L-r: Eddie Ruiz, Mauricio Mendoza, Sam Boyer, Yvonne Delarosa, Dennis Leoni, Miguel Torres, Lorena Alvarado, Marlene Dermer, Al Coronel and Monica Huarte at the 2012 Imagen awards—which Los Americans won the 2012 Best Drama Web Series.
Dennis Leoni
Variety reported it just a couple of days ago: PBS has ordered a pilot script from Dennis Leoni called Alta California, a period drama about two family set in the late 1800’s. It’s part of a new development deal between the Public Broadcasting system and Leoni, who is best remembered as writer and director of Resurrection Blvd. the first and longest-running Latino dramatic series on U.S. television.
The overarching plot for Alta California is familiar but potentially powerful: “Set in the mid to late 1800s,” the Variety article says, “Alta California tells the story of an arranged union between two families–one Mexican-Californian and the other European-American.” Leoni is slated to write and exec produce the series if it comes to pass, along with the former president of Showtime Jerry Offsay. The two worked together on Resurrection Blvd. back in the day.
Not that Leoni has been resting on his laurels the last few years. He’s been a major player in Latino Hollywood for years; he’s written drama and comedy pilots for NBC, Showtime, ABC and Fox Television Studios, and he created the web series Los Americans, still available for viewing right here.
Casting and filming are still months in the future, but we’ll keep a sharp eye on the project as it develops.
Photos: ©2012 Angela María Ortíz S.
