Haunted by both a past transgression and the unsolved murder of his hero-cop father, a biracial Philadelphia detective with a reputation for losing his cool sets out on a quest to take down a criminal kingpin, but as the investigation unfolds, he realizes he might not be prepared for what he uncovers or the sacrifices he has to make.

Get to know writers Greg Sawicki, Brian Miller:

1. What is your screenplay about

At its core, this is a gripping tale of power, corruption, and the fragile line between justice and survival. The story plunges into a city caught in the stranglehold of a ruthless criminal syndicate – and organization whose influence seeps into every corner of urban life, from the back alleys to the highest offices of authority.

On the other side stands the police force, weary yet determined, locked in a relentless struggle to dismantle the gang’s empire. Their pursuit is not just a battle against crime, but against the shadows of betrayal and compromise within their own ranks.

Hovering above it all are the politicians – calculating, opportunistic, and driven by ambition. They shift allegiances like pieces on a chessboard, siding with whichever faction promises them greater control. Their hunger for power fuels the chaos, blurring the boundaries between protector and predator, justice and exploitation.

This is not simply a conflict of law versus lawlessness. It’s a layered exploration of loyalty, morality, and the price of ambition. Every character is forced to confront the question – In a city where corruption reigns, whose side are you truly on?

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Police and crime drama, with a little bit of mystery sprinkled in. We have a lot of misdirection set up in the pilot that will keep the viewer guessing throughout the first season (and beyond).

3. Why should this screenplay be produced?

The screenplay delivers a timeless yet revitalized narrative – the battle between law and lawlessness – infused with fresh twists that elevate it beyond the familiar police/crime drama. While the audience would recognize the genre, what sets this story apart is its layered complexity: a criminal empire with roots deep in the city’s foundations, a police force fighting not only external factions but internal fractures, and politicians whose shifting loyalties blur the line between justice and corruption.

It’s a proven story type, but reimagined with unpredictable turns that keep the viewer on edge, constantly questioning who truly holds power and which sides the characters are really on. Our dual perspective – seeing the world through both sides of the law – creates a gripping tension that would resonate with audiences hungry for something more than the standard “good vs bad” formula.

The built-in audience for crime dramas ensures commercial viability, while the screenplay’s originality holds more promise. It offers the perfect blend of familiarity and innovation – it’s a genre people love, presented in a way they’ve never seen before. This is not just entertainment, it’s a provocative exploration and thought-provoking dive into law enforcement in a post-George Floyd era from all angles.

But what separates this even further is the characters. While the ever-evolving story may hook the viewer initially, it’s the complexity of the characters that will keep them coming back for more. Viewers will want to see how these characters will fare and what their fates will be. That’s ultimately what makes a show successful – and therefore marketable – and this pilot lays that foundation.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Uncompromising and thought-provoking

It’s uncompromising because it refuses to show the simple “good vs evil” narrative. Every character is flawed, layered, and forced to make choices that test their integrity. As a result, everyone is at risk. It’s thought-provoking because it presents different angles of crime and its impact on everyone and everything. We try to present a realistic, no-holds-barred portrayal while not slanting toward any one political side.

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Brian – LA Confidential, Back to the Future, Braveheart

Greg – Star Wars, Goodfellas, Dumb & Dumber

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

The original story came about over 10 years ago, and started with just a simple premise for a feature film. As we started to come up with subplots to fill in the blanks, we realized we had way too many good ideas. We thought about doing a film trilogy, but quickly realized that was not a wise move since we were completely unknown and unbankable writers, and that wasn’t realistic. So, we pivoted to TV. Once we did that, it felt like things started to take off. As a television pilot, it’s been at least four years in the making, with so many rewrites and changes we lost count.

7. How many stories have you written?

We’ve had ideas for easily 50 or more, but actually put pen to paper on 10 screenplays.

8. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

It really did start with just a concept that was interesting. As we filled in the blanks, we started to realize we had some intriguing plot twists – things we could subtly set up for a huge payoff. Coming up with different ways to do that was really the initial driving force.

Around the same time that foundation was laid, the political divide in our country widened. Rather than skew our story to promote one side or the other, we wondered if we could effectively present both sides of an issue evenly, thus allowing the viewer to come to his or her own conclusion based on a fictitious scenario. At the very least, maybe that would foster a level of understanding and would hopefully lead to some healing. We knew this was an ambitious endeavor, but one we felt was much needed.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

One of our greatest challenges was shaping the story into a format that balanced clarity with depth. We knew what we wanted to present, but were we doing that effectively? The vision for the project was always a bot ambitious – layered characters, political intrigue, and the clash between the law and corruption – but translating that vision into a screenplay demanded precision. Every scene had to be succinct enough to keep the narrative sharp, yet expansive enough to preserve the complexity of the atmosphere that makes the story unique … all while keeping it interesting to the viewer.

This balancing act led to countless rewrites and structural adjustments over the years. Each draft became a test of discipline. We had to trim excess without sacrificing nuance. We needed to refine dialogue while keeping the emotional core intact. We had to ensure the pacing carried the weight of the drama properly. The process was long and often painstaking, but it ultimately strengthened the script, sharpening its focus while preserving the integrity of the original story.

Through all of that, we still had families and jobs and other responsibilities to maintain. Rather than finding time, we needed to make time. And we had to do that without sacrificing other areas of our lives.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Brian – Sports have always been a major passion of mine. I’m not just a fan of watching them, I thrive on staying active and athletic by participating whenever I can. Whether it’s team competition or individual training, I enjoy the energy, discipline, and camaraderie that sports bring into my life.

Greg – I’m also a big sports fan, and have continued to coach and play when I can. Unfortunately, injuries in my old age have limited by ability to participate lately. However, that has fueled my other passion – my family. I have a stepdaughter who just turned 21 and a daughter who just turned three, so they keep my wife and I on our toes (for different reasons). But, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

11. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

We were looking for something that was genre-specific, and this festival has a stellar reputation and impressive reviews. We felt it would give us a real good feel for where we stacked up against similar pilots that would be vying for the same attention.

As far as the feedback was concerned, there is one thing that stood out and separates this feedback from what we’ve received from other festivals and contests – the “Questions about the pilot” section. I don’t know if this was just something the reader included or if it’s done for all feedback, but it really allowed us to get valuable insight into the reader’s thoughts. Some of these questions would be answered in later episodes – most plan to be answered/covered in Episode Two … if we ever get that far – but there were other questions that really got us thinking about areas we could enhance or things we could call out better. It also let us know the reader was clearly giving this an honest read and paying attention to details we tried to subtly present. We truly appreciated the effort put forth by the reader. Knowing what’s going through the reader’s mind is such a huge bit of information.