Second Sight: "Sacrament"

“Sacrament” (21 February 1997)

Writer: Frank Spotnitz
Director: Michael Watkins
Editor: Chris Willingham, A.C.E.

Quote: “Been sitting here trying to prepare myself for whatever happens... That’s the Black family: try to anticipate the future so you don’t have to dwell on the past.” --Thomas Black


Overview: Since viewers were first introduced to Frank Black in Millennium’s pilot episode, his disturbing visions have become progressively more complex with each passing installment, each harrowing murder investigation. With cryptic connections mounting as the series neared the climax of its first season, it seemed that the mythology building up around the profiler’s visionary talents would soon take us well beyond mere investigative insights. In “Sacrament,” Frank Spotnitz begins to pull at loose threads left dangling from “Pilot” and “Dead Letters,” not to unravel the unfinished tapestry of Millennium but so that he may tie these threads neatly together in preparation for the epic dramas to come.

“Sacrament” stands as a milestone in that it is the first episode to openly suggest that there is an extraordinary inheritance possessed by Jordan Black. This is revealed subtly yet irrefutably in a pair of scenes that would put any concerned parent on alert. With tears in her eyes and anguish in her voice, Jordan expresses concern over the abuse being inflicted on her aunt, in spite of the fact that the child is undoubtedly being shielded from the horrors traumatizing her family. At the moment Helen Black is kidnapped, Jordan bears witness to the brutal abduction, seeing the events remotely from the sanctity of the vacant church. (The only alternative reading to this scene is the even more dramatic suggestion that Jordan is observing traumas to come, prophetically anticipating the terrible fate that awaits her Aunt Helen.) The unavoidable implication is that Jordan is witnessing great violence with her mind’s eye--in precisely the same fashion as her father.

With its emphasis on family, “Sacrament” is able to quietly reinforce the great bond between this loving father and his beloved child, a connection that has resonated with viewers since Lance Henriksen and Brittany Tiplady first shared the screen. Indeed, our sense of their relationship is only strengthened by the presence of Thomas Black, a shaken and confused man who simply cannot relate to his stoic older brother. The episode’s memorable final shot--in which Frank takes Jordan aside, separate from the rest of the family, and the two walk away hand-in-hand--is so symbolic, so evocative that it would be echoed throughout the rest of the series. This lasting image leaves us with an affecting impression of the bond that connects Frank Black to his exceptional daughter, the sort of bond that can exist only between two kindred souls who share the same gift, the same curse. Theirs is the relationship that will prove to be the very core of Millennium’s unfolding mythology.

Connections: Following her ordeal at the church, Jordan Black is afflicted by a mysterious fever, the very same symptom for which she was hospitalized in “Pilot.” Jordan’s gift for prophetic visions was first hinted at, somewhat obliquely, in a nightmare seen in “Dead Letters.”

Trances in Total: 6 (0:14)

Gore Score: 10/10

Dreaming of a Black Christmas

Well... the halls are decked, there's an angel perched precariously atop the tree and beneath it are piled presents that hopefully someone hasn't already given to your loved ones, prompting you to have to go out shopping again on Christmas Eve. But something's missing, right? Something to make the season feel truly complete? Something you can't quite put your finger on? Well, we can now reveal just what that is. To whet your appetites, Joselyn Rojas has created this wonderful, moving video for the occasion:

Yes, Back to Frank Black has been working to bring you a very special family reunion for the holidays. Back together for the first time in twelve years, Lance Henriksen, Megan Gallagher and Brittany Tiplady - Frank, Catherine and Jordan Black - are in conversation exclusively for the Millennium Group Sessions.

So be sure to check back here on Christmas Day for a unique gift to all of you: a really special Black Family reunion.

Second Sight: "Dead Letters"

“Dead Letters” (8 November 1996)

Writers: Glen Morgan & James Wong
Director: Thomas J. Wright
Editor: Chris Willingham, A.C.E.

Quote: “Do you know all about bad dreams?” --Jordan Black looks to her father for comfort


Overview: “Dead Letters” is a powerful and affecting story largely because of Jim Horn, the prospective profiler played with such tragic desperation by guest star James Morrison. Horn serves as a brilliantly effective foil for Frank Black; he is a flawed and wounded character who, by contrast, shows us what is so special about Millennium’s singular hero. Horn is utterly incapable of the sort of incredible insights that have been harnessed by Frank Black. In attempting to avoid problematic descriptors such as “paranormal” or “supernatural” in discussions regarding Frank Black’s gift, Chris Carter has often described the profiler’s abilities as “empathic” in nature. It is that uncommon empathy for his fellow man, that selfless willingness to become one with the thoughts and feelings of both victims and killers, which shows Frank to be such an exceptional hero. “Dead Letters” reveals just how essential empathy is to the equation by progressively eroding Horn’s own facility for emotional and intellectual identification. Without the empathetic connection, Horn is blinded and soon becomes a reckless and vengeful man who is only able to see the serial killer they seek as a dimensionless bogeyman. “These killers can’t be simply cases or psychological anomalies anymore,” Horn bemoans. “They’re just... monsters. Just monsters.”

This episode is also noteworthy for its preoccupation with young Jordan Black. With “Dead Letters,” Glen Morgan and James Wong slyly add a significant layer to the mythology quickly building up around Frank Black’s unusual flashes of insight. It is an idea acknowledged by Frank Spotnitz when he conceded, “I can see why people thought there was a psychic component to it.” Spotnitz attributes this impression of Frank’s gift in part to the inheritance implied in this episode’s unnerving teaser: “It was certainly hinted that his daughter, Jordan, had the same gift, if you will… that Jordan had the same ability.” Jordan’s nightmare--a darkly playful sequence dominated by the figure of a fearsome clown--is not easily forgotten. At its heart this is an episode about “bad dreams,” a story concerned with the imaginative visions that torment slumbering children and the grim knowledge that can torture waking adults. (Given the role such visions will play in our understanding of Frank’s own abilities, Jordan’s nightmare has been included in our usual tally of trances below.) Though Jordan’s dreams are of a sort that have troubled every boy and girl at one time or another, as the sleepover with T.C. Horn implies, their prominence in the episode poses a persistent question, a question that would come to serve as a key component of Millennium’s continually evolving mythology: Could Jordan Black have inherited some abnormal ability from her visionary father? The first hints of the prophetic bond between father and daughter are to be found in the chilling cackle of that black-and-white clown.

Connections: The nameless figure that inhabits Jordan Black’s nightmares instantly evokes Pennywise, the monstrous, clown-faced antagonist of Stephen King’s It (1986).

Trances in Total: 6 (1:00)

Gore Score: 1/10

Millennium Movie Poster Project: Gallery Showcase Day Seven

We notch up one whole week's worth of posters in the Millennium Movie Poster Project Gallery Showcase today with some more great entries.

This first, spookily lit composition specifically calls to mind "The Curse of Frank Black" as well as the line, "We are meant to be here" taken from Alex Ventoux's diary musings, perhaps hinting that some of the themes and tone of Season Two are set to be revisited.

Sergiu Lupse

Up next is a particularly dark piece combining a number of familiar elements from the show to dramatic effect. "STOP LOOKING" we are warned, the Yellow House is aflame and Frank is in turmoil, with an indication that the polaroids are set to make a return too.

Susanne Lehnert

This third entry posits a very specific plot for the movie, introduced with a pertinent biblical quote: a fan favourite storyline that the Millennium Group are targeting Jordan Black as a candidate. Given their history with Frank Black, we can only guess at the personal dramas to unfold here.

Justin Woodwell

And finally, this bleakly apocalyptic piece also sees the return of some familiar favourites: Emma Hollis, Peter Watts and Jordan all feature in the headline cast alongside Frank Black himself as a creative team headed by Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz and Thomas J. Wright look set to take us to a quite literal end of the world scenario.

Terri Wilson

All works are the property of the respective artist

Millennium Movie Poster Project: Gallery Showcase Day Four

It's Day Four of our review of some of the Millennium Movie Poster Project entries and we've got another three great images to share with you.

First up is this ominous composition in which they are 97 days remaining, hinting at some imminent catastrophic event towards which we are counting down. Lara Means is set to return in the cast in this feature, which has another celebrated writing partnership penning the script - Glen Morgan & James Wong - and is once again directed by Thomas Wright.

Jussi Saarikkomäki

Portraits of four characters feature on this next entry. Lucy Butler co-stars once again, as does a grown-up Jordan Black alongside her father. The legend proclaims the themes that would form the heart of this feature film.

Matthew Ingles

Today's final offering comes with a tantalising title - "A Kiss in the Dark" - and an accompanying tagline, with a visual suggestion that stabbings may feature as a killer's modus operandi. Peter Watts is visible here too, once again proving he survived the events of the TV show's finale!

Jen Frankel

There are plenty more great designs yet to come in our Gallery Showcase, so be sure to check back again tomorrow for further visions of Frank Black's return to the screen!

All works are the property of the respective artist

BACKTOFRANKBLACK EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JAMES JORDAN LOOKS BACK ON VIRTUAL SEASON FIVE OF MILLENNIUM!

With news that the Virtual Sixth Season of Millennium has now gone into production, coupled with the stellar response we received to our previous retrospective on Virtual Season Four, James Jordan kindly agreed to talk to BackToFrankBlack about his time working on twenty new episodes of Millennium. Millennium Virtual Season 5 was created by a dedicated group of Millennium fans eager to continue the journeys of retired FBI Agent and Criminal Profiler Frank Black. Each professionally written weekly episode aired online from January to June 2007. This is a behind the scenes look at their journey.

MARK HAYDEN: Could you tell us a little about yourself in terms of any writing projects you were involved with prior to Virtual Season Five? Was this a steep learning curve for yourself or something you had dabbled in to some degree previously?

JAMES JORDAN: I’d written a few odd scripts and I was honing the craft, so the mechanics of screenwriting weren’t new to me but I’d never undertaken such a huge, collaborative project before. I don’t think you can truly be prepared for how much hard work it is until you’re caught up in everything.

MH: At the time the Virtual Fourth Season was created the team involved were fuelled by the very recent cancellation of the show and a desire to see it reach the millennium and tie up the loose ends of the televised series. Considering that they felt they had achieved their mandate what inspired the Virtual Fifth Season and what story did you believe there was left to tell?

JJ: That’s a very good question! It was Tony Black, my fellow executive producer, who first proposed it. At first I wasn’t sure if it was viable or something I’d be interested in for those exact reasons, but the more we talked about the storytelling possibilities and the enduring character of Frank Black, the more tempting it became.

When we hit upon the idea of tying together all the post-millennial catastrophes and how that could be interpreted as an apocalypse unfolding in very real terms, that seemed to be the key to making the series relevant and interesting to our present times. Plus of course, Frank and Jordan hadn’t stopped living in the intervening years and there would always be lots of opportunities for standalone episodes, so the chance to expand on this compelling world that Chris Carter created proved irresistible.

MH: I am fascinated by the mechanics that went in to the creation of any virtual season. From working on BackToFrankBlack I am all too aware of the sheer hard work that goes into a fan product of any kind, work that remains undetected by those who enjoy the results. Could you describe the experience of working on that season and offer a brief synopsis of the highs and lows of it?

JJ: We approached it as much like a television production as possible over the internet, which I suppose is the main difference between a virtual season and fan fiction, if you will. We worked out of a private forum where the staff would gather together to plan and structure the skeleton of the season, break individual episodes and organize deadlines and such. I’d take a pass on each script in the tradition in which US shows are run, then the final versions would go up on the website every Friday.

The highs were seeing all these people doing great work and getting some very gratifying feedback from readers. But of course we had our hits and misses and it could be both tiring and stressful. I think the hardest it got was when I got a draft in very late that was basically half finished, and I was up all night feverishly rewriting to get it out on schedule that Friday. Thankfully it only went down to the wire that once, and most of the time we were having fun with these characters and telling their stories.

MH: Could you tell us a little about the Virtual Five crew? From where did you draw supporters and contributors, how were roles assigned and so on and whether the team has continued to communicate and contribute to further projects of this kind?

JJ: At first there was an open call at the well-known fan site This Is Who We Are, which is where Tony and I first started working together and assembling a staff of volunteers. As we realized we needed confident scriptwriters as much as we needed dedicated Millennium fans, we moved over to a network that Tony had set up with ties to an existing writing community which is where we teamed up with Angelo Shrine who wrote some of our most popular episodes.

We also got Ian Austin to step in fairly late on and pick up some of the slack, and one of the unsung heroes of the project, JT Vaughn, who did all of the graphics and images for all our promos as well as our variant of the main title sequence. One or two of the other writers have lost touch, but Tony and Angelo have written episodes of a Night Stalker continuation that I’ve been running, and all those guys have got projects of their own on the go at MZP too. I would never have imagined how much I’ve been sucked into this world back when we first started VS5.

MH: Once you'd established a creative team what ground rules, or guidance, was implemented to ensure that the final product felt like a Millennium project rather than an original work with the Millennium characters inserted into it. Are there any particular televised episodes that you allowed to flavour the tone of the season you were writing?

JJ: To start off, I put together a bible that established the basic points that Tony and I had agreed on, along with where we saw characters like Frank Black at this point in time and the overall tone and direction we were aiming for. So all the writers had that to keep us on the same page, plus we’d break all the episodes together to make sure things stayed consistent, or sometimes I’d write the outline and hand it to a writer to do their script from, because some people prefer to work that way. We’d try and pick out as many little details as we could to evoke the visual sensibilities of the show, the opening epigrams and the legends for example, just to add to that authentic Millennium experience. I don’t think there were any specific episodes we picked out for reference, but broadly speaking we always said we’d try to hearken back to the tone of the first season while bringing our own flavour to it all.

MH: You introduced a number of original characters in the Virtual Fifth Season. Were you aware of any differences between writing for characters you had created as opposed to those you had enjoyed as on screen creations. Is it harder to ensure a consistent personality and voice for an original creation than one who was already very established?

JJ: Absolutely, yes. When it comes to Frank Black, you’ve got the benefit of 67 TV episodes and everything an actor brings to the character, all Lance Henriksen’s brilliant facial reactions and mannerisms, not to mention that fantastic voice. There’s so much to draw on and replicate with points of reference an audience would recognize. With an original character you have none of that. A reader will never hear an actor reading the lines, never see them bring it to life, so you have to try and compensate for that on the page as best you can.

We had our young detective Brad Locke as our second lead, and to try and get him to stand up to Frank Black and not feel overly similar to any other past characters could be very difficult. The same could be said for Miranda Graff, the romantic interest for Frank who couldn’t just be another Catherine but at the same time had to be carefully written so as not to disrespect her memory either. I think most people would agree that it’s generally easier to write for Frank, and I know that I certainly found the same to be true for the likes of Lucy Butler.

MH: For the fans, a virtual season allows them to enjoy another slice of the characters and the show they support but wherein lies the enjoyment for those behind the scenes? Given the amount of sheer hard slog involved with creating something like this how does all that hard work reap its dividends?

JJ: The writing is its own reward, in many respects. As much as it is hard work, the enjoyment is just as you say in revisiting these characters and having fun with them in their world. We did it for the love of it and nothing more, after all. But I suppose the greatest reward is when someone reads our work, or I should say when someone tells us they’ve read it and what they thought, be it good or bad. Otherwise it’s like a tree falling in the forest. As enjoyable as it is to do, the scripts are written to be read, of course, and when someone spends their free time reading 60-odd pages of fan-written stuff and maybe even sending us a little feedback, it’s the most gratifying thing in the world.

MH: Virtual Season Four was heavily inspired by the mythology of Season Two of Millennium. What particular mythology drove your own season and can you give us a brief, spoiler free version, of what the particular arc for your season was if any.

JJ: We agreed fairly early on that we wanted to go in a different direction to the season two style mythology. Just as all three seasons of Millennium had their own unique identity by virtue of three different sets of showrunners, we decided we’d follow that pattern and establish our own identity compared to VS4 since, true to history, we were yet another different creative team. But we were always very firm on respecting the great work of our predecessors and treating it as canon, or “fanon” if you will. Our mythology episodes are basically about the idea that the apocalypse is in progress having only just got started in 2001.

We sort of follow the concept of “an apocalypse of our own creation” posited towards the end of season three. We look at things that are happening all around us like H5N1, missile defense platforms, natural disasters and terrorism with an eye for how they might be interpreted as symptomatic of the end times. There’s also quite a lot of what fans would call “Legion” throughout the season and how this force of evil may be turning its eye from Frank to Jordan.

MH: The virtual Fourth season was able to bring itself to the attention of Chris Carter who, almost, appeared to endorse it. We know Lance was particularly impressed with the project as was Kay Reindl who passed comment and offered praise regarding the project. Were you able to bring your own season to the attention of any of the cast and crew?

JJ: Not that I’m aware. We got a brief mention in Sci Fi Now magazine once, but that’s about it. The internet is such a different beast now to what it was in the 90s, there’s no novelty value to this kind of thing now, and of course the show had been off the air for a long time before we got started. I’d be very surprised if anyone outside our little corner of the internet knew VS5 existed.

MH: With hindsight and experience what advice can you give those who are currently in the process of working on Virtual Season Six of the show?

JJ: Give yourself plenty of time! You really don’t get a sense of how much work it is until you’re in the thick of it all. And focus on making the scripts the best they can be. As much fun as it is to come up with new ideas and play with promos and extras, if you haven’t got the scripts you haven’t really got anything. Best of luck!

Please join with me in thanking James for taking the time to answer our questions and if you have not had the chance to enjoy the Virtual Season Five of Millennium then may I urge you, as one who has enjoyed it many times, to do just that. You won't regret it.

Here's Dirt's Thing: SATURN DREAMING OF MERCURY!

Ladies and gentlemen it's time, once again, for our masked avenger, wrestlemaniac and super powered reviewer DiRT to cast his x-ray vision upon another episode of Millennium and direct his considerable following in our direction in the process.

DiRT has served up another enjoyable review, against the odds I might add as it would seem Lucy Butler has served up some demonic weather conditions where he is so we are all the more grateful to him for taking the time to share his thoughts on Saturn Dreaming of Mercury.

After something of a mixed beginning to Millennium Season Three, stories like Saturn Dreaming of Mercury went on to establish themselves as fan favourites, garnering much praise for continuing to develop the fascinating relationship between Frank and Jordan and giving fans another excuse to gaze upon Lucy Butler, albeit very briefly. If I had a pound for every time a fan had asked what the title means then it's fair to say I would be a rich man. I'll let you guys speculate as you see fit in the comments section. Over to DiRT and his point of view...

So is he right or is he wrong? Tell us your opinion of this oft debated episode and don't hold back, we're big fans, we can take it.

As always, every new video we add to Youtube, or is added to Youtube for us, reaches out to a whole new audience and may find a Millennium who never knew of our campaign in the process. Don't forget, keep sending those letters and postcards to Mr. Steve Asbell. Frank's Army Fights on!

As always, lend your considerable support to the man and go visit his own websites and find out what it's all about. Remember, every video made for the this campaign is an indispensable way of reaching out to a potential new campaigner.

Mark x

• To visit his website and enjoy the numerous things he has on offer, click here!

• To check out his Youtube channel and view more reviews from the man himself, visit here!

The Time Is Near! Win a copy of MILLENNIUM APOCALYPSE!

Followers of our podcast will no doubt be aware that we recently launched a fantastic giveaway to win a Region 1 copy of the independent Millennium spin-off, Millennium Apocalypse.

For those of unaware of the production it comes highly recommended by the campaign team. It was born in the very heart of the Millennium community, made through the blood, sweat and tears of the fans and is a stellar imagining of Jordan's life post Millennium. Our thanks to the wonderful guys behind Digital Shadow Films for being so supportive of us and for the kind donation of the prize.

Please note, this competition is now closed. Many thanks to all those who took the time to enter. The winner will be contacted by email and the announcement made in the fourth episode of our podcast!

"Frankly Speaking" - Win a Millennium Apocalypse DVD

Here at BackToFrankBlack.com we have received a wonderful donation of DVD's of the fan created spin off series, 'Millennium Apocalypse'. All of us would like to show our gratitude to Jason at 'Digital Shadow Films' for such a kind gesture.

For those unfamiliar with the show, 'Millennium Apocalypse' turns its attention to Jordan Black (SHONI ALYSSE COOK), a young woman caught in a world of bizarre murders and government conspiracies. During the course of the series she must find the answer to saving the world from its end and saving herself. Her father has been missing for twelve years and a man she doesn't know claims to have all the answers she's seeking about her past, and the reason for her visions. Jordan must trust Christian (JOE AMOS) as he is to be her guide to finding all the mysteries. Now she must dive into the unknown and find clues to unlock the past to save the future.

'Millennium Apocalypse' is an outstanding production and deserves to be savored by every one who enjoyed Millennium and here's how you can get your hands on a free DVD of the show.

We have ten copies of this to give away to the ten best competition submissions as judged by the team at BackToFrankBlack.com. To be in with a chance of winning one of these DVD's all we ask is that you make a short video of yourself sharing your thoughts on why you believe 'Frank Black' deserves to be brought back to the screen. The video can be as simple or elaborate as you desire, you have our encouragement to be as creative as you like in your efforts. Simply upload the video to a video hosting site, such as Youtube, and email us your competition entry, which should contain a link to the video and details of where you would like the DVD to be delivered to should your entry prove to be judged a successful winner.

Each entry judged to be a winner will be hosted here at our Blog and we will give credit to all those entries who didn't win but deserve commendation all the same. The competition will remain ongoing to all ten copies have been awarded and we will give word of when this has been achieved here.

Good luck to all of you and we look forward to seeing the results of your efforts, nothing would give us more pleasure than having the chance to see fans of Millennium 'Frankly Speaking'!

PLEASE NOTE:

• Please ensure your entries are not inflammatory and do not contravene the terms of service of any host you use. BacktoFrankBlack is not responsible for any video you create in response to this competition. While BacktoFrankBlack represents an adult audience, we will not promote any videocasts that we feel are disrespectful, rude or infringe beyond fair use of copyright.
  
• Only one entry per person is permitted to one household. Multiple or incomplete entries will be deemed to be invalid.
• The Editors reserve the right to change the rules applicable to the competition at any time and for any reason.
  
• There is no cash alternative to the prizes offered.
• BacktoFRANKBLACK can offer no guarantee on the delivery of prizes. There is no compensatory offer for any DVD that fails to be delivered by the delivery services.
  
• This competition is non-profit making.
  
• No email addresses or postal details sent to BacktoFRANKBLACK will be given out to third parties.
  
• Failure to comply with any of these rules may result in the disqualification of the entry. Editors reserve the right to disqualify any entry at their absolute discretion.
• By emailing us your competition entry, you accept the terms and conditions of this competition.
  
• Editors' decisions are final in all matters concerning a competition. It is a condition of entry to any competition that the entrant agrees to be bound by these rules whether they be published in the relevant online blog or not, and that the decisions of Editors and judges on any matter whatsoever arising out of or connected with the competition are final.