CHAPTER FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN – THE FINAL SCENE

"Jasmine, we have a serious problem," the accountant's voice trembled. "We're hemorrhaging money. At this rate, we'll be out of funds before we finish principal photography." Jasmine felt her stomach drop. "How bad is it?" "Bad. We're talking millions over budget. The unforeseen expenses from all the delays and equipment replacements have hit us hard." Jasmine took a deep breath, her mind racing. "Okay. Send me a detailed breakdown. I'll be at the office in an hour." As she pored over the financial reports, the magnitude of the problem became clear. Mismanagement and a series of unfortunate events had pushed them to the brink of financial ruin. Jasmine called an emergency meeting with the heads of each department. The tension in the room was palpable as she laid out the situation. "We need to cut costs, and we need to do it now," she said, her voice firm. "I'm going to need proposals from each of you on where we can trim the fat without compromising the integrity of the film." T