Waterworks (H2O Just Add Water) 🌊

10. The Camera Never Lies

A homemade film played on the screen at the Juice Net. I learned that every year Wilfred hosted a filmmaker's contest. It sounded like a lot of fun. 

The film ended with a toddler standing, wearing a pair of large boots with a title card Big Boots to Fill. The scene where the kid tripped over his feet while still smiling was adorable.

Wilfred turned off the screen grinning, "Big Boots to Fill, by Lewis McCartney, the winning entry from last year's junior filmmaker's competition." He placed a handful of pamphlets on the pool table.

"If we're going to win this thing, we have to be aware of the rules," Emma suggested.

"Forget the rules. It's a short film contest. We make a short film. How hard can it be?" Rikki rolled her eyes.

"Last year, they rejected an entry because it was seven seconds over three minutes," Cleo added.

"Sounds restrictive," I nodded.

"OK, filmmakers. This year's theme is heroes," Wilfred announced, "And, courtesy of Zane's father, the very generous and wealthy, Dr. Harrison Bennett, this year's prize money has doubled."

"Wow. What?" Lewis remarked.

"Sounds good," Rikki smiled.

"And, Dr. Bennett himself is on the judging panel," Wilfred added.

Rikki got up from our booth and turned to Zane with a smirk as she took a pamphlet, "So your dad's judging and sponsoring. Wonder who's going to win."

"If you're implying that you're an automatic loser, I'll second that," Zane challenged her.

Rikki returned to her seat with us, placing the pamphlet in the center of our table, "Why does Zane's dad get to judge?" she wondered.

"Probably because he's putting in all the money," Emma answered.

"Wealthy people can sometimes have a major influence on their residential town or city," I stated as I took the pamphlet, reading over the regulations.

"But maybe because he's a genuine hero, too," Cleo interjected and gestured at a large surfboard displayed over the counter, "Look."

"That's the windsurfer Harrison Bennett rode to Mako Island," Emma added, "All the way around and back in record time, right Zane?"

"Yeah, whatever," he replied as he picked up a pamphlet, "Old news."

"The record stood for 20 years."

"Yeah. My dad. Big hero. Blah, blah, blah, blah." Zane acted like he had known the whole story his entire life and was tired of hearing it repeated.

"I had no idea your dad was a hero. You must have been a tremendous disappointment to him," Rikki sneered at him.

Zane went back over to Miriam without a word.

"So, if we're working together we're going to need to research," Emma suggested.

"Done," Cleo nodded and pulled out a few DVD cases from her bag, "I've rented all the movies we need.

"Cleo. Those movies aren't right."

"You want research? These are classics. Tracy and Hepburn. Bogart and Bacall."

"We're never going to win the prize money doing romance," Rikki pointed out.

"It's not about the money. It's about art," Emma corrected her and gestured at Cleo's movie selections, "What about these?"

"At least Cleo's choices had stories. I'll die if I have to watch a North Korean family eat breakfast for an hour in real-time."

"Can't you read subtitles, Rikki? These are real films, with poetry and mood."