Joining Ghostbusters 2

New York New York

I arrive the day before the big meeting. The flight sucked the life right out of me. I get to the hotel, shower and fall into bed and sleep for 3 hours.

I wake up and spend the night in, nervously walking around the room, scribbling ideas down. I act out scenes to see if I can conjure up any new ideas or material that the writers could extend on. I practice the walk and mannerisms and speeches that I imagine she would say. I practice over and over until i see its 1am in the morning. It would only be 5pm in Australia. I am too psyched up but try to sleep. Damn jet lag doesn't help.

The next day is an anxiety riddled blur; breakfast, showering, makeup, taxi, meeting the writers.

We all sit down at the table after introductions. There is Paul, Katie Dippold, another writer and producer I forget the names of.

"So tell us your ideas for this new character" starts Paul.

"Well... ughh... She is Kevins' twin sister. Her name is Melanie. She has been looking out for Kevin for a while as he isnt that bright and gets himself in strife. So Melanie tracks him down after all the viral media about the Ghostbusters and she spots Kevin in the clips. She races over to see how much trouble he has caused this time. She sees that all the Ghostbusters need help and she tries her best to keep them all out of trouble. She has been doing it for Kevin all these years - whats a few more to look after?"

The ideas keep flowing - ones off the cuff and scripted. I get so excited at them all listening intently my anxiety disappears and I start getting up and showing them scenes and mannerisms.

"Melanie is smart - University degree in accounting and business management. And with Kevin, well how about - maybe he was pretty average..... until as kids Melanie and Kevin tried to out do each other in a hold your breath competition. Kevin kept holding his till he passed out. He lost IQ points that day."

They all laugh

"So now Melanie feels responsible for him since that day as it was her idea, she had always been the competitive one. Kevin has been travelling around the world just searching and exploring but always getting into trouble".

"Fantastic!" says Paul as he claps his hands once. He puts them on the table. Now tell me more about Melanie"

"Alright" I start. I get up and start describing with my hands her hair length. "I picture long brown straight hair, tanned, tall. Very professional and business like attire - very form fitting skirts and fashionable blouses. Her attitude is quite closed off, afraid to let anyone in but always career focused. She is proud of her accomplishments, having put herself through University. She works hard, doesnt have a social life nor much of a romantic life".

I pause for about 30 seconds just thinking.

"What is it?" says Katie

"Well, I know that you confirmed that Holtzmann is a lesbian but the studios arent happy with that and I want her to be out in the second one, make it real. I know the fans would love that. There are heaps that ship the Holtzbert thing. But what if Melanie was to interrupt that? Make it a triangle. My crazy idea is to have Holtzmann and Melanie butt heads at first and have Dr Gilbert appreciate Melanie at first but realise the tension between Melanie and Holtzmann and get jealous at the lack of attention, but we dont know about Melanie's sexuality at first".

"Interesting" said Paul as he raises his eyebrows to Katie and others across the table.

"Then Melanie becomes a staple in the background of office scenes, yelling at Kevin, calling out 'Damnit Holtzmann' and eventually becoming a backup Ghostbuster like Kevin. And now im not sure but maybe the big plot line in this one is the face of with Zuul? and he ends up possessing Melanie and Holtzmann has to help her?"

There is just silence. Im not sure if they think I am nuts or just over zealous. I start to feel maybe I have gone too far in my assumption for movie direction and plot line.

The producer I forgot the name of piped up "I think they are fair ideas, I think we will take these on board and work through all you have stated and see what direction we will take."

My heart starts to sink bit by bit. Feeling dismissed I just thank them all for their time and appreciate the consideration and trip to New York. I look at the time. The meeting was meant to go for 2 hours but ended up being 4. I just remembered we had lunch delivered. That was all a blur.

On the way back to the hotel, I ask the taxi driver to go to the Empire State Building. It was getting late in the afternoon and I wanted to do something touristy on my last night in New York.

I step out of the elevator at the top of the building and just walk to the edge in nervous amazement. Heights are not my thing but this view was perfection.

As I watched the sun lower into the horizon and the colours of the sky blend and change, my heart grew again. I gave that meeting all I had, left it all in there so I can say i dont regret anything. I took the opportunity, Im in New fricken York!

I wandered around the top of the building until the sun went down and the lights turned on one by one. I filled up the camera storage on my phone.

So I just stood there in the cold air. Holding my own arms across my waste. Closing my eyes and began breathing slowly. Taking this moment in. I may never be back here. Im just a quiet woman from Australia, an EA to a demeaning boss. A girl who dreamed of New York and being on SNL who turned into a woman who realised the cost of living vs going after silly dreams.

I took one last look over the edge, let go of the binoculars and walked back to the elevator. Watching the doors slowly close on what was truly a magical day.