ALTA CALIFORNIA BIBLE:
LOGLINE:
In 1780 colonial California, a mixed-heritage scout must choose between his loyalty to a Spanish expedition and his spiritual connection to the oppressed native peoples, navigating racism and cultural clash in his quest for identity.
PLACE:
All action takes place in California during the “Mission Era.” [“Alta California”] is a highly original historical drama that tells the dark and often overlooked story about how missionaries in 18th century California brought destruction to indigenous tribes” (Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, London).
“Alta California” has won over 60 national and international screenplay writing awards. See website. It has been compared to “The Revenant.”
TOP 5% OF DISCOVERABLE PROJECTS ON COVERFLY!
CENTRAL CHARACTERS:
PACO PALIDO (21), A fictional character. Mixed blood (mother raped by Spanish soldier), native scout, tall, muscular, good-looking. Deerskin clothing. When young, his tribe was attacked, and indigenous mother murdered. He is taken to a residential school where he rebels. “Rescued” by Captain de Neve, he is now an unbaptized, army scout. Although trusted by Neve, his refusal to accept baptism puts him at odds with Padre Junipero Serra. Paco is acutely aware of the hypocrisy of the Spaniards who physically abusing the natives while purportedly saving them from hell. Paco seeks a home, a place he belongs, amidst his own people. Characteristics: Dislikes verbal and/or physical misuse of natives. Born of a rape by the Spanish, Paco is enraged by attitude of Spanish soldiers, particularly to native women.
PADRE JUNIPERO SERRA (68), an historical figure. Short of stature, his eyes burn with intensity. Contemporaries describe him as proud, arrogant, determined to convert heathens, and refusal to compromise in his desire to convert the “savages.” He was aware of how he was guilty of the sin of pride yet succumbed to it often. He is buried in the Mission, San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel, California.
"Serra's legacy in California has been reevaluated in recent decades in light of the many native peoples who were forced to live and work at the missions where they endured physical abuse. Thousands died." (Adam Beam, Associated Press, Chico E-R, November 15, 2022).
For the violent reaction to the Canonization of Padre Junipero Serra by Pope Francis in 2015 see https://altacaliforniamovie.com/
CAPTAIN (COMMANDANTE GENERAL) FELIPE de NEVE (60s), an historical figure. Neve, a descendant of a Spanish aristocratic family, served as fourth governor of the Californias. He was tall, aristocratic, and powerful yet humane soldier, and King Carlos of Spain’s secular authority in Alta California. Neve, Serra’s adversary, believed that all, even unbaptized, had basic, human rights. He clashed often with Serra over attitude to natives, misspent monies, and authority over soldiers.
Neve was married but, because of King Carlos’ trust in his bureaucratic expertise, Neve was shipped off to Mexico soon after his marriage. Sadly, never once in the ensuing 27 years did he return to his wife in Spain. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Mexico.
Neve wrote an ordinance (the Reglamento) “mandating the curtailment of the religious power of Fra Junipero Serra’s Franciscan missionaries.” Some aspects of it are still the basis of today’s California laws.
Captain Felipe de Neve remains California’s forgotten figure. There is a statue of him in Los Angeles.
PADRE CRESPI (60), an historical figure and assistant to Serra. Contemporary accounts see him as gentler, more willing to accept compromise than Serra. Crespi attempts to make Paco accept baptism and settle down as a “mission Indian” (neophyte).
SERGEANT CAMACHO and CORPORAL CORDERO. Actual historical figures. Spanish soldiers who regard all indigenous, even “neophytes” (baptized) as heathen animals, savages. Historical tales tell of women rushing to the hills if aware that these two soldiers were in a military column. They desire to serve their time and return to Spain with soldiers’ pensions.
SERGEANT CAMACHO (35), historical figure. He is short, squat, scruffy beard, and facial hair.
CORPORAL CORDERO (30), historical figure, tall, face twisted in a permanent snarl. He has an eye patch on his right eye, and a vicious scar across his right cheek.
ANNA-MARIA, fictional, 18 Young, passive, neophyte. Pursues Paco, trying to make him, like her, a neophyte.
Contrasts with IFAPI, fictional, 18, “Heathen” from “wild” Chumash tribe. Long black hair over her shoulders, dark eyes, deerskin clothing, emerges from the forest.
SECONDARY FIGURES:
GUADALUPE, 50, fictional, a large, matronly, middle-aged neophyte tries to protect females from Spanish soldiers.
JUAN, 40, fictional, a large, powerful native with long black hair. Mute. His tongue was cut out because of repeated refusal to say mass. After one too many beatings he leaves the Spanish and returns to his people.
PACO PALIDO'S MOTHER, 28, fictional, tall, beautiful, native woman. She is killed by a Spanish soldier. Returns as ghostly figure to Paco during the Chumash ceremony.
MISSION INDIANS/NEOPHYTES
SPANISH SOLDIERS
FRANCISCANS/PADRES
The HEADMAN, 50s, fictional, of the local tribe comes out of the forest. He is very skinny, dressed in ragged clothes.
YOUNG CHUMASH WOMEN, teens, and twenties. Friends of IFAPI.
CHUMASH HEADMAN, older, fictional, feathered headdress, and SHAMAN, older, head covered with plants. Both men are covered in war paint.
YOUNG PLUMED DANCERS, fictional. Faces and bodies painted in vivid colors. Multi-colored clothing covered with feathers. Bells jingle as they dance.
BALTHAZAR (50s), fictional, thin, ragged, lecherous drunk. He is typical of those “chosen” through Serra’s orders as “headman” of neophytes.
PADRE MIGUEL (58), fictional, overweight, drunk, plucks at a battered guitar. He is sick of the sound and smell of his neophytes. Typical of many padres.
THE HUNTER (40s), fictional. White, dirty, tobacco-stained teeth, many missing, lengthy beard, weathered, dirty bandana around his neck. Long hair. Typical of the white men coming to California from the East.
STRUCTURE:
ALTA CALIFORNIA divides into three parts: 1. Pre-Santa Barbara; 2. Santa Barbara; and 3. Post Santa Barbara.
Part 1: Pre-Santa Barbara.
Part 2: Santa Barbara
Part 3: Post-Santa Barbara
General note:
The need to explore American history more critically is a hot topic. Currently, early California history focuses solely on Padre Serra and his Christianization of the “heathen.” Little is said of Captain Felipe de Neve, a tragic, forgotten figure, who challenged and confronted Serra.
The recent canonization of Serra was met with rage by California’s native peoples, including the destruction by fire of the San Gabriel Mission.
Recently, California Assembly Bill 338 (2021) removed the “controversial” Serra statue from the State Capitol grounds in favor of a tribute to California’s indigenous peoples (see my vimeo).
“It’s called genocide,” Governor Newsom said. “That’s what it was, a genocide. No other way to describe it. And that’s the way it needs to be described in the history books.” (2019)
"Junipero Serra was a brutal colonist. So why did Pope Francis just make him a saint?" VOX magazine, September 24, 2015.
(https://www.vox.com/2015/9/24/9391995/junipero-serra-saint-pope-francis)
We live in challenging times. Political, economic, religious, historical, and scientific questions abound in our changing world. We all seek a home, a place we belong in these challenging times.
“One of the script's most attractive qualities is the fact that the writer addresses the displacement and dislocation that many mixed race people have historically felt within the world of the Spanish and their occupation of the "New World". This helps develop thematic threads surrounding identity, home, and family that are still relevant to many people today” (NYC Screenwriting Festival)
"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, 2023)
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Paco Palido (fictional). A mixed blood. Mother killed; village destroyed. Existential quest for a home.
Padre Junipero Serra (historical). Proud, arrogant, gained sainthood.
Captain Felipe de Neve. Challenges Serra. California’s forgotten man.
Padre Crespi (historical). Less zealous than Serra.
Maria (fictional). Female neophyte (baptized native). Passive.
Ifapi (fictional). Contrast to Maria. “Wild” native young woman.
SYNOPSIS
BACKSTORY
As he stares at the Madonna and Child, Paco Palido (20), a mixed-heritage, unbaptized California Indian recalls his past, of a world now lost to him:
PRE-SANTA BARBARA
SANTA BARBARA
POST SANTA BARBARA.
ALTA CALIFORNIA is a multi-national and international award winner. Top 4% on Coverfly Red List. WINNINGS: Los Angeles Film and Script, Richmond International, Lonely Seal, WeScreenplay Diverse Voices, Accolade Global (Native American/Aboriginal Peoples), Berlin Indie, etc. HONORABLE NOMINEE AND FINALIST: Filmhaus, Berlin, Wiki Screenplay, Hollywood Gold, Beverley Hills Film Festival, etc. Currently QUARTER-FINALIST in San Francisco International Screenwriting Competition.
Critics compare ALTA CALIFORNIA to Aguirre, the Wrath of God; Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale; Empire of the Summer Moon; The Revenant; and, Killer of the Flower Moon.
Comment
“One of the script's most attractive qualities is the fact that the writer addresses the displacement and dislocation that many mixed race people have historically felt within the world of the Spanish and their occupation of the "New World". This helps develop thematic threads surrounding identity, home, and family that are still relevant to many people today “ (NYC Screenwriting Festival, 2021)