I'm Maurice. I’m a Horror Thriller screenwriter, commercial writer, and pitch deck designer. I'm also a Stage 32 Lounge Crew Member in the Screenwriting Lounge (www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting).
For members I haven’t met yet, let’s break the ice (members I know can jump in on this too): What celebrity have you seen in person? I saw Shawn Michaels, the Undertaker, and the Sesame Street crew (they were celebrities to me as a kid).
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Hey Maurice! Always appreciate an ice breaker! I’m one of those people with a Bill Murray random appearance story. One of my favorite stories to share!
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Hey Maurice Vaughan I've met are Greg Grundberg who was a super nice guy and Victoria Jackson (very long time ago) who was equally nice. We also met all of the pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean series in one swoop. They all took a picture with my daughter and Martin Klebba wanted to take her back to the Black Pearl.
Wow, GiGi Raines. Bill Murray is a legend. I'd love to hear the story one day.
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Cool, Leonardo Ramirez. I've seen Greg in a movie. It might've been "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" or "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." Or both.
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Maurice Vaughan He's actually the only actor that I know whose been in both the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises.
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I met Bobby Farrell on a 4 hour train ride from Frankfurt am Main to Amsterdam, coming back from the Frankfurter Buchmesse. Actually I've written about the train ride here on Stage32.
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Helen Mirren is prettier in person. Weirdly, all the female celebrities I've seen in person are far more attractive in real life. I miss LA for the random star-spotting.
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Greg must be in an awkward position when he's asked if he's a "Star Wars" or "Star Trek" fan, Leonardo Ramirez. :D
4 hour train ride. I'm sure you heard a lot of stories, Rutger Oosterhoff.
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Yes.
I think Helen Mirren was great in the "Fast and Furious" movies and "Red" movies, Ingrid Elkner. I have to catch up on her other movies. Which Helen Mirren movies do you like?
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I’ve worked with several who have become friends: Priscilla Presley, Tippi Hedren, Leo Sayer, Aussie Barry Crocker and Australian Idol Emily Williams to name a few.
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I spent a decade working with James Brown, but never met a Muppet.
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Maurice Vaughan Haha! Yes. But my vote is on Star Trek.
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Did they feel like less of celebrities as you became friends with them, Lynn Santer? If that makes sense. :)
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Did James Brown teach you any dance moves, Bill?
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I've met many, but my favorite story is from a trip I took with my BFF to stay at my cousin's home in Albuquerque in the summer of 2011. I was about 2 months away from starting my first year of film school and my best friend and I wanted to have one last adventure together before we went to separate colleges. On our first night there, my cousin went out to a party with a friend who was working on the new Avengers movie set. My friend and I stayed home because we were exhausted from traveling that day. At about 2 am, my cousin came home and Mark Ruffalo was with her. He had very kindly offered her a ride home from the party since she'd had a few drinks. He also agreed to come inside to meet us and give me some advice about film school. There I was, 18 years old, talking to Mark Ruffalo in my cousin's kitchen for about 40 minutes while wearing pajamas. He was incredibly nice and encouraging about my future. I felt on top of the world and I was overjoyed that Mark was actually a really great person.
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Maurice Vaughan not a one.
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Wow Ashley - cool story!!
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Maurice Vaughan yes and yes it makes sense. I just think of them as any other friend, especially as all have been to my home and met my colourful mom. Then when people get excited I know them I’m kinda “What?” :)
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Maurice Vaughan , hello. It is nice to meet you. I’m a horror fan, a genre I wouldn’t mind breaking into as an actor(Evil Dead Rise rocked! What a fun ride!) For me, I met Gina Torres at a work event. It was a quick introduction, a hi and bye type experience. She seemed pleasant, and she I seemed like a tall woman too.
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Here’s a funny one…I’m playing at the Playboy Club in LA late ’81. It was there at Century City next to the Shubert Theatre so I’d see all types of folks on the gig. I was there a while. So one night I finish my set and go to the men’s room and I standing at the thing and it was one of those where you don’t have the petitions between them, you’re just standing side by side. Out of the corner of my eye I can see two guys walking up to the one next to me. One was directly behind the other. Now the front guy is in position and I glance over and holy smokes, it’s Stevie Wonder. We talked and went back in the club. We’re standing there and he’s holding my hand and his head is doin’ what it do. I told him I’d just seen him in D.C. for the Dr. King rally/concert so this is right around Hotter Than July. Then he does a set at the piano. You can totally feel that you’re in the presence of greatness and I was a bit out of sorts. The only other time I’ve felt that was meeting Herbie Hancock. Just unreal for me.
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I literally ran into Elisha Cuthbert about 20 years ago. I'd been walking backwards talking to my friends during an ice sculpture event. I didn't see that she was there and in the middle of recording some blurb for the competition I assume. There were a lot of apologies back and forth, because we're Canadian, and then a moment of looking at each other trying to figure out if we'd met before, and then the camera guy being like 'can we get back to filming now?'. I'm sure I left there in a shade that can only be described as tomato.
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You met Mark Ruffalo, Ashley Renee Smith. That's exciting! Glad it was a nice evening and he didn't get angry. :D
Nice to meet you too, Jason. That's cool you met Gina Torres. I think I first saw her in "Firefly."
Wow, that might've been something to sit and talk with Stevie Wonder, Linwood. What's your favorite Stevie Wonder song? Mine is either "Isn't She Lovely" or "Ribbon in the Sky."
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My bestie was insistent on meeting Tom Cruise at a Venice Beach bar in the Top Gun ‘80s. He was clearly in a meeting with two suits, and I told her the only intelligent thing she could say at that point was “May I have your autograph?” Much later, she disappointedly headed to the bathroom, and me to valet parking where solo Tom Cruise joined me for a conversation. He soon zipped away in his Jeep, and my friend playfully called me a bitch.
Elisha Cuthbert was on "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" Audrey-Rose! :D
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Well, that's a tough one for me. I can tell you the lp I bought the most. Music Of My Mind. Bought it 2 times on vinyl, once on cd, and I bought it in iTunes and I still have all of them.
That sounds like something in a movie, Rhonda. The person who wanted to meet a celebrity missed meeting him, but her friend met him.
I'm not sure if I've heard "Music Of My Mind," Linwood. I'll check it out.
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You might of had to of been there in '72 to really "get it", but it was the real start of Stevie Wonder and that decade was a mind blower. Guy has a lot to say. I sure wish he'd do another all harmonica project. What a voice that is! I ran into him again at a mutual friend's memorial a few years ago. There was maybe 150 of us there. He got up and did Stay Gold from The Outsiders for Dave. Powerful moment to witness.
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Maurice Vaughan And Popular Mechanics for Kids. Miss that show. I'm so old lol
I'm not sure if I've seen "Popular Mechanics for Kids," Audrey-Rose, but I might have. I was a kid when it first aired. After I read your first comment, I looked up "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" I didn't know it was a part Canadian show.
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Nice to meet you, João. Is that Portuguese? If so, I don't speak Portuguese.
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Ok Maurice
They say our language
it is one of the most difficult. sorry !
No problem, João. I don't understand Portuguese, but it's beautiful.
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G'Day Maurice. Nice to 'meet' a fellow screenwriter.
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G'Day, Marina! :D Nice to meet you too. How are you doing?
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Do pro wrestlers count? Because the only celebrity I've met so far is Ric Flair -- though I actually had a short conversation with him. Oh, and when I lived in Savannah I did see Clint Eastwood driving an SUV around the Historic District when he was shooting Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil there. You know how celebrities look different when you see them in person? Not so with Clint. There is no doubt it's him.
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The Duke himself, John Wayne, and his yacht the Wild Goose in Newport Beach, CA. Also, Robin Williams who was in line just behind me at a coffee shop in Mill Valley, CA. He did not what cutsies! And, since he played for the LA Dodgers, pitcher Claude Osteen, who was good friends with my little league coach, so our team spent an afternoon at Claude's house enjoying a BBQ. Still have the pic and autographed baseball from that day.
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hi Maurice .
I am a director and screenwriter, I am not limited to a type of drama only. I met the world actor Omar Sharif. Here in Egypt . I am sure that I will make a lot globally and locally. I am confident in your support and cooperation with each other because the Stage 32 community is my best friend,
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I don't know what this community would be without you, Maurice Vaughan. Thank you for all that you do and being one of the most welcoming people in this community. I can't wait to see your projects come to life!
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Emily J I couldn’t agree more Maurice is a star, a champion and a legend. He’s the best contributor on the platform!!
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I once saw Judy Dench having lunch at Hever Castle. As I live mostly in rural France, I don't see that many people at all, nevermind celebrities. :)
Yeah, pro wrestlers count, J. Franklin Evans. I saw Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker in person. I almost gave Shawn Michaels a five. That's cool that you saw Clint Eastwood. He's one of my favorite actors and directors.
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You met some big names, Ty! I'm most impressed by you meeting John Wayne. I remember seeing his Westerns on TV growing up.
Hi, Hossam. That's great. How did you meet Omar Sharif?
Thank you, Emily. I truly appreciate that, and I can say the exact same to you! :)
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Wow, Lynn! Star, champion, and legend. Thank you!
Judy Dench is in my top 100 actresses, Emma! Rural France must be so beautiful.
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Maurice, who was speaking and at the end it came out in Portuguese that I saw a musician up close and not an actor. And it was a really good feeling because I'm a fan
of the musician. But, here in Brazil, when foreign actors come, it's not common to be having dinner
with public. It's more private and difficult to see from the streets. But it must be really cool to meet an actor when he's around us, whatever that may be.
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Maurice Vaughan Of the movies you watched, which impressed you the most?
A lot of movies impressed me, John January Noble. The movie that impressed me the most is probably "The Truman Show." What movie impressed you the most?
Meu amigo tres filmes que me impressionaram ! A Lista Chindler O Homem Bicentenário e Pach Adans. Mas, Pach Adams, foi o que mais me impressionou!
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But the truman show is awesome !
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Anyone else around here had a movie that surprised them?
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Just saw Dungeons and Dragons. The trailers were awful and seemed aimed at fourteen year old boys. But the movie was fun, thoughtful, and interesting.
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I've met several. A musician where I live hosts an a charity golf tournament, and he invites them. A short list: Morgan Freeman, Richard Karn, Kim Alexis, Debbe Dunning.
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Hey, Maurice! I've worked with Robert De Niro and Harold Ramis on "Analyze This", Jim Carrey on "The Truman Show" (yes!) and, well...a bunch of terrific actors going back to "Miami Vice". BUT...I LOVE writing and producing Horror radio plays! Check my profile, and you can listen to a couple of 'em! Best of luck to you, Maurice!
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Hi Maurice, I am glad to be connected with you. You have been so helpful to me. I tell you! thanks for you unwavering support and assistance that you have done for me, LeRu. Again, thank you Maurice!
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BilI McCormick that same thought. Thanks for the info, I'll put it on my list of movies to watch.
That's cool you met Morgan Freeman and Richard Karn, Woodrow! Morgan Freeman has one of the best voiceover voices. I loved watching "Home Improvement" growing up.
Two of my favorite actors, Dave! Robert De Niro and Jim Carrey. "Analyze This" is one of my top movies. Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal are hilarious together. I'll check out your radio plays. Best to you on your projects!
Thank you for the comment, LenLeRu. You're welcome. I'm glad to help. Hope you're doing well. :D
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A pleasure 'meeting' you, Maurice! Hope we cross paths in the not too distant future! Oh, and my scene in "Analyze This" is when I'm guarding the boss and Jelly asks if I want a 'sangwich'. I reply, "What kind of sammich ain't too fattening". To which he replies, "A half a sangwich"! Then, I get whacked. LOL! Fun scene, but terrifying with all those squibs.And, Harold Ramis was just about the nicest human I've ever met. Bless his soul.
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Hope we cross paths in the not too distant future too, Dave. It's been so long since I've seen "Analyze This." I need to rewatch it. "Analyze That" too.