Meet GRN Consider Ernestina Juárez

During the Mexican-American War, Lieutenant Ulysses Grant falls in love with a Mexican woman who helps African-American slaves escape bondage. The war separates them, but they meet again when the woman is dispatched to the United States to seek an alliance to prevent the French from conquering Mexico and becoming an ally of the Confederacy.

So goes the logline for LABYRINTH OF DESTINY, which wowed us here at CI. Let’s hear it for writer Ernestina Juárez, who has been making waves with her scripts as of late. Not only is she a Nicholl and Final Draft Big Break finalist, she also made Coverfly’s Red List.

We asked Ernestina what inspires her writing and how she chooses her subject matter.

“I was born and raised in rural south Texas not far from the border with Mexico,” she said, “which I often visited to see my grandparents and other relatives. I loved both Mexico and the United States and was often perplexed by the mistrust and prejudices between the people of the two countries and cultures.”

Ernestina worked her way through college and became a high school teacher of Spanish and English. “Most of my students came from economically challenged backgrounds, similar to my own. While teaching, I continued my education and earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin. I became the first Hispanic principal of Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin. I also served as an adjunct professor of educational administration at the University of Texas.”

She has found that a great way to motivate students to learn “was to have the students write stories and plays they could perform in front of an audience. This practice evolved into what amounted to making ‘movies.’ The students became researchers, screenwriters, directors, actors and technicians. They loved it, and so did I.” And it motivated her to try her own hand at screenwriting.

“I chose to base my screenplays on little-known but true facts in history that center around the shared experiences of the peoples of Mexico and the United States. At a time when there are those wanting to build walls (literally!) between the two countries and cultures, I think there is much more that unites them than separates them. There are very few movies (if any) that aim to promote such an understanding. It’s an understanding I’d like to advance in my scripts.”

Congrats, again, Ernestina, and welcome to the consider circle.

We hope that Ernestina‘s success helps you guys to feel encouraged and inspired. If you want to enter Get Repped Now, you can do so below. Final Deadline: June 4th.