Frank Spotnitz

Frank Spotnitz (born November 17, 1960) is an American television writer and producer, and Chief Executive of Big Light Productions Ltd. Frank is best known for his work on The X-Files television series and for creating the Amazon drama series The Man in the High Castle.

Biography

Award-winning American writer and producer Frank Spotnitz is Chief Executive of Big Light Productions, a London-based production company, which creates and oversees a diverse slate of international television series, including drama, comedy and documentaries.

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 Pictures and 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.”

Spotnitz executive produced (and wrote episodes) of StudioCanal/Tandem’s international thriller Crossing Lines, which recently wrapped shooting Season 3 in Europe with Goran Višnjić, Elizabeth Mitchell and Donald Sutherland.

In 2012, Spotnitz created, wrote and executive produced the international spy drama series Hunted for BBC One and HBO/Cinemax, starring Melissa George. His additional writing and producing credits include counter-terrorism drama series Strike Back (HBO/Cinemax, Sky), action series Transporter: The Series (TNT), ABC’s mystery series Night Stalker (ABC and Touchstone Television) with Stuart Townsend and Gabrielle Union, Michael Mann’s crime series Robbery Homicide Division (CBS), unconventional heroes comedy-drama The Lone Gunmen (Fox), sci-fi drama Harsh Realm (Fox), and crime thriller Millennium (Fox). In 2006, Spotnitz co-wrote and created (with Vince Gilligan) a pilot for Spike TV called A.M.P.E.D. He also wrote three comic books for Wildstorm based on The X-Files.

Joining The X-Files as a writer in 1994, Spotnitz quickly became involved not only in developing the series’ stand-alone episodes, but its elaborate “mythology” storyline, dealing with government conspiracy and aliens. Spotnitz served on The X-Files for eight of its nine seasons. He directed two episodes and wrote or co-wrote more than 40 instalments of the series, including the Emmy-nominated “Memento Mori” with Chris Carter, Vince Gilligan, and John Shiban in 1997. He served four years as executive producer and three years as president of Chris Carter's Ten Thirteen Productions. He was a producer and co-writer of both X-Files feature films, The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) and The X-Files: 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 2013, Spotnitz founded Big Light Productions Ltd., under whose banner he has produced Transporter: The Series, Crossing Lines and The Man in the High Castle. Big Light signed a first-look distribution deal with Tandem/StudioCanal in April 2014 and has since become one of the fastest-growing independent production companies in Europe.

Born in Japan, Spotnitz received a B.A. in English literature from UCLA and an M.F.A. in screenwriting from the American Film Institute. He began his career as a newspaper and magazine writer, working for the Associated Press, United Press International and Entertainment Weekly, among other media. Spotnitz lives in Paris with his wife, children, two dogs and a ferret.

Credits

Medici: Masters of Florence

The Man in the High Castle

Crossing Lines

Transporter: The Series

Hunted

Strike Back: Project Dawn

Samurai Girl

A.M.P.E.D.

Night Stalker

Robbery Homicide Division

The Lone Gunmen

Harsh Realm

Millennium

The X-Files

References

External links

• Official website
• Frank Spotnitz at the Internet Movie Database
• Interview with Frank Spotnitz, May 25, 2006
• Interview on the SciFiDimensions Podcast