The Middle Of Your Movie

(Originally posted June 4th, 2007)
I'm sure this analogy has been made before, but it's helped me so i don't care if it's cliché. i'm talking about being in the middle of your movie. legally blonde is one of my all-time favorite movies. elle woods is the main character. from the very first time i saw the movie, i was inspired by her spunk and determination. i wished i could be like her. i was mesmerized by her confidence... but every now and then i think about what it would be like for the movie to be real - for it to last a year and a half instead of an hour and a half. we see her preparing for the LSATs for 10 minutes, but what would it be like to experience it for 5 weeks? we see elle struggling with mean classmates and teachers who pick on her for about 20 minutes - what would it be like to experience that for 4 months?

i wonder the same thing whenever i see a movie where the character undergoes a big change - legally blonde, the devil wears prada, dangerous minds, mr. holland's opus... they struggle for a while, then something happens for them and they make a big change in their attitude or their approach and all of a sudden things fall into place for them.

for elle woods, the big change comes after warner turns her down again at the party where she dressed up like a bunny b/c the mean girls told her it was a costume party - after that, she gets the kick-ass vanessa carlton track, buys a computer, studies her butt off and starts to gain respect.

in the devil wears prada, this moment comes after meryl streep has changed her mind on the spur of the moment and dismisses her and she goes down to complain to stanley tucci in the photography room. she's bummed and ready to give up and then decides to go into it wholeheartedly. she completely changes her hair, makeup, wardrobe... and continues to do so.

when we see it in movies, we don't really think about all the work it takes to succeed. we don't really see the hours of studying and reading, we don't see the hours of makeup and hair and eyelash curling and the blisters on feet from walking in fancy shoes. we just see the new levels of respect garnered by these efforts. we see elle answering questions correctly in class. we see meryl streep dump her coat and purse on emily's desk instead... and we feel so good for these characters!! we rejoice in their victories.

but it took months of heartache to get there. and it takes hours of work and sacrifice to stay there. that's the reality of it. in my life, (thinking of elle woods as a role model) i wanted to be respected and admired. and for months and months, i was harassed and very much DISrespected! and it bothered me so badly. but then i realized: i'm in the middle of my movie. and that's all i can do about it. i know the time is coming when i'll get my kick-ass music, but it's not for a little while yet. and that's ok. in order to get to the part of the movie i want, i need to be patient, and i need to work my butt off!