The Split Screen Episode Guide Split Screen Images Split Screen Press

Last fall, after four years and 66 episodes, we decided to end production of the show and so informed IFC. There was never any official announcement mainly because I could not fully articulate my reasons for stopping. In part, we began to run out of fresh, new ideas. At the same time, we sensed a growing inattention/indifference from IFC. But we remained confident that they would showcase the Split Screen library for years to come. But on April 2nd, Split Screen was removed from its long-time regular slot and demoted to sporadic filler that will pop up very haphazardly. Once IFC abruptly put us in this fuzzy limbo, my thoughts pulled into focus.

Almost every talented person in the television industry really wants to be in movies. Our very able channel champions all migrated to IFC Films where, except for Spring Backward, Girl Skirmish, Happy Mishaps, and the recently announced new Ed "Kookie" Burns film, they're doing a fine job. As a twenty-year veteran of the feature film scene prior to the creation of Split Screen, I know that there's only one reason to migrate in the opposite direction - the ubiquity and availability of the tv audience. But even in 2001, the vast majority of America can't get IFC. And unfortunately, many of the households that could don't realize it, order it, or watch it. Since 1997, and especially after Split Screen unwillingly departed Bravo's schedule, this has been a mounting frustration.

Of course we're filled with admiration verging on awe for Bravo's meteoric ascent in cabledom. Where else can you see shows that were too good for television like Moonlighting or witness the tears streaking down Spike Lee's face in response to the marvelous probings of James Lipton? And with recent record ratings for thirtysomething (every single episode), the only remaining question is how much higher next year's West Wing repeats can go. This is truly "the art of television," not to mention a good way to get Barry Diller to cough up $5 billion to take over.

Yet even on the supremely unmeteoric IFC, somehow every Monday night at 8pm about 100,000 viewers tuned into the channel's so-called signature series, Split Screen. Not any more! Enjoy the new ifilm series and "discover promising, emerging filmmakers." Of course we'd be happy to put the Split Screen filmmaker alumni association up against their track record any time. There's The Blair Witch Project, American Movie, Waking Life and the HBO/Cinemax documentary How's Your News? to name a few vs. the special effects one-trick-pony 405.

In the end what is the Split Screen legacy? First of all, How's Your News?, which premiered at SXSW, was featured at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival in September with the entire "cast" present. Other fall festivals (Mill Valley, Frame by Frame) have followed. Although we've been slower than molasses on the video/dvd front, the situation should soon change. Look for a five tape (1 hour each) box set comprising the very best segments (and a few surprises) from our 51 magazine format shows. IFC has been very generous in allowing us to repackage these five hours (whatever they may be) for possible showing on PBS. Please vote for your favorite moments whether it's Chris Walken cooking, Godzilla stomping, Damon and Norton gambling or ? You tell us here.