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From the Official Fan Club Newsletter January 2005
Last issue, we talked with Frank Spotnitz about the long-awaited X-Files movie. This issue, we turn to Frank's post-X career in television, including his upcoming remake of the classic series Kolchak: The Night Stalker.
Let's talk a bit about your work after The X-Files. Your first show was Robbery Homicide. How did you get involved in that, and what was that experience like?
It was a very tough choice, because I'd made a deal with Dimension Films to direct a feature, and I was set to do that. Then I was approached by Michael Mann, who's one of my all-time favorite movie directors, to work on a show with him. There was a lot of soul searching, but ultimately he was so persuasive and the opportunity to work with him was so appealing that I opted to join his show. He's incredibly talented, very bright, and it was a great learning experience for me.
What was it like being on another series after spending so much time on The X-Files? How did the process differ, and how was it the same?
A lot of it was the same, in that I approached my job in the same way. The show was completely different in what it was trying to do, and the personalities were different. But the filmmaking and production part of it was nothing like The X-Files, and that was all Michael Mann. He has a very distinct idea of every aspect of the show, and how he wants it to look and play out. I really deferred to him on all those issues. Chris Carter also has a very precise idea of what he wants, which is one of the pleasures of working with him. But after a number of years working with Chris, I internalized what he was going for; I think all of us who were able to stay there for a number of years felt like we were ultimately able to add to what his vision was. Maybe because Robbery Homicide was such a short series, it never evolved to that point.
Now you're looking to return to series television again with Kolchak. Will you be acting as show runner on the series as well as developing the pilot?
I hope so. I've been in the TV business long enough to know that you just never know. But I think everyone at ABC and Touchstone is excited about bringing the show back, and I hope it happens. I have not yet started writing the script; I hope to start writing in the next little while here. But like Chris Carter, who acknowledged it so many times in interviews about The X-Files, it's a show that's very near and dear to my heart. The character is beloved to me, especially Darren McGavin's portrayal of it. I approach it with reverence on one hand, but also a healthy sense of purpose. As much as I loved the original TV movie, I feel as though the TV series was not a success. I've really spent a lot of time thinking about why that series didn't work, and ways to change it so that it works better than it did the first time.
Have you given any specific thought about what elements of the series you'll be reviving? Or will you take this raw idea and birth it in a new environment?
I'm gonna stay tight-lipped about all that for the moment, but I'll say that I love that character, and that it's the heart and secret of the show. Everything else, people will have to just wait and see.
What do you think a new Kolchak series has to offer viewers in this day and age?
I don't think there's anything scary on TV right now, and obviously I love that genre, so I'm excited to do that. I think what's also exciting about doing these types of stories is that they tend to be driven by ideas. That's why someone like you would even be talking to a guy like me; normally, people aren't terribly interested in writers for television shows. But when you work for a show like The X-Files, or hopefully like The Night Stalker, you get to convey ideas about things, and I love that kind of storytelling. I just want to do good work. One of the wonderful things about television is that once you get the order to go do it, you get to go do it. There's not a lot of deal-making and waiting around like there is in the movie business. You just go and you don't stop for nine or ten months. That's exciting to me after a couple years of just writing.
It's very early on, but have you given any thoughts to your dream casting for your Kolchak?
I have a few names, but I'm gonna be quiet. I haven't gotten to the process of meeting or reading anybody. It's a very tricky part to cast, so I think that'll be very revealing.
A big thanks to Frank Spotnitz for his time and insights!
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