Tag Archives: UCLA Extension Writers Program

Gravitas Ventures Acquires North American Rights to Julia Camara’s Post-Apocalyptic Thriller “Stronghold”

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Julia Camara will soon have a stronghold in North America…

Gravitas Ventures has acquired the North American rights to the post-apocalyptic thriller Stronghold, directed by the Brazilian writer/filmmaker.

Julia CamaraIn addition to the United States and Canada, Gravitas wants to add Latin American territories in addition to Mexico, including the Caribbean and sub territories.

Julia Camara's StrongholdStronghold is a dystopian tale of resilience in which a young survivalist and her mother live completely isolated in the woods. When a distressed stranger appears, their lives are disrupted and their future threatened.

Toplining Camara’s cast are Bianca A. Santos and Jaqueline Fleming as the familial pair in peril, and Oliver Rayón as the stranger who threatens the isolated duo.

The film premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Camara wrote the sci-fi feature Area Q (starring Isaiah Washington), the road movie Open Road (Andy Garcia, Juliette Lewis, Camilla Belle) and the multi-award winning sci-fi found footage feature Occupants (with Robert Picardo).

When not behind the camera, she teaches screenwriting at UCLA Extension Writers Program and at Sundance Collab. Camara was a mentor for the Sundance Labs in 2022.

Carolina Rivera Signs Deals with Verve and Netflix

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Carolina Rivera has a new deal…

The Mexican screenwriter and producer has signed with Verve and entered an overall deal at Netflix.

Carolina Rivera

Under the Netflix agreement, Rivera will serve as the executive producer of the television series Madre Solo Hay Dos, which she created.

Rivera is the co-executive producer of the CW’s sci-fi drama Roswell: New Mexico, which recently wrapped. 

She also worked on Jane the Virgin. 

Marc Cherry’s production company purchased Rivera’s “Ellas son… la alegría del hogar,”which was originally created for Televisa. The series was the basis for Cherry’s Lifetime series Devious Maids, starring Roselyn Sanchez.

Rivera studied screenwriting at the UCLA Extension Writers Program and wrote her first feature Cilantro y Perejil, which went on to win three Ariel Awards— Mexico’s equivalent of the Oscars— for Best Original Screenplay, Best Story and Best Original Song. Cilantro y Perejil made history in the Mexican film industry as the first Mexican title to be screened at commercial movie theaters throughout the country.

Her writing credits include more than 15 feature films. In 2005, Rivera received the Motion Picture Association Award for Best Hispanic Screenplay for her screenplay Enemigos Íntimos.

In addition, she worked as head writer for the serial telenovela Lucho en Familia and worked on Amor Cautivo. She headed the children’s television development team at Channel 11, Latin America’s largest public television network. While there, she created and served as head writer for Bizbirije and El Divan de Valentina.She has also served as an International Emmy AwardsJuror for Dramatic Series and TV movies.