going into his office. It was a pretty big office, he had bookshelf's along the walls along with a antique camera alone in a glass case his dark brown desk with this computer and two chairs facing each other. He gestured her to take a seat and she did, placing her notebook on the desk looking through her notes before her father spoke.
"Hinata, please tell me your progress" Her father asked giving his attention to her.
"Well, so far I have some good shots of him talking about his passion and what he wants to do in the future. I also got some videos of his band playing from one of his concerts so I was going to use that for some transitions shots. My overall goal was to show that he isn't some jerk. I was also going to ask him about his song process so I hope it will show the viewers more about the band and their process." she told her father, her father nodded and placed his hands together.
"Did you start editing?" he asked her as he started writing down some notes for her.
"Yes, just the beginning." she replied as she started writing down the song process question on her notebook
"Okay, what about school, how is that going"
"So far okay Tsunade-sama has me working with the A/V club and managing the school news channel."
"That is good, it would help with your collage applications as well, I see you still have a lot to do, so please get to it" her father said as he shooed her out of his office, surprisingly it went very well.
"Oh, father, I am staying at my Aunt Ankos house again this weekend, she wants help again at the shop, I should be home by Monday or Tuesday" She told her father, he gave her a nod before she left. She then went to her room, she needed to get ready to go to the Uchiha mansion. Sighing she unpacked everything from her bag, and started packing her bag for her aunts.
"Did you talk to your dad?" Kiba asked, they were at the home improvement store looking at the paint.
"Yeah, it was basically everything that Tsunade was saying, I just need more footage and maybe some interviews with the band. Right now I just need to focus on the music video then I can work on the film." Hinata needed no distractions, she needed to get everything done and over with. Loading up the last bucket of paint into the cart she pushed the cart to go look for Itachi. She was stressed, everyone was asking her about the film, but she barley has any of it pieced together and edited. Tsunade just saw the clip of he questioning Sasuke in his truck from the other day, it was barley anything. It was clearly no ones fault, but she was just irritated, because for once she was stuck and didn't know what to do. Nothing like this ever happened, she knew she could make videos in hours, but this video was taking a toll on her.
"Are you ready Nata?" Itachi asked as he placed some plastic paint trays in the cart. Nodding they proceeded to the checkout lane. The four checked out and loaded everything into Itachis truck. She sat in the front and started up her camera, pointing it towards Itachi.
"What is one thing your brother has done that surprised you?" She asked, he was looking at the road, then to the camera he chuckled
"Sasuke always surprises me, I admire that he is always willing to learn. He always wants to improve and be better than he once was. It reminds me of you too Hinata. Every time I see you working, something is better than ever. When you did the sound and lights for Sasukes band, that was something else. You improvised the lights and sound for 'In Friends We Trust' when he switched the songs last minute. On top of that you managed to finish the music video for that song as well in less than five hours no one but you could do that!"
"Itachi, I was asking about your brother, not me, I am not important to your brothers video" She said, Itachi shook his head his long hair shaking smoothly.
"No, give yourself some credit. You deserve that at least, Hinata deserves it too." he was making a point she did do that and she still managed to go to school the next day, she was proud of that.
"Thanks, but Nata did all of that and I am very grateful of her." Nata loved the praise, but Hinata was still shy, she felt like she didn't deserve the praise because it wasn't really her. fibally making it to the warehouse Itachi then started moving the truck into the lot. The four then started to unload the paint supplies. Temari, Kankuro and Gaara were there waiting for them and proceeded to help out.
"Temari can you three start filling up these balloons and putting them into the tubs, we might need about fifty of them. Fang and Faith could you fill these water guns and trays with paint please? I need to start setting up the floor and the camera. Sasuke and the band should be arriving in the next thirty minutes" Everyone agreed and she walked into the warehouse.
Luckily the day before the band set up their equipment in the warehouse. The wall was white, with Naruto's drum set was in the middle, on each side was a bass guitar on a stand and the two electric guitars on the other, in front of everyone was a mic stand with a microphone attached. Luckily, for everyone the equipment was very old and could get paint on them. Hinata was hoping after the paint dries the band could sell the equipment so it wouldn't go to waste and go into the garbage. Madara did agree to that and said it would help with the funds for the band in the future. She placed her handheld camera on a table pressing record as it filmed her and everyone setting up the paint buckets in front of the band set up. Tinkering with her camera equipment she started adding plastic around the cameras and making sure paint wouldn't get on anything.
"You know you can still talk to me, you have to right? I am your movie subject after all" A voice said to her, she knew exactly who it was, letting out a deep sigh.
"I know, I am talking to you! Sorry, how are you doing today Sasuke" She looked up to him from the ground, she was sitting on the ground placing the last of the plastic on the bottom of the camera stand.
"I am doing quite alright, I wish you texted me this week. I would have came early to help if you wanted us to. Anyways how is our movie going? Am I a great star?" he asked as he crouched down to her level trying to help her out.
"You know I really wish people would stop asking me about the damn video. I'm getting pretty annoyed" She snapped back at Sasuke, she then got up from the floor and started pacing back and fourth, rubbing her temples in the process. She hated this, she hated the way she felt.
"Woah there. Are you okay?" he said defensively raising up his hands.
"No, to be honest, I'm so stuck right now. I have nothing! I never! EVER! had anything like this happen to me and I am freaking out here because I have to submit my final project in a few months! I got collage applications due right after this competition! In order to go to the school of my dreams I have to win this contest and sweep everyone off the floor! AND every SINGLE meeting I had today, I showed them a two minute clip that was unedited! It was awful! Every single person I talk to today has asked me how the video is going and I literally cant take it anymore!" Hinata vented to Sasuke throwing her arms left and right. All Sasuke could do was watch her and nod in agreement.
"Yeah that seems like a lot on your plate. I am sorry you have to deal with that, go ahead and let it out, keep going!" He then patted her on the back.
"Sasuke I'm sorry, it's just so hard trying to live up to everyone's expectations. Itachis, Madaras, Lady Tsunade, Fang and Faith, yours, the band even my dad" she said as she crouched down to look at her feet. It was true, her, Hinata was overwhelmed.
"What does Kakashi expect from you?" Sasuke asked, Kakashi? Hinata thought as her eyes scanned the floor. This isn't good she had to come up with something fast.
"He expects a lot from me, his only stepchild, he wants me to succeed." she stood up and faced him. They were close to each other again. Sasuke rubbed the side of her arm and gave her a small nod.
"Yeah, I know how it can be" he replied as he sat down on a near by bench. Thank goodness he bought her explanation. She sat down next to him.
"lately I've been so stressed, this project is very important to me, and it will help me so much in the future. I want to be a Hollywood director some day, that's my dream you know." she sighed looking up to the sky. Sasuke looked at her and gave her a small smile.
"Yeah, I know how you feel, I have big dreams and expectations for this band, we wanna be as big and talented as Akatsuki. Someday, though and it'll be all thanks to you, the amazing videos you'll produce will help us a ton" Sasuke said to her, she gave him a eye roll and a soft punch to his arm. soon enough Shino came towards them.
"It looks like we are ready to start filming" he said, his voice low and cool. Sasuke raised a brow as he and Hinata got up from the bench.
"So the robots do talk!" he exclaimed as he started to follow Shino to the makeshift dressing room Hinata following behind only to turn the opposite way to meet with her team.
"Okay team big day today, let's see. Temari get Juugo and Naruto ready in their nerd attire, but I'm going to need Naruto and Suigetsu for our first shot." the sandy blonde nodded as she went into the dressing room full of the band.
"Fang I want you to get a close up of Naruto and Suigetsu, but let's get the shot away from the main set. I don't want paint anywhere near that area yet. Gaara, can you get a couple balloons over here please? Then we will go on from there" Everyone nodded as Kiba started to move the camera towards the other side of the warehouse. Garra, following with a small bucket full of paint balloons. Naruto and Suigetsu soon approaching the three.
"Okay Suigetsu, stand here and stay still, Naruto just please be careful" she said as she nodded to Gaara who gave Naruto a couple of balloons. She looked at Kiba who was adjusting the camera position.
"Okay, ready? and ACTION"