[Ace Watergate &] the Secrets Society

I should start by expressing my deepest gratitude for my Co-Executive Producers, Nikki del Castillo and Sam Speedy. This show would not have come to fruition without their unwavering commitment. Where I fall short in working out logistics, Nikki and Sam came through in scheduling shoots and acquiring filming locations. While I did what I could in this regard, I find that my leadership's strength lies more in holding myself with authority and voicing my unfiltered insights. Ultimately it all worked out and I can now comfortably say we had a commendable balance of organization, innovation, and dedication among our triad. Since 2013, I have prided myself on being a founding member of ChomPics Productions. Though not my brainchild by conception, I suppose you could say I adopted it after Connor Hachey and Beth Benge moved on. I have dreams that years down the line ChomPics will be a reputable establishment in video production education, akin to NYU's Tisch School of the Arts or USC Cinematic Arts. Emmy and Oscar winners of the 2020s and 2030s will boast of their humble ChomPics beginnings. Though I may not personally know any of them, I will always consider them my creative kin, the flowers from which my sown seeds blossomed. At the [Ace Watergate & the] Secrets Society premier, I gave a speech I had outlined on Microsoft Word that morning. It touched upon things I've said here, as well as explaining how organizations like ChomPics provide not only a creative outlet, but a community and home of similarly-driven people. I'd be lying if I said I didn't choke up while speaking, and I'd also be lying if I said I didn't tear up through the entire finale episode. I suppose it was more cathartic than anything, but I think a big part of me knew that it was the amalgamation of all the things I'd felt over the course of those three years. More than anything, I'm proud to say that I was an Executive Producer of a television series. On April 23rd, 2016 the UF PBS station, WUFT, broadcasted the entire five-episode series. Again, this was all thanks to Nikki pitching it to the suits upstairs, but the show was aired nonetheless. "[Ace Watergate & the] Secrets Society" was on my TV guide. I made it, mom. I lived my dream.

Episode 1: Sign Swapper

While Ace Watergate (Andrew Quimby) and his two best friends - Sera Jones (Emily Miller) and Griffin Trumble (Sam Hensel) - lead a mostly empty Secrets Society meeting, journalist Ashley Storm (Erin Scoch) asks them for help catching someone who is swapping parking signs on campus, causing unwarranted tickets and fines.

Episode 2: Diseased Diner

When Ashley Storm's (Erin Schoch) article is published, the four members of the Secrets Society start gaining recognition and attempt to solve another case. Meanwhile, a sickness takes over the campus. After investigating, the group learns that someone is poisoning beverages at The Diner. The Secrets Society hosts a stakeout and catches the suspect in action. The criminal is last seen speaking to a hooded figure.

This episode script won the 2016 National Broadcasting Society Grand Prize for Comedy Program Script.

Episode 3: Bitter Betrayal

The Secrets Society may be solving crimes and righting wrongs, but that doesn't mean they haven't made some enemies along the way. During a meeting, Dr. Ethan (Ethan Young) reveals introduces himself - as well as his openly devious intentions. Motivated by an unexpected mastermind, he exploits each of the members' weaknesses: Ace's hubris (Andrew Quimby), Sera's intuition and logic (Emily Miller), Griffin's seeming redundancy (Sam Hensel), and Freshman's passive nature (Calie Michael). Unfortunately for the gang, they've also been framed for fabricating crimes and obstruction of justice. Can they overcome their personal qualms and team up to catch their nemeses?

Episode 4: Conspired Conspiracies

Things continue heating up in this penultimate episode: The Secrets Society is in a state of panic and disarray as they struggle to find out who is the real mastermind planning their destruction. Shockingly, even their supposed ally Ashley Storm (Erin Schoch) was in on the ruse all along. Ace (Andrew Quimby), Sera (Emily Miller), Griffin (Sam Hensel), and Freshman (Calie Michael) scramble to figure out "who's the boss", going so far as to stake out a package drop by one of the boss's henchmen, Thinny Kenny (Kenny Stewart). Things don't seem any clearer by the end of the episode - that is, until a surprise visitor appears in Ace's doorway one night...

Episode 5: Mystery Mayhem (Series Finale)

Ashley Storm (Erin Schoch) has gone missing; but after learning that the mysterious man is his father (Houston Wells), Ace Watergate (Andrew Quimby) is only focused on reuniting. The press, however, accuses the Secrets Society of Ashley's murder. Looking to clear their names, the Secrets Society look for evidence and find Ace's father's belongings in Ashley's apartment and their headquarters. While confronting Ace and his father, the overarching plan is finally revealed.

[Ace Watergate & the] Secrets Society (Opening Sequence)

This opening sequence for [Ace Watergate & the] Secrets Society won the 2015 National Broadcasting Society Grand Prize for Video Program Opener.

Art Direction and Editing by Jose Cervantes, Jesi Rojax, Matthew Szlasa, & Sami Wax
Music Production by Jacob Farrell

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