Another Beginning, chapter 1
This was what I had been waiting for, for the past 6 months all I could think about was what this letter was going to say. I opened the envelope and read it to myself.
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We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen to play the part Whatsername in the film 'American Idiot: The Motion Picture.' We have scheduled to start shooting in February of...
----------------------------
That's all I had to read, I now had the part that every aspiring actress/Green Day fan could want. I could not breathe. I was in shock. I probably sat there for 8 minutes listening to silence after Good Riddance finished, which I had put on to get me in the mood for the rejection.
Then it really hit me. I HAVE the part. I ran downstairs screaming 'I GOT THE PART I GOT THE PART' at my Mom and Dad who were seated at the kitchen table. I knew they were regretting me sending in that audition tape. They were always trying to discourage me from doing something I wanted to do, but encouraging me to do all the things I hated.
"That's great. But you know what this means right?"? my Dad said, trying to be discourage me, "Your going to have to leave all your friends behind, and get a private tutor for school when your on set."?
"You think I didn't know that? I know I'm going to have to leave everyone behind, but I've been waiting for this opportunity for my whole life, Dad, it's my destiny!"? I said, still overly excited.
"Ok, but this is going to mean big changes for everyone, so don't let this whole 'destiny' idea go to your head."?
"Sure whatever."? I said as I ran back upstairs to re-read over the letters.
I read over the basic letter, and there were a few other pages talking about contracts, transportation and family stuff. The letter said that after I replied, they would set up 2 tickets for me to fly out to California at the end of January. I was wondering what I should do with the letters when I looked in the envelope and there was a short note from Billie Joe.
----------------------------
Sheena:
I decided I might as well write you a letter myself because everything else must seem really complicated to you. I didn't want to make you feel like your just some kid we hired, I wanted to tell you how much this movie means to me and the guys. And I guess you too, and everyone who's getting the real message of the album. But I really want to get to know you and how you feel about the album and what all this means to you. I just want everyone to be happy and be movie to turn out great.
- Billie Joe Armstrong
----------------------------
And then I realized what I was doing. I was not just playing a small role in some 2 star movie. This was American Idiot: The Motion Picture. This was going to be phenomenal, a turning point in music, in film, in Green Day. I could not act like some stupid fan like I did when I opened that letter. This was real. I was going to play Whatsername for Christ's sake.
I ran back downstairs and went over the important letters with my parents. I could only bring one of them with me to sign the contracts and meet everyone. Neither of them cared for Green Day, any of its members, or their music. But I didn't care because they'd be gone a week or so into filming.
But I picked my Dad because I knew that at least he would be more understanding of my hopes and dreams, my destiny. And he was the one that at least considered things, unlike my mom who just gave me the same answer for everything, "No." I knew my parents weren't happy about having me live on my own for almost a year. But at the same time I think they were happy to get me off their hands.
We went out to dinner to celebrate, which I always hated a little bit. Because I was a vegetarian all I could ever order was a salad, but this time I got to pick where we went. I picked a local Mexican place, so I could at least get cheese quesadillas. I was so excited, I think the waiter thought I was on some kind of new drug. I kept making jokes with my sister, I was being very talkative, which was unusual when I was around my family.
We went back to the house I wasn't feeling overjoyed like I was before, but I was still happy about the movie. I thought about everything, not just about the movie. I remembered all the times I had with my friends, random events that had changed me. I was starting a new chapter in my life. This was going to be more like a whole new book. This could take me down a completely different career path. I could live my dreams and not just be a lawyer or doctor like my parents want me to.
That night I looked at old pictures of my friends from other places I'd lived. I had to say goodbye to them at one point, and again, I had to say goodbye to my friends here. It was like I was moving, but coming back. Or maybe I wouldn't come back. This could be the last month I had to share with them. Winter break started in 3 days, and I'd only have 2 or 3 weeks in January left in a real school. Then it would be off to film a movie. I couldn't believe it, I was going to do this.
I got ready to go to sleep, and as washed my face I looked at myself in the mirror. I felt good about myself, I no longer felt like the girl that no one wanted to hang out with because of her beliefs. I felt like I belonged somewhere for once in my life. I knew I never had to care what anyone else thought of me. I knew that this was going to change me. It would be a long journey, something I would always remember. And I got to do it with the guys from Green Day.
----------------------------
We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen to play the part Whatsername in the film 'American Idiot: The Motion Picture.' We have scheduled to start shooting in February of...
----------------------------
That's all I had to read, I now had the part that every aspiring actress/Green Day fan could want. I could not breathe. I was in shock. I probably sat there for 8 minutes listening to silence after Good Riddance finished, which I had put on to get me in the mood for the rejection.
Then it really hit me. I HAVE the part. I ran downstairs screaming 'I GOT THE PART I GOT THE PART' at my Mom and Dad who were seated at the kitchen table. I knew they were regretting me sending in that audition tape. They were always trying to discourage me from doing something I wanted to do, but encouraging me to do all the things I hated.
"That's great. But you know what this means right?"? my Dad said, trying to be discourage me, "Your going to have to leave all your friends behind, and get a private tutor for school when your on set."?
"You think I didn't know that? I know I'm going to have to leave everyone behind, but I've been waiting for this opportunity for my whole life, Dad, it's my destiny!"? I said, still overly excited.
"Ok, but this is going to mean big changes for everyone, so don't let this whole 'destiny' idea go to your head."?
"Sure whatever."? I said as I ran back upstairs to re-read over the letters.
I read over the basic letter, and there were a few other pages talking about contracts, transportation and family stuff. The letter said that after I replied, they would set up 2 tickets for me to fly out to California at the end of January. I was wondering what I should do with the letters when I looked in the envelope and there was a short note from Billie Joe.
----------------------------
Sheena:
I decided I might as well write you a letter myself because everything else must seem really complicated to you. I didn't want to make you feel like your just some kid we hired, I wanted to tell you how much this movie means to me and the guys. And I guess you too, and everyone who's getting the real message of the album. But I really want to get to know you and how you feel about the album and what all this means to you. I just want everyone to be happy and be movie to turn out great.
- Billie Joe Armstrong
----------------------------
And then I realized what I was doing. I was not just playing a small role in some 2 star movie. This was American Idiot: The Motion Picture. This was going to be phenomenal, a turning point in music, in film, in Green Day. I could not act like some stupid fan like I did when I opened that letter. This was real. I was going to play Whatsername for Christ's sake.
I ran back downstairs and went over the important letters with my parents. I could only bring one of them with me to sign the contracts and meet everyone. Neither of them cared for Green Day, any of its members, or their music. But I didn't care because they'd be gone a week or so into filming.
But I picked my Dad because I knew that at least he would be more understanding of my hopes and dreams, my destiny. And he was the one that at least considered things, unlike my mom who just gave me the same answer for everything, "No." I knew my parents weren't happy about having me live on my own for almost a year. But at the same time I think they were happy to get me off their hands.
We went out to dinner to celebrate, which I always hated a little bit. Because I was a vegetarian all I could ever order was a salad, but this time I got to pick where we went. I picked a local Mexican place, so I could at least get cheese quesadillas. I was so excited, I think the waiter thought I was on some kind of new drug. I kept making jokes with my sister, I was being very talkative, which was unusual when I was around my family.
We went back to the house I wasn't feeling overjoyed like I was before, but I was still happy about the movie. I thought about everything, not just about the movie. I remembered all the times I had with my friends, random events that had changed me. I was starting a new chapter in my life. This was going to be more like a whole new book. This could take me down a completely different career path. I could live my dreams and not just be a lawyer or doctor like my parents want me to.
That night I looked at old pictures of my friends from other places I'd lived. I had to say goodbye to them at one point, and again, I had to say goodbye to my friends here. It was like I was moving, but coming back. Or maybe I wouldn't come back. This could be the last month I had to share with them. Winter break started in 3 days, and I'd only have 2 or 3 weeks in January left in a real school. Then it would be off to film a movie. I couldn't believe it, I was going to do this.
I got ready to go to sleep, and as washed my face I looked at myself in the mirror. I felt good about myself, I no longer felt like the girl that no one wanted to hang out with because of her beliefs. I felt like I belonged somewhere for once in my life. I knew I never had to care what anyone else thought of me. I knew that this was going to change me. It would be a long journey, something I would always remember. And I got to do it with the guys from Green Day.
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