On Monday, March 3rd HSSW members conducted their first Skype interview and discussion with LA-based writer Santa Sierra, 1st place prize winner of Women in Film and Video, New England’s 2013 script writing contest.
Sierra, a Spanish education major, who originally heralded from Worcester, MA moved to LA permanently in 2011 to get serious about a career in screenwriting. 
The script in question, In Search of Our Father, Sylvester Stallone follows the journey of two young siblings as they flee El Salvador after their mother is killed in a gang shootout. Believing the story their mother has always told them, that Sylvester Stallone is their famous but unknowing parent, they head for the Mexican border, determined to cross the Rio Grande for a life they have only imagined through action movies.
The tragic, yet gently humorous tale of love and survival was inspired by the writer’s desire to explore the “incredible violence and gang culture that permeates El Salvadoran life today.”
“Action heroes also are very big in Latino culture,” she explained, “so I just took that idea a step further as far as the kids. I grew up in an immigrant community where I was always hearing about gangs, particularly the infamous MS 13 [El Salvador’s most renowned gang], and I decided to look at what happens when members try to break free and start a new life — because there aren’t many options in a country that poor.”
When the orphans meet up with notorious gang hit man, Drigo, heading north, the obstacles multiply at every step of the way. Will Drigo prove to be their protector or just another criminal out to steal their meager funds and then desert them?
In Search of Our Father… also placed in the top 15% of the Nicholl and was a finalist in the ’13 PAGE awards.
Santa Sierra is represented by Bryan Brucks at Luber/Roklin Entertainment.