Back To Frank Black

Discussion (6) ¬

1. 
   Phil

   May 26, 2011, 7:41 pm | # | Login to Reply

   Has anybody actually physically gone to FOX/FX and pitched a new series? Nothing is going to happen unless this is done. If Chris Carter does not own the rights to the show or the characters, then I’m sorry to say, unless he gets up off his butt to do this, ain’t nothing going to happen…unless somebody ELSE does. Chris Carter’s X-Files movie wasn’t all that great. It would have made a good Millennium episode, but as a movie…what’s he talking about about, “Millennium is going to have to be a bigger scope.?” Um, what was X-Files I want to Believe? It had the scope of a Season 9 episode.

   No offense to anybody, I’m ready for a New Millennium Series, or TV movie, but waiting around for Chris Carter is not going to fulfill anything here. Really. It would be great if he was interested and ready to go. It doesn’t sound to me like he is.

   Someone, a writer, producer team, etc, somebody will have to approach FOX about this, in order to really get anything started.

   Otherwise, keep up the fan series, or raise money to finance a low-budget film.

   I’m still on board, but I’m saying it might be prudent to let Chris Carter go, or at least get his blessing on a rogue production, and be off with him.
2. 
   Adam Chamberlain

   May 26, 2011, 10:52 pm | # | Login to Reply

   Hi Phil… Rest assured there is a method behind the apparent madness here, and the correct means and timing of an approach to FOX / FX has been considered. It seems a little uncharitable to me to suggest that Carter is merely sat around waiting for it to happen, though. And neither are we. The letter campaign can really make a difference – and already has – and that’s why we are still pushing it, with a new initiative to keep it fresh coming soon.

   I do think “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” gets a bum deal, which is a shame. It wasn’t the film that maybe a lot of people were expecting, and it certainly had its Millennium-istic overtones – not to mention cast! But also it was very true to the essence of the characters of Mulder and Scully, and I don’t think the film could have so effectively explored its themes of science and faith in the way that it did without having those two characters at its centre. It was a small but thoughtful and nuanced movie, and I for one enjoyed it very much indeed.

   Anyway, it’s good to have you onboard, and I hope you appreciate why Chris Carter – as Frank Black’s creator – is still very much at the centre of things. Stick with us, and we’ll have this movie made yet!
3. 
   Lisa

   June 28, 2011, 8:30 pm | # | Login to Reply

   Has anyone PITCHED episode ideas to Fox or FX? There were two “virtual” seasons written at one point. They were good. Unless you can pitch some ideas to Fox or FX, I don’t think they’ll “bite.”

   Loved Millennium. Would like to see it return.
4. 
   Jim Mclean

   June 28, 2011, 9:52 pm | # | Login to Reply

   Hi Lisa! Issue is there’s no point any of us pitching episode ideas to FOX or FX. It has to come from an industry relevant source. FOX and FX are pitched ideas the whole time, it has to be the right people at the right point.
   As such we’re pretty much certain, and this comes from speaking to industry relevant people, that you really get one chance to make that mark – to make an impression – and that’s what we’re building towards on two fronts. Lance is doing it on front, within the industry, media and within fandom, and we’re doing it from a fandom perspective and hopefully a little media attention.
   Carter wants to do it, Lance wants to do it, Frank wants to do it, but like any business the industry has its own mode of working – and that’s where I personally put my faith in those within the industry who support us.

   The short answer is yes, we had considered that, and yes, episode ideas will be paramount when the time comes, but the time has to be right – if you ask Lance on his Facebook page, no doubt he’ll give the same message.

   So what we need is support from you guys – ideas, comments – and even as you offer Lisa, a more critical perspective. It keeps us honest, it keeps us true and it keeps us connected.

   Believe in what we’re all doing together Lisa, we’re trying to get us the best opportunity as professionally as we can!

   James McLean
5. 
   Chris

   February 21, 2012, 8:56 pm | # | Login to Reply

   I think the last podcast I heard was a british guy explaining why Millennium wouldn’t be made and all the red tape involved would basically render it impossible, after looking at his website and lack thereof I don’t think the man has ANY creditability, so keep doing why you’re doing, intact if anyone had heard that podcast with that pretender then now more than ever they’d want to do something.

   I’m not talking about James McClean btw, I dig James and have enormous respect for him and Troy I’m talking about that guest you had on that basically put down the whole campaign….

   • 
     Jim Mclean

     February 24, 2012, 11:52 pm | # | Login to Reply

     Hey Chris – I’ll be a little upfront and say I did a little tweaking to the comment given there were perhaps some… colourful comments there about Pat Munn. However your general point is certainly one worth letting people read and I’ve not altered that. The podcast you refer to – if people want to listen to it is here – and I’m glad it has had a reaction. Be it positive or negative, if it has helped affirm or question opinions, it has done its job.

     In the end, as Pat says himself – and we said on the podcast – it is all opinion – nothing Pat says is law, though Pat does have a lot of experience within the industry and continues to with his latest company working UK and Stateside angles at TVWise.co.uk.

     I have to say, what Pat said wasn’t really any different to what I’ve always believed from day dot, only validated through sources that he approached (and he approached a few studios with Millennium queries, not just FOX). All Pat did was poke at the ugly reflection in the mirror we knew was there – but that doesn’t stop the work!

     The industry shifts and change, all Pat was talking about is how the industry is geared now – what shows they are looking for, what shows they are dropping like stones and what the economic climate is doing to the market. But as he says, and as we know, markets change – people within the industry change over and different perspectives are taken. If Pat didn’t think there was any credibility in this campaign he’d have said off the bat – whatever you think of his opinion, you can probably tell he has no qualms about saying it. And its worth pointing out no one at FOX said “no” either, just wasn’t on the cards.

     I’ve always felt a big player in returning Millennium (or even the X-Files) would be Chris Carter. This campaign was born on the notion that Chris, Frank and Lance had already gone on record saying they’d like to go back to Millennium and we were the fans there to support them in THEIR dream – which is an unusual angle for a fan campaign – the campaign comes after the creators have said they want Frank back! So Chris will be key.

     That being said, we need to keep the idea alive, we need to show FOX and the media that people are interested in Millennium and Frank Black so if and when a key turns from Lance/Frank/Chris’ end – they can point to us and say “these are the guys who will buy this!”.

     So nothing Pat said was that downbeat – fan campaigns are a mixed bag, but in the end, there are people who don’t really look at the industry correctly, some who feel an internet petition and a “like” on Facebook is all they need to do. What I hoped Pat would show is the industry is cold, it is unforgiving – if we want Frank Black – we have to work hard! We need everyone’s help!

     Thanks for the honest feedback Chris. You’re as brutal in your honesty as Pat is!

     James McLean