Hundreds of cast and crew stand watching as they wait for the director to address them on their very first day of filming. Emotions run high, and they run the gamut: anxiety, excitement—and, for my part, some mild nausea.
“I want to thank you all for devoting your time and energy to this project,” I say, perched on an apple box. Everyone’s eyes are on me. “I’m excited to create something special together.”
Somewhat to my surprise, I don’t want to shrink away from their gaze. I am emboldened by it. My shoulders drop. It’s obvious these people trust me to lead them, and I’ll do everything to ensure that their trust is well-earned, even on the most trying days on set.
“When Jack and I founded Swan Dive Productions—” I gesture to him a few rows back, where he’s crossing his arms and suppressing a grin among the sea of faces— “this was exactly the kind of story we saw ourselves bringing to the screen. Stakes, sex scenes—and no superheroes.”
I get the laughs I was going for.
When Tom’s wife Molly announced over dinner that the galleys for her next novel had arrived, I’d insisted on taking one before we left their house. “I’ll have my people call your people,” I’d joked, but holding it in my hands, it felt like kismet. Molly’s book, Camembert Dreams, is about two best friends who are dancers, falling in and out of love over the course of thirty years on two different continents. It’s dramatic, sweeping, funny, poignant, and adult. I laughed, I cried, I read passages out loud to Jack in bed. I knew fifty pages in that I wanted it to be the first film we made together.
I lock eyes with him now, on set, picturing the copy we marked up together before going into full adaptation mode. “Jack? You want to say anything?”
He clears his throat and takes two steps forward, but he remains in the mix of the cast and crew. “Every time I make a movie, it still feels like an impossible dream, and this time even more so,” he says. “As an actor, you’re given the script and only have a small window to spend with it. Having the privilege of lingering on this one, of being involved in this story every step of the way—it only makes me more excited to see how we all bring it to life.”
He sends a small, discreet wink my way, and God, if it doesn’t set my insides fluttering.
I tear my gaze away and nod to Amanda, the assistant director on Gatsby, who we convinced to team up with us again. “Okay, let’s go. Picture’s up in five.”
“That’s places in five, everyone! Last looks!” Amanda claps her hands for emphasis, and hair, makeup, and wardrobe set about ensuring that there’s not a strand, an eyelash, or a thread out of place.
As I mentally catalog the list of things I have to do to ready myself for the first shot, I hear the patter of little ballet slippers. Agnes is running toward me, with Stuart hot on her heels.
“Just in time!” I say as Agnes flings herself into my arms. I glance at Stuart. “Thank you for bringing her today.”
Agnes pulls away and I smooth her now-ratty tutu, the one she insists on wearing everywhere. The one she knows is just like the costume the star of the movie will wear, minus the pizza stains. My hope is that if Agnes can see for herself what I’m doing on set—can experience it in her own way—it will make the time when I’m away a little easier on both of us.
I ruffle her hair and kiss her cheek, then catch Stuart’s eye. “You’ll keep her away from the electric department?”
He puts his arm around me and gives me a look. “I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to tell you for the millionth time that I’m so proud of you, honey. And your mother would be, too. I’m allowed to be sappy. It’s one of those kinds of days.”
My heart swells a little, and I don’t try to stop it. “Thank you. For that and for helping make it possible”—I gesture at the tote full of Agnes’s gear draped over his shoulder—“for me to follow in your directorial footsteps.”
He flicks his wrist. “Your work will be far more tasteful. And if you happen to need an extra background actor, let me know. I think I might be due for my second act.”
“Imagine you fading into the background.” I shake my head, laughing. “But I could use your opinion on this first setup, if you have time?”
He puts his hand to his chest in mock disbelief. “Moi?”
“Oui,” I tell him, playing along.
“Agnes, why don’t you—” But before he can finish, Jack is by my side.
“I’m not in this first scene,” Jack says. “He squats down to get eye level with Agnes. “Why don’t you and I take a walk over to crafty?”
“What’s crafty?” she asks, clearly perturbed by the idea that there’s yet another thing that needs explaining by adults.
“Code word for snacks.” His tone turns conspiratorial. “And we have to go quick, before all the good ones are taken.” He holds out his hand and she takes it.
Jack stands, but before they walk away, he points to the four of us. “Hey,” he starts. “What about this for our next movie?”
“You mean us? Our love story?”
“Haven’t you heard?” he asks. “Romance is back.”
“It’s not a bad idea.” I’m already picturing the most cinematic moments in my mind. “But you can’t play yourself.”