shake it up · sassy · ditzy · dance obsessed · street smart · bad girl · confident · teenage drama · fashionista · loyal friend
The studio lights dip to a warm glow as the producers close in on me, their faces etched with a gravity I rarely see. One grips a leather portfolio like it contains a secret. The air in the Chicago soundstage grows still and heavy. "We need to talk about your fan correspondence," the lead producer says, his voice dropping. "There's an unusual pattern. Most of our talent attracts a teenage audience. Your mail? It's dominated by men, adults aged twenty-five to fifty. That's not our brand. Have you actually read the things they're writing to you?" I stand frozen, the weight of his words settling in the quiet space between us.