Wikipedia

Chris Carter (screenwriter)

Christopher Carl Carter(born October 13, 1956) is an American television and film producer, director and writer. Born inBellflower, California,Carter graduated with a degree in journalism fromCalifornia State University, Long Beachbefore spending thirteen years working forSurfing Magazine.After beginning his television career working on television films forWalt Disney Studios,Carter rose to fame in the 1990s for creating theFoxscience fiction supernatural drama seriesThe X-Files.The show earned high viewership ratings, and eventually led to Carter's being able to negotiate the creation of future series.

Chris Carter
Carter at the July 2008 London premiere of
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Born
Christopher Carl Carter[1]

(1956-10-13)October 13, 1956(age 68)
Bellflower, California,U.S.
Alma materCalifornia State University, Long Beach
Occupation(s)Writer, director, producer
EmployerTen Thirteen Productions
Known forCreator ofThe X-Files
Spouse
Dori Pierson
​
(m.1987)​
Parents
  • William Carter (father)
  • Catherine Carter (née Mulder) (mother)

Carter has his own television production company,Ten Thirteen Productions,wherein he went on to create three more series for the network—Millennium,a doomsday-themed series which met with critical approval and low viewer numbers;Harsh Realm,which was canceled after three episodes had aired; andThe Lone Gunmen,a spin-off ofThe X-Fileswhich lasted for a single season. Carter's film roles include writing both ofThe X-Files'cinematic spin-offs—1998's successfulThe X-Filesand the poorly received 2008 follow-upThe X-Files: I Want to Believe,the latter of which he also directed—while his television credits have earned him several accolades including eightPrimetime Emmy Awardnominations.[2]

Early life

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Chris Carter was born on October 13, 1956, inBellflower, California.[3][4]His father worked in the construction industry.[5]Carter has described his childhood as "fairly normal", and was fond of bothLittle League Baseballand surfing;[6]his surfing stance isgoofy footed.[7]He attendedCalifornia State University, Long BeachinLong Beach,graduated with a journalism degree in 1979. An avid surfer, he began writing forSurfing Magazine,aSan Clemente-based journal, eventually becoming its editor at the age of 28. Carter would work for the magazine for thirteen years, and credits his tenure there for teaching him how to run a business. It was also at this time that Carter began taking an interest in pottery, making "hundreds of thousands of pieces" of dinnerware as a hobby. He has compared the process of making pottery toZenmeditations, although he has since thrown out most of his work.[6]

Personal life

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In 1983, Carter began dating Dori Pierson, whom he had met through a cousin of hers who worked with him atSurfing Magazine.[8]The couple were married in 1987,[9]and live in Santa Barbara.[10]

Career

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Starting in television

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Pierson's connections atWalt Disney Studiosled to chairmanJeffrey Katzenberghiring Carter on a standard contract.[11]Carter began writing television films for the studio, penningThe B.R.A.T. Patrolin 1986 andMeet the Munceysin 1988. These scripts led to Carter being associated with contemporary youth comedy at the studio, and although he enjoyed the work he felt that his real strengths and interests lay in serious drama instead.[6]

Carter met the then-president ofNBC,Brandon Tartikoff,at a company softball game inBrentwood, California.Tartikoff and Carter began talking between innings, and when Tartikoff eventually read some of Carter's script work, he brought him over to write for the network. There, Carter developed a number of unproducedtelevision pilots—Cameo By Night,featuringSela Ward;Brand New Life,which has been described as being similar toThe Brady Bunch;Copter Cop,a science fiction series that was hampered by Tartikoff's injuries after a car accident; andCool Culture,influenced by Carter's passion for surfing and experience withSurfing Magazine.[12]During this time Carter would also work as aproduceronRags to Riches,a job he accepted in order to learn more about producing a series.[13]

Peter Roth,at that time the president ofStephen J. Cannell Productions,obtained a copy of Carter's pilot script forCool Culture,and although the series was never picked up, Roth was interested in hiring Carter to work on theCBSseriesPalace Guard.However, Roth would soon leave Cannell Productions to work forFoxas the head of its television production wing. Carter was among the first wave of new staff hired by Roth in 1992 to develop material for the network,[14]and he began work on a series based on his own childhood fondness forThe Twilight Zone,Night GalleryandKolchak: The Night Stalker.[13]

The X-Filesand success

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Carter in July 2013

Carter's new series would take its stylistic inspiration fromKolchak,while thematically reflecting his experiences growing up during theWatergate scandal.Carter also drew inspiration from his friendJohn E. Mack's survey of American beliefs inufology,which indicated thatthree percentof the population believed they had been abducted by aliens.[15]Roth warmed to the idea upon hearing of the influence ofKolchak,believing that vampires—one of the central antagonists of the original series—would be popular with audiences given the interest being shown in the upcoming filmInterview with the Vampire,although Carter insisted on an extraterrestrial-focused series.[16]However, Carter had never been interested in science fiction before this point, professing to have briefly read one novel each byUrsula K. Le GuinandRobert A. Heinlein.[17]Basing his characters instead on those found in the English television seriesThe Avengers,Carter took an eighteen-page treatment for his new project—by now titledThe X-Files—to a pitch meeting at Fox, where it was soon rejected.[18]With the help of Roth, Carter was able to arrange a second pitch meeting, at which the network reluctantly agreed to greenlight a pilot for the series.[19]

After finding the series' two starring leads inGillian AndersonandDavid Duchovny,[17]Carter was given a budget of$2 millionto produce apilot episode.[20]The series aired on Friday nights on the Fox network, being broadcast in tandem withThe Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.in what was perceived to be an unpopular timeslot. The series earned relatively impressiveNielsen ratingsfor its Friday timeslot, and was given a full twenty-four episode order.[17]The series' popularity and critical acclaim built over the course of its second and third seasons, and saw it earning its firstGolden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Dramaand breaking the record for highest price paid by a network for rights to air re-runs, fetching $600,000 per episode from Fox's sister networkFX.[21]After Carter's initial three-year signing for Fox had ended, the success of the series allowed him to negotiate a five-year contract with several additional perks, including the guarantee of a feature film adaptation to be produced by the parent company's film studio, and the greenlighting of Carter's next television project.[22]In March 2015, it was confirmed that Carter was set to executive produce and write for the revival ofThe X-Files,[23]which was set for asix-episode event series.[24]In 2017 it was announced that The X-Files would return to Fox with a ten-episodeseason 11,with Carter set to executive produce and write.[25]Both Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny returned, as well as veteran writersGlen Morgan,Darin Morgan,andJim Wong,and newcomersGabe Rotter,Benjamin Van Allen, and Brad Follmer.[26]The eleventh season has received generally positive if somewhat lukewarm reviews from critics,[27]butratings fell dramatically,and Gillian Anderson has stated she will not play Scully again.[28]

In August 2020, Fox announced that an animated comedy spin-off series was in development.[29]

In October 2020, Chris Carter said: "I always thought there would be even moreX-Files."He admitted that continuing the series at this point with Duchovny and Anderson is unlikely, but has plans to continue the franchise with an upcoming animated spinoff." Being that Gillian has decided to move on with her career, we certainly couldn't do Mulder and Scully again. But that's not to say there isn't another way to doThe X-Files.And so right now I think the future is unwritten. "The rights are now owned byDisney.[30]

Millennium

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Carter began work on a new series,Millennium.[31]The genesis of this new project stemmed from "Irresistible",a second-season episode ofThe X-Fileswhich Carter had written, which focused on a sexually motivated serial killer with none of that series' usual supernatural trappings.[31]Carter fleshed out the basis of the new show's protagonist,Frank Black,and travelled toSeattlefor inspiration for a new setting. Influence was also drawn from the works ofNostradamus,and the increasing popular interest ineschatologyahead of the coming millennium.[32]The central role of Black was eventually filled byLance Henriksen,and the series began airing in the Friday timeslot formerly occupied byThe X-Files.[33]"Pilot",the début episode, was heavily promoted by Fox, and brought in over a quarter of the total audience during its broadcast.[34]

The series also attracted a high degree of critical appraisal, earning aPeople's Choice Awardfor "Favorite New TV Dramatic Series" in its first year.[35]At the beginning of the second season, Carter handed over control of the series toGlen MorganandJames Wong,with whom he had previously worked on bothMillennium'sfirst season and several seasons ofThe X-Files.[36]Despite its promising start, however, ratings forMillenniumafter the pilot remained consistently low, and it was cancelled after three seasons.[37]

Feature films

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During the production of the fourth season ofThe X-Files,work on the first feature film adaptation of the series began. Also titledThe X-Files,Carter initially began a treatment for the script over Christmas holidays in Hawaii in 1996. Series producerFrank Spotnitzcollaborated on the story outline at this time. Carter would later return to Hawaii for a ten-day stint in 1997 to begin fleshing out the finished script.[38]Carter appointed frequent series directorRob Bowmanas director of the film,[39]which went on to feature many of the series' regular cast, including Duchovny, Anderson,Mitch PileggiandWilliam B. Davis.[40]

The X-Filespremiered on June 19, 1998, eventually making a worldwide gross of $189 million,[41]and received mixed reviews.[42][43]

Ten years after the success of the first film, and six years afterThe X-Filesfinal season had finished, Carter would both write and direct a second feature film, titledThe X-Files: I Want to Believe.[44]Filmed inBritish Columbia,[45]I Want To Believewas released on July 25, 2008;[44]eventually grossing $68,369,434 worldwide.[46]The film received generally negative reviews from critics.[47][48]

Other work

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Carter has had several brief cameo roles as an actor — first appearing inThe X-Files'"Anasazi"as an FBI agent;[49]before portraying a member of a film audience in "Hollywood A.D.",a later episode of the same series.[50]Carter also made a brief appearance in "Three Men and a Smoking Diaper",an episode ofThe Lone Gunmen.[51]

In 1999, Carter began adapting the comic book seriesHarsh Realmas a television show.Carter's friend and frequent collaboratorDaniel Sackheimhad optioned the comics for adaptation in 1996. However, when the series first aired on October 8, 1999, the comics' writers Andrew Paquette and James Hudnall were given no writing credits for the work; the two then filed suit against Fox to be credited for their work.[52]Harsh Realmreceived disappointing viewing figures,[52]and was cancelled after only three episodes had been broadcast.[53]

Two years later, Carter launched a spin-off ofThe X-FilestitledThe Lone Gunmen,a series centred on three minor characters from the former series.[54]The Lone Gunmenwas cancelled after thirteen episodes, later receiving a coda in the form of a crossover episode withThe X-Files.[55]Carter has since been involved with writing and directing the as-yet unreleased filmFencewalker,set to featureNatalie DormerandKatie Cassidy.[56]In 2011, he began working to developUnique,a police thriller television series;[57]the project was eventually dropped before completion.[58]

Carter next began work on theAmazon Studiostelevision seriesThe After.[59]The pilot episode was made available for viewing on February 6, 2014;[60]the series was green-lit the following month, but finally cancelled on January 5, 2015, without another episode beyond the pilot being shot.[2][61]

Influences

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As well asThe Twilight ZoneandKolchak: The Night Stalker,Carter has spoken about the influence on his work ofFrankenstein(both theWhale filmand theMary Shelley novel),[62]The Wizard of Oz(1939),[63]Spielbergfilms (specifically citingE.T.,Schindler's ListandMunich),[64]andTwin Peaks,about which he has said, "I could have watched that show every night of the week, that's how much I loved it."[65]

In addition to these cultural sources, Carter has spoken about the impact that witnessing the hypnosis, by John Mack, of an alleged abductee, and meeting alleged abductees and UFO witnesses in general, had upon his work writingThe X-Files:"When I was writing about the phenomenon, it wasn’t as a disbeliever – it was as a person who wanted to believe."[66]

Accolades

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Carter's work has earned him several accolades over his career, including eight nominations at thePrimetime Emmy Awards.[67]Carter has also received award nominations for theDirectors Guild of America Awards,[68][69][70]theEdgar Awards,[71]and theBritish Academy Television Awards.[72]

Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Emmy Awards 1995 Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series "Duane Barry" Nominated
Outstanding Drama Series The X-Files Nominated
1996 Outstanding Drama Series The X-Files Nominated
1997 Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series "Memento Mori" Nominated
Outstanding Drama Series The X-Files Nominated
1998 Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series "The Post-Modern Prometheus" Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series "The Post-Modern Prometheus" Nominated
Outstanding Drama Series The X-Files Nominated
Directors Guild of America Awards 1995 Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series "The List" Nominated
1998 Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series "The Post-Modern Prometheus" Nominated
1999 Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series "Triangle" Nominated
British Academy Television Awards 1999 Best International Programme or Series The X-Files Nominated
Edgar Awards 1995 Best International Programme or Series "The Erlenmeyer Flask" Nominated

Filmography

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Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer
1986 The B.R.A.T. Patrol No Yes No
1988 Meet the Munceys No Yes No
1998 The X-Files No Yes Yes
2008 The X-Files: I Want to Believe Yes Yes Yes

Television

Year Title Director Writer Executive
Producer 		Creator Notes
1987–1988 Rags to Riches Yes Yes Yes No Wrote 2 episodes, directed episode "That's Cheating";
Also co-producer
1993–2018 The X-Files Yes Yes Yes Yes Wrote 72 episodes, directed 10 episodes
1996–1999 Millennium No Yes Yes Yes Wrote 7 episodes
1999–2000 Harsh Realm No Yes Yes Yes Wrote 4 episodes
2001 The Lone Gunmen No Yes Yes Yes Wrote 2 episodes
2014 The After Yes Yes Yes Yes TV movie

Footnotes

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  1. ^"Summary Bibliography: Chris Carter".isfdb.org.Archivedfrom the original on September 10, 2017.RetrievedJuly 21,2017.
  2. ^abNg, Philiana (July 12, 2014)."Chris Carter Modeling Amazon's 'The After' With 99-Episode Goal".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on December 17, 2014.RetrievedNovember 20,2014.
  3. ^Lovece 1996,p. 2.
  4. ^"Search results for Christopher Carter".California Birth Index.Archivedfrom the original on April 20, 2017.RetrievedApril 19,2017.
  5. ^Lowry 1995,p. 7.
  6. ^abcEdwards 1996,p. 9.
  7. ^Spencer, Russ (April 28, 2000)."A close encounter with Chris Carter".Salon.Archivedfrom the original on October 14, 2012.RetrievedJuly 23,2012.
  8. ^Buchanan, Jason."Chris Carter - Movie and Film Biography and Filmography".Allmovie.Allrovi.Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2013.RetrievedJuly 19,2012.
  9. ^Gliatto, Tom."X-Ellence".People.Meredith Corporation.Archivedfrom the original on December 23, 2018.RetrievedDecember 23,2018.
  10. ^Welsh, Nick (January 21, 2016)."Chris Carter Still Wants to Believe".independent.Archivedfrom the original on January 15, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 15,2019.
  11. ^Lovece 1996,p. 3.
  12. ^Lowry 1995,pp. 8–9.
  13. ^abEdwards 1996,p. 10.
  14. ^Lowry 1995,p. 9.
  15. ^Edwards 1996,p. 11.
  16. ^Lowry 1995,p. 10.
  17. ^abcLovece 1996,p. 4.
  18. ^Lowry 1995,p. 11.
  19. ^Lovece 1996,pp. 3–4.
  20. ^Lovece 1996,p. 47.
  21. ^Lovece 1996,pp. 6–7.
  22. ^Lovece 1996,p. 7.
  23. ^""The X-Files" Returns w/ Gillian Anderson & David Duchovny? ".Bloody Disgusting!.March 21, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on July 12, 2015.RetrievedMarch 21,2015.
  24. ^"A Plea to Make the New" X-Files "Limited Series Amazing -".Bloody Disgusting!.March 25, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2015.RetrievedMarch 25,2015.
  25. ^"'The X-Files' Revived Again for 10 New Episodes at Fox ".The Hollywood Reporter.April 20, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on January 1, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 15,2019.
  26. ^"The X-Files: Some of Your Favorites Are Coming Back to Write Season 11 | TV Guide".TVGuide.June 26, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on January 15, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 15,2019.
  27. ^The X-Files,archivedfrom the original on November 5, 2018,retrievedJanuary 15,2019
  28. ^"Gillian Anderson Confirms She's Exiting Fox's 'The X-Files,' Starz's 'American Gods'".The Hollywood Reporter.January 10, 2018.Archivedfrom the original on January 4, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 7,2019.
  29. ^Otterson, Joe (August 28, 2020)."'X-Files' Animated Comedy Series in Development at Fox ".Variety.RetrievedAugust 28,2020.
  30. ^Longo, Chris (October 16, 2020)."The X-Files Creator Chris Carter" Sorry "For How Series Ended".Den of Geek.RetrievedFebruary 20,2021.
  31. ^abOrder in Chaos,00:03–00:45
  32. ^Order in Chaos,00:48–01:51
  33. ^Genge 1997,pp. 8–9.
  34. ^Adalian, Josef (October 11, 1998)."High-profile dramas skid on Fox, ABC".Variety Magazine.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  35. ^"People's Choice Awards 1997 Nominees".Procter & Gamble.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2012.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  36. ^Soloman, Harvey (September 18, 1997)."Fall Watch; 'Millennium' takes new turn".The Boston Herald.Archived fromthe originalon November 11, 2013.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.(subscription required)
  37. ^Wen, Howard (September 9, 1999)."It's not the end of the" Millennium, "after all".Salon.Salon Media Group.Archivedfrom the original on October 22, 2009.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  38. ^Duncan 1998,pp. 4–5.
  39. ^Duncan 1998,pp. 5–6.
  40. ^Duncan 1998,p. 18.
  41. ^"The X-Files (1998)".Box Office Mojo.Archivedfrom the original on March 31, 2010.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  42. ^"The X Files Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More".Metacritic.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2012.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  43. ^"The X-Files - Fight the Future".Rotten Tomatoes.Archivedfrom the original on June 26, 2012.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  44. ^abWheeler, Jeremy."The X-Files: I Want to Believes - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast".Allmovie.Allrovi.Archivedfrom the original on March 31, 2019.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  45. ^Schaefer, Glen (March 12, 2008)."Filming of the X-Files sequel wraps".Vancouver Province.Archived fromthe originalon August 23, 2012.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  46. ^"The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008)".Box Office Mojo.Archivedfrom the original on July 20, 2012.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  47. ^"The X-Files: I Want to Believe".Rotten Tomatoes.Archivedfrom the original on February 27, 2010.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  48. ^"The X Files: I Want to Believe".Metacritic.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.
  49. ^"X Cyclopedia: The Ultimate Episode Guide, Season 2".Entertainment Weekly.November 29, 1996.Archivedfrom the original on September 29, 2012.RetrievedJuly 28,2012.
  50. ^Shapiro 2000,p. 241.
  51. ^Brian Spicer(director); Chris Carter (writer) (March 23, 2001). "Three Men and a Smoking Diaper".The Lone Gunmen.Season 1. Episode 5.Fox.
  52. ^abRutenberg, Jim; Bogdanovich, Peter (October 18, 1999)."Comic Book Geeks Fight Chris Carter Over Harsh Realm".The New York Observer.Archived fromthe originalon November 16, 2018.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.(subscription required)
  53. ^Adalian, Joseph (June 7, 2004)."Carter series in Fox realm".Variety.Archived fromthe originalon November 20, 2018.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.(subscription required)
  54. ^Moore, Frazier (March 16, 2001)."Conspiracy of One".Post-Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon June 10, 2014.RetrievedJuly 20,2012.(subscription required)
  55. ^Fraga 2010,pp. 218–219.
  56. ^"Report: Carter Helming Secret Film".Entertainment Weekly.June 25, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon November 18, 2012.RetrievedJuly 21,2012.
  57. ^Rose, Lacey (September 29, 2011)."'X-Files' Creator Chris Carter Plots Return to TV With Police Thriller ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2012.RetrievedJuly 21,2012.
  58. ^Jeffrey, Morgan (April 20, 2012)."'X-Files' creator Chris Carter's 'Unique' series 'not going forward'".Digital Spy.Archivedfrom the original on June 30, 2012.RetrievedJuly 21,2012.
  59. ^O'Neal, Sean (October 4, 2012)."X-Files creator Chris Carter trying again with another new sci-fi show that sounds like a lot of other sci-fi shows".The A.V. Club.Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2013.RetrievedDecember 24,2013.
  60. ^O'Neal (February 6, 2014)."Amazon has put up 10 new pilots for your enjoyment and judgment".The A.V. Club.Archivedfrom the original on March 20, 2014.RetrievedMarch 19,2014.
  61. ^Grow, Kory (March 14, 2014)."Amazon Greenlights TV Shows by Jason Schwartzman, 'X-Files' Creator".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon March 15, 2014.RetrievedMarch 19,2014.
  62. ^"In Conversation with Chris Carter [2]".Daughter's Grimoire.RetrievedMay 28,2023.
  63. ^"In Conversation with Chris Carter [2]".Daughter's Grimoire.RetrievedMay 28,2023.
  64. ^"In Conversation with Chris Carter [3]".Daughter's Grimoire.RetrievedMay 28,2023.
  65. ^"In Conversation with Chris Carter [3]".Daughter's Grimoire.RetrievedMay 28,2023.
  66. ^"In Conversation with Chris Carter [1]".Daughter's Grimoire.RetrievedMay 28,2023.
  67. ^abcdefghi"The X-Files | Emmys".Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.Archivedfrom the original on August 1, 2016.RetrievedJuly 21,2012.
  68. ^ab"Awards / History / 1995 - 48th Annual DGA Awards".Directors Guild of America.Archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2013.RetrievedJuly 21,2012.
  69. ^ab"Awards / History / 1998 - 51st Annual DGA Awards".Directors Guild of America.Archivedfrom the original on December 29, 2014.RetrievedJuly 21,2012.
  70. ^ab"Awards / History / 1999 - 52nd Annual DGA Awards".Directors Guild of America.Archivedfrom the original on January 11, 2013.RetrievedJuly 21,2012.
  71. ^ab"Edgar Award Winners and Nominees Database".Mystery Writers of America.Archived fromthe originalon March 11, 2012.RetrievedMarch 14,2012.Note: Database does not allow direct linking to results. Use the drop-down menus to select "Best Episode in a TV Series" with the "Winners & Nominees" field checked for results. Results can be filtered by year, using "1995" for both year fields will narrow results to the precise year.
  72. ^ab"Awards Database - The BAFTA Site".British Academy of Film and Television Arts.RetrievedJuly 21,2012.

References

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