CARA J. RUSSELL
Screenwriter
A Miami University (Ohio) Redhawk turned Bruin after earning a certificate from UCLA in their Writer’s Program, Cara Russell is a prolific screenwriter with a background in journalism; she was the Assistant Managing Editor and Feature Writer for Country Line Magazine in Austin, Texas before moving to LA.
She wrote the screenplay, “Heavenly Match” as adapted from Beth Patillo’s novel, “Heavens to Betsy,” for Front Street Pictures. The television movie premiered and aired, Sunday, October 12, 2014 on UP TV and starred Samaire Armstrong.
Cara’s family drama “Secret Summer” starring Lindsay Shaw and Derek Theler premiered April 2016 and continues to air on Amazon Prime, PixL TV and Hallmark Drama. Her original romantic comedy, “The Big Grab” (also titled “Can’t Buy My Love”) can currently be seen on Amazon Prime and on Hallmark Drama.
She wrote “The Knight Before Christmas” starring Vanessa Hudgens and Josh Whitehouse which premiered on Netflix November 21, 2019.
Her latest Christmas movies, “Catering Christmas” premiere winter 2022 on Great American Family Channel and on Hulu, and “Fall into Winter” starring Lori Loughlin premiered January 28th, 2023.
In February 2021, Waterside Productions published Cara’s book Make Your Script Sellable The Art and Business of Screenwriting. It was a #1 New release on Amazon.
In addition to all her recent screenwriting and writing success, Cara was a judge for the 2016 Love International Film Festival, a panelist for the 2018 Glendale International Film Festival, a long-time volunteer for the Sundance Film Festival, works the Turner Classic Movie Film Festival, was a long-time Head Mentor for the Young Storytellers Foundation, and is a snowboarder.
More Than Words by Nikki 