ALTA CALIFORNIA
A young mixed blood, determined to avenge his mother’s brutal death, is thrust into a battle of survival and identity as he navigates through the oppressive and inhumane colonizers of California's “Mission Era.” California Assembly Bill 1821, authored by Assemblyman James Ramos of California and signed into law by Governor Newsom, mandates that, beginning January 1, 2025, all schools in California are required to teach the historical truth about the “Mission Era” and the gold rush and its effect upon California’s native peoples.
In the second segment, we experience Paco’s life-change after he is "captured" by the “heathen” Chumash. Are these his people? In a powerful and haunting scene, Paco “meets” the ghost of his murdered mother. He leaves the Chumash having found a purpose: to help his people in this evolving world.
In the third segment, Paco attempts to complete that task. Can he help rehabilitate the mission Indians into their previous tribal ways? Can he help his people prepare for the coming of the white man from the East? But his vision of a future for his people, which is supported by Neve, runs up against the radically different plan of the thoroughly determined and uncompromising Serra.
“Alta California” is a multiple national and international film festival award winner (70 + “award winnings” as of this writing) including Los Angeles Film and Script, Richmond International, Lonely Seal; WeScreenplay Diverse Voices; Accolade Global (Native American/Aboriginal Peoples); Wiki Screenplay, Beverley Hills Film Festival (finalist), and many more in the USA and overseas. It is a second rounder in ISA Fast Track Fellowship, 2023, and semi-finalist in Scriptmatix Fellowship, 2023. Quarterfinalist in LA Diversity Film Festival, 2023. It is a top rated unproduced historical screenplay by MovieBytes. Critics have compared it to The Revenant. It is in the top 3% on Coverfly.
"There is meaning here. There were themes having to do with racism and faith and the nature of both. The script also seemed to be saying something about humanity and this was well integrated into the piece and arose out of it organically." (Nicholl Fellowship critique)
California is currently coming to terms with its treatment of its indigenous peoples. As Scriptmatix notes: “ . . this film raises important questions about the causes on the demise of the indigenous people, and their original relationships between these people and the new rulers. All of these aspects are immersed in a dramatic and tense atmosphere in which our protagonist needs to find his home and identity.” (2023).
Diego Boneta (Paco)
Javier Bardem/ Antonio Banderas (Neve)
Dances with Woves
Apocalypto
I love to explore and write, in serious and comic forms, stories of those who, through choice or happenstance, find themselves strangers in a strange land (or even in their own land).
Cult Movies (First Place) [2025]
Telluride Indie (First Place) [2025]
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