Page 33 of Take It Till You Make It
They talk about me?
“When are you going to start up your channel again?”
His eager look makes my heart pulse.
“We check all the time, even though we’re subscribed and should get a notification. You know, those things don’t always work, and we’re afraid we’ll miss your big return.”
I shake my head, gnawing my lip. “T, I haven’t even thought about my channel in forever.”
His face falls. “You can’t be done.”
My whole posture sags. “I also can’t imagine doing it without my dad.”
The look of sympathy nearly breaks me. “I understand that.”
We stand there, awkwardly sad together for a beat.
“Hey!” he says, his usually upbeat self again. “You can re-invent the channel. Do something totally different that’s all yours. But do it for your dad.”
I’m so stunned by his suggestion; I can’t draw a breath. “That’s a really good idea. In fact, that’s a great idea.”
T swings the door open for me, bows, and makes a sweeping gesture with his hand. “I’m here to help, Miss Belly.”
“That’s a ridiculous name.”
“But it made you laugh.”
I curtsy. “That it did, fine sir. Thank you for your wisdom today.”
Ideas are already forming in my head as I head to makeup. This might work.
That evening,I sit out on the balcony on the cheap plastic chair I picked up from the drug store. I tip backward on the back legs, propping my feet on top of the half wall, and rest the warm laptop on my bare legs to compose an email. When I get a first draft, I copy and paste it into an AI software and ask it to refine the message so it sounds more professional. After tweaking a few facts the software got wrong and a couple of things that just don’t sound like my voice, I read it aloud.
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Arabelle Quill. I am playing the role of Stella in the movie,Much Like Me, currently being filmed in Los Angeles, directed by Hank Subtle. I was discovered by Carly Shapiro of the Gorman Talent Agency because she saw my podcast, BellyLaughs.
On BellyLaughs, I used to post videos of famous scenes from movies and literature that my father and I re-wrote as spoofs. The channel was successful with a strong following of engaged viewers. It is monetized, and I’ve gained some recognition from it. We lost my dad unexpectedly, and I haven’t posted a video since; however, the viewers are still active on the channel, sending me kind messages of support and adding comments about new things they noticed when they rewatched their favorite videos.
I would like to revive the channel, but with a new theme. What I propose to you is that I compile behind-the-scenes segments from theMuch Like Memovie shoot. It would give my viewers something to watch and ad promotional material – prerelease hype to the movie that would be shareable, scalable. My focus would be to provide positive entertainment, offering amusing or charming behind-the-scenes anecdotes that make people laugh and/or smile. Introducing everyone—grips, makeup artists, best boys, lighting techs—alongside the cast.
Though I’m happy to give the studio’s marketing and legal teams limited say in the content that is posted, the material would remain mine and would be branded to my BellyLaughs channel.
I look forward to discussing this endeavor further.
Queen Brie saunters outside,yowling for dinner, which I’ve already given her chunky little self. Since we’re two stories up and there are no trees and no way for her to get around the privacy wall between balconies, I’ve taken pity on her and leave the door cracked most of the time. She sits out here and chitters at seagulls all day.
“Hey, what do you think of this?” I ask. I read the email aloud a second time, making a few corrections as I go. She walks back inside halfway through the reading. “Thanks for your support!” I call after her retreating tail.
“What did you say, honey?”
I almost lose my balance and fall backward. I slam my chair down onto all four legs and turn to look at my mom who stands in the open door.
“Oh, hi, Mom!”
She gives me a sad smile. “Were you talking to me?”
“No, I was talking to that ungrateful cat of ours.”
