[In Development, Seeking Producer/EP]

Contact for Pitch Deck and Screenplay (110 pages)

Written by Eliot Galán

Logline: A troubled teenage boy is sent to live with his estranged father on the outskirts of town, where he faces untold hardships, unexpected hijinks and newfound love, all testing his ability to come out on top.

Genre: Drama/Dramedy (Feature)

Comps: Boyhood, Pan’s Labrynth, Nomadland, Elephant

Synopsis: Sol lives in Austin, Texas with his mother Alicia, who is expecting, and about to turn their lives upside down. With her boyfriend in jail and losing their housing, she sends Sol to live with his estranged father on the outskirts of town, while she crosses state lines to stay with her mother and have the baby.

It’s the mid-90s, and Cuernavaca is a little known suburb, simply called “the hood” by locals, for its rougher side. With a population of only 5,000, this unusual mix of mansions and trailer parks, and everything in between, is home to teenagers whose friendships cross societal boundaries of class and race.

In a rundown trailer park, Sol finds a new best friend, love, and a new beginning with his father, not without their share of challenges. Together their lives spiral towards disaster, finding themselves at the center of felony crimes, including grand theft auto and attempted murder. The only way out is by being united, thinking on their toes and keeping cool. With any luck, they’ll come out the other side changed for the better.

Writer Statement: By the Horns marks my feature directorial debut, and while this is a period piece set in the ‘90s, the themes explored could not be more relevant today. Questions around class, race, gender and masculinity are now firmly implanted in the zeitgeist, and though advances have been made, we face increased scrutiny and pushback from established systems of oppression and their purveyors. This heartfelt story of personal growth will advance our aims of progress by inspiring individuals, and encouraging dialogue amongst communities, and with any luck, society as a whole.