Maria Soriano

Playwright and Screenwriter

Park City, Utah

Member Since:
April 2016

Last online:
1 day ago

Invites sent:
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About Maria

I was meant to be a writer -- and to write visually. I have a purpose. And writing dramatically is my purpose. I was a professional dancer before becoming a screenwriter, playwright and novelist. I studied flamenco, ballet and jazz and traveled as a soloist throughout the U.S., Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. I was born in Washington, D.C. of Hispanic parents and am bilingual (Spanish and English).

I grew up around people of many countries, learning the idiosyncrasies of their cultures. Because of my background, I bring diversity into my work.

My unique voice comes from who I am: An American of Hispanic heritage who was a professional dancer, has always been an avid movie-goer and enjoys story-telling in multiple genres that will lift the human spirit. I love to create multifaceted characters who portray ordinary people facing difficult situations to become extraordinary. Whenever needed, I'm able to employ powerful Hispanic characters and storylines. As a former professional dancer and if the project requires it, I bring the knowledge of my stage background. I can write commercial material for adults, as well as for children that will touch all movie-going audiences.

I am passionate, dedicated, dependable and prolific.

Although I have a dancer’s spirit, my passion is writing. As a journalist, I wrote for several publications. Being a story-teller, I love to write in many genres.

I’m a writer/producer with Ground Squirrel Entertainment in Park City, UT.

I’m a member of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights and the Dramatists Guild of America. My published supernatural thriller novel "Living Shadow" and my fantasy novella “Red The Cat Starting From Scratch” are available on Amazon. I have a Journalism Degree; completed coursework in Theatre, film and television and am a ScreenwritingU Alum.

Twitter: @msoriano120
Facebook: maria.soriano.73550
Facebook Page: Living Shadow By Maria Soriano

Gender:
Female

Badges

Photos

Loglines

IMP PERFECT Budget: $1M - $5M | Fantasy ⋄ Action TV SERIES LOGLINE: When a demon chases an impetuous young Fae through dimensional space, she falls to Earth, suffering from a head injury. While adapting to her Texan family, the teen regains her memory, rediscovers her magic and learns to fight the demon threatening her and the world with evil dominion.
THE PRESENCE Budget: $1M - $5M | Mystery ⋄ Horror A tenacious truthseeker investigates the clues of imminent danger in her recurring nightmares to uncover the sinister force threatening her life in her waking existence.
TWO TO RHUMBA Budget: $1M - $5M | Romance ⋄ Comedy A Latina law graduate jeopardizes her love life when she defends the robber of her Jewish boyfriend’s family bakery.
CARGO JACK Budget: $10M - $30M | Thriller ⋄ Action A washed up cargo pilot snaps out of his alcoholic haze to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend from ruthless South American sex trade operators.
FATAL INTENT Budget: $10M - $30M | Thriller ⋄ Action A case of mistaken identity leads a struggling actress to become the latest target for a hitman embroiled in a political assassination.
THE DONOVAN GIRLS Budget: $1M - $5M | Thriller ⋄ Crime Three teen girls accidentally kill their abusive father and flee in search of a better life, only to be hunted by a gang of killers filming snuff.
MEGAHERTZ KID Budget: $10M - $30M | Sci-fi ⋄ Action After his scientist dad is kidnapped, a comic geek acquires the superpowers of his favorite character but needs to learn how to use his powers, before it’s too late to rescue his dad.
TWISTED TRUTH Budget: $1M - $5M | Thriller ⋄ Crime A disturbed daughter spirals down the rabbit hole of the mind turning her lustful daydreams with her secret lovers into vengeful, murderous nightmares, when her abusive momma threatens to rent out her bedroom for extra cash.
BLESSED BLOOD Budget: $1M - $5M | Horror ⋄ Thriller A cult leader fights for his life when his followers turn against him, taking his blood rituals to the extreme.
LIE IN WAIT Budget: $1M - $5M | Thriller ⋄ Crime A caring veteran patrol cop plays by his own rules to capture the gunrunners and bombers before his multicultural neighborhood celebrates the 4th of July.
SHALIMAR Budget: $10M - $30M | Family ⋄ Adventure A lonely orphan girl manifests a magical flying colt and becomes his mama, but soon realizes she needs to protect him from a supernatural force that wants to steal him.
THE GRAND ALCHEMIST Budget: $10M - $30M | Action ⋄ Adventure In the 1700s, an alchemist prince fights for the freedom of the oppressed with his white magic, as a jealous, evil sorcerer conjures black magic to bring him down -- all for the love of a woman.
HIGHER STAKES Budget: $10M - $30M | Thriller ⋄ Action An ecologist, with a magical connection to the Holy Shroud, is tasked in returning the stolen relic to Italy, while being chased by thieves and police, before relations between France and Italy deteriorate into a cold war.

View all 13 loglines

Credits

Lie In Wait (2018)
Short (Drama) Producer/Writer Two women at a police precinct deal with the agony of whether their loved ones, policemen protecting a community event, have survived a mass shooting.
New Hire (2017)
Film (Short and Drama) Writer A new mental patient stops by the office.
Partners (2017)
Film (Short and Drama) Writer Rookie LAPD detective must convince a Medal of Valor detective to accept her as a partner.

Awards

"Cargo Jack" action screenplay Capital Fund Screenplay Contest Hot Top 100
(2023)
TV Pilot “Imp Perfect,” quarterfinalist in Scriptation TV Writing Competition
(2021)
“Lie In Wait” Feature Screenplay Capital Fund Screenplay Contest Hot Top 100
(2021)
“Megahertz Kid,” semi-finalist; Stage 32 4th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Screenwriting Contest
(2020)
Action-adventure Screenplay "The Grand Alchemist" quarterfinalist in 2017 Zoetrope contest
(2017)
"Shalimar" Grand Prize winner, Family, Screenplay Festival
(2016)
"Cargo Jack," quarterfinalist in the Screencraft Action Thriller Film Contest
(2016)
"Megahertz Kid," Official Selection in 2016 Beverly Hills Film Festival.
(2016)
"Cargo Jack," finalist at the Hollywood and Vine Film Festival
(2015)

Education

LAVC - AA in Journalism
ScreenwritingU - ProSeries
Jeffrey Kitchen's Screenwriting Workshop
Moving Arts Playwrights Workshop
Broadway On Sunset Musical Comedy