Gus Avila

Screenwriter

Los Angeles, California

Member Since:
December 2016

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About Gus

Gus Avila is a Mexican-American writer whose focus is writing authentic stories about misfits, usually with undercurrents that explore mental health issues and cultural identity. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Avila spent some of his youth in the coastal city of Veracruz, Mexico, constantly straddling between two cultures that often reflects in his work.

Among his written work, his coming-of-age drama, THE LOST ONES, was recently selected to participate in the Cannes Film Festival’s Maison des Scenaristes, the only U.S. selection in the program. Additional accolades include the Screenwriters Spotlight Award at CineFestival and Finalist for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. Other projects include family drama KINGWOOD, which was was selected as an honoree for the prestigious WGA Feature Writer Access Project.

Avila has participated as a screenwriting Fellow with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), the AMPAS-sponsored Cine Qua Non Artist Residency and Film Independent’s Project:Involve, where he was mentored by award-winning producers Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa (Nebraska, Little Children). He is a UCLA alumnus, earning a B.A. degree in English Literature. While at UCLA, Avila received his introduction into Hollywood by personally assisting Academy Award-winning producer Jerome Hellman (Midnight Cowboy). He then spent several years in creative development for HBO and Starz.

Avila is currently writing a film for Disney Channel. He is a member of the WGA, while continuing to develop several film and television projects. When not writing, he finds inspiration in playing guitar, running marathons and being a dad two rambunctious girls.

Gender:
Male

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Kingwood Budget: $1M - $5M | Drama Following a personal tragedy, a grieving mother struggles to hold her family together, but a reckless affair with her autistic son’s caretaker lures her toward the promise of a new life.
Grave Matters Drama Broke and recently widowed, a former adult film actress lands a job at a mortuary, where she uncovers that its employees may be linked to her husband’s death.
Cracked Budget: $1M - $5M | Thriller A mother and daughter retreat to a cabin in the woods in hopes of mending their turbulent relationship, but a run-in with a mysterious neighbor turns their lives into a feverish fight for survival.
Diabolus Horror After a series of deaths plague her high school, a troubled girl loses her sanity when she discovers the school faculty may be a Satanic cult targeting her as its next victim.