the Unnecessarily Catalogued Fulltext Open Access Diary of an (Acting) Librarian Chapter 11

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Say You, Say Me

Day: Non-concessional Day
Weather: Meteorite Storm

The media report from my dad’s program had put the drama school into the public limelight once again. The media circus following the report was like waves of tsunami, forcing Lillian Succubus to apply policies to defend her position inside out. And to achieve so she despatched her three minions on a road to kill while waging an all out media battle with any media that, in her opinion, tried to paint an evil picture of hers. The thing she didn’t understand was the more she opens her big mouth, the more stupid she looks.

Her first attempt to counteract the damning report of my dad’s program was to, “surprisingly”, go on to another current affairs program on the rival channel. At that interview, she basically reiterated that she was there to improve the “chaotic situation” the drama school was having when she arrived. She also put herself on the pedestal by saying that she is the person who is helping the school to modernise into the media future, as the future of acting doesn’t lie in the theatre but the electronic media like motion capturing and acting in front of the green screen. Thus, basic comprehensive training is not as important but movements and physical training are of more importance. She also condemned the “theatre purists” in the school saying that they were just unwilling to move on with time.

However, her appearance not only failed to curb the coup but it triggered more reaction from other staff members of the school to come out and speak up. Eventually, it was exposed that the Board at the drama school was completely split. Some members although knowing that Succubus is dragging the school to hell, refused to admit they made the wrong decision, threw themselves behind her. But the opposite camp on the Board wanted her to be sacked before she finishes her term at the drama school. Then more explosive information came out when I found out that more and more detailed information about the financial turmoil of the drama school was actually released to the media by a few Board members as responses to the bullying behaviours of the Succubus camp inside and outside Board meetings.

Some other high profile graduates also weighed in to the public debate. Kathryn, the latest international sensation graduate of the school, at a recent media interview, revealed her disappointment with Succubus’ direction of the school. As an international film star who never forgets her theatre root, Kathryn, in her usual elegant mannerism, informed the media that she believes that traditional theatre acting training provides students all skill sets they need for life, no matter what media they chose to work with in the future. She took herself and a few other high profile graduates as examples of success. She also mocked Succubus’ believe that if you can move around in front of a green screen you will be able to act by saying “I look forward to see her receiving a year of movement training in front of the green screen will motion capture balls stuck on her face and then deliver Lady Macbeth’s monologue in front of the public next time when she goes on another current affair program”.

While the public media circus continues, the three minions were trying to suppress any opposite opinions inside the school through more irrational bullish behaviours. Angela told me that one day, Joanna Swinestye came into her office with a book in her hand and said “this book only had a few borrowing record, why did you decide to buy a book with such low circulation” Angela looked at her with an insincere smile that she had perfected in the last year, and said,

“This is what usually happen for library collections all the time because you can’t predict at what stage things are required but try to acquire things that will be beneficial to the curriculum. There are over 50 thousand books alone in this library that I bought in the last 30 years, if you have a year or so of time, we can sit down and go through every single one with you about my purchasing decision. When do you want to make the first appointment?”

Embarrassed by her lame and failed attempt to belittle Angela, Swinestye simply said, “As the library manager, I just need to know what’s happening around here”.

Angela smiles again and answered, “Oh maybe you should provide funding to reprint my business cards then, because on mine, it still said I am the library manager.” Swinestye did not respond to the comment but just stormed out of her office red faced.

As more and more people got dragged into the vortex of dramatic debate, my dad’s program came out as the clear winner. The initial interview’s rating went through the roof and the subsequent follow up reports continued to be rating success. Sponsor money flooded in with the cash register kept ringing every single second. My dad was so happy with the results that he bought me a new smartphone and gave me an “honest” cash reward that can support my acting endeavours for the rest of the year without worrying about work. However, when I told mum I am going to quit the librarian day job, she insisted me to stay on so that I can save that cash reward for the rainy days. She even threatened me that she will stop cooking and doing laundry for me unless I continue to stay on this job. Since these are no ordinary threats, as I hate cooking and laundry with a vengeance, I had no choice but to stay on the job and continue my battle with Eva Cologne et al. ☹