Home / D.J. Rivera

WELCOME TO WRITTEN BY DJR

Everything starts with the written word. Whether it’s a script, an article, or a brand’s story, I know how to put language to work so it grabs attention, carries weight, and stays with people long after they’ve read it.

My name is D.J. Rivera, a US Veteran and storyteller with two Masters Degrees and more than a decade of creative experience. As a narrative producer and creative director, I’ve developed award-winning scripts and stories for films, music videos, and commercials—work that’s been showcased at festivals worldwide and distributed on platforms like Amazon Prime Video.

Alongside screenwriting, I’ve built an extensive portfolio of published writing—spanning articles, reviews, op-eds, and editorial features in outlets such as Looper, Netflix Life, SlashGear, MSN, Young Hollywood, and WhatCulture. I’ve also crafted marketing copy, product descriptions, and branded storytelling for companies across entertainment, tech, and lifestyle industries. This range reflects not just versatility, but a proven ability to adapt voice and narrative to connect with diverse audiences across media.

Don’t believe me? Read for yourself.

I can always count on D.J. because he puts in the work and I know he’s reliable, timely, and takes the time to do the research.

Bryce Olin, Entertainment Content Director for FanSided

ARTICLES

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Undead Walking • 30th June 2021

25 best cities for surviving a zombie apocalypse

What are the best cities for surviving a zombie apocalypse?

Looper • 9th July 2023

Where Was Alice In Borderland Filmed And Which Locations Can You Actually Visit?

While fans are unfortunately unable to travel to the same empty Tokyo to play deadly card-based challenges, there are a number of places where certain scenes were shot that those who enjoyed the series can visit.

Looper • 31st December 2022

How X-Men: The Animated Series Paved The Way For The MCU - Looper

For some, the well-crafted and engaging "X-Men: The Animated Series" is nothing more than a fun blast from the past, but the well-renowned show set the stage for the next level of superhero cinema evolution, leading to its own live-action franchise and eventually the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Looper • 8th October 2023

The Breathable Liquid In James Cameron's The Abyss Is Real

While there is no denying the Academy Award-winning feature offers plenty of science fiction, several aspects of the film are surprisingly real, like the breathable liquid Harris' character, Bud Brigman, uses toward the end to defuse the nuclear warhead.

Looper • 18th April 2023

The Only Power Rangers Series That Were Owned By Disney

Disney is home to many cherished franchises, like Marvel and Star Wars, but some fans may not realize that at one point The House of Mouse also had the "Power Rangers."

Looper • 19th June 2023

Nuclear Man: What Happened To The Superman 4 Villain & The Actor Who Played Him?

Throughout the years, there have been a number of strange choices when it comes to the evildoers selected to take on the heroes in comic-book-themed cinema, but one odd example that arguably still confuses fans to this day is Nuclear Man, who first debuted in the 1987 feature film "Superman IV: The Quest For Peace."

Geeks • 1st May 2022

5 Phenomenal Flamethrower scenes in movies

Things really heat up in these intense movie scenes depicting some fantastic Flamethrower use.

Geeks • 1st May 2022

6 Superb Korean Dramas to Binge on Netflix

K-dramas are all the rage these days, and one outfit that has plenty to offer in this department is none other than Netflix.

Looper.com • 6th July 2022

The ending of Antebellum explained

There is a lot to unpack once the credits start to roll on "Antebellum," and it's no surprise if people have this flick on their minds long after it ends. Here is some insight into how the narrative reaches its intriguing conclusion.

Looper • 5th November 2023

How Many NCIS Shows Are There In Total And How Are They Different?

"NCIS" has become a television fixture with a long-running main series and several spinoffs. But how many entries in the franchise are there in total?

VIDEO FEATURES

COPYWRITER WORK

CREATIVE DIRECTOR & BRAND NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT

REVIEWS

Dolemite is My Name is easily Eddie Murphy’s best performance yet

Eddie Murphy stages a stellar comeback with a career-defining performance in Netflix’s real-life showbiz drama Dolemite is My Name.

Apple TV’s Little America tells stories that will change hearts and minds

Nothing is better than seeing inspiring stories come to life, which is precisely why people shouldn’t sleep on the riveting Apple TV+ series Little America.

Wonder Woman 1984 provides a solid sequel hurt by a bloated runtime

Wonder Woman 1984 proves to be the DCEU's first good sequel and despite being a bit too long, offers fans an exceptional superhero movie experience.

Apple’s Amazing Stories offers subscribers a family-friendly Twilight Zone

Apple TV+’s revival of Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories presents audiences with a family-friendly version of The Twilight Zone.

FILM WRITING CREDITS

AWARDS/ACCOLADES
Best Screenplay - Torrent (2017) - European Independent Film Award

Best Original Screenplay - Torrent (2017) - Mindfield Film Festival in Los Angeles

Award of Recognition Script/Writer - Torrent (2017) - Indiefest Film Awards

Best Original Idea - Vessel (2016) - Top Indie Film Awards

Nominated Most Terrifying - Messiah (2018) - Top Indie Film Awards

Nominated Best Original Concept - Vessel (2016) - Independent Horror Movie Awards

IMDb Page

SHORT STORIES

Fractured Lighthouse

I take a few steps and see a candle in the window like a lighthouse shining a beacon of hope for a desolate ship at sea.

Frozen in Time

"A moment for me that remains frozen in time as the worst night of my life. A moment I wish never happened, yet I am constantly haunted by the ill-fated memory."

Finding the Right Match

"In this world veiled in mystery, if you don’t find that perfect match, your existence almost feels meaningless."