Movie For Dogs by Lois Duncan Read Free Book Online

from view, they could hear the sound of his skateboard as he cruised the alley. When Bruce backed off to get a long shot of the toolshed, he could see Jerry’s head whizzing past on the far side of thefence, going first in one direction and then the other. He was clearly trying to intimidate Red and the other dogs, but because the dogs couldn’t see him, he didn’t produce the emotional effect he was hoping for.
    It was midday by the time they completed the scenes that involved Mrs. Rinkle. Aunt Alice, obviously weary, but also looking quite pleased with herself, went home to take a well-deserved nap, and Debbie assembled her cast of extras behind the facade for the grand finale.
    Red stood in front of the shed, his whole attention focused on Bruce. He seemed to understand the importance of this final scene and was determined to make his master proud of him.
    “Open, sesame!” Bruce shouted, and off Red flew.
    He bounded to the door of the shed, stood up on his hind feet, and seized the latch in his teeth. The door flew open, and the dogs behind it poured out. The moment they were out of camera range, Tim and Debbie grabbed them and carried them around to the back of the facade to feed them through again.
    “What kind of crazy film are you making?” Jerry yelled.
    Now that Aunt Alice was gone, he was back at the gate.
    At the sound of the hated voice, Red gave a yelp of terror and fled to his doghouse, but for once, Bruce wasn’t worried about that reaction. Their day’s work was over and he would comfort his dog later.
    He turned off his camera and grinned at his sister.
    “We got it!” he told her. “This is going to be terrific!”
    Bruce could not remember the last time he had hugged Andi. In fact, he couldn’t remember
ever
having hugged her. She was his
sister.
Guys didn’t
ever
hug their sisters!
    But this was a special occasion. He hugged her now.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Bruce was right. It
was
terrific. And he finished it not only on time, but three days before the deadline.
    That was largely thanks to his photography teacher, Mr. Talbert, who, upon learning that Bruce was preparing an entry for a contest, allowed him to use the editing bay after school hours, along with a student named Kristy Fernald, who also was working on a personal project. Mr. Talbert even stayed after school to help them shift the order of scenes and make voice-overs coincide with the action.
    “It’s not often that I have students take on projects of this magnitude,” Mr. Talbert said. “Kristy has been working on hers for over a month, and I’m very impressed with her accomplishment.”
    Bruce glanced at the girl who was using the computer next to his. When he saw the footage she was editing, he couldn’t help being surprised. All thepeople in her video were either bald or gray-haired, and some were in wheelchairs or using walkers. In general, though, they seemed to be having a good time, especially one group who was wearing birthday hats, pointing at something off camera, and laughing uproariously.
    “These scenes are from the Glenn Ridge Assisted Living Facility,” Kristy said in response to Bruce’s unspoken question. “My mom’s a physical therapist there. I told the directors I’d make a video they could show to people who are thinking of moving there. The filming was easy, but the editing’s taken me forever. I’m hoping to get it finished today.”
    “That’s nice of you,” Bruce said. “I’m making a movie to enter in Star Burst Studios’
Dogs in Action
video contest. My great-aunt found it online. The finalists will be on TV and people will vote for the winner.”
    “The two of you are a credit to our school,” Mr. Talbert said. “Just like Jerry Gordon, who won that young authors competition. We have a lot of talented students at Elmwood Middle School.”
    “In the fall you’re going to have another one,” Bruce told him. “My sister, Andi, is going to be starting seventh grade. Andi’s an awesome