My Emerson College writer’s ‘secret sauce’ is their irreverent teen dialogue done effortlessly.
Celebrating my Emerson College TV YA screenwriting student’s produced webisode:
SICK OF SEVENTEEN, Ep. 1.
PREMISE: After the biggest loser in school gets a permanent squeeze, Natasha and Zach set each other up on dates to prove they’re hot and totally not losers.
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My secret sauce is my action lines, Kelly E. Keough. And unique scenes.
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of course Maurice Vaughan you write whore and comedy! That tells me everything about your secret sauce and your action lines. It could be a strategy and pitching your stories.
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If I am not enthusiastic (entheo or God within) about the project I do not go forward with it.
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Kevin Trainor are you saying that your secret sauce is your enthusiasm for the project and that’s what fuels it? Because I can see that, I think you’re saying your enthusiasm fuels your conviction, and that’s what makes it special?
I don't know how to make it short.
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experimental gothic postmodern hyper-realist slice of life/absurdist-surrealism chiller neo-noir antiplot grimdark with often b-movie homage and a nod to the 1990's.
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type-specific, dialogue and seamless plot/character visual storytelling
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Actually Kelly, I could not imagine writing anything without some enthusiasm behind it. Why bother? Unless you're writing a tech piece.
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Agreed.
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To become the most prolific writer during my lifetime.....That way, several rewrites and multiple edits do not influence me in no way whatsoever.
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My secret sauce is a "Good ear for Dialogue." I recently earned a "9" for Dialogue from the reader's notes at the 2024 Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards for my latest script, HORROR-FEST. Winners are announced in April. I won this competition in 2021 with my biopic script, JAMES DEAN: CROSSING THE FINISH LINE. Fingers crossed for lightning striking twice. : )
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The female lead in this show is perfectly cast and delivers the funniest line: "After school? That's romantic as fuck!"
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I can say easily no to bs offers & show biz grifters, financially fine with doing this as a hobby. And when you say no, they want you more.
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Kelly, I like to think my "secret sauce" is passion for what I'm writing...enthusiasm.
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So many great comments. Thank you Bill Brock, I will tell them! And congratulations on your win. A good ear for dialogue, according to brain science, makes you and expert story writer. Dan MaxXx, GREAT sauce strategy, I will try it. Jim Boston, I agree, how do you keep your passion going??
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Miquiel Banks, I like that. Perseverance pays.
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My secret sauce is 1/2cup Mayonnaise, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1/2 tsp garlic salt, 1/4 tsp worchestshire, 1/2 tsp black pepper, paprika to taste... no wait, that's Cane's sauce! Maybe my secret sauce is needing Cane's to write! Or maybe I'm just hungry right now haha. Either way, great video!
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Pat Alexander, I was waiting for someone to tell me the recipe for their secret sauce. It's the paprika. Thank you! LOL!
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How do I keep my passion for writing going?
Well...I start thinking about the fun in creating a story.
Kelly, thanks for asking...and thanks for the post! Glad you're here on Stage 32!
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I'm not a screenwriter but my brother is and his secret sauce is making a playlist that he thinks would either be the ideal soundtrack for the film he's writing or what the main character would have on their playlist and he listens to it while he writes. I've always found that interesting.
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Sam Sokolow, I agree. A music soundtrack makes the story real. And Jim Boston, what keeps me or my passion going is somehow engineering my own serendipity for the project. Like this thread, the inspirational comments here were awesome, thank you!
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Sam Sokolow Agreed, Sam. My approach is a collection of some great film soundtracks that really help get the pages moving: FIELD OF DREAMS. THE NATURAL, BRAVEHEART, BLUE VELVET, DANCES WITH WOLVES, LET ME IN, A SINGLE MAN, and the very quirky / very 80s-synthesized CHOPPING MALL. When it comes to individual characters, I'll focus on a single song that best defines the individual. Example: In my supernatural thriller, THE DRESS, the protagonist, 30-year-old Steve Harp, is an accomplished film director in 1985 Hollywood, who also struggles with substance abuse. Johnny Cash's rendition of the song, "Hurt," definitely filled the highly emotional shoes I was looking to fill.
https://youtu.be/8AHCfZTRGiI?si=cSII7MoJrT99D8Po
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Bill Brock, very cool. I'm not thinking about soundtracks in my current story because I wrote the lyrics to the songs. It's a musical. But I definitely contemplate the singer/songwriters who would sing them, like Julia Michaels.
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DT Houston, that's one of the best secret sauce stories to celebrate.
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Dan Guardino, you are very lucky to have experienced that kind of movie magic.