Category: TRENDSPOTTING
Tall Tudor tale
The Tudors might be an evergreen subject for historical dramas, but in the hands of My Lady Jane showrunners Gemma Burgess and Meredith Glynn, history is almost unrecognisable. They outline how they created this dramatic alt-history series that imagines a different future for Lady Jane Grey.
Pods save the screen
Podcasters are television’s new favourite criminal investigators. Jez Scharf and Alex Metcalf, showrunners of Netflix series Bodkin, speak to DQ about this new trend and explain how a trio of podcasters seek to unearth an Irish town’s hidden secrets in the seven-part thriller.
Tick-tock trend
The writers behind series including Hijack, Nightsleeper, Breathtaking and Storm Lara dissect their interest in setting dramas in real time, what impact this has on storytelling and how they bring viewers along for the ride.
Embracing the dark side
Writing for DQ, Carolina Bang from Banijay Iberia’s Pokeepsie Films shares the secrets to creating successful horror series and explains why viewers love to be taken into dark and mysterious worlds.
Taking it literary
As books become increasingly popular as source material for TV drama, five producers share their thoughts on adapting literature for the screen and discuss why retaining the spirit of a novel is more important than slavish loyalty to plot.
Shifting screens
As film directors continue to move to TV, Denmark’s Lone Scherfig and Argentinian filmmaker Daniel Burman discuss working for the small screen and the challenges they faced along the way.
The perfect blend
Clelia Mountford, co-founder of Catastrophe producer Merman, and Feel Good creator Mae Martin speak to DQ about the finding the right mix of laughs and emotion to hit the sweet spot of comedy drama.
Behind the headlines
The producers behind French true crime dramas Le Mensonge (Something to Hide) and Laëtitia tell DQ about the background to these series and why the genre continues to fascinate viewers.
Trust no one
In the age of fake news, a trend for unreliable characters is fuelling some of TV’s biggest thrillers. DQ speaks to a group of writers to find out how they keep viewers hooked.
Viral drama
As the television industry – and the world – continues to be gripped by the coronavirus pandemic, DQ speaks to the creatives behind The Hot Zone, Cordon and Between to find out how they dramatised viral outbreaks and how future series could reflect current events.
Bingeworthy box sets
As people around the world self-isolate and heed orders to stay at home amid the devastating coronavirus pandemic, DQ offers a selection of series from around the world to enjoy.
Berlin calling
With television now well and truly matching the star power of the movie business, DQ runs the rule over the TV series getting red-carpet premieres at the Berlin International Film Festival, which begins today.
World building
As television drama transports viewers to new worlds, both historical and fantastical, the role of the production designer has never been more important. DQ finds out more about the job from those doing it on shows in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.
Arresting developments
Crime continues to be the dominant force in television drama. DQ speaks to a selection of leading writers and producers about the genre and finds out how their latest series are pushing the boundaries of traditional police stories.
Steppe change
Writing for DQ, Alexandra Modestova, director general of Russian film and television consultancy Expocontent, explains how series such as The Road to Calvary and An Ordinary Woman are leading the rise in female-led dramas in the country.
The next chapter
A lot of noise has been made about how longform serialised dramas are the ‘new novels,’ with numerous episodes that keep audiences hooked until the very end. But what books are now coming to screen and how are they being adapted?
Less is more
The demand for long-running series is seemingly unstoppable, yet TV movies and one-off dramas are becoming a powerful tool in addressing single issues or themes. They’re also evidence that not every story needs to run to multiple episodes and seasons.
Telling the truth
Factual dramas are a staple of the scripted television landscape and can often be relied upon to bring in big ratings. DQ explores how these series are developed and brought to air, with contributions from the writers behind Waco and Kiri.
Dystopian blues
The television landscape is awash with series set in alternative – and not particularly bright – futures. Stephen Arnell casts his eye over the dystopian series on screen, and also finds sci-fi series with a more optimistic outlook.
Changing shades of noir
Ten years after Forbrydelsen (The Killing) first aired and with the final season of Bron/Broen (The Bridge) starting next month, Nordic crime drama has dominated the international landscape for a decade. But what does the future hold for the genre and where will those who make it go next?