Pat’s Story

As nervous as I was, I tried to act confident as I walked into ZigZag studios that morning. As I shook hands with the producer, he gestured for me to sit. He sent me a serious look as he settled across from me.

“I’ll cut straight to the point, Patrick. We can’t really negotiate salary much more. We are on a tight budget.”

I smiled. “If this were about salary, you’d be talking to my agent. I’m not sure if you caught Kramer’s review of Tomodachi, but the issues she had with my performance had more to do with the way the script than my performance.”

The casting director smiled. “Patrick, we’ve already offered you the part. You don’t need to sell yourself.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that. When I was rehearsing for Tomodachi, I noticed a lot of the same errors Kramer did. Not all of them, and I’m not sure I agree with her on all of her issues. But I noticed most of them. And it occurred to me that if I had said something before filming, it might have made the film that much stronger. I really love In the Running. I think this is a fantastic film. But, in the version of the script I read, I saw a few things that I think need a little work. And, well, if I sign this contract, I want to have the ability to voice those opinions. I’m not saying you have to agree with them, but I don’t want you to just try to placate me. I want to know you will at least think about accepting my input.”

The producer smiled. “Kid, I think you’ve been making movies longer than me. I would gladly listen to what you have to say. Within reason, of course. I’m not going to add a helicopter scene just because you think it looks cool.”

“I don’t think I should play Junior.”

The casting director raised her eyebrows. “I’m sorry?”

“The notes say you want the actor who plays Patrick Barrett to play Patrick Junior in the opening and closing scenes. And I think that’s a poor decision. I think it will just confuse the audience to have me standing behind a podium, then me running through town. I think you should get someone who looks like me to play Patrick.”

“So, you want us to go through another round of casting?”

I shook my head. “I have someone in mind. A cameo appearance. He’s going to say no, but I’ll be able to convince him.”

The director didn’t look convinced. “Who?”

“Wally McGregor. My brother.” I pulled out my phone, scrolling to a picture from the Tomodachi premiere before passing it to her.

“I can see a similarity. And he’s in the right age range. He could work.”

The producer stared at my phone before returning it to me. “Is that your only demand?”

I sighed. “It’s not a demand. Like I said, my brother doesn’t really want to do this in the first place. I just think, aesthetically, it makes more sense for the movie. But, if you would rather me play the part, if you think it makes the most sense for the movie, not just the budget, then I will do what you think best.”

“Do you have any other changes you think make sense? Aesthetically?”

I could tell the producer was losing his patience, but I didn’t care. As long as I had an audience, I wanted to share my concepts for this movie. The meeting lasted nearly two hours, but by the end, the produced agreed that I had made some pretty valid points. He promised to consider every one of them and I signed the contract before leaving the room.

I returned to my car feeling like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Not only was I going to play the role of a lifetime, but I was going to be given the freedom to interpret that role as I believed fit. I couldn’t wait for production to begin.

---

When I got home, I immediately went in search of my girlfriend. She was in the library, smearing glue over a completed jigsaw puzzle. I entered the room with a frown. “I thought you said I could help you.”

She smiled. “That was before you decided your film was more important. How’d the meeting go?”

I flashed her my famous smile. “You are looking at the new Patrick Barrett. And they said Destiny signed on as Cat.”

She sent me a wary look. “So no ex-girlfriends?”

Aw, she was jealous. That was adorable. I pulled her close. “No ex-girlfriends. I even had a clause put into the contract that if they have to recast Destiny for whatever reason, I have the option of pulling out of the movie.”

She frowned. “Isn’t that a little . . . pompous?”

I hadn’t considered that until she said it. I shrugged. “Yeah, probably. But they won’t replace Destiny, so I’m not worried.” I pointed to her puzzle. “So, was that your last one?”

She shook her head. “No. I have more. You can help me with the next one. I’ll just—”

She picked up the posterboard holding the puzzle and carried it to the corner of the room before holding up her glue-covered hands.

“I’m going to go wash my hands, then we can work on the next one.”

I smiled. “Do I get to help?”

She gave me a quick kiss. “Yes. But we’re going to the playroom. I want to watch Music Box.”

Melinda’s Story

Melinda’s story will return next week

Attention Hammerheads

Melinda is always trying to build her vocabulary. What were some words in this episode that were new to you? She will add them to her vocabulary journal.