All Accolades & Coverage
2022 Austin Film Festival - Second Rounder
2023 ScreenCraft TV Pilot Competition - Quarterfinalist
Shore Scripts: 7.5
Coverfly: Top 10%
TheBlackList on Hyperfocals:
Right out of the gate, the very idea of a “hyperfocal” is a fascinating original idea unlike anything a mass audience has seen before. The innate ability to travel inside a polaroid photograph feels like a truly imaginative concept that would immediately grab viewers from a trailer alone. The fact that this very premise is also the “way in” to a noir detective series only elevates the commerciality of the material here - a fresh twist to the police procedural genre that has grown increasingly tired in recent years. Blessed with this ability that he earned from the darkest day of his life, Detective Evan Carter uses his “hyperfocal” skillsets to give him a leg up in his police work; in other words, he uses his power to save others, an admirable pursuit that makes mass audiences immediately find him sympathetic as a near superhero. And if the cliffhanger of the series ahead has a lot more secrets at play.
BlueCat on Hyperfocals:
The premise here is very interesting. Science fiction when done right always lends a level of intrigue and that is captured well here. The mending of genres between the police procedural and the sci-fi aspects make this a unique story.
Character-wise there are a lot of positives. [Carter's] dynamic with Captain Harris was a highlight of the script.
The descriptions of locations are done beautifully giving the script vibrance even in the grimiest parts of [Detroit]. Descriptions of Carter's ability are also done well here making it easy to visualize. It was very imaginative leading to a thrilling chase between Carter and Bruce. The ending leaves with a cliffhanger that hooked me in for at least another episode.
Austin Film Festival:
The concept of a detective that can go into photographs as part of his investigations is a strong one, and it's well used here. The villain in this pilot, someone with a perverse version of the protagonist's power, really works, and it's a clever alternative. It's a fun world overall with interesting visuals to match. It's a well-structured episode that balances present circumstances with relevant backstory towards a strongly paced outing. Altogether a solid pilot overall. The characters as written work well in the story world and are well written overall. Detective Carter is a well-written, complex character with a thematically connected tragic past--it's a strong protagonist. Captain Harris is a well-written and distinct-feeling ally, while Bruce Tucker is an intriguing villain with terrifying potential. HYPERFOCALS is an intriguing premise that could prove a visually interesting, suspenseful, larger-than-life series.
ScreenCraft:
[HYPERFOCALS] does an excellent job of marrying a traditional neo-noir tone and format with a unique fantasy aspect that fits tonally. The thematic and visual elements of the "hyperfocal" powers work well with the tone and aesthetic of the crime story, and it combines for a compelling mood piece.
