Selin Arat
Tims&B Productions is one of Turkey's most renowned production companies, responsible for global hits such as “Bitter Lands,” “Deception,” and the recently released “Valley of Hearts.” With new projects for free-to-air TV channels and digital platforms, Señal News spoke with Selin Arat, Director of International Operations, who described the company's path to global expansion.
How would you define Tims&B's international strategy?
"Whatever we do, we focus on capturing the entire world. It is important first to win over our local audiences to guarantee a series' longevity and success; however, we value creating international appeal as well because we now also have a responsibility towards our loyal viewers worldwide to deliver high-quality content."
How do you want to position the company in the global arena?
"I would position us as a solid prodco committed to creating top-notch content that travels the world. Budget-wise, we are naturally bound by the financial limitations of the specific industry and country we are in, but in terms of creativity, the sky is the limit. For Turkish drama aficionados, I think we can safely declare that Tims&B has become a household name in this industry following the legacy of Tims Productions."
What are the main features of the upcoming series "Eşref Rüya"?
“'Eşref Rüya' is a story that will candidly portray love in all its stages. With the protagonist Eşref’s dark past and multiple conflicts, the audience will experience an enjoyment that matches the depth and richness of reading a classic novel. We believe integrating a crime unit made up only of orphans into the story will greatly contribute to carrying this project further than a romantic drama. Apart from the script's strength, the cast is one of the most powerful features of this highly anticipated series. We are working with some of the best in Turkish television. Çağatay Ulusoy and Demet Özdemir, both revered internationally, paired up on screen for the first time. The creative team behind the project is equally exciting as we are embarking on this journey together with our dear scriptwriter Ethem Özışık and well-known director Uluç Bayraktar, who are meticulously weaving the intricate details of the universe of 'Eşref Rüya.'"
What business potential do you observe in producing content for digital platforms?
"Of course, the business model of digital platforms is quite different from linear television. When doing a series for platforms, the basic tendency is to try to divulge from the restrictions of free TV, which is tightly regulated as all free TV is around the world, allowing experimenting with different genres and styles of storytelling and shorter durations. Creatively, it is a nice challenge for producers and above-the-line crews who are so used to running a close race that it gives them an opportunity to run an extended marathon instead. From a commissioning point of view, the local legs of the global streamers need more content than linear broadcasters, as their content is more quickly consumed than a typical successful, long-running free TV drama. Hence, their stable interest in our content continues. But broadcasters remain the key buyers, as the business model there is more win-win for all parties from a financial standpoint."
How would you describe the "Istanbul Encyclopedia" and "Old Money" projects for Netflix?
"For us, 'Istanbul Encyclopedia' is not just a series but almost a modern chronicle of Istanbul’s unique heartbeat, culture, and history. Under the helm of Selman Nacar, it has turned out to be a series that reflects the independent cinema spirit while also infusing the audience thoroughly with feeling. 'Old Money,' on the other hand, offers an entirely different perspective as a production that questions the meaning of power and the dynamics of family and heritage in this day and age. Its story is based on two contrasting characters from diverse backgrounds who are both attracted to and challenged by each other… We have enjoyed bringing both of these projects to life and think the audiences will share in that enjoyment as they are launched on Netflix this year."
What is the international potential of "Valley of Hearts"? How does the show is impacting Turkiye's Thursday slot?
"'Valley of Hearts' has debuted this season with a bang. Against two very successful continuing shows, I believe it has successfully carved out a place of its own within the immensely competitive Thursday slot. Despite the widely watched football games (local and international) that have been on almost every week this season, it has managed to stay within the top-watched programs. So, we are quite happy with the results. As for the international potential of the series, I can safely say that it is one of our fastest-selling titles since Bitter Lands. With a star-studded cast and set against the incredibly captivating backdrop of Cappadocia, Valley of Hearts encompasses everything that would resonate with global audiences. It is a strong family drama with all its layers depicted by characters with “black and white hearts,” focusing on themes of intrigue, power struggles, secrets, and passion with not one but two love axes at the core."
What other plans do you have for 2025?
"2025 will be a thrilling year for us as it will bear some fundamental surprises that we will announce in due course. Apart from that, we have quite a few exciting projects in the pipeline. One of them is a linear TV series called 'Yasak Aşk,' which tells the story of great strife under the shade of passionate love and complex relations within a family, which takes place in the 90’s. We are working on a number of digital and linear series with writer Meriç Acemi (known for Stiletto Vendetta and Love for Rent), with whom we collaborated on 'Old Money.' We might have another surprise in store for this summer as we usually do not produce the 'summer series' they are called. However, as a company, we enjoy producing diversified content and trying to surpass ourselves and expand our boundaries with each new project. So, every new story is a challenge and a source of pleasure for us simultaneously."