Tonight, we were about to have our annual McGee Family Movie Night. Mom put Grandma Nin on video chat so she could join us from the comfort of her home. "You know what I love most about McGee Family Movie Night?" Dad asked. "Recreating the theater experience." I dialed Dad's phone number just so me and Molly could mess with him. "Uh, sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to turn that off." Molly said, pretending to be a movie theater employee. "See? Movie magic." Dad continued. "And just like the movies, I snuck in my own snacks!" Grandma Nin said. "Good news. Scratch and I found the scariest movie ever!" Darryl explained. "It has a ghost!" Scratch shouted, jumpscaring Mom and Dad. "And there's nothing scarier than ghosts!" "Especially when they chew with their mouths open." Mom muttered. "It better be scary." I said. "If not, then I'm going to bed." "I'm gonna have nightmares for weeks..." Molly whispered. "I can't wait! Hit play!" Darryl pressed the play button on the remote to start the movie.

Five minutes into the movie, I fell asleep on the floor, but I woke up to watch the end of it. And I cringed at what I saw. "That wasn't even scary!" Darryl complained. "Too many talking heads, not enough severed heads!" "I'm glad I fell asleep." I stated. "Doesn't sound like I missed anything." "Yeah, and those ghost stereotypes? Answer me this, Molly, do I talk like this all the time?" Scratch asked, quickly mimicking the stereotypical ghost from the movie. "Get out of the house!" "Sometimes you do." Molly replied. "You hate our guts." I added. "Eh, it's just for effect, but..." Scratch explains. "We could probably make a better movie ourselves." Darryl interrupted. "That is a great idea!" Molly gasped. "Let's make a horror movie! I mean, we've got a real ghost!" "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think that'll actually be fun." I said. "I've always wanted to make a movie. First comes the movie, and then comes the fanfics with some mysterious lore." "I'll do it, too." Scratch agreed. "And it'll be the performance of an after-lifetime!" "I will direct, obviously. Libby can write the script. Amber can edit the finished product. And Darryl, you can film it on your phone." Molly explains. "I didn't get the phone with six cameras for no reason." Darryl pointed out. "Let's make some movie magic!" Molly shouted.

The next day, Molly, Darryl, Scratch, Libby, and I gathered some supplies for the movie at Brighton Field, where I play softball with the Lemmings. "Are we sure Libby's not a ghost?" Scratch asked, skimming through Libby's script. "Because her script is spooky accurate." "Uh huh, put this on." Molly replied, putting a cloth on top of him to hide his identity. "Ugh, so degrading." Scratch groaned. "Great work, Libby!" Molly exclaimed, startling Libby. "Your script's great, the set's even better. Now, try on your costume." "But, that's for Angela." Libby said. "Yes, and who better to bring Angela to life than you, the writer who created her, right?" Molly asked. "Also, Amber doesn't want to do it." "I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that." I confessed. "Oh, no, no, no, Molly..." Libby panicked. "The very thought of people watching me... on screen... in HD... makes me..." Libby started gagging at the thought of Molly's idea. "Ah, you'll be fine." Molly encouraged her. "Amber, where do you want the blood?" Darryl asked. "Molly isn't sure about the blood, little bro." I replied. "I'd hold onto it just in case." Scratch came over to us. "Boo." Scratch sighed. "Who's playing the ghost?" Libby asked. "Oh! Him?" I stuttered. "That's our Canadian cousin, Carl." Molly lied. "Yeah, I'm the ghost, eh." Scratch said. "He's visiting." Darryl added. "Okay, gather around, crew. Gather around." Molly commanded. "We are here for one reason and one reason only... to make the scariest ghost movie ever! Sure, we're just kids with a camera phone and cardboard props, but we've got something Hollywood doesn't! We've got... to be home for dinner! So, let's get shooting!"

After a terrible afternoon of filming, we packed up our things since there was a softball game happening. We were all exhausted. "Making movies is hard." Molly sighed. "I barely got to use my fake blood." Darryl said, just as a door slammed into my face. It was none other than Andrea Davenport. It sounded like she was live streaming. "Listen up, Fandreas." She said. "Warm winds are blowing this spring, that's why I stay cool with... Whoa! Someone call the police! There's a fashion crime in progress." "We're making a ghost movie, Andrea." I groaned. "Shut up! I love horror movies!" Andrea exclaimed. "Totally unrelated, did you know that I'm a professional actress? See?" Andrea handed Molly a tablet with a video on the screen. "Um, uh, we all know where this is going." Scratch said as the video began playing a commercial for Andrea's family's store. That wasn't acting. That was showing off! "She wants to star in our movie." "I just had a crazy thought!" Andrea exclaimed. "Andrea Davenport in our movie?" I wondered. "Molly McGee! You read my mind!" Andrea gasped. "My name is Amber." I corrected. "Yeah, whatever. Meet at the store warehouse tomorrow morning." Andrea said. "It's where we shoot our commercials, so we've got all the sets and equipment we need." "What?" Molly asked. "We're gonna make the best movie ever!" Andrea exclaimed. "'Kay, love you, byeeee!" "I told you." Scratch taunted, imitating Andrea.

The next morning, we headed to the warehouse that Andrea was talking about. "I don't know what to say, but, you know, I was kinda expecting a little more..." Scratch began as Molly opened the door to reveal this huge set. "Whoa! Now this is the star treatment I deserve! I call this my floor-gasbord." Scratch knocked over a buffet table and ate everything on the floor. "Okay, everybody, I... it's all very impressive, but don't be distracted by the razzle-dazzle." Molly said as Darryl began taking pictures like this was an actual Hollywood film set. "Okay? We just gotta focus on our goal and... SWEET BABY CORN, THAT CHAIR HAS MY NAME ON IT! This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Second is the Grand Canyon. Third is a baby deer learning to stand." "Are these made of real stone?" I wondered, kicking the tombstone prop, nearly breaking my foot in the process. "Huh. Impressive." "Can you believe this, Libby?" Molly asked. "Our vision is coming to life!" "Yeah, so about that? Andrea had a few notes on my script." Libby explained. "What?!" I gasped. "Libby, your original script was amazing! I'm afraid to ask. What did Andrea say?" "She said, "The lead character should be more relatable, aspirational, beautiful, but not know how beautiful she is."" Libby reads from Andrea's notes. "Is that a thing?" Molly asked. "Oh, "And also, her name should be Andrea."" Libby added. "There it is." I rolled my eyes. "Okay. But who cares what the main character's called, as long as the movie's great!" Molly exclaimed. "Plus, now you don't have to be on camera!" "Eh, that's true." Libby said, satisfied. "See? It all works out for the best." Molly smiled.

Before we knew it, it was time to start filming. Molly got comfy in her new director's chair. However, Andrea wasn't cooperating as she was live streaming to her fans again. "Like a glove." Molly said. "Action!" "About to shoot my very first feature!" Andrea announced to her fans. "Thanks to all my followers for believing in me. This is for you, Fandreas!" "Uh, Andrea. I said action, you know." Molly repeated. As the scene started, Andrea walked through the fake graveyard. "Maybe I shouldn't have taken this shortcut through the scary woods!" Andrea said. "Cue the ghost!" Molly shouted. Scratch began floating behind Andrea and inhaled. "Line?" He asked. ""Boo."" I replied. "Right." Scratch said. "Boo!" He began floating in circles around Andrea. "Oh, no! The hitchhikers ghost is coming to eat my soul!" Andrea gasped. "Thank goodness I'm wearing Swedish memory foam running shoes! Available now at Davenport's Department store!" "You've got to be kidding me." I groaned. "Okay, that's a cut!" Molly called out. "Oh, come on!" Scratch complains. "That was my best stuff!" "That was great, Andrea, um, but how about we stick to the script?" Molly commented. "Sorry, I just knew it was the natural spot for product placement." Andrea apologized. "Okay, I hear you, but, um..." Molly continued. "Maybe we, we don't do product placement?" "I mean, you're the director, but it's how we're paying for everything." Andrea explains. "Like this portable waffle iron for that on the go breakfast lover hard-pressed for time!" "I've got one of those." Scratch said. All of a sudden, Darryl was spinning around with the camera. "How do you work this thing?!" Darryl screamed, crashing into stuff. "Darryl! Are you okay?" I asked, helping him back on his feet. "I think so." Darryl replied. "I got this. Gerard!" Andrea shouted as a man came beside her. "Gerard does all our commercials. He can work the camera, and he knows my good side. Spoiler... it's both." "You're replacing me?!" Darryl snapped. "She can't do that!" "Well, you can still do the behind-the-scenes footage." Molly explains. "Can't wait to capture how this all falls apart!" Darryl groaned. "Oh, I know how it hurts to fire family, but like my daddy says, it gets easier every time." Andrea sighed. "By the way, Amber, just wanted to let you know that our editors are going to deal with post production." "What?" I asked. "What's important is we do whatever it takes to realize my vision." Andrea continued. "You mean my vision?" Molly corrected. "Yeah, that's what I said, my vision." Andrea said. "Alright, Gerard, I'm ready for my close-up!"

Turns out Andrea's vision for the perfect ghost movie was set at a homecoming dance. Is this even a ghost movie anymore? Is it even our movie? The crew had an entirely new set made for Andrea to shine. "Look, Andrea, we really need to talk about..." Molly began. "One second." Andrea interrupted. "Libbs!" "Yeah, coming." Libby replied, looking exhausted. "Um, did you read my latest script? I addressed all your notes." "And I super appreciate you staying up all night, but we decided to go in a bold, new direction..." Andrea explained, tossing Libby's script in the trash. "Ghost. Romance. Gho-mance." "But that's not even scary!" Libby exclaimed. "And what's the point of mysterious lore if it's not scary?" I asked. "I mean, do ghosts "have to be scary?""Andrea asked, using air quotes. "Why can't they be cute and cuddly?" Molly slapped herself in the face. "Because ghosts aren't cuddly!" Scratch exclaimed. "They're sick and twisted and sometimes a little gassy! Especially after eating all of craft services." Libby passed out just as Scratch let out a fart. "Molly, do something!" Scratch shouted. "Okay." Molly said. "She's ruining our movie! Think of the lore, Moll. Think of me!" I begged. "Andrea, the whole point was to make a horror movie." Molly explains. "Yes! The horror comes from the ghost spending an eternity having never found true love!" Andrea exclaimed. "That's it!" Scratch grunted. "Let's see how fast she can run in those Swedish shoes!" Molly stopped Scratch from trying to scare Andrea to death. "Look, I know this isn't the movie we set out to make, but just think about how much better it is with all this fancy equipment!" Molly explains. "You have sold us out to corporate sponsors for what?" Libby asked. "A chair with your name on it?" "LEAVE THE CHAIR OUT OF THIS!" Molly shouted. "Things may have gotten a little bit out of control, but as long as I'm the director, it's still our movie!" "Molly, I'd like you to meet a family friend, visionary director, Greta Gerwig!" Andrea introduced us to award winning director, Greta Gerwig. "Hi, I'm Greta Gerwig." She greeted. Not gonna lie, I was starstruck. "With Greta Gerwig attached, we'll have no problem getting international distribution." Andrea explains, folding up Molly's chair, tossing it into the trash. "My chair, my beautiful chair." Molly gasped. "Ah, like a glove." Greta said, getting comfortable in her chair. "Picture's up! Cameras are rolling! Ghosts are cuddly! And action!" Andrea walked up onstage with a bouquet of flowers. "So, is this still our movie?" Scratch asked. "No, Scratch. No, it isn't..." Molly replied. "In fact, I think it's time to show Andrea just how scary ghosts can be." "Yes!" Scratch exclaimed. "It's the role I've been dying to play!" "Go get it, Scratch." I whispered, just as he went into the wiring and the lights started flickering. "Gerard! We're not doing scary anymore." Andrea complained. "Boo!" Scratch exclaimed. Andrea took out her phone to investigate the anomaly that was haunting the set. Scratch continued to tip over and or possess some of the equipment. Darryl even got to use his fake blood on Andrea. "Out of my way, Greta Gerwig!" Andrea screamed, running out of the warehouse. "My life is more important than yours!"

After everyone evacuated the warehouse, we began to walk back to the house. "I'm sorry, guys." Molly sighed. "Now we've got nothing to show for movie night." "We've got this." Darryl chuckled, showing us the BTS footage from his phone. "Bro, you gotta send that to me!" I exclaimed. "This is quality content." "I might have an idea." Libby suggested.

Back at the house, we ended up showing Darryl's video for movie night. We called it, The Haunting of The Haunting of Brighton. "Wow. Carl really committed to his performance." Libby said as everyone clapped for the film. "You can't even see the wires. Uh, wait... There aren't any wires... Carl, how did you..." "Uh, look! Your name. It's in the credits!" Molly exclaimed to protect Scratch. "I'm a real writer now!" Libby squealed. "The power of editing." I said. We all sighed with relief.