No. 2: πΈπ¨ππΌββοΈ
You learn an overwhelming number of terms on the set of your first movie.
βPut her on an apple,β means, βStand her on a wooden apple crate to elevate her height.β
βIβm escorting her 10-1,β means a production assistant is taking you to the bathroom and will bring you back to set ASAPβactors canβt be trusted not to disappear after peeing, you suppose.
βMartini shot,β means you are about to film the very last shot of the day, and can then wrap and have martinis! But no one brings out martinis and youβre too young to drink one anyhow.
A red laser pierces your eye and its neon dot settles on your chest. Then it darts to the center of your forehead. Your heart pounds, your eyes scan frantically for an assassin hiding in the canopy of studio walkways and rafters. βHold still,β the assistant camera operator tells you. βIβm just lining up the focus.β And you realize thatβs what the red laser beam dot is. Not an assisted crosshair aim. No one tells you these things.
You meet Henri twisted into a yoga pretzel outside your Honey Wagon trailer. Frankly, you didnβt know men could do the splits, or that Brad Pitt had a pescatarian doppelganger who surfed. But this boy is brotherly to you, familiar in a way that makes you feel safe. His kiss will taste like tequila and you will never kiss again.
You donβt tell Henri he was your first kissβfirst outside of an acting job, that is. Partly because youβre embarrassed of your inexperience and partly because you donβt want him to feel bad for sneaking it up on you, even if it was in the cutest of ways and even if there was next to no chemistry despite the fact that you both go out for the jock and cheerleader roles. You will help each other move, mend broken hearts with wine, and paint with childrenβs watercolors in Los Feliz like the tender young artists you are. You love watching Henri and all of the other little dots in the sea carve through blue froth at La Piedra, followed by quesadillas at Howdyβs. You wonβt be able to count how many afternoons you do this. Youβll always remember that it was Henri who introduced you to Paul McCartneyβs solo stuff and βLittle Willowβ will be your favorite.