I have a little dilemma and ya'll are so creative with your parenting skills, I thought maybe you could help me out here.

Gabe is 8 years old and is very into the Lord of the Rings movies. He is fascinated with the characters, especially the monsters. He is also into theater. He went to acting camp this summer and is about to start a weekend program next month.

He has written about five pages of what he calls "Part 4 of the Lord of the Rings". He wants to write part 4 and star in it, LOL. Anyway, can you imagine 5 pages of a third graders writing? He wants me to send his story in to Hollywood and also ask them if he can be in the movie. He also illustrated his story.

I kind of "lied" to him and scanned his story and pictures and told him I sent an email to Hollywood. Now he is asking me if I have heard back from them.

I feel bad about lying to him, but, geez....what do I do?

Help me out here

By Palmbchprincess on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 04:32 pm:

Send it to Leno or something, who knows, they might think it's really cute and invite him to the show! Honestly that's the only thing I can think of to do. I guess you could tell him that the directors and such are VERY busy, and you'll keep looking in the mail for him. In the meantime why not send it to some writing contests. It may not be Hollywood standards, but it may help encourage his talent if he gets noticed for his writing.

By Pamt on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 06:10 pm:

I thinking lying is never appropriate, even with children. You can see how one lie begets another in this situation...and it could ultimately damage trust. I would tell him that actually I didn't email his screenplay. I would say I had thought about sending it, but wasn't sure who to send it to and also explain a little bit about how screenplays, Hollywood, etc. works. You want to encourage him to keep writing, but realize that nothing will come of it just yet without dashing his dreams.

My oldest DS writes screenplays and writes/illustrates comic strips all of the time, so we have been through this. He has now learned how things really get done and will periodically ask me if one of his favorite authors dies, will he have to go through the author's children to get the rights to a novel to make it into a movie--LOL.

You could really try to send his script somewhere for fun and he might get some feedback on it, which would be a huge thrill for him. BUT I would let him write the "cover letter" and do the mailing himself.

By Mommmie on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 06:17 pm:

How funny! I would tell him it's a trilogy which means 3, not 4, and to think of an original idea of a story and find some child story writing contest to enter it into.

My son has done this kind of thing with Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh and I redirect him to do *original* work bec that's where the $$$ is and the ownership is. I think this is one of those life lessons where our creative children get to learn how the world works.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 06:18 pm:

Send it. You will probably get a form email back that you can show to him, to prove that you sent it and be a hero to your son.

Please, try really hard to never lie to your children. These things have a way of coming back and hitting you in the face when you least expect it.

And, as PamT suggests, look for other places to send it - who knows? And she is right - have him do the cover letter and mail it.

By Bea on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 06:18 pm:

I agree with Crystal and Pam. He put so much hard work into this project. He deserves the truth. I think you should inquire on-line, for a place to send his script. Please don't discourage his imagination and ambitions.

By Emily7 on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 06:35 pm:

I also feel you should send it. I remember my Mom telling me not to lie, but when there was a phone call she didn't want to take we were asked to say she wasn't there. I think that lying is never appropriate. I also think that is he found out you didn't send it he may feel like you do not think it was good enough.
Good luck.

By Laurazee on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 06:39 pm:

Aw, it sounds really cute. I agree with Crystal, Pam & Ginny. Why not send it to Peter Jackson, Director of the Lord of the Rings series?

Peter Jackson
WingNut Films
P.O Box 15-208
Miramar
Wellington
New Zealand

By Katherine on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 07:02 pm:

Thanks everyone. I have been feeling soooo guilty about it, but did not know what to do.

You guys, as always, have some great suggestions.

Thanks again!

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 12:51 am:

Emily, I share your feelings about lying and tellng children to lie. When my kids were home alone after school and I was at the office, I told my kids - don't tell people I'm not home, tell them "Mommy can't come to the phone right now", because it is the truth and you are still not telling people I'm not in the house.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 09:30 am:

Ditto above - don't lie. Great suggestions above.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 10:09 am:

Katherine, what you could do is tell your son you learned by email where to send his letter, outline, etc., and let him mail it to Peter Jackson. But, any time someone mails a script outline, I suspect there will probably be no response - even a form response - unless you include a stamped self addressed envelope (with, in Peter Jackson's case, enough postage for mail from New Zealand). I know I have read that when someone submits unsolicited manuscripts to a publisher or agent, nothing will come back without a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope).