Before the big-name actors, the out-of-this-world visual effects, the true-to-life costumes and props, or the revolutionary directors, the heart of every one of your favorite movies and television shows is the story. Storytelling has been a sacred form of entertainment and communication since the dawn of time, and screenwriting is this century’s way of captivating and enchanting an audience. A screenwriter creates a narrative blueprint for a film; they are the creators of the story. Filmmaking is an extraordinarily long and collaborative process, but it all begins with the script, and the writer’s minds paint the way for everything that follows.
As an industry-leading screenwriter in his home country of Mexico, Guillermo Noriega knows the importance of a good script better than most. He knows just how to create a compelling character and an intriguing arc, as evident with his work on web series like American Parousia, films such as Modern Animals, and the acclaimed variety show Confetti Mexico. He was only 22 when he sold his first feature, and he has had an admirable career so far.
One of Noriega’s most decorated works is the web series The Bailey Society, which he came up with and wrote himself. The show tells the story of a socially anxious girl, who, after her roommate goes missing, decides to do everything in her power to find her, even if that means investigating and getting involved with a once powerful secret society of vigilantes.
Noriega was inspired to create the series as an ode to all the comic books he read as a child, with an underdog at the wheel. The Bailey Society is a ballad to all the secret society rumors he obsessed over as a teenager.At the same time, he also describes it as a call for help. It is a series begging viewers to pay attention to a subject often ignored by society. Taking place in a college, this “missing girl who dunnit” talks about the (not so) secret power some men have thanks to their connections and how they can get away with anything, even murder. Led by a strong-willed woman, this series intends to exhibit what some college students live every day.
“I think this is the story we need right now. One that my generation needs to hear. Now more than any other time we need to be reminded that together we can actually make a lasting change in society. We can do this and more, we just have to be united and stop fighting,” said Noriega. “I created this story because I felt sick of the misogynistic crimes men were getting away with. Cases like the one of Brock Turner. That made me so mad, and at the same time it made me feel so powerless. But I am not; no one is truly powerless. We all have a voice and we can speak out loud whenever we feel an unjust act is taking place. We need to shed a stronger light in the twisted roots our society is based on.”
This was the project of a lifetime for Noriega, who had wanted to create his own group of superheroes since he was a child. He did so by creating a group of ex-corrupted frat boys into an actual secret society wanting to bring justice on the fallen students, and it is extremely powerful. From the very first draft of the script, he focused on creating current, authentic characters that would represent more than one community, diverse characters that would represent the voice of millennials.
“It became my mission to give voice to a generation that is done with being quiet, done with just accepting reality as it is. It was time for a change, and being able to write a series that mixed that feeling with a splash of crime noir and fantasy, well that’s the best experience I’ve ever had the pleasure to create.”
The Bailey Society has been making waves throughout its festival run this year, receiving nominations for several awards and taking home many of them. It won Best Web Series: Honorable Mention at Festigious International Film Festival, Best Web Series at the New York Film Awards, Best Web Series at the Los Angeles Film Awards, and Best Web Series and Best Web/TV Pilot at the Top Shorts Film Festival. Noriega was the direct recipient of every award and could not be prouder of what he achieved.
“It is a wonderful feeling, one that really fills my soul with hope. This is the beginning of what will one day, hopefully, become an international sensation. I love this story and it’s characters but more than anything I love the message of this project: speak up,” he concluded.
