Snake Oil
Snake Oil flips the script on classic Western tropes, using the original American genre, a diverse cast—and a little Spielbergian magic—to retrace our country’s racist, bigoted roots and reimagine a better world.
The Logline
A crooked, charismatic huckster finds an honest-to-God miracle cure that heals his wounds, transforms the townsfolk, and turns life in the Old West upside-down.
The Story at a Glance
Conman Clint Cooper soon realizes that the miracle elixir that healed his wounds does something different to everyone—and quickly draws the eye and ire of local outlaw Big Jim Thrasher. But when a bounty hunter intercedes, everyone’s plans go to hell, and the race to sell or save an ancient power kicks into high gear.
The Characters
Clint Cooper is a huckster in need of a change of heart, and he gets it when some of the townsfolk—trans tavern-owner Lorelei Suarez, newly free Black man Elijah Goodman, Sheriff Andy Lao and his deputy Theresa Laurent—are transformed by his discovery. But bounty hunter Jane Whitman and outlaw Big Jim have other plans. Ultimately, unlikely friends come together to stop the outlaw’s attempt to capitalize on the cure and take control of their town.
The Bottom Line
The huckster learns the err of his ways by listening to diverse perspectives, and earns redemption by empowering others. Snake Oil reinforces the necessity of hearing and elevating folks of all stripes if we are to finally move forward together with true, absolute, unmitigated equality.
Wanna know how it ends?
No spoilers, obviously, but if you’re interested you can read the pilot here, dive into the full series treatment, or email me to learn more about the project.