In the face of growing demand from audiences for more on-screen diversity, the issue of authenticity has become a central one. Series Mania Forum summoned the talents behind the "Caid" and "Sort Of" series to talk about this topic, who shared their experiences making these two innovative titles. All the panelists agreed that inspiration creates that kind of show came from real life. "The inspiration of 'Sort Of' started with the exchange of life stories with other people, with inspiring stories from our lives," asserted Bilal Baig, Executive Producer, Writer and Co-Creator of the series, along with Fab Filippo who added, "we wanted to explore every character's transition in the show."
"Sort Of" is a CBC original comedy series starring Sabi Mehboob (Baig), a fluid millennial who straddles various identities from the sexy bartender at an LGBTQ bookstore/bar to the youngest child in a large Pakistani family to the de facto parent of a downtown hipster family. Sabi feels like they’re in transition in every aspect of their life, from gender to love to sexuality to family to career. "Whatever we do as producers and creators are driven through authenticity, no matter what the story is about. All it's about openness but is a never-ending process," commented Jennifer Kawaja, executive producer of the show.
In the case of "Caid" ("Dealer"), the inspiration was also born from real life. "I wanted to develop and create characters that I know from my real life," said Nicolas Lopez, creator of the series. "We adapted the feature film into a series with Aurélie Meimon (the producer); we spoke the same language and had the same desires," he expressed. "When the program is made of clichés, it is not authentic. The unique point of view of the producers has to protect them from the clichés," added Meimon. "Diversity is about real life and different points of view, and we have to take that into account when we create and produce a show."
THE ORIGINAL IDEA
Writers, producers, and broadcasters discussed the specificities of writing original series and debated the obstacles that sometimes exist for these original projects within a TV landscape where adaptations are everywhere. "When we sell a show, we are selling something new, something that doesn't exist on TV, and that entails challenges, but we love ideas, we want to be part of them, brings them to the market and that should never stop," commented Nicola Soderlund, Managing Partner at Eccho Rights. On the other hand, Boris Duchesnay, Deputy General Manager in charge of programs in OCS, agreed with Soderlund about the importance of a strong IP and recognized that as a Pay TV player, OCS wants so to surprise the audience with original IP and original content.
The French writer, Olivier Pouponneau, said "all the broadcasters want to be original, but at the same time they don't want to take so many risks. It is possible to sell original ideas in France, but you have to set the trend."
In the same panel, the screenwriter, showrunner, producer Amit Cohen opened the discussion about whether it is easier to create a new and original idea or adapt from something existing, like a book. "It's easier to adapt an idea from something that exists, as a book," affirmed Cohen. "I think It is a wrong idea to think that it is easier or quicker to adapt a book into a series," added Pouponneau. "It's hard work," stated Jorge Iglesias, CCO Weekend Studio. Despite the different opinions, all the panelists agreed that it is possible to sell original ideas worldwide nowadays, whether they are 100% original or based on true stories, books, or adaptations from movies. "In order to develop something real, you have to have passion, fire in your eyes to have success," concluded Cohen.
By Romina Rodríguez
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