WRITER PROFILE
It’s always great to get together with a large group of writers and investors and keep up to date on what’s new, the screenplay contest, any recent deals, new dealmaker contacts, agents or managers that are looking and simply encouraging everyone to keep going after every dream in this difficult industry. For the hard working writer we want to do as much as we can to continue the exposure and word of mouth in the investment circles of the industry. Another way we do this is with writer interviews that we send far and wide and showcase at all possible meetings and markets.
We want to encourage your writing spirit, motivate you and again give you the accolades you so deserve.
LIE IN WAIT
Written by Maria Soriano
What motivated you to become a writer?
Years ago, a producer with Mark Wilson’s Productions came into the dance studio where my ex-husband worked and asked if there was a dancer who spoke Spanish who was willing to translate into Spanish a Burger King stage performance. My ex-husband’s assistant recommended me.
I translated three of their stage performances and ended up directing the performer. After that, I was hooked. I began taking classes and courses on writing for TV, stage and film. By the way, I also have a journalism degree and am a novelist with two published books.
Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?
With only a word, a sentence presenting a scenario, image and/or an idea that comes to mind, I can create a 10-minute, 30-minute, one-hour and/or a feature length screenplay, a play or a story. After that, I rewrite, rewrite and rewrite. I write in several genres, and my stories portray ordinary people who face difficult situations and become extraordinary.
Do you write projects knowing that so many other factors need to happen to get it to screen and does that come into your project creation?
Since I was a dancer and have help produced stage performances, I know that the collaboration of many helps in the final production.
In the writing process and in the beginning of a creation of a project, I let all my juices flow to bring out the story. Then I analyze the story and structure it. I work on the characters and fill in the structure. From the structure, I write the screenplay, still allowing my creativity to flow.
After I have a good first draft of the screenplay, I get coverage for the screenplay, to see if something is missing, to see if it is well-understood and possibly get another perspective of my story.
During the rewriting process, I put on the producer’s hat and look at the screenplay in reference to cost. Still maintaining the integrity of the story, I will analyze the script to see if scenes, dialogue and/or characters are necessary or should be eliminated, to tighten the screenplay for production.
What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate? Please include script title in reply.
My dream for LIE IN WAIT is to make money for myself and others involved in this project and to use that money for subsequent commercial projects. To support that thought, following are comparable films:
2016 “Patriots Day”; Budget: $45,000,000; Gross World: $52,185,751
And 2012 “End of Watch”; Budget: $7,000,000; Gross World: $55,078,146
“LIE IN WAIT,” a feature film, can play in movie theaters, on broadcast television, on streaming platforms and be produced through financiers, sales agencies, production companies, etc.
“LIE IN WAIT,” the film, can generate a TV drama series portraying the dynamics of a multicultural community coming together with the police department to heal the hate in our nation and correct racial injustice.
The screenplay “LIE IN WAIT,” is based on my short film I produced with the same title in 2018. The short film screened in two film festivals. It was an Official Selection in the 2019 Independent Filmmakers Showcase – L.A. Film Festival and a Semi-Finalist at the 2019 Burbank International Film Festival.
Following is the logline for the feature film:
Logline: A veteran patrol cop must find the white supremacist bomber before he makes a terrorist attack against the neighborhood’s multicultural 4th of July parade.
How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?
Your screenwriting contest is the first for this project, “LIE IN WAIT.” I hope to have a great experience with your contest and have access to financiers and/or producers who may be interested in a project like mine and help me get it produced.
If you could stand in a room full of investor partners looking at many projects what would you like them to know about you and this project?
I was a professional dancer for many years before becoming a screenwriter, playwright and novelist. I studied flamenco, ballet and jazz and traveled as a soloist throughout the U.S., Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Although I have a dancer’s spirit, my passion is writing. As a journalist, I wrote for several publications. Being a story-teller, my stories portray ordinary people who face difficult situations and become extraordinary.
LIE IN WAIT MUST BE MADE.
LIE IN WAIT brings to light the racial hate eroding our world today and shows how a racially-mixed community and the police unite to combat this evil. “Love conquers all” is the phrase that prevails throughout the film over such a terrible act of violence.
The feature film poignantly portrays the everyday occurrences of our heroes, antagonists, victims and survivors in riveting dramatic scenes, as the underlying imminent danger beats throughout the story foreshadowing the forthcoming tragic event that promises to change all their lives.
Instead of portraying the police as enemy of the people, the film brings the police and the multicultural community together, through the lead character, Nigel Adams, a LAPD patrol cop, in the fight for the common goal of survival during a mass shooting. Audience members will be uplifted with the film’s message of hope, redemption and unity.
My hope is that LIE IN WAIT will unify all the people, no matter the race, color, creed or profession, in the desire to uphold what the United States of America stands for: “…One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc. that you would like to share?
I have the following links to share:
Link to my website:
Link to my IMDB information:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8920836/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2
I’m a writer/producer with Ground Squirrel Entertainment.
Groundsquirrelentertainment.com
My private link to my short film:
I have two published books on Amazon: “Red The Cat Starting From Scratch” and “Living Shadow.”
https://www.amazon.com/MARIA-SORIANO/e/B0916JBPWX?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000
Thank you for your time and interest.
My best,
Maria Soriano