The Origins of John Singleton's Snowfall Empire

John Singleton, a renowned director, initially dismissed television, comparing it to selling drugs: "Once you get in, there's no getting out." However, he eventually dabbled in TV, signing a seven-figure development and production deal with Warner Bros. TV in November 1997.

Singleton procured a six-episode commitment for CRASH, a one-hour drama about the LAPD SWAT team, which was planned to debut on ABC's fall 1998 lineup. Despite this, he couldn't be swayed from his film projects, such as Shaft.

Singleton continued to explore television, developing a show with writer Tyger Williams at FX in the early 2000s. He also sold an hour-long drama, Trade, to Showtime in 2007, which focused on high-class sex workers.

Once you get in, there's no getting out.

Author's summary: John Singleton's journey to creating Snowfall began with his initial dismissal of television.

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LEVEL Man — 2025-10-18