| Submission declined on 29 August 2025 by GorillaWarfare (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
| Submission declined on 28 August 2025 by Reading Beans (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. Declined by Reading Beans 2 days ago. | |
Comment: Wikipedia articles require significant coverage in independent, reliable sources to establish notability. References written by the subject, or linking to basic listing pages about the subject's publications (Goodreads, Google Books, etc.) are not sufficient. GorillaWarfare (she/her • talk) 00:49, 29 August 2025 (UTC)
Brian Sawyer is an American software developer, screenwriter, producer, and director known for creating VP-Expert, a pioneering expert system shell, co-authoring technical books on visual programming tools, and his extensive work in television and film writing, particularly in the holiday and mystery genres.[1][2]
Early career and software development
editSawyer began his career during the personal computing revolution of the 1980s, focusing on artificial intelligence and expert systems technology.[3] He developed VP-Expert, an expert system shell published by Paperback Software that became the best-selling product of its kind for personal computers.[4]
VP-Expert
editVP-Expert, created by Sawyer, was a rule-based expert system development tool that allowed users to build knowledge-based applications without extensive programming expertise.[5] The software featured:[4]
- Backward chaining for goal-driven reasoning
- IF-THEN rule structures for knowledge representation
- An explanation facility to make decision processes transparent
- User-friendly interface accessible to non-programmers
By 1990, VP-Expert had sold over 120,000 copies worldwide and was used by major organizations including DuPont, Kodak, and the Wharton School of Business.[6] The software found applications across diverse fields including business, finance, engineering, healthcare, and education.[7]
Sawyer's work on VP-Expert helped democratize artificial intelligence tools, making expert system creation accessible to businesses and researchers with limited programming backgrounds.[8] One notable application was "Wines on Disk," a wine recommendation system developed by Anthony Dias Blue using the VP-Expert framework.[9]
ObjectVision collaboration
editIn 1990, Sawyer co-authored "ObjectVision: A Graphical Programming Tool for Object-oriented Applications" with management consultant Paul Harmon.[10][11] The book documented ObjectVision, a forms-based programming language and environment for Windows 3.x developed by Borland.[12] ObjectVision used decision trees rather than traditional programming languages, making application development accessible to non-programmers and supporting various database formats including Paradox, dBASE, and BTrieve.[13]
Early game development
editPrior to his expert system work, Sawyer developed "Dungeon" (1979), an early computer role-playing game that has been recognized by gaming historians for its technical innovations and influence on the genre.[14]
Film and television career
editSawyer transitioned into screenwriting and filmmaking, establishing himself as both a writer and director.[15] His work spans short films, television movies, and series, with particular recognition in holiday and mystery genres.
Early filmmaking success
editIn 2000, Sawyer wrote and directed "Tex, the Passive-Aggressive Gunslinger," a 10-minute comedy short film starring Bob Balaban and Charles Rocket.[16] The film achieved significant recognition:
Selected for the Palm Springs International ShortFest in 2000[17]
Broadcast on the Independent Film Channel (IFC)[18]
Received critical acclaim with an IMDb rating of 7.5/10 based on 91 votes[16]
Praised by critics as "the best short comedy film since 'The Dove'"[16]
Received a film festival award nomination[17]
Television writing career
editSawyer has established himself as a prolific television writer, with over 40 writing credits, 12 producing credits, and 3 directing credits.[1] His filmography includes work for major television networks in holiday-themed movies and mystery series.[19]
Major works
editNetflix feature film
editOperation Christmas Drop (2020) – Co-writer with Gregg Rossen[20]
Recent television movies
editHome Turf (2025) – Writer[1]
Danny and the Dinosaur (2025) – Writer[1]
3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost (2024) – Writer[1]
The Professional Bridesmaid (2023) – Writer (teleplay)[1]
The Winter Palace (2022) – Writer[1]
The Santa Stakeout (2021) – Writer (teleplay)[1]
Christmas Comes Twice (2020) – Writer[1]
2019 productions
editChristmas in Rome (2019) – Story/Teleplay[1]
Sweet Mountain Christmas (2019) – Writer[1]
Wedding at Graceland (2019) – Writer[1]
A Feeling of Home (2019) – Writer[1]
Mystery series
editSawyer has contributed extensively to the "Crossword Mysteries" television movie series:
Crossword Mysteries: Riddle Me Dead (2021) – Based on characters[1]
Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent (2021) – Based on characters[1]
Crossword Mysteries: Proposing Murder (2019) – Writer[1]
Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For (2019) – Story by/Teleplay[1]
Crossword Mysteries: Abracadaver (2019) – Story by[1]
Writing and publications
editIn addition to his screenwriting work, Sawyer has authored technical books and instructional materials:[21]
ObjectVision: A Graphical Programming Tool for Object-oriented Applications (1990) – with Paul Harmon[10]
VP-Expert instructional materials and reference works[22]
Various publications on expert systems and software development methodology[23]
Media coverage and recognition
editSawyer's multidisciplinary career has been featured in various media outlets and professional publications. He has been profiled in design magazines for his creative work[24] and interviewed about his collaborative writing process.[15] Historical archives from the 1990s document his contributions to both technical and creative fields.[25]
Legacy and impact
editBrian Sawyer's career demonstrates remarkable versatility across multiple fields. His work on VP-Expert played a significant role in making expert systems accessible during the early personal computing era, helping to democratize artificial intelligence tools for business and educational use.[6][8] His collaboration with Paul Harmon on ObjectVision contributed to advances in visual programming methodologies.[26]
In entertainment, his transition from successful short filmmaking to prolific television writing illustrates the intersection of technical expertise and creative storytelling. His extensive filmography in family-friendly and seasonal programming has contributed significantly to the television movie landscape, particularly in holiday and mystery genres.[1][19]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Brian Sawyer". IMDb. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Brian Sawyer". Goodreads. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Brian Sawyer". ACM Digital Library. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b "VP-Expert 1.x". WinWorld. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Sawyer, Brian; Shaffer, Dan; Schussler, Terry; Moose, Anne (1987). VP-Expert: Rule-based Expert System Development Tool. Paperback Software. ISBN 978-0-87142-028-2. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Expert Systems: A View of the Field" (PDF). Penn State University. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Prototype: An Expert Database System of ABRI (EDSA)" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Expert systems and knowledge-based engineering (1984-1991)". Indiana University. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "INTELLIGENT MONITORING AND CONTROL" (PDF). CERN. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b "ObjectVision: a graphical programming tool for object-oriented applications". WorldCat. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Harmon, Paul; Sawyer, Brian (22 January 1990). Creating Expert Systems for Business and Industry. Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-61495-1. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Creating Expert Systems for Business and Industry". Goodreads. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "ObjectVision 1.x". WinWorld. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Game 85: Dungeon (1979)". The CRPG Addict. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Writing Teams: Interview with Gregg Rossen and Brian Sawyer". Let's Schmooze. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b c "Tex, the Passive-Aggressive Gunslinger". IMDb. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b "tex the passive aggressive gunslinger". Richard Nilsen. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "'PETE'S CHRISTMAS' PRODUCTION BIOS". Studylib. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Brian Sawyer Archives". Dove.org. 9 January 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Operation Christmas Drop Netflix Film Review". UK Film Review. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Selection of a good expert system shell for instructional purposes". ScienceDirect. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "VP-Expert". Internet Archive. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Implementation of a Distributed Expert System for submarine shipboard maintenance using VP-Expert" (PDF). Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Designer Brian Sawyer Reveals What He Can't Live Without". Galerie Magazine. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Paperback Inferno 85 Sawyer 1990-08 BSFA" (PDF). Fanac.org. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Computer Language Magazine". Retrocomputing Forum. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
External links
editBrian Sawyer at IMDb
Films written by Brian Sawyer at Letterboxd
Interview with Brian Sawyer on "Berson with Brian Sawyer" YouTube channel
"Tex, the Passive-Aggressive Gunslinger" film at Vimeo
Press coverage of Brian Sawyer's design work
   | This article about an American screenwriter is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |