Private Project

The Savage Land

Desperate to protect the woman he loves, a naïve stable hand enlists a cynical U.S. marshal to guard her wagon against a mysterious killer stalking the Overland Trail, but pays a high price for his devotion.

  • Mario Rivas
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Genres:
    Western, Thriller
  • Number of Pages:
    107
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Nicholl Fellowship

    Quarterfinalist
  • American Zoetrope contest

    Quarterfinalist
  • Shore Scripts contest

    Quarterfinalist
  • Sherman Oaks Film Festival

    Best Unproduced Screenplay
  • Oaxaca Film Festival 2017

    Official Selection
Writer Biography - Mario Rivas

Mario Rivas is a lifelong film fan and storyteller. Originally from Mexico City, he graduated from USC's School of Cinematic Arts with a BA in Film Production. His screenplay OLE MISS was recently optioned by With Sugar Please LLC. Others have reached the quarterfinals of the Nicholl Fellowship (twice), the Austin Film Festival, American Zoetrope, Stage 32’s Happy Writers, and Shore Scripts; the finals of the Filmmatic Awards; and won at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival. Additionally, his short play “FLAT EARTHER” was produced at Little Fish Theater as part of their “Pick of the Vine” series and won a “Scenie” award. He works as an editor at NBCUniversal.

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Writer Statement

I see each of my screenplays as a laboratory where I can mix up themes, stories and characters in hopes of better understanding our world.