COLBY RANCH Screen Stories

04/05/2024

MOTION PICTURE ORG CHART

So, this is how it all comes together. Found this depiction on LinkedIn, thanks Tyler Reid. From a review of this chart, and depending on which production, I am Executive Producer, Script Supervisor, Location Scout, Publicity, Casting, Director, and...Stunts. Yes, stunts. I have to walk across flaming shards of glass to get financing and keep projects alive. Not listed on the chart is food services. I know where the menu specials are, like buy one-get one pizza at Brown Dog Pizza or the deli counter at The Village Market or buy one-get one hamburgers at Smugglers.

20/03/2024

DESERT CAMP

Galisteo is done. Waiting for finance committee. So, time to advance the next project. Hanging out at the Vig or at Market Street all the time will be fun.

21/07/2023

THE BRAND

The character factory has been branded. The stunningly beautiful landscape of the American Southwest is the inspiration for the characters and the stories. This is where the journey begins...

27/04/2023

From GALISTEO - The Movie

The combatants line the field in a multi-dimensional fight for control of the New Mexico Territory. Today, a smoldering distrust and misalignment of goals is revealed between the former Mexican authority and the Church. Truly an example of the pot calling the kettle black...

SCENE: Identity Crisis [Scene Sequence]
Who: Fray Carlos Borromeo, Mexican Dignitary Holdovers
Where: Santa Fe, San Miguel Mission, Monastery, Palace of the Governors
When: Day, Mid-1850’s
What: [RISING ACTION] The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transferred control of the New Mexico Territory to the United States. A provisional government and territorial governor were installed. The transition away from Mexican and provincial Spanish rule has begun. This leaves Fray Carlos and the Church adjusting to the new regime, while trying to maintain legitimacy and their grip on the indigenous population.

Fray Carlos walks through the Santa Fe Plaza, observing the arriving US soldiers and white people.

Archbishop Lamy walks with a group of priests away from the Palace of the Governors. Fray Carlos realizes that they are a threat to his influence. He has no loyalty or alliance with the gr**gos and can expect no support or concessions from the new authority. His legacy is in jeopardy.

San Miguel Mission. Morning services have ended. Fray Carlos is at the altar cleaning up. He lifts a gold chalice off the altar, turns around as he steps away from the altar, then looks up. He is startled.

AGUSTIN DE ZAVALA and two MEXICAN DIGNITARIES sit in the front row facing Fray Carlos. They are well-dressed in fine leather coats and boots and stare back at Fray Carlos with a quiet, menacing look.

The morning light coming through the chapel window reflects on the chalice in Fray Carlos’ hand, illuminating his face like some sort of deity.

AGUSTIN DE ZAVALA
Seems as though you have become the village idiot.

FRAY CARLOS
Hollow words spoken by an irrelevant fool. What’s your claim to virtue? Your government could not manage its own affairs. Hell, they left you behind. You are no longer valuable. Imagine that. A government that sells out its own people and gives up vast territory to pay for its gross incompetence, corruption, and mismanagement, collapsing under the weight of its boundless arrogance and going down without a fight.

Agustin stands up in rage and advances towards Fray Carlos.

AGUSTIN DE ZAVALA
(shouting)
Santa Anna was no fool. How quickly you change alliances. Always sucking up to the centers of power, to the masters of darkness, whomever they may be. Spain. Mexico. Rome.

Agustin circles Fray Carlos, sarcastically inspecting his appearance.

AGUSTIN DE ZAVALA
(laughing)
You’re certainly no gr**go. Can’t imagine you aligning with the Union. Maybe the Confederates will have you. Prostrate yourself at the altar of slavery, because you are a master at that.

Fray Carlos fumes with indignance and rolls his eyes.

FRAY CARLOS
The Mexican empire has fallen. You were just an illusion. The Spanish crown established its stronghold and endured in New Spain for centuries. Your people, the Mexican authority, didn’t last but three decades. Misaligned, uncoordinated, and entitled. The New Mexico Territory was basically handed to you, and in no time, you shamelessly gave it to the gr**gos.

Agustin shakes his head and grins, staring back at Fray Carlos. He steps up to the podium next to the altar and stares out into the chapel, glancing over at his counterparts, then at Fray Carlos. He retrieves a parchment document from his coat and places it on the podium.

AGUSTIN DE ZAVALA
Then the angel said to me, the waters you saw, where the pr******te sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the pr******te. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled.

Fray Carlos stares at Agustin with smoldering disgust.

FRAY CARLOS
You say I am a pr******te? You are an abomination. You, your government, sold out your people, leaving them to wither in the wilderness. You have no identity here. You have no purpose.

Agustin steps away from the podium and walks down the center aisle of the chapel. His two counterparts quietly stand up and follow him, each walking away with their heads held high with seething indignance.

Fray Carlos quietly observes their exit.

The doors to the chapel close.

Fray Carlos looks into the chalice in his hand.

The rays of light have shifted, leaving the chalice dull and dark.

26/04/2023

From GALISTEO - The Movie

The history and purpose of war, of hard-fought battles throughout the ages, have shaped families, empires, cultures, and countries. We read about it in recorded history. We hear about it in legends and tales spoken from generation to generation. And now, we are living it. The fight is here, and we are combatants, by necessity, by choice. Rancho Galisteo and the New Mexico Territory is ours to preserve or to lose.
-Trevor Cavender-

14/04/2023

From GALISTEO - The Movie

The chaos in the white noise dissipates as the characters' intentions become clear. Fray Carlos Borromeo is a Catholic friar and vicar in charge of the San Miguel Mission in Santa Fe. He is accustomed to being in complete control. He operates under the pretext that his actions are for the greater good, to spread Christianity among the natives, to secure a loyal and complicit following for the King of Spain. The reality – he is a psychologically twisted, pathological narcissist.

With the precipitating turbulence in the New Mexico Territory at the height of the Civil War, someone's influence will be diminished. And Trevor arrives to give such notice to the ignoble Fray Carlos.

SCENE: A Crisis of Legitimacy

Who: Trevor, Fray Carlos
Where: Monastery
When: Night.
What: [RISING ACTION] Legitimacy to rule. Applies to Confederates, Union, Spain, Mexico. Maybe in Diego’s dialogue.

Candles flicker, illuminating the chapel. Fray Carlos’ image becomes clear. He is sitting in front of the altar, gazing into the illuminated bank of votive candles.

The door to the chapel opens. Trevor approaches. Fray Carlos exhales and rolls his eyes, dismissively.

Trevor momentarily paces in front of Fray Carlos. He glances around, then boldly steps up to the pulpit and faces Fray Carlos.

Fray Carlos is visibly aghast and insulted.

How dare you.

Trevor grins.

You’ve lost your voice, your purpose, and your influence. Things have changed. A new empire arises, leaving you in the shadows. You see, what you have now is a crisis of legitimacy. These people, the natives, no longer acknowledge your authority. Hell, they don’t even respect you.

You are a heathen fool. Now get down from there.

Trevor slowly steps down from the pulpit and walks down the center aisle of the chapel. He pauses and turns his head towards Fray Carlos.

Your spell has been broken.

Trevor exits the chapel and the doors close behind him, leaving Fray Carlos smoldering with indignance and rage.

MUSIC:
Bon Jovi, Santa Fe

Comment below your requested lyric video!Subscribe for more lyric videos like this!Song Title: Santa Fe (by Jon Bon Jovi)original audio: https://www.youtube....

02/03/2023

From GALISTEO - The Movie

AMBASSADOR’S SUITE: Trevor Cavender

Trevor Cavender is the ambassador to the story. We see his world through his eyes and perspective. One hundred and sixty years later, we see the same mountains, sky, forests, and rivers. But it is different. The time capsule in which he lived, the living conditions and circumstances, were so different.

Gas lanterns. Wood-burning stoves. Water wells. Merchant trade for basic living necessities. Primitive medical treatment. Emerging system of laws in a frontier land. Naturally evolving cultural interaction. They were generational strangers in a still foreign land. Trevor, his family, and the community itself were pioneers in the sedimentation of a society, threads in the colorful multi-cultural tapestry of the Land of Enchantment.

One hundred and sixty years later, we speak the same language, but with different words, meaning, and relevance.

Sometimes, starting a new script and story is like walking into a crowded diner at lunchtime. Everyone is shouting their message into the atmosphere, posturing for relevance, and hoping their lunch mates comprehend their words. I need to walk through the diner and sit with just one person, to hear his story, from his experience and perspective. The rest of the people in the diner will later have their chance to state their intentions or make their point. But for now, I listen to Trevor. He is my ambassador to this time and place, to this story.

Viva Galisteo!

[IMAGE: Bosque del Rio, New Mexico]

20/02/2023

From GALISTEO - The Movie

EL RANCHO DE LAS GOLONDRINAS

The Ranch of the Swallows is a historic ranch strategically located on what was once the Camino Real that extended from Mexico City to Santa Fe. The ranch provided goods for trade and was a place where the caravans that traveled the road would stop on their journey coming to or from Santa Fe.

The ranch is situated on 200 acres in the valley of La Cienega south of Santa Fe and is part of the story of Galisteo.

Explore the living rancho, El Rancho De Las Golondrinas, in New Mexico!For more 360 videos of the American Southwest, checkout our playlist:https://youtube.c...

04/01/2023

From GALISTEO - The Movie

MEET THE CHARACTERS - Trevor Cavender

GENERAL: Trevor is New Mexico’s native son, fourth generation descendant of Hans Cavender de Gerona. He and his brother Garrett run the family’s sprawling Rancho Galisteo. Trevor is challenged by the tumultuous social and political changes occurring in the New Mexico Territory, the outcome of which will forever define the New Mexico landscape.

INTERACTIONS: Trevor interacts with members of his immediate family, including his father, Riley, and brother, Garrett. His love interest, Santana de Arriaga, aligns with Trevor in battles against oppressive church, government, national, and international interests.

SPECIFICS: Genteel, well-educated, multi-lingual, yet humble and enterprising, Trevor was raised among the native Navajo people working on Rancho Galisteo. His mother died immediately after he was born. Octavia helped Riley raise Trevor and Garrett.

At the time of the story, Trevor is about thirty-five years old, deeply entrenched in the ranching industry as well as his community in north central New Mexico. When his family’s business is challenged by remnants of both Confederate and Union interests, he strategically aligns with their enemies to diffuse the threat.

The Navajo community enlightens Trevor on the boundless cruelty of the friars, inciting him to confront their long-standing oppression of the native population. In the process, the Cavenders and Rancho Galisteo will stand in the crosshairs of multiple threats. First rule of warfare – know your enemy. Next, choose the battleground and terms. The Cavenders’ generational alignment with native Navajo and other oppressed groups and their resolve for self-determination were grossly underestimated by their enemies.