4/15/20

And the Tiara Goes to...

Released on Amazon Prime in November 2015 (now on YouTube)

Plot

When Julie's sister shows her a news article about the latest Miss America going to law school, Julie decides that she can try doing something outside the sporty persona she's been focusing on by entering a middle school beauty contest. After hearing some more girly girls gossip about her in the bathroom, Julie wonders if her plan to showcase basketball as her talent is appropriate. Her mom and Tracy encourage her to be herself, and give her a gold locket.

The day of the show, Julie stills feels a little out of place and nervous. But her mom, dad, and sister are in attendance to support her, as well as Ivy. Julie wears a sequined basketball outfit and showcases her ball-handling skills, including that spinning-on-the-fingers trick I can't do. The other girls backstage seem like they're going to mock her, but they're impressed. When asked what she wants to do when she grows up, Julie says she wants to be President of the United States--after college and getting started in local politics.

Julie ends up in second place, and the only girl shown not gossiping about Julie before the show wins. Ivy asks to run with Julie, to be vice president: the first female and first Chinese vice president!



Misc

Filmed in Los Angeles, CA and Ontario, Canada

This is short, about 14 minutes long. It doesn't waste time on exposition, so it's best to have read at least a few of the Julie books before watching it.

Julie doesn't hang up the phone after talking to Ivy. She just drops it by the side of her bed.

Among the other talents are baton twirling, gymnastics, piano playing and singing ("Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"), ballet, and tap dancing.

The other girls' ambitions: to own a clothing store, be a veterinarian, be a mother, be an accountant, run a ballet studio, be a flight attendant, and be a movie star.

After the contest, Julie's parents and sister and Ivy have dinner at Julie's mom's house, with cake for dessert. They have a giant sheet cake for the five people. I hope Ivy took some home with her!

Oh...this was released a year before the 2016 US presidential election...when Hilary Clinton was the presumptive Democratic nominee...Julie wants to be the first woman president...



Cast

Julie Albright - Jolie Ledford
Tracy Albright - Keely Aloña
Joyce Albright - Karen Ide
Daniel Albright - Jim Jepson
Coach Manley - Matt DeNoto
Ivy - Grace Liu
Alison - Mia Moore
Amanda - Caydence Joy
Angie - Marsha Malinina
Jenny - Jordan Butler
LeeRan - Raleigh Gremillion
Krista - Natalie Bright
Twin - Noelle Hardy
Twin - Grace Hardy
TJ - Mason Hafer
Basketball boy - Lev Cameron
Basketball boy - Anthony Edwards, Jr
Basketball boy - Blake Hendricks
Basketball boy - Michael Hill
Basketball boy - Kai Johnson
Basketball boy - Eric Laguna
Basketball boy - Sean Laguna
Basketball boy - Perry Chen Norman
Basketball boy - Ife Orekoya
Primping Girl - Ashley Chen
Primping Girl - Michaela Crayton
Primping Girl - Rimea Kasprzak
Primping Girl - Savannah Liles
Basketball Boy after School - Dylan Brabant
Basketball Boy after School - Taeho K
Basketball Boy after School - Gene Minero
Teacher Backstage - Claudia Zie
Student - Calista Best
Father of Student - Patrick Breen
Student - Leilani Brosnan
Mother of Student - Sandra Brosnan
LeeRan's Sister - Berlin Gremillion
LeeRan's Mother - Shelly Gremillion
Jenny's Sister - Cherish Kim
Jenny's Brother - Courage Kim
Jenny's Sister - Destinie Kim
Jenny's Sister - Faith Kim
Jenny's Mother - Kate Kim
Father of Student - Marvin Craig
Amanda's Sister - Kate Tomlinson
Amanda's Mother - Ruth Anne Tomlinson
Alison's Sister - Janelle Wolfe
Alison's Brother - Samuel Wolfe
Alison's Mother - Maxine Wolfe