Scriptwriter Frederick Zammit takes us behind the scenes of his new original drama

Connie, Jessie, Joanne, Catherine, Paula, Lorraine, Lorna, Joyce, George, Damian – these are some of the names that viewers will get used to when the new NET TV drama kicks off on Monday 3 October at 8.35pm.

Santa Monika is expected to hook viewers week after week as the story, set in a fictitious women’s correctional facility, starts to unfold.

This weekly, hard-hitting drama is produced by Image 2000 Ltd, who in the past produced well-known productions such as Fenomeni, F’Bahar Wiehed, 50 Eurovision, Sijju and most recently Klinika, among others.

The old prison at Kordin has been refurbished to resemble a modern day prison and will be used throughout the filming of the series, which is being written by Frederick Zammit.

Fabian Mizzi, who has directed various television productions in the past, is directing this new drama series.

For this production, Image 2000 Ltd contracted a huge cast of actors who will be involved regularly. Some are established actors, other are newcomers, but together they will all be credible in the roles that each will portray.

“Santa Monika” is the name of the correctional facility and the name was chosen because Santa Monica is actually the patron saint of victims of physical and verbal abuse, difficult marriages, and married women.

In fact, we will learn that not all the women prisoners are actually guilty. During the series, viewers will come to hate some of the characters and at the same time sympathise with others – who find themselves in prison simply because they are victims of society!

Filming has already started in a number of locations around the island. This is due to the fact that the series does not only revolve around the prison. We meet some of the characters while they are on the outside, and we will also meet some of the prison wardens when they are not on duty. The story delves into their private lives and intrigues will surely be the name of the game.

Marica Mizzi portrays Sandra, one of the trouble-makers in prison and Frederick Testa is Charles, the corrupt warden, who stops at nothing to make life miserable for the women, as well as that of George, the prison’s director, who is played by Ray Attard. George’s wife, Lorraine, is played by Yvonne Pace, who makes a comeback on television after she was last seen many years ago in the then popular sitcom Ghaddi l-Bieb Miftuh!

Bored with her marriage, Lorraine starts a relationship with Damian (Owen Bonnici), who is more interested in what he can get from her. He also blackmails Carmen (Charmaine Scerri Parnis) into helping him with his drug deals.

Claire Agius Ordway is Ruth, a prisoner who manages to attract the attention of one of the wardens, Henry (Roderick Vassallo) who falls in love with her and tries to find a way to help her get out of prison. However his mother, Bice (Monica Attard) isn’t too keen to have an ex-prisoner as her daughter-in-law.

We also meet Jessie (Vivienne Caruana) who is preparing to be released and hopes to join her husband Censu (Ray Bone) and daughter Marija (Mariana Briffa). But what she finds on the outside may not be to her liking.

Also on the outside we meet other interesting characters such as Connie (Theresa Gauci), Tony’s (Gino Lombardi) long-suffering wife who will do anything to protect her daughter Samantha (Dorianne Bonanno) from any harm.

Cynthia (Isabelle Grima Hammett) is George’s mentally unstable secretary who is desperate to find the daughter who was taken away from her so many years ago.

Catherine (Vanessa Cassar) is the character everyone will love. Kind hearted, she is the prisoner’s friend and does her best to treat them well. Her antithesis is Joanne (Simone Zammit), the new warden who has her own agenda and creates lots of problems for the prison administration.

Santa Monika also features a number of other characters who will be part of the story. These include Lilian Pace, Paul Caruana, Joe Vella, Pat Mahoney, Marcel Zammit Marmara, Michelle Zerafa, Ronald Dalli, Chris Grech, Noelene Miggiani, Orietta Masini Cardona, Daphne Said, Matthew Saliba and Sarah Spiteri.

With its strong storyline and its huge cast, Santa Monika will surely be one of the most popular dramas to attract viewers this autumn.