Will You Won't You Want Me?: A Novel by Nora Zelevansky

Author:Nora Zelevansky [Zelevansky, Nora]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781466850187
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2016-04-19T07:00:00+00:00

24

Marjorie spent the afternoon and evening watching what seemed like the most god-awful films ever made. (But then she had not attended the feelings-themed, Cymbalta-sponsored Seattle high school festival the previous week, where teen angst met two hundred days of nonstop rain and digital video cameras. Parents actually fled the auditorium.)

Nevertheless, Marjorie’s afternoon was not without agony. Watching and synopsizing largely unedited experimental films was almost as torturous than having to create spreadsheets in the tundra. Though she applauded the filmmakers’ initiative, even the better films were too offbeat for distribution.

Just after 10:00 P.M., she pulled off her hat, sweater, scarf, and leg warmers (yup, leg warmers) and left the conference room. How strange to bundle up indoors and strip down to go outside. She knocked; Gus looked up from his TV screen, pressing Pause.

“You look different.” He eyed her, standing in his doorway in short shorts and a thin tank top.

“I took off my snowsuit.”

He swallowed hard, then coughed. “No. I mean, you look bleary-eyed.”

“I finished those films and sent you descriptions. Nothing good yet.”

“Ah. That explains the exhaustion. Sorry. I meant to order us dinner.”

“No problem. Do you need me to stay and watch more?”

“Nah.” Gus looked around his office at nothing in particular. “I’ll leave soon too. We should both get some rest. Especially you. You look awful.”

“Gee, thanks. Can you repeat that at least one more time?”

“Tomorrow may be a late night, assuming these summaries are okay. I’ll pay you overtime, don’t worry.” He raised a hand in good-bye, already absorbed in the document she had sent. “See you tomorrow.”

Marjorie returned to the conference room, shut down the computer, and organized her pens. She was starting to feel ownership over this subarctic enclave. As she reached the exit, she heard a booming laugh from inside Gus’s office. And she smiled, despite herself.

EXPERIMENTAL VIDEO Short Films

Descriptions by Marjorie Plum

1. ELECTRIC KOOL-AID & ALL THAT JAZZ

In b&w. The shadow of a fan plays on a white wall in a dim, cavernous room. The shadow of a fan plays on a white wall in a dim, cavernous room. The shadow of a fan plays on a white wall in a dim, cavernous room. A door opens. A door shuts. The shadow of a fan plays on a white wall in a dim, cavernous room for 22 more minutes. Why, God? Why???! [27 minutes]

2. A BAD NIGHT

A 24-year-old filmmaker playing a hard-living 64-year-old (read: stuffed midriff, sprayed gray hair) saddles up to a bar and orders a drink from an underage bartender with a very real Road Runner tattoo on his arm. The drinker has had a rough day, but don’t get too excited because we never find out why. This is a silent film, after all. The only text: “This is the worst night of my life, a very bad night.” And then “May I please have a Budweiser. I don’t like Coors.” Superbowl ad? [19 minutes]

3. SURREALISM & THE MELTING CLOCK

A young film student wants to be Fellini. Sadly, he is not.

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