MELODY
(a 4 year old girl who stutters, hates school)
I don’t f-f-fit in.
LUCY
(her tough-minded mother)
Your teacher called you extraordinary.
MELODY
They stare.
LUCY
Let them stare. You’re worth looking at.
This exchange above is from my latest screenplay LET IT SHINE about a young, brilliant girl who is off-the-charts gifted but is extremely inhibited, frightfully shy and stutters. She considers herself a failure, wants to hide away from the world and just read in her room.
Her brother is completely the opposite – a wild/free spirit, unafraid to be himself, approach others and help anyone in need including his sister. This brother and sister share an extraordinarily close bond. He teaches her that in order to stand out, one must not be afraid to shine.
Often when I write, I wonder inside, who will care about these words, these characters, THIS STORY. Why should I write it? Why does it matter?
Sometimes we must ask ourselves the hard questions: Are you afraid to shine because you think your life doesn’t matter? People will often make conclusions about your life, about who you are, about what you should or should not be doing, but you are the only one who knows your story. Don’t let others tell it. Take courage about who who you are. LET IT SHINE is so much about being brave and the idea of every life matters. Your life – Your story – DOES matter, no matter how you tell it.
You may be reading this right now and are feeling lonely, isolated, depressed…kind of like my main character in LET IT SHINE. She finds her voice eventually, but it’s a complicated journey that takes work. So dig deep inside. There’s no shortcuts. Find what matters to you. And above all, don’t quit.
You hit the nail right on the head. Keep writing!!
Well said, Romeo! Thank you for the inspiration!
Inspirational! Well said, Rome, well said!
L.A
So beautiful Romeo. It brings tears to my eyes. So carry on and SHINE,SHINE,SHINE.
Myrtle.