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"No, I just… How can you keep putting them through the wringer? I'm starting to feel bad about how hard they're all working to pull off these renos."
"Going soft on me, Trina?" Jake teased. "So close to the end?"
"I like them. They are good people."
"They are."
"Then how can you torture them?"
"Why do people watch reality TV, Trina?"
"Entertainment?"
"Sure, but more specifically, they want to believe. They want the good guys to triumph. They want to feel better than the bad guys. They want to go along for the emotional ride. Our show? The Valentis? Definitely good guys, and our viewers want to see them triumph against all odds to give a regular couple their perfect home. If there's no struggle, there's no drama. You know this. You're the queen of catching those small moments that feed the whole narrative."
"I just think that renovating a home is stressful enough without adding extra obstacles."
"Right. And that was fine for the first few episodes. We're now nearing the end of season two with an extended break before we start filming three because of all the baby leaves. And a new spin-off I'm trying to get approved to fill in the gaps. And I need high drama to keep our viewers. Now, help me figure out what that looks like."
Trina shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. A change in tactics was in order.
"How's everything going with Winston's demo?"
"Good. He's gotten a few nibbles, but it's slow."
Her boyfriend worked on the crew here but had recently gone down to LA to pursue a singing career. He knew the temporary long-distance aspect was putting a strain on their relationship, but he had also promised to recommend Trina for a movie gig once they wrapped the special. She'd agreed to stay until after the babies came to help smooth the transition to a new crew once everyone was back, and he was grateful. But she was still going to have to prove herself to any new director she worked for.
"I know you are dying to get down there and help him. But I've got you until at least the fall. Help me make these shows shine, so when it comes time to pitch you to movie folks, you'll be putting your best work forward."
She couldn't argue against her own self-interest. With a defeated sigh, she muttered something.
"What?"
"Power outage," Trina repeated. "It's supposed to rain tomorrow. They'd have to work in the dark and without power tools. It'll create interesting lighting challenges too."
"Brilliant! There's our finale. I knew I could count on you." Jake grinned but Trina didn't return it.
"Then why do I feel like I just snitched on my best friend?"
"It's just the job, Trina. And you do it damn well."
Jake turned back to his master binder as the gears began to whirr in his head around the new idea.
Blackout for the Bakshis. Fucking genius.
And just like that he was back in the game, his preoccupation with Frankie finally pushed from his mind as it filled with technical details and shot lists for the coming weeks. This was his sweet spot, everything under his control, even his own thoughts. He grinned and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. This was gonna be good.
CHAPTER3
When Jake walkedinto Dom Valenti’s office Friday morning, he was ready to negotiate. He’d combed through his proposals to both Dom and the network, looking for tangles. Launching the spin-off series for Valenti Vineyards would be a feather in his cap.
He’d gone out on a limb for the pilot of Million-Dollar Starter Home. When Dom had frozen on camera, Jake had thought he was screwed. But the sexual tension between Sofia and Adrian, coupled with a broody but competent Enzo and the comedic stylings of Frankie, had saved the show, endearing the Valenti family to millions of viewers, and green-lighting the second season.
With the original show now on hiatus due to imminent family leaves, he'd leaned into the winery renovation idea that Dom had pitched. He could keep his crew working during the break, get everyone their hours for insurance, keep his little tribe together for as long as possible. Letting a crew lapse could mean months of trying to find replacements when things got rolling again, with no guarantee that people would be available to come back.
After so many years in the business he knew the value of a great crew, and he'd handpicked this one. They were like family, and he wasn't going to let them go just because his stars kept pairing off and making babies.
The spin-off special location miniseries would not only solidify their market share. It would translate into dollars in the bank for the Valentis and more respect and freedom for him at the network.
