A security guard took Seth to a little holding room in the back of the courthouse. Seth sat at the edge of a little bed staring at a clock on the wall.
The time seemed to be slowly ticking away, and it drove Seth nuts. He thought things would probably be all right now, as things looked to be stacking nicely in favour of his innocence.
His lawyer would occasionally come in to try and raise his spirits. But then again, life has a sneaky and conniving way of throwing you curve balls. So he wouldn’t be surprised if the final verdict was guilty. Around the two- hour mark, there was a soft knock on the door.
“Mr. Zimmer?” The security guard entered the room. “The verdict is in.”
As Seth made his way back to the courtroom, he kept an empty mind. He didn’t want to fill his head with false hope, and he wasn’t asking God for help as one might do in a situation like this. He just wanted this day to end.
Before Seth sat, he looked at the room full of spectators and spotted his mother. Mrs. Zimmer blew Seth a kiss for good luck.
Seth sat, and all he wanted to do was cry.
“All rise for the Honourable Judge Arthur Vines!”
The courtroom rose as the judge made his way to the bench for the final time.
“You may all be seated.”
The judge turned to the jury. “Has the jury made a decision?”
The foreperson rose. “We have, Your Honour.” The juror reached into her pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. “In the case of Hyssop versus Zimmer, we the jury find the defendant, Seth Zimmer—”
This is it, the final countdown, Seth thought.
“Innocent of all charges.”
Mr. Durocher gave Seth a big pat on the back. Seth couldn’t hold it in any more and started to cry.
Mr. Hyssop leapt to his feet, slid across the table and grabbed his lawyer’s collar. “You stupid asshole! You call yourself a lawyer?” He punched his lawyer in the face.
The room was out of control. The judge smashed his gavel several times, but the room didn’t quiet. This continued for another several moments.
Finally, the judge got to his feet and belted out an overpowering, “Quiet!”
The room immediately simmered down.,
The judge returned to his seat. “Mr. Zimmer, you’ve been found innocent of all charges. When you leave this courthouse, you leave with my blessing and my deepest apologies.”
The judge turned to Mr. Hyssop. “And as for you, Mr. Hyssop. I think you seriously need to re-examine your life!”
“What? This is bullshit, Judge! Bullshit!”
“I’m sentencing you to county jail until an available court date can be arranged!”
The judge slammed his gavel. “That will be all.”
*
When Seth got home later that day, he went up to his bedroom. He stood at the end of his bed, and a wealth of emotions struck him.
Seth got weak in the knees and collapsed on his bed. He began to cry. It felt good, though, like a weight had been lifted. Life could now continue.
After a week, Seth decided to go back to work. He hopped onto his computer and checked his e-mails. His inbox was showing one new message from Brody Williams. He clicked to open it.
Hi Seth,
How’ve you been? I hope all is good considering everything you’ve been going through lately. I’ll get right to my point. I have a business proposition for you. If you’re interested, let’s meet at Will’s Fresh Café at the end of the week? Talk to you soon.
Brody.
For the first time in a very long time, Seth felt a shred of happiness. He thought for a moment and decided to at least go hear what Brody had to say.
On Friday afternoon, they met.
“If you don’t mind my asking, how did this whole legal mess start anyway?”
Seth took a sip of coffee and nodded, explaining the situation: how they were paranoid when he offered their children a part in his film.
“Why did they see you as a threat?”
“They didn’t want me to get too close because they’re growing illegal marijuana. They figured once I found them out, I would contact the police.”
“That makes sense. I guess. ”
They sipped their coffee and remained silent for a moment.
“So, Brody. I’m interested in hearing about this business proposition of yours.”
Brody smiled. “Yes, well, I was going through my mini DV. tape library the other day and came across a few of our films we made in high school. I found our Lego trilogy and our epic Titanic film. And so, I was wondering, as you own a business, would you be interested in giving them a proper editing job and DVD release?”
“Yes, absolutely!”
“Great!”
“So is that it? That’s not really a proposition, Brody. Is there more to this?”
“Of course. That was just something I was curious about. The proposition is, I have a few films going into production in the few remaining months of this year and a few beginning next year. I can’t really afford to pay you anything, but would you be willing to be my creative story consultant, co-writer and film editor? I figure this way you’ll have more experience to put on your resume.”
Seth thought for a moment as he sipped his coffee. “No pay at all?”
“Well, I’ll be entering these films into festivals. So if any of them win any money, I will of course give you a fair share of the winnings.”
Seth thought for another few minutes. He figured it was a good opportunity and would keep his skills nice and sharp. He really didn’t like the fact of no pay, but it was a great opportunity. He lowered the coffee mug. “Sounds awesome, man. Sign me up.”
CHAPTER 16
Over the next year Seth collaborated, created, co-wrote, edited and burned disc after disc. Finally, in November 2012, Seth started feeling overworked, underappreciated and taken advantage of. What Seth really wanted to do was to make a film of his own again, which he missed.
The problem wasn’t in the writing or creating of a film. That was the easy part. The problem was in casting. Who was he going to get to be in his film? Seth didn’t really know anyone anymore, and the thought of advertising online, in the papers or flyers, just sounded exhausting.
Seth thought of asking Brody for help, but most everybody Brody knew, including Brody himself, were across the border making films. So Seth arranged a meeting with his oldest friend, Randi.
“It’s been a while. I figured you dropped off the face of the earth after the trial. What have you been up to?”
“Do you remember that guy from high school, Brody Williams?”
Randi nodded. “Brody Williams? How could I forget? The two of you were the most popular filmmaking duo in the school. Why?”
“Well, over the past year, we’ve been collaborating on film projects. And in the process of writing and editing for someone else, I realized just how much I missed directing films myself.” Seth took a sip of coffee. “So I’ve decided to get back into the groove. And was wondering, if I were to write and direct a film, would you be willing to help me out and be in it?”
Randi thought for a moment over a long sip of coffee. “Well, I guess that all depends on the type of film you want to make. I don’t do horror, and I don’t do sappy romance.”
Seth smiled at Randi. “No need to worry. I don’t do those types of films either.”
Randi held up her mug. “Well in that case, Mr. Zimmer, consider me on board.” They clinked mugs. “So, what film are we doing? Or haven’t you thought that far ahead?”
“Do you remember that comedy Vance and I did in 2010?”
Randi thought for a moment. “The one you had me appear in two parts? The prostitute and Vance’s ex-wife?”
Seth smiled. The memory of that film shoot brought him happiness. “Yes, ma’am. Vance and I originally plan
ned to make a trilogy, but because of the unforeseen circumstances regarding Vance, I was left no other choice but to shelve the other two films.”
Seth continued. “I’ve been thinking long and hard about how to continue a story that essentially involves those three main characters when two of the three actors are absent.”
He took a long sip of coffee. “I tried a few scenarios that I thought were up to par and in similar direction as the original intention of the trilogy. But then I realized, because of various reasons, they just wouldn’t work. But I think I finally found a scenario that I like and works well. But then again, that all depends.”
“Depends on what?”
“Do you know any other women that would be interested in acting with us?”
Randi placed her mug down and reached for her cell phone and started scrolling through her contact list. “Do you have a good idea of the character you want this woman to play?”
Seth thought for a moment. “I do. But what does that have to do with anything?”
Randi placed her phone back on the table. “If you could tell me some of the character’s personality traits, that will help me narrow down my list of potential people to ask.”
Seth considered the characters. “Well, she should have a good sense of humour and be outgoing. Basically, she has to have a bubbly personality.”
“That’s eerie. You just described my friend Paula Destiny to the tee.”
Seth chuckled at Paula’s name. “Destiny? That’s her real name?”
“That’s not her maiden name. That’s her married name.”
“Married? She’s married? Just how old is Paula?”
Randi said, “I’d say around our age, give or take one or two years. But does age or marital status matter?”
Seth shook his head. “Just as long as she’s willing to do the work.”
Randi picked her cell phone up again and texted Paula. After a couple of minutes, Paula replied back. Randi read the text and laid the phone back down.
Randi grabbed her coffee mug and slowly sipped.
“Well? Is she in?”
Randi smiled at Seth. “She is definitely in and is excited about it.”
*
Over the course of several months, Seth spent several hours a day and restless nights refining not only the film outline but the screenplay. He wanted to make sure the new characters worked seamlessly with the original cast. And before Seth knew it, he had a perfect screenplay. Or so he thought. He e-mailed the screenplay to Randi.
After a couple of days, Seth received a text message back.
I read the screenplay with Paula, and we just about split our sides from laughter. I really loved it and thought it was perfect. But Paula thought it could use some tweaking.
Seth read the text and shook his head. Typical! There always has to be a party pooper, he thought.
Tweaking, really? What’s wrong with it?
Paula thought some of the sexual humour is just a little risqué.
Seth couldn’t understand where Paula was coming from. It wasn’t like it was full of sex and hardcore nudity, like some films he could name.
Risqué, really? What’s so risqué about it? There’s nothing too over-the-top. She’s not a religious nut, is she?
No, not particularly. It’s just all the scenes she’s part of, which contain sexual humour, she wants both her and her husband to be comfortable with.
Her husband? Why is her husband reading my screenplay in the first place? He’s not in the film.
Tom feels since he’s allowing our production to film in his apartment, he has the right to read the screenplay. And yes, Tom will be in our film, as our friend Jimmy has dropped out. So Tom will be playing the part of Paula’s male caller.
Seth was disappointed, but he decided to make the changes anyway. All right, fine. Tell Paula to make me a list and I will make the appropriate changes.
That afternoon Seth received the list of changes and then spent an additional two weeks making the changes. He finally e-mailed the revised screenplay to Randi.
Two days later he received another text message.
Paula, Tom and I just finished reading the revised screenplay. Again, I thought it was excellent, but Paula and Tom thought it could use some more tweaking.
Seth rolled his eyes and huffed in anger. Are you freaking kidding me? Again, really?
Tom says if you don’t make these changes we can find ourselves another woman and apartment.
Morons, Seth thought. These people are absolutely clueless and obviously have no sense of humour.
He texted: Does Tom not realize I just spent an additional two weeks on revisions that he wanted in the first place?
We either please the people we already have, or we can start from scratch. Your choice.
If Paula and Tom were being this difficult, annoying and naïve this early on, Seth really wasn’t looking forward to production.
Fine, I’ll do it. But I’m not happy about it!
Don’t have a haemorrhage, Seth. They only want two little changes made. I’ve already e-mailed you what they want, so it shouldn’t be that much of a problem.
Seth ended the conversation and immediately checked the new list of changes and wasn’t happy. Sure, it was only two changes, but the scenes they wanted changed were two of the most crucial scenes in the film.
If Seth had to change these scenes, he had to come up with a whole other angle for the last half of the film. Seth was still working on projects with Brody and wanted to take on other projects as well, so he could start to make some money. He didn’t want to spend too much time on this film, as this was only meant to be a fun little side project.
Seth thought about not even continuing with this project, as certain people were making the experience a nightmare. But after putting this much time and effort into it, he thought it would be idiotic not to continue. Finally, after another week of long days and restless nights, he completed the third and hopefully final revised screenplay.
Seth e-mailed it to Randi, and in the spring of 2013, production began.
To Seth’s surprise, after having a rocky beginning with Paula and Tom, the production was moving fairly smoothly. But then only a few short weeks into the production, the problems began.
Seth and Randi arrived at Paula and Tom’s apartment to film as they would on their scheduled days. Everything seemed normal that day. Seth was setting up his equipment around the apartment as Randi and Paula changed into their wardrobes.
Both Paula and Randi were sitting on the couch as Seth was finishing the setup of his camera. Both women had their cell phones out and were text messaging. Seth found this weird but didn’t really think too much about it. And when he finished setting the camera up, he grabbed his bag of wardrobe and walked into the bathroom to change.
He hadn’t been in the bathroom long, but when he opened the door he could feel that something wasn’t right. He entered the living room and sat on the rocking chair. Paula and Randi were quiet. They stared at one another and occasionally looked at Seth.
Finally, after five minutes of uncomfortable silence, Paula texted. After a moment, Randi’s cell phone dinged, and she texted.
At this point Seth knew something was definitely up. “Okay, ladies, what’s going on here?”
Paula looked over at Randi. The look on her face told Randi to speak for her. “Well, it’s just the part that we’re going to film today makes Paula uncomfortable.”
Seth’s face immediately turned red from his high blood pressure, and his fingers turned white from gripping the armrests of the chair too hard. He took a deep breath.
Paula looked at Seth and immediately became frightened.
He looked at Paula. “Uh huh, I see,” Seth’s sombre tone made both women uncomfortable.
Randi quickly leapt to her feet. �
�Excuse us, Paula. Seth and I have to talk privately for a moment.”
Randi took Seth’s arm, and they exited the apartment. “I know you’re mad.”
“Mad? Me? No. I’m furious! What the hell’s that bitch’s problem now?”
“Paula confessed to me that she didn’t really read the last revision. She figured she would just agree to it to move things along quicker, as she felt bad for holding up production.”
Seth took deep breaths. But no matter what he did to calm down, nothing worked. “So what does this mean?”
“It means she wants you to do another rewrite.”
“Goddammit, Randi! I don’t have the time or patience for Paula or another rewrite!”
Randi took Seth’s arm and sat him on a bench. She sat beside him and rubbed his back, trying to calm him down. “I know you put a lot of time, energy and thought into each of your film projects. But think of it this way. Paula and I are doing your film for free. This film is being made on a zero budget. We know at the end of production we’re not going to receive any money. The only thing binding us to your film is our mutual trust and support. So you have to ask yourself, is doing a few rewrites really that big of a deal in return for free labour?”
Seth knew Randi was right, and as much as it upset him, he agreed to make the changes yet again.
Finally, after another week, the new changes were complete and production could now continue. On July 31, 2013, production finally wrapped. This film took a lot of work, patience and determination. During postproduction, Seth made his mind up that this film deserved to be shown.
It needed a premiere, otherwise, at least in Seth’s mind, all the pain and slaving he was put through during production wouldn’t have been worth it.
Seth typed up invitations and invited everyone he knew, and September 13, 2013, was premiere night.
Seth nervously watched the screening room at his local community centre fill with family, friends and friends of friends, to see his film. It was nerve-racking but exciting. The thing that was making Seth nervous the most was the fact he had to stand before these people, most of which he didn’t even know, and speak.
One thing Seth really hated was public speaking. But he knew it was something he had to do, not only because it was his film, but because it was something these people were expecting.
Growing Pains Page 14
