Chp 39 : Dancing With An Angel?
His short film would begin and Al felt the most severe nervous case he ever felt. He never finished his filming in his last life and this was the first time in this life he has ever done it.
"Nervous E.D.?" Since spending much time with Al when editing the film, she knew how nervous he was.
"Yes, very." He gave a smile to Robin to made her felt reassured.
"Here, try this, when I am nervous, I feel better after ate it." She gave Al a pack of rainbows.
"Skittles? It's been a long time since I have it." He smiled fondly at it. Since he was diagnosed with cancer, he was forbidden to eat any food with high sugar in it. Seeing it really brought back memories.
"Long time? Well before they came to the US 2 years ago, they're very popular in the UK since the 1970s." She said confusedly.
"Forget what I said, anyway it's weird to see a dark matter like you consuming a rainbow." He teased Robin and started to eat a few of it, and it really made Al calmer.
Robin just rolled her eyes at Al.
"You know what, now besides cheeseburgers, I think I have another favorite food today. Thanks, Robbie for cheering me up."
"I'm not, I just not used to see a gloomy E.D." She replied flatly.
The committee leader has just finished his speech and finally said.
"As for now, we will show you our opening short film made by one and only, the youngest winner of Best Original Screenplay, Alphonse Brandt!!"
The floodlight was pointing at Al and he stops up to make a bow for the audience in the theatre.
The short film finally begins, and the light on the theatre dimmed.
First, a volcanic environment is shown and a fire giant rose beneath the ground with his sword and destroying a moon above, then the wreckage forms a word "Muspelheim Films".
Because of the Alfheim Studios he bought, now he could use 3D animation logos for any of his opening films, a Fire Giant Surtr.
The story began as the girl named Drew Foster was dancing with her pet, a Yellow Labrador named Bella in the backyard of her house, they seemed happy and enjoyed each other company.
The bright and warm tone and color of the film also influenced the audience's feelings and let them sensed the happiness of the girl.
Her parents were also happy to see them playing. Then Drew approached her parents who were played by Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving. She presented a brochure to them.
Its contained a talent show competition held by Yggdrasil Corp. to search for a talented kid from age 6 to 14. She told her parents that she wants to join as a participant.
She will show off her dancing skill with Bella as her partner. The talent show will be held 3 months from now and she still got time to sign in as a participant.
Then they begin their training for the talent show, Drew showed the brightest smile the audience ever seen when she was dancing and playing with Bella, it brought another warmness to the audience and they hoped that this sweetness never ended.
The performance from Bella was also commended by the audience and film critics. Every time Drew asked Bella to dance, she would first raise her right hands, then Bella would replicate it by wagging her tail then chased her tail in a circle, then they began their dancing performance.
The crews and cast of the short film were so glad that the film they have made from their tears and sweat could achieve these effects.
The film continues and this time fate seemed to want to mess up with them.
When Drew and Bella were walking on the roadside, she saw a fast car wanted to run into her. Drew immediately pushed Bella aside and tried to evade the car but unfortunately, the car crashed into her.
Her parents immediately called an ambulance and try to hold her wound and woke her up. Bella who was thrown aside was running to her and licked her, trying to wake her up but her efforts were futile.
The ambulance came and take her to the hospital, leaving Bella alone.
Days passed, Bella waiting alone curled up on the house terrace. Sometimes a car comes, but no Drew on it, only her father came to feed Bella.
But Bella didn't eat any food, and kept curling up and whining, if dogs could let out tears maybe everyone knows how sad Bella is.
Days turn to Weeks, Weeks turns to Months finally a car came from the outside, and Bella who became thinner raised her ears.
Finally, the person who Bella waiting for is coming. She saw Drew get out of the car and Bella barked happily and came to approach her.
But Drew ignored her and continue just standing there, if Bella could speak she would say,
"What are you doing just standing there, come on follow me inside and play with me!"
Then her mother opened the car trunk, set up a wheelchair, and let Drew sat on it.
Then Bella just realized that it turned out, Drew lost her left leg, her appearance was haggard and her eyes were lifeless, there's also eye bags that showed her the lack of sleep.
The audience feels Drew's sadness and despair, if the audience was conscious they will realize that the film's coloring and lighting changed slowly to a darker tone since the car accident.
Her mother just pushed Drew to the house while ignoring Bella who seemed to console Drew by licking her hands.
The talent show will be held in another week, Drew who was just sitting in her wheelchair in the backyards staring blankly at the wall.
Then Bella tried to cheer her up by bringing a ball to play catch with her but still ignored. Then Bella had an idea to ask her to dance.
She wagged her tail, and chasing it in a circle to ask Drew for a dance, finally Drew answered, "I can't dance anymore Bella, I lost my leg. I can't dance anymore." Then she started to cry.
But Bella was persistent and still asking Drew to dance, Drew started to scream and cry.
Then she suddenly struck Bella, Bella afraid to be hit again and staying away from her. She tried to chase Bella off to let out her anger to Bella but suddenly her wheelchair was tripped by a pebble and then she fell from her wheelchair.
Her mother came to help her and tried to calm the crying Drew. Her mother promised to give her anything she wanted if she stops crying but she said,
"I want my leg back, mom." She said in tears and despair. Her mother started to cry and hugged her tightly.
The audience felt a knife stabbed into their hearts.
Another day passed, Drew thought Bella was afraid of her now, but it was the opposite. Bella kept asking Drew to dance and finally Drew relented and accepted Bella's offer to dance.
Drew asked her parents for a walker so she could dance with Bella.
She trained to dance with Bella again although she kept falling, Bella always encouraged her until she got used to dancing with a walker.
The film's tone changed again into a warmer color, but unlike an orange color in the first scene, it's now yellow tone and only professionals realized it.
On the talent show day, everybody was surprised at how Drew and Bella dancing so harmoniously. Although the dance is so-so, her cheery smile is bringing the audience some sense of innocence and warmness. They finished their dance and applause was heard from the talent show's audiences.
The camera closed up into Drew's smiling face being licked by Bella. Then Jodie's voice suddenly heard followed by an ending song that Al had composed.
"Although we didn't win anything back then, I am satisfied because I still have Bella who always encourages me to move forward." The adult Drew who played by Jodie Foster sat in her backyard with Al who played a cameo as her husband.
Then the camera widens and showed that they were in Bella's grave, the gravestone is written "My Best Friend Bella" 1980-2000.
"She is a good friend," Al said and helped adult Drew stand up with her walker.
"Yes, she is." Then adult Drew cried and hugged Al, then they went back to their house, she took another look at Bella's grave and saw an image of Bella wagging her tail and then chased it.
Adult Drew smiled once again and saw Bella disappeared and the screen turned black.
Then the ending song continued with lyrics that gave the audience bittersweet tears.
(I, I did it all)
(I, I did it all)
(I owned every second that this world could give)
(I saw so many places, the things that I did)
(Yeah with every broken bone)
(I swear I lived)
[I Lived by OneRepublic]
Then the credit scene was rolling up,
Directed by Alphonse Brandt.
Written by Alphonse Brandt.
Edited by Alphonse Brandt & Robin Graham
The audience at first speechless, then they gave standing applause and almost all of them had a tear in their face.
Al stood up and received a lot of hugs and congrats from his friends and fans. Al let out tears, finally, he achieved his dream of 2 lifetimes to direct film although it's just a short film.
They couldn't believe that this short film was made by a 14-year-old boy.
Some critics and film professionals suddenly realized the color and lighting Alphonse Brandt used in this short film.
The last time they saw it was 12 years ago when the low budget film "Godfather" achieved the pinnacle of color and lighting usage in filming.
Alphonse has maximized the use of color and lighting, and also edit this film himself with one other name they didn't know.
Al got a signal from the mc and went to the stage with the cast and before he started to speak, another applause was heard and it was harder than before.
"Okay, thank you for watching my short film, it seems that somebody put onions below the audience seat." He started with jokes and everyone who realize the joke about are all laughing.
Then mc starts the Q&A session and reporters, paparazzi, fans, and critics all raise their hands.
To Be Continued...
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OMG, I can't believe that it almost chapter 40! The Vol. 1 will soon end and I can't believe I got this far. I started 1 month ago and everything seems to be going very fast. I hope this pandemic and government stupidity will end and wish you my loyal readers a good life.