Fact ent show Wedding Dancers and drama Deadly Messages in development with Welsh indie
Recently formed Welsh prodco Mermaid Pictures has struck an exclusive deal with Australian development and distribution company Escapade Media that will see two of its shows being taken to Mipcom, Broadcast International has learned.
Fact ent show Wedding Dancers (10 x 52 minutes) and cosy crime series Deadly Messages (8 x 60 minutes) will both be rolled out by Escapade to buyers in Cannes next month, following the launch of Mermaid earlier this year.
The Monmouthshire-based company was founded by Welcome to Wrexham producer Sara Gibbings and Call the Midwife director Jo Southwell, both alumni of Creative UK Female Founders. It aims to create shows for UK and international audiences, championing female and under-represented creatives.
Wedding Dancers sees celebrity choreographers working with couples and their wedding parties to create bespoke dances to transform their big day.
Deadly Messages is an eight-part drama that has been written by Omar Khan and directed by Southwell. It follows the sleuthing skills of a former Delhi detective who becomes a UK social media icon and cracks cold cases uncovered online.
Natalie Lawley of Escapade Media said: “Jo Southwell and Sara Gibbings are a formidable creative force, and Escapade is honoured to be working with them.
“Having already spoken to a number of high-profile clients, we are building interest for these projects which appeal to the trends and needs of current buyers and commissioners.”
Southwell and Gibbings added that they are ”in discussions with some interesting talent” on Wedding Dancers and Deadly Messages, with further details to follow.
The shows join an Escapade slate that includes factual series Food Diary, A Season with Isabelle Rossellin and Untamed. The scripted slate includes Portobello Road, Deadly Messages, Swipe; In the Light of Darkness; Children’s series Reu & Harper and BlueNoses.
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