Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Madison approaches Greg at school, catching him completely off-guard. She suggests that Greg should make a movie for Rachel since she loves his films so much. Greg finds it difficult to form words on account his crush stands before him, making skin-to-skin contact. The words he does find answer in the affirmative, and he haphazardly agrees to make just such a film.

As Earl rummages through the Gaines’s refrigerator, periodically tasting pâté or dried cuttlefish, he and Greg brainstorm ideas for Rachel’s film. They both agree that it’s difficult to make a film for someone because they will have to think about what Rachel would want and what choices they could make to determine a connection between the film and Rachel.

Greg and Earl decide to make a “get-well film,” gathering the comments and thoughts of well-wishers from school and Rachel’s synagogue (221). To make this film, Greg quickly realizes he will have to expose himself as a filmmaker to the entire student body, thus abandoning his remain-invisible approach to high school. He does so, despite his misgivings, setting up to film in Mr. McCarthy’s room after school. Even though several people participate, Greg and Earl are unable to gather very good footage.