New native drama Paper Dolls will time journey you again to the yr 2000 when a TV phenomenon found a girlband within the eye of the general public gaze and the rising Reality TV style.
It was PopStars which spawned chartbusting Bardot -and the profession of Sophie Monk within the process- however it’s former member Belinda Chapple’s memoir which is the premise of a brand new Paramount+ collection.
“Belinda clearly wrote the guide about her life in Bardot which was inspiration for the scripting and the story. It isn’t the story of Bardot, however everyone knows these 90s pop teams,” says newly-installed Head of Scripted at Paramount, Sophia Mogford.
“I’m English initially, however I’ve lived right here for 20 years. I bear in mind the Spice Girls, rising up. Numerous territories had these teams and the document firms and the TV exhibits that have been behind them.
“It’s acquired so many touchstones for each the children and the general public who’re round right this moment, but additionally a barely older demographic who bear in mind the 90s pop teams and TV exhibits that used to find these singers and teams. There’s music, vogue and nostalgia, so it was a very wonderful match, I believe for Paramount.”
In the eight half collection, the band is known as Harlow (borrowing from display screen siren Jean Harlow, quite than Brigitte Bardot), assembled by means of a fictional TV present, Pop Rush. But there’s a darkish commentary across the machine of pop and the disposability of expertise by document executives.
“Each episode takes the story of one of many women as a result of they’re all going by means of their very own stuff as they’re attempting to be well-known and comply with a dream. But within the meantime, there’s additionally the layers of the document firm and what’s happening there. Their boss Margot (Emma Booth) is attempting to climb up a profession path, however retains getting pushed again down once more.”
Production included not simply an intimacy co-ordinator for delicate scenes however a psychologist in order that its younger forged might navigate among the extra exploitative parts of the storyline.
“That was actually essential all through the method, proper from the get go. They got that help. The storylines have been put by means of that lens as effectively to make sure that they have been true to how reactions would play out, versus simply being made up,” Mogford explains.
“Their performances are heartfelt as a result of the women felt they have been in a protected house. They might actually let go.”
The forged consists of Thomas Cocquerel (The Gilded Age) and Ditch Davey (Spartacus) whereas the fictional Harlow contains actors Emalia (Australian Gangster), Naomi Sequeira (Evermoor Chronicles), Miah Madden (Redfern Now), Courtney Clarke (Last King of The Cross) and Courtney Monsma (Frozen the Musical).
“Some of the women have extra expertise than others however none of them have loads of expertise, which is what we have been on the lookout for to play these 5 roles. They are tough positions to fill, as a result of they want to have the ability to sing, dance and act. But we didn’t need stage present children, if that is smart. We wished that rawness the place they don’t really feel overproduced as a result of they in these roles over the course of the collection,” she continues.
“Ditch Davey, Thomas and Emma Booth simply introduced that stage of expertise, and seniority with their age, that made all of it very plausible. Ditch has a tough function to play due to the story arc that goes by means of the collection.”
Mogford, who labored on The X Factor when contestants have been even anticipated to dwell collectively in a home for TV cameras, effectively remembers an period when Reality TV was digging deep for content material on the expense of its contributors. This can be explored within the collection.
“I suppose there’s a distinction between being filmed overtly, being filmed covertly -and then being filmed overtly however feeling like that it’s important to do one thing. This is place the place Paper Dolls is, the place the digicam is on them on a regular basis,” she says.
“They’re anticipated to put on very transient outfits and behave sexualized dolls. But the collection can be concerning the music and dance, the relationships that they’ve… the soundtrack for the companies is superb, so there’s pleasure amongst the darkness.”
Monster, the opening track for Paper Dolls, may also type a part of a soundtrack to be launched with pop tracks from the present. If it charts, will life imitate artwork? Will Harlow begin performing in purchasing centres simply as Bardot did 20 years in the past?
Mogford would love the candy irony.
“Except that the women will select what outfits they put on and the way they’ll be offered. We’ll be having fun with the expertise if that was the case!”
Paper Dolls screens weekly on Paramount+ from Sunday (and on 10 later in 2024).
