Feature AdaptationSan Miguel de AllendePolitical Thriller

ZAPATISTA

A brutal, politically charged thriller set in the birthplace of the Mexican Revolution—where radiant colonial beauty collides with ritual violence, buried history, and modern unrest.

Feature adaptation by Frank Gaydos. Based on the novel by P.W. Ross.
San Miguel de Allende
Tone

Gruesome. Edgy. Darkly thrilling—framed by the brilliant, disco-bright heritage surfaces of San Miguel.

Setting
Colonial streets → el campo → ancient sites
Hook
Ritual murders with revolutionary symbolism

Photo Credits: Nichole Wleklinski

PITCH DECK

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Project snapshot
Format
Feature adaptation
Setting
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Materials
Deck • Script • References (by request)
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STORY

A thriller driven by history

A methodical investigation through colonial interiors, pre-Columbian echoes, and the friction of modern life—paced for tension, built for escalation.

San Miguel de Allende—birthplace of the Mexican Revolution—glows with color, craft, and high-desert light. Beneath that radiance, a ritualistic killer begins staging murders designed to reopen old wounds.

A crucified matador. A Jesuit burned and marked. Revolutionary symbols used as signatures. Retired tech millionaire Jack Alexander is pulled into the case because he knows the terrain—expat and Mexican, public and hidden—and the city needs someone who can move between worlds.

The investigation threads through cathedrals, courtyards, alleyways, and historical sites—where the colonial walls that once protected the city now conceal what people don’t want seen.

Tone
Dark, edgy, visceral
Contrast
Brutality vs brilliance
World
Expat + Mexican nuance
Story visual
Photo Credits: Nichole Wleklinski
THE CITY

Light and shadow

San Miguel’s preserved surfaces amplify the horror: hand-painted signage, artisan craft, and heritage architecture—then the cut to darkness.

There’s virtually no modern visual noise to fight: no towering billboards, no corporate saturation, no “theme-park” branding. The frame stays clean because the city stays real—painted, crafted, and built by local hands.

Within minutes, you’re in el campo: open landscape, big skies, volcanic ridgelines, agave fields. Not much farther—ancient sites and pre-Columbian history. Range without relocating basecamp.

Rain season brings natural wet-down streets for noir texture. Dramatic sun shifts create hard contrast—glare to shadow in a few steps. A director’s playground.

City visual
Photo Credits: Nichole Wleklinski
PRODUCTION

Practical, scalable, cinematic

Preserved colonial authenticity with modern infrastructure and regional access.

Access

Multiple major airports within reach (León, Querétaro, Mexico City and more), plus reliable ground transport and private drivers.

Infrastructure

Cast/crew housing options, rentals, hotels, and supply chains—Costco, Home Depot, major chains, and Amazon delivery.

Locations

Colonial core, haciendas, open campo, and historical sites—range without leaving the region.

Community

A craft-centered arts community with local artisans and a culture of collaboration for film-friendly builds and finishes.

Production visual
Photo Credits: Nichole Wleklinski
CONTACT

Request materials

Pitch deck access, script requests, production/location conversations.