I Represent Sean Rosen (10 page)

The bar mitzvah podcast will be different. Besides being in Detroit, it's going to be in two parts so I can fit in all the places and people. Sometimes it's hard to find people who want to be interviewed. Not at this bar mitzvah. When people saw me recording someone, they came over and said, “Me next. Interview me next.” I'm talking about adults, not kids.

This was a very noisy bar mitzvah. The loud music made everyone shout, and sometimes it's hard to hear the questions and answers. I tried every filter and noise reduction thing on my computer, but I just can't use some of the interviews. Like the one I did with my grandmother.

I came downstairs to ask my parents what to do about Grandma. “Forget it, Seany. I ain't touching that with a fork.”

Then my mom said, “Before you put it online, send her an e-mail and tell her why she isn't in it. Do it tonight.”

“Mom . . . can you do it?” They both laughed.

To: Thorny Rosen

From: Sean Rosen

Dear Grandma,

How are you?

It was great to see you in Detroit.

Remember our interview at the bar mitzvah party?

Remember how noisy that party was? Even though you were talking loud, I can't use your interview in my podcast. There was too much noise. You'll still be in some other parts of the podcast.

I know you're disappointed and if you want to skip my birthday present this year, you can.

Love,

Sean

I
can't stop staring at my computer. Is Brad ever going to write back to Dan Welch? I thought it would be really fast. Like he'd get the e-mail and call out to Stefanie, “Dan Welch wants to know if you can have your meeting with Sean Rosen on Skype.” She'd say, “Sure. Why not?” He'd say, “Good. I'll take care of it.” Then she'd say, “Thanks, Brad. You're the best.”

Now I'm starting to get worried. Maybe
this
is what happened.

Maybe Brad is on vacation. Maybe Stefanie is on vacation. Maybe she has chicken pox. If she does, she'll want to meet on Skype, because she can't go to the office. No, she won't. She won't want anyone to see her with chicken pox.

It's only been a day since Dan sent the e-mail, but it was a long day. French was awful. She's never going to call on me again. Then I forgot to be away from the Publication Room when Doug came to have his picture taken.

I tried to act really busy with my list, but he came over to where I was sitting. I didn't know what he was going to do. He bent down, and right in my ear, so only I could hear, said, “Thanks for last year's picture, you little _________.”

I'm not actually little, but I guess compared to Doug I am. I would tell you what he called me, but I don't use words like that.

It was creepy. Like he might show up in a bad dream tonight.

Why am I still sitting here staring at Dan Welch's empty inbox, not working on my homework, not working on my podcast, not playing Ricochet Roulette? Fortunately, I got a text from Brianna.

Call me right now.

Brianna doesn't know about Dan Welch or my whole show-business career. No one does. Well, Ethan knows a tiny bit, but he'll never tell anyone. Not everyone can keep secrets. My mom can. She doesn't like to lie, but she can definitely keep her mouth shut. My dad can't keep a secret. You tell him it's a secret, and twenty minutes later he tells someone. Not to be mean. It's like he doesn't believe in secrets. I learned this the hard way.

It's weird to be in the middle of something so important and not tell any of the people I see every day. Well, I guess it's not that weird for me. I've always had a lot of private things. I think that happens more when you don't have brothers and sisters.

Brianna (two brothers) is the opposite of private. At first I thought she was telling me all those personal things because I was such a good friend and she could trust me. Then I found out she tells a lot of people.

That's one of the reasons I don't tell her much. But even if I wanted to, it would be hard to do. Brianna doesn't stop talking long enough. I don't mind. It's like reading a book where you never have to turn the pages. She just keeps going until you have to leave.

Today Brianna was talking about plastic surgery. Her mom had it yesterday. Brianna says she's addicted to it. I've known her mom for a few years, and she definitely looks different now, but it's hard to say if it's better or worse. I have no idea which parts are plastic.

Brianna said her parents aren't talking to each other again. I wonder why they always fight. Brianna thinks it's because they didn't used to have money and now they do. I don't know what that has to do with it. I'm lucky my parents like each other.

She asked me what I think of her new profile picture on Facebook. She changes it every few days. I haven't been on Facebook for a little while, and I was just about to go there when a new e-mail popped into Dan Welch's inbox. I have to get off the phone.

I quickly muted the sound on my computer and called myself from Skype. “Brianna, can you hold on a sec? I have another call.” I switched to the other call, and for some reason I had a little fake conversation with myself out loud. I guess part of me believes that if you're on the phone with someone and you put them on hold, they can hear your other conversation. I don't actually know if that's true.

When I got back on with Brianna, I said, “Did you hear that?” She said no. I said it was my mom calling from downstairs reminding me that I promised to help her in the yard. I felt bad lying, but I can't keep talking about Facebook when something important is happening.

I said good-bye and opened the e-mail.

To: Dan Welch Management

From: Brad

Dear Dan,

Stefanie would be happy to have a meeting with Sean on Skype. In fact, she loves that idea. You said you wanted to do it after this week. I'm not sure if you knew, but Stefanie goes on maternity leave next week, so she'd like to do it tomorrow afternoon at five our time. I hope that works for you.

She's very excited about hearing Sean's idea. We all are. It will be Stefanie, our three Directors of Development, and me. Dan, will you be there with Sean? We're looking forward to meeting you both. Our Skype address is _________ .

Please confirm. See you tomorrow.

Cheers,

Brad

What?! Tomorrow?!! Dan . . . Why didn't we wait until I actually had an idea?

I guess it's good that we didn't, because Stefanie would already be on maternity leave. But I was sure I'd have more time than this. Like a weekend at least.

So in the next twenty-six hours, I have to do my homework, go to school, finish my podcast and upload it, come up with a movie idea that could possibly be a whole series of movies, and figure out how to explain it to five people at one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world. And find someone who can be Dan Welch at the Skype meeting.

I suddenly got very, very tired. It was 4:37 in the afternoon, but all I wanted to do was go to bed. It doesn't make sense that when you have more to do than you ever have in your whole life that you would go to bed, but I know I won't get anything done unless I get some sleep.

Unfortunately, when you're worried about things, even if you're really, really tired, it's hard to fall asleep. You keep thinking about the things you're worried about. You just hear them over and over in your head.

Here's what I do when that happens. I listen to a podcast. Not one of my own, because then I would think about how it could be better. Then I'd have to add “Fix the podcast” to my list of things to do when I'm not so tired. Instead, I listen to someone else's podcast.

There's a million of them on the internet. I try to find one that's sort of interesting, so I'll actually want to listen to it, but not too interesting because then I'll try to stay awake and listen to the whole thing. It actually works. I usually use science podcasts, because I'm sort of interested in science, but not too interested. Today was “Appalachian Coal Mining.”

I know everyone is different with sleep, but for me, if I fall asleep for even fifteen minutes, I feel much, much better when I wake up. It worked today. I woke up, I read Brad's e-mail again, and now, instead of being scared, I'm excited.

A vice president of a huge company wants to hear my movie idea. A few weeks ago this same company accused me of stealing
their
ideas. Now, thanks to Dan Welch, they're willing to talk to me. And I don't have to figure out how to get to Los Angeles. Stefanie actually loves my idea of doing it on Skype. This is all very, very good.

At least I
think
it is. I wonder if I should be concentrating on my big idea and the company I actually want to work with on it. What if someone else comes up with my same big idea? What if what I'm really good at is big ideas, not movies?

This might sound conceited, but I actually think I'm going to be good at both. But even if I'm not good at movies, I won't be wasting much time on them. My meeting is tomorrow.

And I'm not sure exactly how, but I have a feeling we're going to learn things from this trial run that will make it easier for Dan Welch and me to sell my big idea.

Good. Let's get to work. When I have a lot to do, I make a list. I got that from my mom. She loves lists. I once saw one of her lists where one of the things on the list was “Make a list.” Here's mine.

1. Have Dan Welch confirm the Skype meeting.

2. Have Dan tell Brad he won't be at the Skype meeting.

3. Go to www.SeanRosen.com and post an announcement explaining why the new podcast isn't ready.

4. Do enough homework to get through school tomorrow.

5. Come up with an idea for a movie or a whole series of movies.

To: Brad

From: Dan Welch Management

Dear Brad,

Tomorrow at five your time is perfect for Sean. Sorry I won't be able to join you, but I'm sure I'll get a full report.

Best, Dan

• • •

Attention podcast friends:

I know it's been a little while since my last podcast.

I'm putting together a very special two-part podcast. Part one will be ready soon, I promise.

We've been getting some excellent comments from listeners.

(Okay. One comment from one listener—Collectibles Dan Welch)

This week I suggest you look at the podcasts on the site, and if you missed one, now is the perfect time to catch up. If you never missed one, maybe there's one you want to see again.

See you soon.

Best, Sean

Okay, I took care of number 1, number 2, and number 3 on my list. I spent a half hour doing homework. I'm so lucky that math is easy for me. The only thing I have left to do is number 5. The movie idea. I love movies. How hard can it be to come up with one?

It's not like I actually have to
make
a movie by tomorrow. Or even write a script for a movie by tomorrow. All I need for tomorrow is an idea for a movie. Or a series of movies.

Maybe a bike ride would be a good way to empty out my mind. I know I don't have much time, but I like this time of day. It's still light out, but there are all these cool shadows. I rode to the firehouse and back, which is only like ten minutes, but that was enough. I feel good. I'm ready to get to work.

I wonder what would be a better way to do this—think about one movie or think about a series of movies. What are some of the big series of movies? Toy Story, Shrek, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean. I looked online. The Toy Storys made almost 2 billion dollars, the Pirates of the Caribbeans made more than 2.6 billion, and the Shreks made about 3 billion.

When I think about coming up with an idea that will make even 1 billion dollars I want to go back to sleep. So for now, I'm just going to think about an idea for one movie.