Chapter 1: Being Set Up to Fail

I was at my workstation, sorting through the latest restored films from the company’s archives, when two individuals from the department where I interned approached my desk. I was completing a college internship at Bottineau Studios in Hollywood, California, while they were full-time employees at the studio, hired as professional film restoration specialists. It was evident that they resented my presence, and honestly, I often outshone them by suggesting ways to improve their work. Our boss, who also happened to be the studio head, frequently praised my input and criticized them for not thinking creatively. After all, they were supposed to be the experts, and I was just a college student trying to learn the ropes of restoration work.

What set me apart, however, was my dual degree program in Information Technology and Archival Technology and Science, giving me a unique advantage. I was learning the latest advancements in cutting-edge film archival technology, while they remained stuck in using traditional methods.

When they approached my workstation, I couldn’t help but feel wary of their intentions. Our previous encounters had often left me as the target of jokes or the one blamed for some major disaster. With those two, trouble always seemed to follow.

“Are you planning to attend the boss’s get-together on Sunday?” one of them asked. “You know it’s expected. The last intern didn’t show up, the boss gave him a poor review.”

I wasn’t sure if I could trust them, and the last thing I wanted was an unfavorable review. A negative review could ruin my chances of securing a good job with a major corporation. That was something I definitely didn’t want.

“How do I get there, and what time does it start?” I asked.

“Here, let me jot down the details for you,” said the coworker who had been speaking. “I’ll make a note of everything: where the boss lives, what time to show up, and what you should wear. Our boss is the head of the studio, so it’s important to dress appropriately. There will be others from the studio, as well as people from the industry. You’ll want to leave a good impression.”

I watched closely, reading the instructions for the boss’s get-together and making sure I knew when to show up. If I hadn’t been so focused, I might have caught the wink and grin my coworker was flashing at the other one. They practically high-fived each other as they returned to their desks.

I didn’t want to go because I struggle in group settings. Back in elementary school, something happened during a play that stuck with me. I accidentally ripped out the entire back seam of my pants, and instead of the teacher pausing the play, she insisted I continue. Naturally, for the rest of my time in elementary school and much of middle school, I was teased about it. For a ten-year-old, that was a deeply embarrassing moment, and it’s still hard for me to be around large groups because of it.

Even though my coworkers seemed genuinely excited about the party, I still felt uneasy. But if I didn’t attend, I risked receiving a bad review and potentially losing out on future opportunities.

I pushed it aside and focused on my work. There was still a long list of movie titles and details to input into the company’s archival database. My data entry was behind schedule, and I knew that making mistakes could result in an unsatisfactory rating—something I definitely wanted to avoid. So, I sped up, hoping to catch up. While concentrating on my work, it never occurred to me what Sunday’s date was. It was April 1st—I had been set up.