‘Mistresses’ Creator Tapped to Direct Bravo’s ‘The Joneses’ Pilot

SJ Clarkson TIFF - P 2013

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Bravo has enlisted Dexter's S.J. Clarkson to helm its scripted drama pilot, The Joneses.

The pilot, part of Bravo's foray into scripted, will begin production this spring. Penned by Life Unexpected creator Liz Tigelaar, it is billed as an adaptation of the 2009 Demi Moore and David Duchovny independent film of the same name. The effort will follow a seemingly perfect family of four who  move to an upscale suburb to start a new life, but have a secret they must keep from friends and neighbors… they aren't a real family at all.

Clarkson brings to it a strong drama resume, having directed episodes of House, Smash and Ugly Betty. More recently, the WME-repped director helmed the Frank Spotnitz pilot Hunted for BBC/HBO Cinemax. Additionally, she is credited as a co-creator as well as a director of the BBC's Mistresses, for which ABC is prepping an adaptation.

Joneses is set up at ABC Studios' boutique production unit, which is geared toward producing for fare for cable and emerging platforms. The project will be executive produced by Life Unexpected producing partners Gary Fleder and Mary Beth Basile of Mojo Films, as well as Kristi Zea, Derrick Borte and Echo Lake.

Lacey Rose