Rowan University Presents...A Conversation with Frank Spotniz

Sunday April 17 | 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Hosted by: Mike Donovan, Rowan University
David Bianculli, NPR’s Fresh Air & Rowan University

Frank Spotnitz is currently writing and executive producing the first-season Amazon drama series The Man in the High Castle, based on the classic alternative history novel by Philip K. Dick. It is a co-production between Big Light, Scott Free Productions, Headline Picturesand Electric Shepherd Productions and became available to stream in November 2015. The series pilot episode became available in January 2015 to strong support from audiences, and it became the most viewed pilot in Amazon’s history. The Los Angeles Times described the pilot as “provocative” and “smartly adapted by The X-Files’ Frank Spotnitz.” The Daily Telegraph said it was “absorbing” and Wired called it “must-see viewing.” Entertainment Weekly said it was “engrossing” and  “a triumph in world-building,” cheering, “The Man in the High Castle is king.”

Previously Spotnitz directed two episodes and wrote or co-wrote more than 40 episodes of The X-Files television series. He served as a producer and co-writer of both X-Files feature films, “Fight the Future” (1998) and “I Want to Believe” (2008). Spotnitz shares three Golden Globes for Best Dramatic Series and a Peabody Award for his work on The X-Files. He was also nominated for an Emmy Award for writing and three times for Outstanding Drama Series.

In his review for the show Bianculli states, “The Man in the High Castle accomplishes so much, where most new broadcast TV dramas these days don’t even try. As a parable about war, it’s as potent as The Day After or Testament, two TV productions from the ’80s that imagined nuclear bombs falling on American cities. Its use of music is clever and memorable — early episodes make room for both the anti-lynching anthem “Strange Fruit” and the Japanese love song that became a No. 1 hit in the U.S. in 1963, under the insulting title “Sukiyaki.” And finally, as a TV series with a captivating production design, The Man in the High Castle is as breathtakingly original as Twin Peaks and Pushing Daisies.” Listen to the full review below