Dawson's Creek

From the creator of such hit films as the Scream trilogy and I Know What You Did Last Summer, Dawson's Creek is a coming-of-age drama that tells the poignant stories of four teenagers growing up in our rapidly changing world. Dawson's Creek focuses on the relationships of these four 15-year-olds and their lives growing up in Capeside, a small coastal town in Massachusetts. The title refers to the character of "Dawson," who faces many challenges during the series, one of which is his friendship with lifelong buddy Joey Potter. Since they were children, the two have always been close, until Joey starts to realize that she's having feelings for Dawson that go beyond those she knew as a child. Then there's Dawson's best friend, Pacey, whose schoolboy lust for his sultry English teacher goes from vivid fantasy to awkward reality overnight. To complete the cast, Jennifer moves to Dawson's Creek from New York, and brings along many of the troubles that induced her parents to send her away in the first place. Dawson's Creek was conceived, developed and written by Kevin Williamson, who decided to loosely base the series on his own childhood. Dawson Leery is partly a reflection of Williamson's own childhood and the setting of Capeside mirrors Williamson's hometown of Southport, North Carolina. Pre-screenings of the show have produced rave reviews by critics, while the show's direct (and at many times shocking) attitude toward sex has also produced some criticism as well:

I think we're trying to be honest and tasteful," says exec producer Paul Stupin, who helped develop Beverly Hills, 90210 and recruited Williamson after he saw Scream.

Williamson believes that teenagers in the 90s, which are exposed to an incredible amount of violence, sex, drugs, and questionable role models, are growing up fast and can handle the nature of the show.

As it presents a very honest portrayal of the painful experiences of the teenage years interspersed with incredible moments of pure exhilaration, fun and joy, Dawson's Creek provides a fresh and gripping approach to the vast and diverse universal emotions associated with growing up. Never underestimating the 15 year-old mind, the series deals with sensitive issues that reflect the concerns of four characters striving for self-awareness while afraid of losing something special and not being able to find anything to replace it in the future.

The agony and ecstasy of sweaty palms, surviving puberty intact and figuring out life in general are just some of the themes that surround the central characters of Dawson's Creek. During a time when friends and family have an enormous impact on their lives and future, the four worry about where they’re heading and what they'll be when they grown up. Afraid of doing something stupid, or making mistakes that have lifelong consequences, each of the four characters must learn to deal with the other gender, their own sexuality as well as the question of whether or not to engage in sex, and how those decisions impact their long-term friendships.

During the course of the series, the relationships between the show's adult characters are also explored, including Dawson's overly affectionate parents whose insatiable passion belies the instability of their relationship. Jen's conservative grandmother sees fault with many of the people around her and freely shares her unbending opinions. Utilizing a compelling array of contemporary music, Dawson's Creek also addressed topical issues that set off lively debates among the characters and will, it is hoped, do the same among viewers.

Shot on location in Wilmington, NC, Dawson's Creek is full of pieces of Williamson's life -- what he thought about as he lay in bed at midnight many years ago, what he wishes he'd said in certain situations or how he wishes things had gone as opposed to what really happened -- inspiring and intimate portrayals of some of life's most precious firsts. The first kiss, the first love, the first heartbreak. Whether you're anticipating these special moments, living through them, or fondly reminiscing about them, DAWSON'S CREEK offers something very special to a wide variety of television audiences.

Capeside

Capeside on Massachusetts' Cape Cod, the home of The WB's "Dawson's Creek," is a quaint, little town that thrives on tourism by summer yet becomes all but abandoned during winter. With oceanfront property and 18th-century architecture, it's an aptly picturesque setting for Dawson, Joey, Pacey and Jen to come of age.

As is often the case in small towns, finding entertainment can be a challenge, hence the importance of Screen Play Video, where Dawson and Pacey work. For good seafood, the townies head to S.S. Icehouse, a touristy restaurant run by Joey's sister Bessie and her boyfriend Bodie.

Joey waitresses at S.S. Icehouse after school and on weekends. Charming Capeside also offers a one-screen movie theater where many of the town's romantic encounters are either made or broken. If asked to sum up Capeside, Dawson Leery would deem it a mirror image of the fictional beach town featured in "Jaws," the first blockbuster film made by his idol Steven Spielberg.

Kevin Williamson

While “Dawson’s Creek” is Kevin Williamson’s first foray into television, he is a rising star in the top echelon of Hollywood screenwriters. With the blockbuster success of “Scream,” “Scream 2” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” he has become one of Hollywood’s hottest properties. In June of 1997 Williamson was named one of “The 100 Most Creative People In Entertainment” by Entertainment Weekly Magazine.

Born in New Bern, N.C., Williamson studied theater and film at East Carolina University before moving to New York to pursue an acting career. After landing bit parts on television and stage, he moved to Los Angeles to try his hand on the other side of the camera as a writer and director.

While writing at night, Williamson toiled as an assistant to a music video director. His first script sale came with “Killing Mrs. Tingle,” a black comedy that will also serve as his directorial debut. “Dawson’s” Katie Holmes stars in the black horror comedy about a group of students determined to eradicate their most detested teacher. His next original work, “Scream,” came out of Williamson’s childhood fascination with horror movies and marks his first produced screenplay. Directed by Wes Craven and starring Drew Barrymore, Courteney Cox and Neve Campbell, “Scream” amassed gross ticket sales crossing the $100 million industry benchmark and has been credited with reviving the teen horror genre. The film was also awarded Best Movie of the Year at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards.

Williamson followed that massive success with “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” a screenplay he adapted from a classic teen novel by Lois Duncan. The thriller featured “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Philippe and Freddie Prinze, Jr. “Scream 2” was one of the most anticipated sequels in recent film history, and that showed at the box office, with the franchise once again raking in more than $100 million.

This foray into the horror genre was even more a mix of reverence and self-aware irreverence, with the villain obsessed with sequels. Williamson is such a hot commodity that he teamed up with one of cinema’s new fave bad boys, Robert Rodriguez, whose “Dusk ‘til Dawn,” explored the horror genre. Williamson wrote, and Rodriguez will direct “The Faculty,” a tale about a high school in Texas, wherein the teaching staff is comprised of werewolves, bent on preying on the students.

One suspects Williamson doesn’t sleep, as he’s already got two more movies lined up. Williamson gets story credit for “Halloween: The Revenge of Laurie Strode,” which has Jamie Lee Curtis reprising the role that made her famous; and “Scream 3,” which is scheduled to premiere in 1999.