Two scripts for “The Circle” now up
At some point when I have a few free days, I’ll go through and update the Projects section like I keep threatening to. In the meantime, I’ve added two additional television scripts for download.
Backstory: For the 2003 television pilot season, I created a show called “The Circle” for Touchstone/ABC. It was a one-hour drama about law enforcement in Alaska. Unlike the movie Insomnia, which focused on a “small town” police department, the real Alaska doesn’t even have that level of law enforcement. It’s much more provincial, with state troopers and magistrates. Pretty much any murder in the state is investigated by a single team based out of Anchorage.
We shot a pilot in British Columbia, directed by the hugely talented Kim Manners of X-Files fame. The regular cast included Brad Johnson, Dahlia Salem, Michael Ironside and Gary Farmer.
The pilot turned out well, and the studio asked for two additional scripts — one of which I wrote, the other written by Matt Pyken and Michael Berns, writers I’d worked with on my first TV show. The whole thing was a good experience. Alas, we didn’t get picked up. But on the whole, I’d rather have made a pilot I’m proud of than a series I’m not.
There are two scripts here to read. The first is the pilot, titled “My Three Sons.” The second is “Gravedigger,” which would would have been the second or third episode. (The show wasn’t very serialized.)
PilotDuring production, ABC kept referring to the show as “Alaska,” so that’s ultimately what we ended up calling it. I still prefer “The Circle,” however.
Articles
July 21st, 2004 at 12:05 am
Sort of Off Topic but…
As long as you’re filling in the PROJECTS, I doubt I’d be the only one curious to hear about the ALICE experience, since it is listed somewhere deep at the very bottom. Only 4 years late but I finally got around to playing it and was left floored thinking about it afterwards. Maybe this post should be filed under the comment on Writers and their Sanity, or occasional lack thereof…
July 25th, 2004 at 1:27 pm
“John, we love your treatment for ‘Alaska’ and think your pilot is great. So here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to pass, let ABC buy it, and change the name to Hawaii. Cause, honestly, we can’t see the logic in trying to improve upon Twin Peaks and Northern Exposure. Plus, just how the hell are we going to SEX IT UP?”
The screenwriter shakes his head, rises and walks to the hallway where he contemplates opening a deli instead.
December 10th, 2006 at 4:42 am
Both links just point to the front page of your website now.
July 28th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your website. It has proven a wonderful tool and I thank you very, very much!