The Director

​

The director felt exhausted on each day that he directed. It seemed like everybody wanted something from him. He had to make all these decisions, and he resented that he had to be the one to make them.

​

The actors had questions. The camera crew had questions. The sound people had questions.

He couldn’t have as many questions. He was expected to direct.

​

 

——

​

 

He went back to his apartment after work. He made himself a cup of coffee. He made an omelette for dinner and then he ate it and before he fell asleep he thought about how he saw Citizen Kane for the first time as a kid.

 

​

——

 

​

One of the executive producers, Tom Reginald, came to the set that day.

​

“Earl, you’re doing a great job, don’t let anyone tell you no different,” he said, smoking his cigar, slapping Earl on the back. “Lots of beautiful babes on this set, that’s for sure.”

​

 

——

 

​

Earl went to the gym. He noticed an attractive woman on the treadmill. She smiled at him.

​

After their workout, she stood near the entrance to the lockers.

​

“Hi, I’m Carla.”

​

“Earl.”

​

“See you around here sometimes. What do you do?”

​

“I’m a director.”

​

“You like it?”

​

“Not sure. What about you?”

​

“Executive manager at this fashion studio. You’re a director, so you must know what it’s like to boss people around and have them not listen to you.”

​

“Yeah.”

​

“So what kind of movies do you make?”

​

“This one I’m working on is about a drug addict who’s trying to get clean.”

​

“Wow. What inspired you to direct this particular story?”

​

“It was written by my brother. The producers liked it. He told them I’m a director. I got the job.”

​

“That was nice of him.”

​

“I mostly directed music videos before this.”

​

“Did you like that?”

​

“It was okay. Listen, I don’t like to talk that much about my job. I might leave. It’s a terrible field.”

​

“But people need directors. You are the vision behind how the film turns out.”

​

“I know, but everyone needs something from me, and I don’t understand why they come to me with all these questions, and I’m tired of it.”

​

“Well, give it time. Maybe you will change your mind.”

​

 

——

​

 

Earl sat in his apartment that night eating popcorn and watching King Kong (1933).

​

This was a good one, he thought. 

​

King Kong died and the movie ended.