Interview: Writer Ajon Singh Describes the Process of Penning ‘Primetime’

There are a lot of ways that someone could have made a film about Chris Hansen and To Catch a Predator. For writer Ajon Singh, he chose to pen a movie unlike anyone else would have even attempted. That director Lance Oppenheim, as well as producer and star Robert Pattinson, shared that vision, speaks to how specific this take is, which resulted in Primetime. With the flick now in theaters and still generating discussion, I spent some time on Zoom with Singh, talking Primetime, the writing process, and more. Today, that chat comes your way.

In my review of Primetime (here), I wrote about the writing and directing like so:

Director Lance Oppenheim and writer Ajon Singh are going for style over substance with Primetime, even if the hope was for both. Singh is loosely adapting the 2007 Esquire article “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die” while Oppenheim is freed from his documentary roots, so it leads to a very stylistic endeavor. Oppenheim and Singh start out with a bang, especially as they showcase how the show is made. It’s in the back half, when the obsession takes hold, that the pacing lags. There’s a hump in the middle to get over, and then the third act is a mixed bag, so the early goodwill is slightly squandered. At the same time, it’s impossible to look away, even knowing where things ultimately are going.

Below, you can hear my conversation with Singh. He has a fascinating story to tell, given how he sure beat the odds in even getting the film made. From finding the right people to actually share his vision, to Hansen himself chiming in on the movie, to it being released to acclaim, Singh has sure been on a ride. He’s only getting started, too, as one of his upcoming projects is Spider-Punk with Daniel Kaluuya, so prepare to see a lot more of his words on the screen. It’s a good discussion, befitting a work that demands to be discussed. Primetime is in theaters now, so if you haven’t seen it yet, get on it now!

Here now is my interview with Primetime writer Ajon Singh. Enjoy:

Primetime is in theaters now!