Apparently, the folks at Beyond Structure have all the “secrets” of why GCII worked and for a small price, you too can learn the tricks techniques and employ them to write an unsubtle, simplistic, preachy after school special…
 
And win an Oscar.
 
Examining “one of the most powerful scenes from Crash,” they deconstruct Haggis and Moresco’s techniques that “operate outside of our normal awareness” (perhaps you have to be a level 4 operating thetan or whatever to understand them).  According to them, there are five “scene deepening techniques” that Haggis and Moresco use (this link contains spoilers, if that’s something you care about with regards to this movie).
 
My favorite one is number 5:

We sense that these are not shallow, superficial characters. This is due to “Character Deepening Techniques.” Many are used in this scene. When a character feels pain, that gives him or her the feeling of depth — as well as making us empathize with him or her.
 
A more interesting Character Deepening Technique is the one in Daniel’s wife: “Powerless to help somoene you love.” She can only watch helplessly as her child is murdered (or so she thinks.) This also makes us empathize with her, by the way.

 And in the summary, they give you a hint to help you hone your artistic skills:

If you’d like to write with the same kind of emotional power and artistry, you’ve got to be able to know and wield these techniques — not as some kind of rote “forumla,” for techniques, by themsleves, are craft. They’re no more “art” then guitar chords are.

 But a great guitarist should know his or her chords. You’re the one who needs to infuse these writing techniques — the secret tools of your craft — with your own unique application and wisdom, and turn them into art.

Don’t fall for it.  The true secret of Grand Canyon II: Craptastic Boogaloo’s win?  Lionsgate Films, baybee!

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