Script File
Carlsbad
Over 4,000 years ago in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico, a gentle Indigenous teen at odds with his tribe’s gender expectations discovers a magical cavern world that forces him to confront who he is and who he is meant to become.
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Eleanor Christina CainWriter
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Project Type:Screenplay
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Number of Pages:95
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Language:English
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First-time Screenwriter:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Digital Cinema Package:Unavailable
Eleanor Cain was born and raised in her beloved home state of New Mexico and now resides in Las Cruces. Growing up surrounded by the vast wildlands, sweeping vistas, and unforgettable sunsets of the Southwest, she developed a deep, lifelong connection to the land and its people. New Mexico lives in her blood and beats through her heart, and that spirit shapes everything she writes. Most of Eleanor’s work is rooted in her home state, where she invites readers to step into her world and experience the landscape through her eyes.
As a writer, I am driven by a deep reverence for the land, history, and spirit of New Mexico—the place that shaped me. My stories grow from the desert soil, from the people who came before us, and from the quiet magic that lives in the mountains, caverns, and canyons of my home. I strive to illuminate the beauty, complexity, and resilience of Indigenous cultures while honoring the landscapes that hold their stories.
Carlsbad was born from this devotion. I wanted to explore identity, tradition, and acceptance through the eyes of a young boy who does not fit the rigid expectations placed upon him. By placing Ovi in a fantastical underground world inspired by the formations and mysteries of Carlsbad Caverns, I sought to merge myth with emotional truth—creating a journey of self-discovery where nature, spirit, and courage intersect. My goal is always to transport audiences into worlds that feel both ancient and intimate, where the land itself becomes a character and a guide.
