Reincarnation pilot filming here has good shot at Fox
While most pilots never see the light of a network's prime-time schedule, there's one that began filming today in Baltimore that looks like a strong candidate to make the Fox lineup next season.
The reason for the optimism: the pilot for the as-yet-untitled series about reincarnation is the work of a writer of quality drama, and the series seems to fit with what some network programmers see as the next big theme.
The pilot, which follows a team of investigators who use the concept of reincarnation to solve present-day problems in their clients' lives, is being directed by Deran Sarafian (House) and features actors Kelli Giddish (All My Children), Nic Bishop (Home and Away) and Ravi Patel (Scrubs). But the name that matters most in this production is that of David Hudgins, who wrote the script and serves as executive producer. Hudgins most recently worked as writer and supervising producer of the NBC drama Friday Night Lights.
(Photo of Kelli Giddish)
The production team also includes Lou Pitt as executive producer, and MJ Rose, who wrote the novel, The Reincarnationist, on which the pilot is based, as consulting producer. The Reincarnationist is the working title for the project.
Prior to joining Friday Night Lights, Hudgins spent three years as a writer and producer on Everwood, am engaging and intelligent family medical drama starring Treat Williams.
For the last two years, Hudgins' work on Friday Night Lives has been nominated for writing awards from the Writers Guild of America in the category of best dramatic series and writing.
Hudgins' proposed series on reincarnation is already being grouped by various websites that handicap the pilots as fitting nicely with a return at the networks to procedural dramas with slightly off-beat investigators. Such series are seen as an attempt to replicate the success of The Mentalist (CBS) -- and as a decided break with the complex serialized story telling in such costly series as Heroes (NBC) and Lost (ABC). Two weeks ago in my column in the Sunday Sun, I wrote about the first of shows working with this formula in Lie to Me (Fox) and Eleventh Hour (CBS).
All pilots are longshots. That's the way the network TV industry still works, and why it is so cost-ineffective.
But Fox is better than most when it comes to investing in pilots, and the one filming this week in Baltimore for the network looks like it could have a future beyond its shooting schedule.
Categories: Baltimore Television, Coming Soon to TV, Fox
Comments
Yeah. Nice to hear that there's going to be a series that doesn't deal with corrupt officials, drug kingoins & murders. Hopefully, this series will make it and Srah J. Parkers series (though it supposed to take place in D.C.). Mean $$$$$$ coming into the community. I deal with people from all over the word and people would be shocked to find out how many people think that Baltimore is one long killing spree and drug deal.
JB
Posted by: JB hanson | March 16, 2009 2:19 PM
I've read The Reincarnationist, and have communicated with MJ Rose because I've written a book about my possible past lives with a famous rock band (long story). Anyway, the idea for the pilot sounds promising, and MJ did her research on reincarnation, so hopefully it will get a green light from Fox and we'll see a few episodes next season.
Posted by: Laura Faeth | March 16, 2009 3:47 PM
This is bieng filmed in my school. The Catholic High School of Baltimore (TCHS) they filmed here on monday March 16th!
Hi Lana, thanks for the update. Did you see any of it? Dod you see any of the actors and actresses? Were any students involved? This is your chance to be a citizen-student-journalist, part of the ZonTV I-Team. Seriously, though, if you have any "news" on the filming at ytour school, here's a forum that would be ahppy to have it. Thanks. Z
Posted by: Lana | March 17, 2009 9:03 AM
Sounds like the show has a great production team in place. Even better, they have Kelli Giddish as one of the stars. For those who haven't had the pleasure of seeing her work, she's absolutely brilliant. I think she's going to be a real revelation.
Posted by: Tara | March 17, 2009 12:57 PM
My bother is in this show...he an extra
Posted by: Tyler | March 18, 2009 9:37 AM
I'm not so sure what to make of the subject matter on this one. But your characterization of the format as being similar to The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour and Lie to Me intrigues me. Plus, Kelli Giddish is gorgeous and talented. I'm going to add M.J. Rose's novel to my Wish List and will probably give it a read if this show gets picked up and maybe even if it doesn't.
On a broader note, is it just me or are we getting to a point where we only have 2 networks (CBS & Fox) consistently devleloping interesting, quality programming. ABC has only Lost and now maybe Castle. NBC has only Chuck and Heroes (which needs major retooling). On CBS, I enjoy : BBT, HIMYM, 2 1/2 Men, Mentalist, Gary Unmarried and Ghost Whisperer. On Fox, I enjoy: 24, Fringe, Lie to Me, Sarah Connor, Dollhouse and the 4 Animation Domination shows.
Posted by: Big D | March 18, 2009 11:51 AM
I'm not so sure what to make of the subject matter on this one. But your characterization of the format as being similar to The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour and Lie to Me intrigues me. Plus, Kelli Giddish is gorgeous and talented. I'm going to add M.J. Rose's novel to my Wish List and will probably give it a read if this show gets picked up and maybe even if it doesn't.
On a broader note, is it just me or are we getting to a point where we only have 2 networks (CBS & Fox) consistently devleloping interesting, quality programming. ABC has only Lost and now maybe Castle. NBC has only Chuck and Heroes (which needs major retooling). On CBS, I enjoy : BBT, HIMYM, 2 1/2 Men, Mentalist, Gary Unmarried and Ghost Whisperer. On Fox, I enjoy: 24, Fringe, Lie to Me, Sarah Connor, Dollhouse and the 4 Animation Domination shows.
Posted by: Big D | March 18, 2009 2:38 PM
This past Monday here at the College of Notre Dame (03/16/09) they were setting up to film on Tuesday (03/17/09). They were filming in the Pool area of LeClerc Building.They then went to the front of the school and was filming on the grounds in an area with large trees.
Apparently they didn't get all their filming done on Tuesday and had to finish in the morning on Wednesday (03/18/09).
Yesterday while going home they were filming on St. Paul Street (near the college) and this morning (Friday) they were making their way down Charles.
It's nice to see filming again here in Maryland, I remember the Days that Homicide was filmed here and seeing everyone from the show in Fells Point while having lunch.
Hope it get's picked up it sounds really interesting.
JCK
Posted by: JCK | March 20, 2009 12:33 PM
They are filming right outside of my window today!!!! It's so cool to see how they are transforming the Zone into a bookstore!
Posted by: Alecia Pridgen | March 20, 2009 2:50 PM
If the writers are checking this site- there was a very interesting story in New Jersey Monthly about a local New Jersery Mom- she had been obsessing about a fundraiser for her town.. fussing about making it a 1920's theme.. wanting the invitation to be perfect. She was obsessed with creating a 1920's lawn tennis type party..this was in 2000.
She walked into a psychic who told her that her name as Richard Stevens and that she played tennis in the 20's. She said her best friend, Bill Larned had killed himself and wanted her to help him get over somethings so he could pass on. The psychic said he was stuck in an all girls school as a ghost. The school was down the street from my friends house. She spent two years and paid a reporter to corroborate the story.. I would love love love to see it made into an episode.. she said Bill Larned, Richard Stevens and Robert Wrenn all came back.. Bill stayed as a ghost and Richard Stevens and Robert Wrenn reincarnated to help him cross over. The psychic's name is Julie Alonzo in Bellville New Jersey
Posted by: Mary Murphy | March 21, 2009 10:55 PM
I think the show must take place in New York. The taxi cabs they were using to film on Charles Street this past Friday had 'NYC Cab' written on the side. I enjoyed watching them film.
Posted by: Michael G | March 23, 2009 10:05 AM
They are currently filming at St Paul and Water St.
Posted by: Keely | March 25, 2009 11:06 AM
Reincarnation info-seekers and writers for this new FOX slot may want to take a look at a book by Walter Semkiw, M.D. The stories are true personal details on individual reincarnation cases which contain the most phenomenal coincidences. "Born Again, Reincarnation Cases Involving International Celebrities, India's Political Legends and Film Stars" Ritana books
website is JohnAdams.net. I highly recommend it:)
Posted by: Michelle Moshay | March 25, 2009 3:54 PM
Wednesday the 25th and the today the 26th they have been filming. On Johns street just up the street from MICA.
THe have been doing the majority of their work in the house next store to where i live.
Its really amazing how big the parade of cars trailers and stuff are.
Also there are 5 shiny BMWs parked .
I did not know you needed so much stuff to film a Pilot!
Posted by: em | March 26, 2009 12:45 PM
They're filming on Redwood and south today. Sounds like they've been all over the city! I'm excited, but I'd rather see the Sarah Jessica pilot myself. :)
Posted by: CantonKate | March 31, 2009 10:44 AM
Were they filming in Locust Point today?? Does anyone know??
Posted by: Marian Bruce, Locust Point | March 31, 2009 2:44 PM
They were setting up all day yesterday and filmed today at Silo Point, out by Fort McHenry. I did not go to work today so I was able to watch the entire 6 hour shoot. I believe they are off to shoot around Water St. next.
Posted by: Chris | March 31, 2009 4:03 PM
I was right there where they were filming at yesterday. Pretty cool =)
Posted by: Grant | April 1, 2009 3:05 PM
I heard this pilot is called "Salt"
or something similar?
anybody able to confirm this?
I have a bootleg copy of the script for the pilot, and it says nothing like that. PS Would folks like to see some of that script on this blog? Let me know. Thanks. Z
Posted by: JL | April 1, 2009 10:33 PM
on thursday they were shooting outside the main library on cathedral street, and one of the people working on it told me the show was for HBO, not Fox....
Posted by: lbailey | April 4, 2009 5:11 PM
The facts: The show is called Past Life based on a novel called The Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose. It's being produced by Warner Bros for Fox.
Posted by: K. Karin | April 5, 2009 8:44 AM
Richard Schiff is going to play an expert on Reincarnations. Sombody know the name of that character?
Posted by: henk | April 13, 2009 7:25 AM
Does anyone know the name of the cathedral where a few scenes for "Homicide" were filmed for the "Valentine's Day" episode (in season 5)? That cathedral looked *gorgeous* and I'd love to visit it!
Thanks.
Posted by: Susan | April 23, 2009 5:50 PM
Sorry folks, eventhough this promising pilot filmed for three weeks in Baltimore and pumped millions of dollars into our bleeding local economy (including my paycheck), if it gets picked up, it will be going to another city. Our State Government did not even vote on the proposed film tax incentives which would have kept this production here. Although Baltimore was the first choice for the producers, the studio will send the show to one of the states that recognize the stimulus potential of the film industry: PA, NY, IL, NM, RI, MA, LA, GA, CT, NJ and many more. Guess I'm moving.
Posted by: unemployed now | April 24, 2009 6:16 AM
No one really knew if House would do well in its pilot and it will be in its sixth season. I am just not sure about the reincarnation theme?? Past lives, does this sound really interesting? We will have to see. Z, have you ever written about the show Fringe. We just discovered it and it seems like a promising show. Kind of a take on X-Files. Sherry Tellitocci
Posted by: Sherry Tellitocci | April 24, 2009 1:25 PM
It would be nice if the producers take a look first at the work of the french educator (1800's) ALLAN KARDEC when he wrote, under mediumship of great people on his time, these books
:
The Spirit's Book
The Gospel in accord to Spiritism
Hell and Heaven
Genesis
The Medium's book
You will be surprised how beautiful and so up dated are his books. These books for sure would help the producers to understand what really means "Reincarnation".
Thank you!
Posted by: aloisio correia | April 29, 2009 9:28 PM
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALOISIO CORREIA, FOR RECOMENDING KARDEC'S BOOKS TO THE PRODUCERS OF THE FILM.IT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL AND ACURATE.
Posted by: ANA GIUBELINI | May 8, 2009 1:50 AM