Detective Emilia Cruz Hollywood Bound

In an email Carmen Amato announces that Detective Emilia Cruz, her never-ending string of lieutenants, surly partner Franco Silvio, and gringo boyfriend Kurt Rucker, are leaving Acapulco and heading for Hollywood.

"In May 2015, I signed a contract selling the film rights to the Detective Emilia Cruz police procedural series, including books CLIFF DIVER, HAT DANCE, and DIABLO NIGHTS, to director and screenwriter Emily Skopov. Currently working with producers Michael Keyes of Something Kreative, and Zack Stentz (screenwriter "Thor", "X-Men: First Class") to set up production on "Three Rivers," a Pittsburgh-set gritty true-crime thriller co-written with Eddie Richey ("Phoenix"), Emily Skopov is best known for her work on such TV fare as "Xena: Warrior Princess," SyFy's "Farscape," and the indie feature "Novel Romance."

"Before signing on the dotted line, Emily and I discussed the vibe and quality of a movie or television series, maintaining the books’ authenticity, possible casting, film locations, the music (!), and alternatives to filming on location in Acapulco. Once we agreed on what we deemed were the critical issues, the lawyers negotiated terms and deadlines.

"Many authors seek to sell rights to a studio but working with a screenwriter cut the worry of whether or not the studio will ever get to the script stage, plus the contract gives me a consulting role. Had I sold the film rights to a studio, the project could have languished “in development” for a number of years. Instead, this contract has milestones built in to keep that from happening. A studio could have assigned the screenplay to a writer who knows nothing about Mexico. No worries there. Emily was actively looking for a project with a strong female character with ties to Mexico. She speaks Spanish, has visited Mexico, and is equally as passionate about the impact of cartel violence.

"Another key factor in the decision to work with Emily was our shared vision that the Detective Emilia Cruz book series can be the basis for an entertainment franchise appealing to both English and Spanish speakers throughout the Western Hemisphere. Here are the factors we considered:

"1. Dramatic Setting: Acapulco is an iconic location, and will play the same role for the Emilia Cruz series as does Hawaii for the “Hawaii 5-0” television show. Acapulco has greater depth to explore, however, because of the huge disparity in lifestyles and neighborhoods clustered around the most beautiful bay in the world. Skyscrapers and slums represent the two versions of Acapulco. Emilia Cruz is forced to survive between them.

"2. Premise with Multiple Possibilities: Detective shows are perennial favorites in the US. This one has a twist; Emilia Cruz is the first and only female detective on the Acapulco police force. She’s got drug cartels, Mexico’s culture of machismo, and the country’s murky law enforcement landscape to navigate. Especially in episodic television, these tensions can be built, layered, and exploited in the way that “House of Cards” has done so successfully. 3. Embraceable Central Character: Viewers love characters with whom they identify and the underdog is a classic favorite. Emilia Cruz’s backstory plays into this aspect of audience resonance. Her father, a chauffeur, was killed when she was a toddler. Her mother had a mental breakdown. Emilia grew up on the streets of Acapulco and fought her way into the police ranks and up the ladder to the detective squadroom, even as she parented her own mother.

4. The Latino Audience: Emily Skopov noted in a recent press release that “The time is right for an entertainment franchise that puts Latino characters center stage in substantial, complex and diverse roles that transcend simplistic categorizations.” We think the Latino audience, with its growing economic power yet lack of Hollywood vehicles, will embrace Detective Emilia Cruz. Advertising Age recently reported that Latino spending in the media market rose 8.1% to $8.3 billion from 2013 to 2014.

5. Transcending Boundaries: While the Emilia Cruz books reveal a spectrum of Latino individuals and lifestyles, they also incorporate a diverse cast that reflects Acapulco’s role as a tourism and investment crossroads. This diversity will help build a loyal audience. Emilia’s boyfriend, a hotel manager from New York, is a key character. Other opportunities for diversity include global businesses and investors, visiting cruise ship staff, tourists from around the world, etc. Relationships and motives in the series transcend color, ethnicity, and national boundaries.