Golden Boys

Abstract

Golden Boys is a 102-page fiction screenplay centered around Salem and Caleb, two teenage boys and best friends, who are spending one of the last days of their summer break together, as their lives are about to move in different directions. Both boys struggle with self-image, insecurities, young love, personal expectations, and attempting to maintain their slowly disintegrating friendship. The boys' long-lasting friendship comes to a head, and they gain perspective on how instrumental the other has been in shaping their lives. Taking a traditional American teen comedy and reframing it within a modern Canadian context, this film explores how collective memory and cultural influences recontextualize our identities amidst societal changes in Wasaga Beach, Ontario. Developed using primary and secondary research, as well as first-hand accounts, this script reflects a personal journey of artistic self-discovery and acceptance, echoed in the escapades of the central characters. This paper documents the process of reaching the idea for Golden Boys, finding a specific film reference as a starting point, and navigating the merging of genre and social awareness within the cultural context of a grander film lexicon and an authentic Canadian portrayal of Wasaga Beach.