Take Two (Above the Line Series, 2, Band 2) - Hardcover

Kingsbury, Karen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0310318939 ISBN 13: 9780310318934

Verlag: Zondervan, 2009

Inhaltsangabe

Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison have completed their first feature film, and Hollywood is buzzing with the news. In the wake of that excitement, the producers acquire rights to a novel that has all the ingredients they want for their next project. At the same time they cross paths with a well-connected player who introduces them to the right people, and suddenly every studio in town wants to talk to Chase and Keith. The producers’ dreams are on the verge of coming true, but Chase’s marriage is strained and Keith’s daughter—Andi Ellison—is making questionable choices in her quest for stardom. The producers are gaining respect and are on the verge of truly changing culture through the power of film—but is the change worth the cost?

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury is America’s favorite inspirational novelist with over 20 million books in print. Her Life-Changing Fiction™ has produced multiple best sellers including Unlocked, Leaving, Take One, Between Sundays, Even Now, One Tuesday Morning, Beyond Tuesday Morning, and Ever After, which was named the 2007 Christian Book of the Year. An award-winning author and newly published songwriter, Karen has several movies optioned for production, and her novel Like Dandelion Dust was made into a major motion picture and is now available on DVD. Karen is also a nationally known speaker with several women’s groups including Women of Faith. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Don, and their five sons, three of whom are adopted from Haiti. Their daughter Kelsey is married to Christian artist Kyle Kupecky.

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Take Two

By Karen Kingsbury

Zondervan

Copyright © 2009 Karen Kingsbury
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-310-31893-4

Chapter One

Kendall Adams sat across from her father in the executive boardroom of his Los Angeles high-rise and stared at the rolling hills of Hollywood in the distance. October was always like this-brilliant blue skies and air as clear as a summer day in Montana. Kendall breathed deep, stood, and sauntered to the window.

"I'm still amazed-" She glanced over her shoulder at her dad. "-that you're doing this."

"It's my passion too." Her father smiled, and the warmth in his eyes belied his cunning business sense and high-profile international-billionaire status. "I've been looking for an investment opportunity like this for years."

Kendall looked down from twenty-three stories at a busy Melrose Boulevard. What would this venture bring, this decision to team up with Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison? Was filmmaking where she would find healing for her broken heart?

She watched a breeze dance through the palm trees that framed the constant traffic below.

"You're thinking about him again." Her father was on his feet, coming toward her. "I can feel it."

"No." She linked her arm through his as he came up alongside her. "About the movies. And whether or not this is when life finds its way back to normal again."

A tight-lipped sigh hung briefly on her dad's lips. "I wish I never would've introduced you to that ... that -"

"It's over." Her calm voice reflected none of the pain that still colored the edges of every moment. "I don't blame you or me. Or God. It's time for whatever's next."

A comfortable silence fell around them, tempered only by the distant sounds of telephones and office staff on the other side of the door.

"Will you tell them? The producers?"

"No." She didn't hesitate. "What happened was private. The media never really figured out the story, so no one else needs to."

Sympathy shadowed her father's expression. "Good call. You'll spend a lot of time with Chase and Keith, but it's better to ... well, you know, keep things on a business level."

Kendall studied her dad for a long moment. Times like this she still wondered if he merely offered fatherly advice or worried about saving face, about making sure no one knew how much she'd lost over the last year. How much they'd both lost.

A shiver ran down her spine. Maybe if she pretended it never happened, a time would come when she might go a whole day without feeling the pain.

The phone rang from the middle of the long table and her dad answered it. "Yes, fine. We're ready for them." He hung up and reached back to give her a hug. "It's a new day, Kendall. God's going to use this partnership. I have a great feeling about it."

Giving her father a smile, she ordered herself to set aside the memories of the past. Her dad was right. This was a new time for both of them.

She smoothed her blouse and stayed at her father's elbow as he moved to the door. His secretary knocked at about the same time and ushered in Chase and Keith. This was the first time the four of them had been together since the wrap party in Bloomington, Indiana, for The Last Letter, so the greetings between them took a little longer than usual.

As soon as they were seated at the table, Chase leaned back and gripped the armrests. "Keith and I truly appreciate you taking the time to meet with us." He looked at his friend and then back to Kendall and her father. "But with the economy the way it is, we don't want you to feel obligated to give us additional financial help. We wanted to get that out at the beginning."

Kendall felt like rushing around the table and giving the guy a hug. Did he know how rare his attitude was in Hollywood? The idea of looking out for someone else first?

She shared a smile with her dad and the look in his eyes told her to take the lead. She sat up a little straighter. "Actually, we're more committed to your movies now than ever."

"That's right. Kendall has great news about your next film-the one we talked about last time we were together." Her father looked elated. He had said once that his fortune brought him no joy whatsoever except when it could be used to share God's truth and light, and when it could help make other people's dreams come true. "And I'm certain you're needing more funds for the editing process, is that right?"

"Actually, we're okay." Keith opened a file he'd brought with him and handed copies of an accounting sheet to Kendall and her father. "The funds you provided at the end of the shoot have gone a long way. We'll get through the editing process okay. It's what happens after that."

"Publicity and advertising-or the P&A budget, as they call it." Kendall's father grinned. "Not a problem, guys. Count me in. We want this movie on the big screens."

Chase looked a little dizzy, and again something about him touched Kendall's heart. He was sincere and kind, genuine in his desire to make movies for the purpose of reaching people. With everything in her she hoped the movie business never changed him.

Once they moved past the initial budget issues for The Last Letter, Kendall took over. "The author of Unlocked is still very interested in giving you both the option for her book. It's been on the New York Times Best-Sellers List for ten weeks now."

"We know." Keith allowed the hint of a smile. "We figured she must've had a hundred offers by now."

"She has." Kendall felt her eyes begin to dance. Like her father, she loved this-watching the impossible become a reality for a couple of good guys like Keith and Chase. "But she wants to work with you." She pulled a notepad from her bag and checked the details. "Stephanie's on deadline for her next novel. She'll be busy the next month or so. Then she'd like to fly here and meet you. Get the option in ink." She looked up. "That should give you enough time to finish editing The Last Letter and submit the film to the festivals. Which I'd like to help with, by the way."

She could see Chase wrestling with a question. After a few seconds he lost the battle. "Brandon Paul? Is that still an option for Unlocked?"

Kendall laughed-the happy lighthearted laughter that had once marked her world. "He's more than an option. I talked to him yesterday. He's in. We only have to work out the details with his agent, pull together a screenplay and a director." She grinned at the men around her. "Monumental details like that."

Both Keith and Chase hesitated, but seeing Kendall and her father's confidence, they both chuckled and the mood relaxed. They spent the next few moments talking about their families, their wives and kids. Keith was worried about his college-aged daughter, Andi, away at school in Bloomington, and Chase was concerned his wife might get tired of running things back in San Jose. But for the most part, life was good for the producers, and Kendall was glad. They would need to be strong. If their experience was like hers, Hollywood life would test them sorely.

The meeting lasted another thirty minutes while they worked out specific details of the financing and repayment plan for The Last Letter. They discussed how Kendall would look for additional investors for Unlocked as well. The budget would be considerably higher because of Brandon Paul, but because of her father Kendall was very connected with Hollywood's wealthy elite-people looking for film projects to invest in. She knew she'd find someone.

When the guys left,...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Zondervan
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2009
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0310318939
• ISBN 13: 9780310318934
• Einband: Gebundene Ausgabe
• Anzahl der Seiten: 320
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Videndum Media Solutions SpA; https://videndummediasolutions.com/en/; ; Via Valsugana, 100; Cassola; 36022; Italien