The Lens

One-Hour Pilot | Drama

A gifted photojournalist chases momentous news accounts exposing the truth while mentoring a young female photographer with a curious link to his troubled past during the dawn of the digital age.

Haunting Images: The story begins with Remy Wallace, a seasoned photojournalist, in Somalia, 1993, where he captures the devastating effects of famine and reveals the cold reality of capturing the news without engaging with the moment. Remy later sees a ghostly vision from the shoot, shaking him to his core.

Return to Los Angeles: Remy returns to his job at the Los Angeles Times where he is met with the news of the transition to digital photography. Remy vows to stick with his trusted film camera, believing the soul of the image is in the film and the print. We are introduced to other key players at the Los Angeles Times: Kit King, a veteran photo editor, Jimi Lott, a cynical photographer, and Lindsay Jordan, a new recruit who has a curious history with Remy.

The Juice Is Loose: The newsroom is abuzz with the unfolding O.J. Simpson car chase. Remy and Lindsay, despite their conflicting feelings, race to the chase. But in a rare moment, Remy misses the shot due to his lack of digital photography experience. The moment is saved when Lindsay gets the shot with her digital camera.

Unexpected Phone Call: Remy and his best friend, Moke, arrive home after surfing when the answering machine picks up with a message from a radiology clinic about an X-ray referral. Remy slams the machine off, sparking Moke's curiosity.

Remy tries to dismiss Moke's worries, claiming he's fine and avoiding the issue. Moke presses him, reminding Remy of his own serious illness and the importance of seeking medical attention. The moment shows the truly deep bond these two men have.

Embedded: Remy and Kit receive a visit from US Foreign Service agents who seek assistance in identifying members of a group they believe set fire to the village Remy was photographing. Remy and Kit work a deal that allows Remy to embed with a Ranger team in exchange for the images.

Black Hawk Down: Remy joins a US Army Ranger mission in Mogadishu, where he witnesses a devastating attack on their helicopter. Remy and Ponch, a Ranger, are separated from their unit and forced to find a safe haven. The two men share stories, revealing their personal struggles and vulnerabilities. As Remy and Ponch wait for the evacuation, they face the possibility of being captured. Ponch encourages Remy to write a farewell note to his loved ones. It’s a pivotal moment for Remy as he grapples with whom his last words on Earth should be addressed to. He then sees another ghostly specter – this time his estranged father. The episode ends with Remy finishing the letter to his dad and leaving us to wonder if they make it out alive.