Sammy and the Princess comes out next summer. The premiere is in New York City at the Ziegfeld Theatre on July 20. My whole family is going to come, and a ton of my friends. My girlfriend Mareli will be there, too. Afterward, there is going to be a big party catered by my dad, because Shana Fox really loves his pizza.
I’m a little worried about the reaction. What if people think I’m a bad actor? Shana said most actors don’t read their reviews—but I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be able to help it. But maybe it won’t be so bad. There have already been some blog posts by people who somehow have seen parts of the movie or something, although I don’t know how that happens. My favorite was on the website TeenMovie.com, which said, “Pete Milano looks like someone to keep an eye on—he’s adorable and funny, and seems like a kid we’d like to hang around with.” That made me feel good, because it was written by kids.
So that’s about it for my experience making a movie. It was really fun, even though it got a little crazy there for a while. I recommend it to everyone, if they have the chance, but I know that’s not likely. I know how lucky I was. And I’ll never forget it.
I stopped reading. Then I looked up at Mrs. Sleep, Ms. Ferrell, and Mrs. Albone, who were all sitting in front of me.
“Very nice job,” said Mrs. Sleep. “I’m glad you took this assignment seriously, Mr. Milano. Your paper was very thoughtful and well written.”
“I agree,” said Ms. Ferrell. “Well done, Pete.”
Mrs. Albone nodded. “Well done indeed,” she said. Then she smiled. “Maybe you should make a movie more often.”
Everyone laughed except Mrs. Sleep. “Mrs. Albone brings up a good point, Peter,” she said. “Now that it’s over, how do you feel about the experience? Is it something you want to continue doing?”
“Wow,” I said. “I’m not sure. I hadn’t really thought about it.”
Mrs. Sleep pushed her glasses up on her nose. “Well, you may have to think about it, especially if others agree with the people on that website.”
I thought for a second. I knew Sheldon Felden liked me—after we’d finished shooting, he’d pulled me aside and said, “Kid. I think you got it. And there are people out there who are going to want it.” So maybe that means I would get an offer to act in another movie. And that would mean more excitement, more people thinking I was talented, more cool people to meet, and more getting to pretend I was someone else. But it would also mean more drama at school, and more jealousy and stuff with my friends, and more missed soccer games. And also, aren’t there a ton of young people who act in movies and get all conceited and think they’re awesome, and then when they become adults their careers are over, because they’re not cute kids anymore? Who needs that???
“So, what’s it going to be, Pete?” Ms. Ferrell asked. “Do you want to be an actor, or do you want to have a normal life?”
I thought for a second.
“Yes,” I said.
* * *
When I got outside Mrs. Sleep’s office, all my friends were waiting for me.
“How’d it go?” asked Charlie Joe.
I waited a beat (dramatic pause), then gave the thumbs-up.
“I will live to see another day,” I said.
I high-fived Timmy, Charlie Joe, and Katie. Then I grabbed Mareli’s hand, pulled her toward me, and kissed her—right on the lips.
“I owed you that,” I told her.
“Payment accepted,” she told me.
Everyone hooted and hollered.
It was just like in a movie.
SAMMY AND THE PRINCESS, FINAL SCENE
EXT. OUTSIDE THE DORM—DAY
IT’S THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR—PARENTS PICKING UP THEIR KIDS. SAMMY’S MOM AND DAD ARE HELPING HIM LOAD UP THE CAR.
DAD
So, quite a year, huh son?
SAMMY
That’s one way to put it, yeah.
MOM
I don’t know what it is about you, Sammy, but … you’ve changed. You’ve grown up.
SAMMY
Is that a good thing?
MOM
It’s a very good thing.
CROFT COMES UP TO THE CAR.
CROFT
See you around, little man.
THEY FIST BUMP.
SAMMY
Mom, Dad, you remember Croft.
THEY DON’T LOOK TOO THRILLED TO SEE HIM.
SAMMY (Cont’d)
Don’t worry, you guys. We’re pals now. We respect each other.
CROFT
That’s right, Mr. and Mrs. Powell. Your son … he stands up for what he believes in. That’s pretty cool. See you around, bro!
HE PUNCHES SAMMY ON THE ARM. SAMMY WINCES, THEN PUNCHES CROFT BACK—A SAD, LITTLE PUNCH.
CROFT
Dude, you gotta start lifting.
SAMMY
I’ll get right on that.
CROFT WAVES AND WALKS AWAY.
MOM
So, where’s …
SAMMY
Clarissa?
MOM
Yes, Clarissa. If you don’t mind my asking.
DAD
She’s a terrific girl.
SAMMY
She’s … with her parents, I think. There’s probably a ton of security around them and stuff. I’ll just send her a text or something.
THEY’RE JUST ABOUT TO DRIVE AWAY WHEN …
CLARISSA
Sammy! Sammy, wait!
CLARISSA COMES RUNNING UP.
CLARISSA
I just wanted you to know … that you’re the best friend I’ve ever had.
SAMMY
I am?
CLARISSA
Yes. And one day … I know you will make a princess very, very happy.
THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER FOR A LONG MOMENT.
SAMMY
Any princess in particular?
CLARISSA (After a pause)
Perhaps.
THEY HUG. THEN SAMMY GETS IN HIS CAR AND THEY DRIVE AWAY. SAMMY SITS IN THE BACK, LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AND THINKING.
DAD
So Sammy, overall … if you had to pick one thing … what would be the most important thing you learned this year?
A LONG PAUSE BEFORE SAMMY FINALLY ANSWERS.
SAMMY
Life can be really weird sometimes.
MOM
Oh, come on! You can do better than that!
SAMMY
Okay, okay, fine! (He thinks)
Life can be really weird sometimes …
So through it all, you need to remember to hold on to what’s more important.
(He thinks some more)
And never teach air hockey to a princess on an empty stomach.
AND THEY DRIVE OFF INTO THE DISTANCE.
FADE TO BLACK …
THE END
CLOSING CREDITS
Pete Milano took all his friends to the world premiere of the movie, which was held at Jookie’s in Eastport. Afterward, there was an air-hockey tournament; Jake Katz came in first, shocking everyone.
Sammy and the Princess went on to become a big hit, with reviewers praising the film’s “authentic feel” and “plausible storyline.”
Mareli Quinones made Pete another chocolate/coconut cake—this time for the premiere—and it turned out to be even more delicious when it was served on plates.
Pete and Shana Fox signed on to star in the sequel, Sammy and the Princess: Malvanian Summer!—to be directed by Ashley Kinsley.
Dex Bannion declined to be a part of the film, because he was on tour with his band, THE DOG WOOFERS.
Sheldon Felden celebrated the success of the movie by marrying his longtime girlfriend, twenty-seven-year-old actress/waitress Misty Plains.
Nano—whose real name turned out to be Seymour Wiffler—decided to quit directing and become a full-time knitter. He specializes in scarves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tommy Greenwald has enjoyed reading all his life, which is why he’s appalled that his kids Charlie, J
oe and Jack, would prefer getting a dental check-up to checking out a book. After years of pleading, threatening, and bribing, Tommy finally decided the only way to get his kids to read was to write a book about how to get out of reading. The result was Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading. And they read it! (So they say.) The Executive Creative Director at SPOTCO, an entertainment advertising agency in New York City, Tommy lives in Connecticut with his wife, Cathy; his non-reading sons, Charlie, Joe and Jack; and his dogs, Moose and Coco. You can sign up for email updates here.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Rebecca Roher is a cartoonist and illustrator from Toronto, Ontario. She is currently working on her first graphic novel, Bird in a Cage, to be released in May 2016 by Conundrum Press. The original comic won Best English Comic at Expozine 2014. Her comic, Mom Body, was nominated for an Ignatz Award and has been featured on New York Times Now, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed and Yahoo Parenting. Find more at www.rebeccaroher.com or sign up for email updates here.
By TOMMY GREENWALD
Jack Strong Takes a Stand
Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! (And Lives to Tell About It.)
Pete Milano’s Guide to Being a Movie Star
The CHARLIE JOE JACKSON Series
Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading
Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit
Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation
Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Making Money
Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Planet Girl
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Introduction
Act One: Lights!
It’s Impossible To Not Steal Pom-Poms
The Lady With The Laptops
Relate-ability
Home
Hello? Is This Hollywood On The Phone?
Real Friends
Acting
Who’s That Girl?
The Best Part About Being In A Movie
The Audition
Almost Famous
The Wait
SF/10B
Act Two: Camera!
The Night Before
Mrs. Sleep
Just Nano
The First Rule Of Show Business
Oasis
Things Start To Get Weird
Actor To Actor
Ready For Nothing
Hurry Up And … Fail
Act Three: Action!
It’s Lonely At The Top
Delicious Food, Lousy Conversation
Leaving A Mark
Shelden Feldon Doesn’t Smoke A Cigar
Shana
The Return Of Iris
Math Problem
Confusion
The Sound Cake Makes When It Hits Human Skin
Act Four: Every Movie Needs A Happy Ending
Sometimes, Even Seven Apologies Aren’t Enough
Jookie’s
Quite A Scene
On The Run Again
Back To School
Closing Credits
About the Author
About the Illustrator
By Tommy Greenwald
Copyright
Text copyright © 2016 by Tommy Greenwald
Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Rebecca Roher
Inspired by illustrations drawn by J.P. Coovert for the Charlie Joe Jackson series
Published by Roaring Brook Press
Roaring Brook Press is a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
mackids.com
All rights reserved
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Greenwald, Tommy.
Title: Pete Milano’s guide to being a movie star / by Tommy Greenwald; illustrations by Rebecca Roher.
Description: First edition. | New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2016. | Summary: Pete Milano, class clown, is used to getting into trouble while amusing people, but now his tricks have gained him an audition for a movie that could lead to stardom—and the loss of his girlfriend and other friends.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015026682 | ISBN 9781626721678 (hardback) | ISBN 9781626721685 (ebook)
Subjects: | CYAC: Motion pictures—Production and direction—Fiction. | Middle schools—Fiction. | Schools—Fiction. | Friendship—Fiction. | Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. | Humorous stories. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories. | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Friendship.
Classification: LCC PZ7.G8523 Pet 2016 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015026682
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at [email protected].
eISBN 9781626721685
First hardcover edition, 2016
eBook edition, February 2016
Pete Milano's Guide to Being a Movie Star Page 12