Alaska: The Satchel Boy
Alaska: The Satchel Boy from John August on Vimeo.
Thinking about director Kim Manners, I wanted to share a scene of his I really loved from the 2003 pilot for Alaska. Kim loved a gunfight, and I felt lucky to watch him put it together.
As a wrap present, Kim gave me Connie’s crayon drawing, nicely framed. It’s hanging in my office, over my TV.


January 27th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Why this wasn’t picked up is beyond me.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Is Connie the alpha male from I Am Legend?
January 27th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Great scene. Can we see the rest?
January 27th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I had my eye balls stuck to the screen and my body was shot with adrenaline as I watched this clip. Amazing!
January 27th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I found the transition from steady to hand held effective. Not having seen the entire episode, I wonder which of the two was the norm. From looking at the script I see a shot was added showing the single gunman where in the script it says Mathers listens for it and also that his exit from the house is shortened while his movement to get behind Connie is extended. Am I correct in assuming Manners made these adjustments on the set?
January 27th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
What a great scene. Love the atmosphere, the coldness, the colours. I must admit that ever since I read the scripts I tried to find at least a bit of the Alaska pilot, I think everybody here would appreciate more scenes if that is a legal option.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Wow. And this never got picked up!?! Is there still chance that it may?
January 28th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Who is the actor who plays Connie? He seems familiar. And huge.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Wow. Nice clip! I gotta say, it got me interested. But you know… To put on something original like this would mean they’d have to lose, uh… “Knight Rider” or… I don’t know… “Momma’s Boys.” We can’t have that.
What the hell is wrong with the people who run the networks?
If you can get this out in the world somehow, John… I’ll watch it.
January 29th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Loved it! A rip-roaring good time, and definitely something I would watch week to week.
Just watch the shaky cam. Really.
January 29th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Honestly, this scene is better than the pilot as a whole. I’m really proud of the show we made, but it’s not Desperate Housewives or Lost. It’s not fair to compare it against a network’s worst shows; you have to be better than their best.
If I get a chance, I’ll upload a few other highlights.
January 30th, 2009 at 6:02 am
Maybe the inclusion of a smoke monster or a clairvoyant Governor that can see Russia from her front porch. I’m just kidding. I kid because I love.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Pretty good, indeed.
Hello from Brazil.
January 30th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
John, what defines better? It’s all a matter of opinion.
Funny or die even says so:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/daaca65531/indie-vs-studio-4-awards-from-doblerspen
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
wish the pilot was available on joost or hulu even. love the darkness. very Gordon Willis… nice surprise upon seeing Connie’s drawing! shame it did not go. but that is life. learn anything from this John?