Director's Cut (Backstage Pass Book #3) , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Janice Thompson

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142 pages

English

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Extrait

Description

Tia Morales is used to calling the shots. She's the director of the popular sitcom Stars Collide, and her life on set is calculated and orderly. Well, most of the time. But her life outside the studio is another matter. If only she could get her family to behave as well as her stars do! When she starts butting heads with handsome camera operator Jason Harris, it's enough to send a girl over the edge. Will she ever learn to let go and take life--and love--as it comes?Full of the humor and crazy family dynamics Janice Thompson fans have come to love, this colorful story gives readers an inside look at Hollywood and a healthy dose of romance.

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 juin 2012
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441238092
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0202€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

© 2012 by Janice Thompson
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means for example, electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-3809-2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Scripture quotations are from the Amplified® Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Published in association with MacGregor Literary Agency.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.
To Erin Brinkle, my trusty assistant. Girl, your backstage help on Johnny Be Good was much appreciated, but I’m still convinced you belong in the spotlight.
And to the only Director in my life, the one who puts up with me when I try to rewrite the script praise you for sticking with me, even when my “I’ll take it from here, Lord” attitude kicks in.
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
1 Peter 5:7
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Epigraph
Contents
1. My So-Called Life
2. The Office
3. One Life to Live
4. How I Met Your Mother
5. Family Ties
6. Married with Children
7. Grace under Fire
8. Life as We Know It
9. All in the Family
10. Brothers and Sisters
11. How Do I Look?
12. Glee
13. To Tell the Truth
14. What I Like about You
15. Family Matters
16. Curb Your Enthusiasm
17. Extreme Makeover
18. Life’s Too Short
19. The Young and the Restless
20. Law and Order
21. Better with You
22. The Wonder Years
23. Lost in Space
24. Clean House
25. The Amazing Race
26. King of the Hill
SPECIAL FEATURE
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Books by Janice Thompson
Back Ads
Back Cover
Like most Hollywood directors, I like to keep my drama on the set. It doesn’t always work out that way, of course, but I give it my best shot. If only my chaotic life outside the walls of the studio matched the calm, calculated goings-on inside, then I’d have it made.
In my director’s chair, I’m the epitome of poise and composure. And why not? My cast and crew jump to attention when I give them instructions. When I step outside the doors of Studio B after a long day of filming, however, I must admit the truth I have absolutely no control over anything in the real world. And when you’re a director by nature, losing control is pretty much equivalent to appearing on Dancing with the Stars in your underwear.
I do my best to cope. Most people wouldn’t even know I’m struggling. But I am. I have serious need-to-know issues. What Hollywood director doesn’t? If I can’t control it i.e., “fix” it then what good am I? I’ve been trained to whip everything into shape. That’s why I spend my days on the Stars Collide set tweaking scripts, fine-tuning actors’ lines, and fretting over camera angles so that everything is as close to perfect as it can be before I commit an episode to film.
It would be nice to have those same capabilities once I step out into the real world. Problem is, the good, bad, and ugly scenes of my life never seem to get tweaked before they’re committed to the history books.
Okay, so I’m a control freak. I admit it. But hey, a director works off the script she’s been given. If I’d been handed the script of my real life in advance the one outside the studio walls I would’ve asked for a rewrite. First thing to go? My upbringing in South Central L.A. I would’ve asked the writers for a home in the valley, at the very least. Next? The many, many times my dad attempted to trade my mama in for a newer, younger, thinner partner. Those scenes would definitely have to go, replaced by family-friendly episodes of Father Knows Best or Make Room for Daddy . Finally, I would have penciled in the perfect Brady Bunch siblings who all got along, even under the worst of circumstances. Oh, and just for fun, I might’ve thrown in a love interest for myself. Maybe. If things at work slowed down a little.
On days like today, with my cell phone buzzing nonstop, I might have also asked for a little more patience. Unfortunately, those who pray for patience usually end up needing even more of it. I found that to be the case as I raced through a conversation with my mother while I made my way up the 405 headed to the studio.
“We’re so proud of you, Tia-mia,” Mama’s lyrical voice rang out, her Spanish accent still as strong as ever. “You’ve done really well for yourself in this job.”
I’d just started to respond with, “Aw, thanks!” when she completed her thought.
“Yes, you’ve done really well. But I do hope, now that you’ve made it big, that you won’t turn your back on your family. We’ve always been here to support you, and I hope you’ll return the favor.”
Huh?
This seemed to be another in a long line of strange comments from my mother of late. Ever since our show’s Golden Globes win a few months back, she’d offered more than a few backhanded compliments. What could possibly make her think I’d turn my back on my family just because I’d achieved some degree of success in my field?
Then again, Mama was prone to beating around the bush. Likely she had something else on her mind.
Sure enough, she piped up with the real reason for her call moments later, now speaking in fluent Spanish. “I want you to get your little sister a job at the studio doing hair and makeup.”
I drew in a deep breath and counted to three before responding. “Mama, just because I’m the director of a TV sitcom doesn’t mean I have the ability to hire my siblings at will. Those decisions come from above.”
“From God, you mean?” She took a deep breath. “Yes, I know. But I’ve already asked him about it, and he’s keen on the idea, so I figured you would be too. I know how close you two are.”
I sighed. If, as Mama so aptly put it, the Lord had placed his stamp of approval on this “ hair -brained” idea, who was I to nix it?
My stomach churned as I responded. “I’ll do what I can. Maybe I can talk to our producer. But Benita will have to fill out an application just like everyone else, and there are no guarantees, even if Rex goes along with this. As I said, these decisions come from above. The studio executives, I mean.”
“But she really needs a new job as soon as possible, honey. And I heard you say that your hair and makeup girl was taking another position on a movie set in mid-April. Isn’t that right?”
“Well, yes. Nora’s leaving in a few days, in fact. But why does Benita need a job, anyway? I thought she had a new one at that great salon in Beverly Hills.” I put on my turn signal, checked my rearview mirror, and eased my way into the right lane. “When I talked to her last week, she told me she had special connections that were going to keep her at the salon for years to come. She even said she was earning more money now than ever. And she mentioned something about perks. Sounded promising.”
I managed to make it to the exit ramp just as a Mercedes flew up behind me. The driver honked and rode my tail all the way down the ramp.
Mama released an exaggerated sigh. “Well, see now, she ran into a little problem there, Tia-mia.”
I did my best not to groan aloud as my mother called me by the familiar nickname again. Instead, I focused on the road, finally shaking the Mercedes at the light.
“It wasn’t a hair- or makeup-related problem, thank goodness.” The lilt returned to my mother’s voice. “That would have been more difficult to overcome. This was something else. Completely unfair, I might add.”
“Hmm.” My sister’s degree in cosmetology was relatively new, but no one could fault her makeup skills. They were flawless. She put my mascara and lipstick skills to shame every time. There had to be more to the story than what I’d heard thus far.
Mama’s next words were rushed, as if she had to force them out. “Okay, from what I understand, she had a little fling with the owner. How was she to know he had a fiancée? The man led her on, and you know how vulnerable she is.”
“Mama! And you want me to bring her onto the set of Stars Collide , which is filled with handsome men?” My thoughts drifted not just to our show’s stars but to our cameramen as well. One in particular. Jason Harris might be hard as nails when the cameras got to rolling, but I still caught my eyes drifting his way on occasion. Not that he appeared to notice. No, his gaze was directed through the camera, not at me.
Mama continued to carry on about Benita’s cosmetology skills, but she lost me about halfway into a speech about the importance of lip liner. Listening to her lyrical Spanish conversation with its lifts and curls took me back several years to my childhood. Back then, Mama’s voice brought comfort. These days I was so distracted that I rarely took the time to revel in those familiar feelings when they did come. No, I had far too much work on my plate for that.
In the background, I could hear Angel, my mother’s Chihuahua, barking nonstop. That dog was enough to drive even the sanest person crazy.
“Angel, calm down. Stop all that yapping!” Mama hollered so loudly I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “It’s just a car