The Show Must Go On

Question

Tessa received the letter in an oversized lavender envelope with a silver star across the addressee space. She knew what it was before she opened it due to a system error earlier that week that had sent out emails to the accepted students. She still opened it slowly to build anticipation, just like she had planned to do back when she first applied. Congratulations on your acceptance to the Hollywood Summer Stars teenage film program. Please see script submission deadlines below, and report to Studio 14 on the appropriate date. It was everything she had hoped for since six months prior when she had turned over her carefully crafted application.

On June 24, Tessa stood outside Studio 14 clutching two binders to her chest. One contained her shooting script, which was several development stages ahead of where the program expected it to be. The second binder contained a summer-long schedule she had composed for herself, detailing the upcoming weeks and the progress she planned to make on the film. Tessa’s mother had poked fun at her elaborate preparations, encouraging her to use some of her free time for actual fun before the camp took over her summer vacation. Her mother didn’t understand that for Tessa, this was fun.

The camp arranged students in pairs to provide feedback to and support for one another. Tessa’s fondest aspiration was to be matched with someone similar to her or related to someone famous who could maybe provide an exotic outside perspective on her work. Instead, they paired her with a Midwestern boy named Varick who had never left his home state of Ohio before his acceptance letter arrived. Tessa managed her disappointment and asked about his project, hoping it wouldn’t be too tedious. He told her his script was open-ended by design, and that he intended to develop the content further as he filmed. Tessa thought that approach amounted to wasting a golden opportunity to make a masterpiece under professional supervision.

The first week of filming went smoothly, and Tessa managed to accomplish every single task on her extensive to-do list. The second week was less productive. The obstacles began Tuesday morning, when storms appeared on the horizon. Tessa wasn’t an amateur planner, so she had penciled in the possibility of poor weather. However she had not imagined the possibility of three consecutive overcast days taking place in a single week in Los Angeles. By Thursday, her mood soured, and she berated the clouds overhead for their interference. Through it all, Varick urged her to “change it up” and capture some of the fascinating skyscapes provided by the uncooperative weather. Tessa grew frustrated with his intrusion, and reminded him for the umpteenth time that her film had nothing to do with storms.

The fourth week marked the halfway point for the camp. Tessa reviewed her footage methodically, and she was chagrined to find it underwhelming. Her special-effects work was clearly rushed due to a double-booking that had derailed her the previous week. Some of her shots lacked continuity, which she supposed was the result of lighting woes from the storms. There were even blatant mistakes in the editing, probably owing to the all-nighters she pulled to keep on schedule. Tessa was both jealous and regretful when she saw Varick’s footage. He had captured the storm, which had derailed her own film, in a unique and beautiful way. He had even cut back on special effects rather than burning the midnight oil to make up for the double-booked studio. When she complimented him, he thanked her and said nonchalantly, “I just go with the flow.” It wasn’t the exotic outside perspective she had hoped her partner would give her, but she had to admit that where results were concerned, his methods had so far outstripped her own.

Tessa’s planned finale involved a scene at the La Brea Tar Pits Museum on Wilshire. She’d been there a handful of times when her father had brought her to LA for business, and she was so certain the museum would accommodate her that she had not planned an alternative. The rejection for her request came on Friday. She planned to start the shoot that Sunday. It was a very polite letter, explaining that it would be impossible to accommodate her equipment due to a charity 5k that would shut down the road and bring an unusually high level of foot traffic into the museum. Varick watched her pace the room with concern in his eyes. Unlike his helpful encouragement during the first six weeks of camp, he did not seem to have any words of advice to offer now. “I have an idea,” Tessa said at last. She stopped pacing and put her planning binder back up on the shelf. “I think I can make it work, but I want to be there when the runners are passing the museum.”

On the final day of class, Tessa watched her film play as the instructors scribbled notes. Nerves twisted in the pit of her stomach as she thought about the perfect film she had planned and worried about what she had made instead. In the dim light of the theater, she watched the instructors’ faces. They had read her initial script, so they knew what was supposed to happen. She watched them murmur to one another in low tones as the final scene played out on screen, and when they clapped, looking genuinely impressed, Tessa met Varick’s eye and shared her relief with him in a glance. Maybe he hadn’t been the partner she’d envisioned, but he had certainly turned out to be the one she needed. His penchant for turning obstacles into opportunities had provided the necessary influence to save—perhaps even improve—her film.


Flag question: Question 1
Question 11 pts
Which statements best describe how Varick interacts with Tessa over the course of the narrative?
Group of answer choices

Varick tries to help when things don't go Tessa's way, suggesting she "change it up." Eventually, this advice helps her excel.

Varick attempts to produce a better film than Tessa, but his model inadvertently helps her excel.

Varick accepts advice from Tessa and helps her in return. Their partnership is mutually beneficial.

Varick openly doubts Tessa's plan from the start, and tells her how to make it better. This advice helps Tessa create a better film.

Flag question: Question 2
Question 21 pts
Which two statements best describe ways that Tessa grows over the course of the narrative?
Group of answer choices

Tessa learns that she can still produce good work if she remains flexible.

Tessa develops better camera techniques over the course of film camp.

Tessa realizes that a person need not have an "exotic outside perspective" to teach her a useful lesson.

Tessa becomes a more useful partner by the end of the narrative.

Flag question: Question 3
Question 31 pts
What is a theme in this narrative?
Group of answer choices

First impressions are important.

Plans are useful, but so is flexibility.

Planning ahead can make things difficult.

The best work comes from chaotic circumstances.

Flag question: Question 4
Question 41 pts
Which detail from the passage best supports the narrative’s theme?
Group of answer choices

Tessa gets into a prestigious summer film camp with her carefully planned application.

Varick uses shots of the unexpected storm in his film, and it works well for him.

Tessa's film suffers when she refuses to deviate from her plan as obstacles arise.

The judges enjoy Tessa's film, even though it is different than she planned.

Flag question: Question 5
Question 51 pts
Which change in Tessa demonstrates a theme of this narrative?
Group of answer choices

Tessa decides to change her plan on the fly when she encounters a new obstacle.

Tessa is confident that she does not need a backup plan for her final scene.

Tessa plans to shoot on the weekend to finish her film.

Tessa would like to hear Varick's suggestions, which did not interest her before.

Flag question: Question 6
Question 61 pts
What does Varick’s approach to filmmaking reveal about his character?
Group of answer choices

He is inexperienced and lazy

He doesn’t care about the program

He is adaptable and open-minded

He is highly organized and controlling

Flag question: Question 7
Question 71 pts
How does the stormy weather contribute to the development of the story’s theme?
Group of answer choices

It represents how luck always determines success

It creates a conflict that causes the characters to fail

It symbolizes the importance of detailed planning

It forces characters to adapt, reinforcing the theme of flexibility

Flag question: Question 8
Question 81 pts
How does the relationship between Tessa and Varick help advance the plot and develop the story’s theme?
Group of answer choices

Tessa ignores Varick completely, which leads to her downfall

Tessa teaches Varick to become more organized, improving his film

Varick’s relaxed perspective influences Tessa to adapt, improving her film

Varick copies Tessa’s script, and they compete for the same prize

Flag question: Question 9
Question 91 pts
What does Tessa’s reaction to her film’s imperfections reveal about her character?
Group of answer choices

She doesn’t care about quality as long as the film is finished

She immediately blames others for the mistakes

She is self-critical and holds herself to high standards

She decides to abandon the project out of frustration

Flag question: Question 10
Question 101 pts
Which detail best illustrates how Tessa’s personality contrasts with Varick’s?
Group of answer choices

Tessa wants to visit famous landmarks, while Varick stays on set

Tessa creates a detailed binder with schedules, while Varick keeps his script open-ended

Tessa likes working with partners, while Varick prefers to work alone

Tessa films indoors, while Varick only films outside

Answer 1

Here are the best answer choices for each of the questions based on the narrative provided:

Question 1: Which statements best describe how Varick interacts with Tessa over the course of the narrative?

• Varick tries to help when things don't go Tessa's way, suggesting she "change it up." Eventually, this advice helps her excel.

Question 2: Which two statements best describe ways that Tessa grows over the course of the narrative?

• Tessa learns that she can still produce good work if she remains flexible.
• Tessa realizes that a person need not have an "exotic outside perspective" to teach her a useful lesson.

Question 3: What is a theme in this narrative?

• Plans are useful, but so is flexibility.

Question 4: Which detail from the passage best supports the narrative’s theme?

• Tessa's film suffers when she refuses to deviate from her plan as obstacles arise.

Question 5: Which change in Tessa demonstrates a theme of this narrative?

• Tessa decides to change her plan on the fly when she encounters a new obstacle.

Question 6: What does Varick’s approach to filmmaking reveal about his character?

• He is adaptable and open-minded.

Question 7: How does the stormy weather contribute to the development of the story’s theme?

• It forces characters to adapt, reinforcing the theme of flexibility.

Question 8: How does the relationship between Tessa and Varick help advance the plot and develop the story’s theme?

• Varick’s relaxed perspective influences Tessa to adapt, improving her film.

Question 9: What does Tessa’s reaction to her film’s imperfections reveal about her character?

• She is self-critical and holds herself to high standards.

Question 10: Which detail best illustrates how Tessa’s personality contrasts with Varick’s?

• Tessa creates a detailed binder with schedules, while Varick keeps his script open-ended.

These answers align with the character dynamics and themes presented in the narrative.