The name Jorge Zamacona will be familiar to only the most astute readers of this web site. He is what the Americans term a showrunner; that is someone who, well, runs TV shows. But unlike many showrunners particularly those in the UK (with the exception of Russell T Davies), Jorge is also a writer. He started on the splendid St Elsewhere but is perhaps best known for his work as a producer and writer on Homicide: Life on the Street and Millenium. His most recent show was Wanted, a gritty cop show based in LA that aired in the UK on ITV 4. Of late he's been busy working with Bill Macdonald writing a 2 hour pilot script for Simon Templar. He graciously agreed to suffer an e-mail interview with us for the sake of this web site.

  • How did you start working in TV?
    I started working in Television as a production assistant on ST. ELSEWHERE for NBC and MTM when I graduated film school. It was there that I wrote my first produced teleplays. After that I wrote screenplays until I returned to television as a writer/producer on HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET, again for NBC. From there I wrote and produced the following:

•  Millennium - FOX

• OZ – HBO

•  Witchblade – WB

•  Third Watch - NBC

•  10-8 – ABC

•  Wanted – TNT

I also wrote the LAW AND ORDER/HOMICIDE crossover episodes as well.

  • What scriptwriting software do you use?
    I use MovieMagic Screenwriter
  • Were you familiar with the character of Simon Templar? If so, how so and what was your favourite TV series/book etc.
    I was very familiar with Simon Templar and MEET THE TIGER was my favorite of the books. George Sanders' The Saint Strikes Back was one of my favorites of the movie series.
  • With experience in writing for hit US TV shows Law & Order, Homicide and Millennium are there certain screenwriting "rules" you'll be following/adopting?  How might this potentially change the "Saintly" magic?
    My only rule with respect to THE SAINT… is to hold dear the original intentions and shadings of the character created by Leslie Charteris. If it ain't broke, don't fix it…is a favorite adage of mine. I will however contemporize the character as far as attitude, physicality, and worldiness. The Saintly Magic, the insouciance, wit and charm of the original character will remain intact. The hardest thing is too re-create the character for a new audience while respecting the expectations of the established audience.
  • How have you gone about creating a Saint for the 21 st Century?
    The 21st century Saint has a bit more edge, a bit more sexuality, and bit more overt masculinity. He has to speak to the 21 st century male audience without being a clichéd macho-brute that would turn off females. Men in the present day don't have to be bullies to keep the peace…they have to be smart, wily and patient.
  • Will the new Simon Templar be a gentleman, and what exactly does that mean in 2007?
    Definitely a gentleman. Well mannered, respectful of women, polite, strong without having to always resort to force. He is humorous, kind and charitable. And he abhors bullies and liars. He will always fight for the weak.
  • Will you be sticking to the swashbuckler genre, and keeping The Saint as a modern day Robin Hood?
    To a certain extant, yes. The exploits will not be overtly Over the Top, which is what I think you mean by Swashbuckling. The action will be tempered more with the reality. There will be special effects to be sure. But the set-pieces will have more of a Frankenheimer feel. He will fund his lifestyle and reimburse his sidekicks and allies from monies “secured” from this exploits and at the expense of the criminals.
  • What do you believe the core values of The Saint are?
    Courage, honesty, integrity, charity, patience, kindness, loyalty..,fairness
  • Where will the pilot be set, or is it being written to be vague to setting for production flexibility?
    The Saint will be set in New York City. New York affords a cosmopolitan setting, a crossroads of business, industry, fashion, sex, culture and intrigue. His background will remain English but without as strong an accent or influence. A man well heeled in both hemispheres.
  • Are new villains being created with a view to developing story arcs and recurring bad guys?
    Yes…almost all will be new villains. Some will be impressions of those in the books, but a new age demands new criminals.
  • Will any key Charteris characters feature?  Will there be a back story?
    I am absolutely featuring PATRICIA HOLM and INSPECTOR TEAL. And they will have back stories that are logical to the premise.