– And then you turn the camera to TikTok format! It is afternoon at St. Hanshaugen in Oslo. Aleksander Dokkeberg (28) and the film crew have just finished filming the opening scene of the drama series “Toxic”. A love story between nightclub owner Aurora and TikTok star Chris. Ola Moen, who has camera responsibility for the series, turns the screen vertically. – And: be so good! The entire scene must be recorded twice. One in width format for viewing online, and one in height format for viewing on the mobile screen. This is how the series will look on the mobile screen. Meeting the audience where they are The young filmmaker collaborates with the production company Nordic Screens, which works with young talent online. Responsible producers: Silje Sirnes Winje and Stian-Barsnes Simonsen in a meeting with Aleksander Dokkeberg. Photo: Carl August Klevjer – We publish on TikTok, because it is the platform young people say influences them the most. When you often come across content that can have a negative impact, it is important for us to come up with content that can have a positive impact, says Stian Barsnes-Simonsen. He is responsible producer for the series. – The target group for Toxic is young people aged 13–25, says Silje Sirnes Winje, who shares the producer role with Stian. She adds that the possibility of direct feedback from the audience is exciting. Aleksander Dokkeberg on set. Photo: Carl August Klevjer A completely new format Watching a series in a completely new format can be challenging. That’s what Silje Riise Næss, who is section leader for artistic assessment at the Norwegian Film Institute, says. EXCITING: The format can present challenges – but at the same time opportunities, says Silje Riise Næss of the Norwegian Film Institute. Photo: Ida Meyn/NFI She also believes that there are several exciting possibilities with this. – I immediately think that it is quite different. We are very good at using our eyes to take in the world in its entirety. We see it on TV screens and cinema screens as well, that historically they have become wider. Mental health as a topic A central part of the series will be to address topics around mental health and eating disorders. The series received NOK 2.2 million in support from the Dam Foundation together with the Ministry of Health and Care. In addition, Nordic Screens collaborates with the organization ROS – Rådgivning om eating disorders. – During the pandemic, the number of admissions for eating disorders increased sharply. With our desire to raise this topic, and normalize seeking help, they were very positive about the project, says Aleksander. Leif Kokvoll, known from TikTok, plays the main role “Chris”. Leif Kokvoll plays the main role in the series. Photo: Carl August Klevjer – It is often about a quest for beauty that is very harmful. It is important to me to show that there is help to be had, and that you should never be afraid to speak out about this. With him on the team, Aleksander has several well-known TikTok profiles. – Considering that the series is published on TikTok, it is also fun to create a universe around this. Not only can the audience meet our characters in the series, but also see faces and personalities they recognize from the same platform. Different formats through the ages Camera is adapted to height format. Both our TV screens and the cinema screen have become wider and wider. When the TV was introduced in Norway in the 50s, the standard was 4:3, i.e. four lengths in width and three lengths in height. In the early 2000s, flat screens took over, and the wide 16:9 format is still in use today. A typical cinema screen shows film where the width is more than twice as long as the height of an image. The format here is 2.35:1. A mobile screen has a format of 9:16, and this is the standard for snapchat, Instagram reels and short cuts on TikTok. Here you can see how a picture from “Toxic” can look in the various formats: 4:3 was the standard for the TV screen for 50 years. Photo: Carl August Klevjer 16:9 is today’s standard for TV screens and streaming. If you go to the cinema or stream a film, 2:35.1 (cinemascope) is the standard format. Our mobile screen is 9:16, and the composition in the picture is fast different. How the audience responds to the format, Aleksander will get an answer shortly. The series launches during September or early October. One in width format on YouTube, and one in height format on TikTok.
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Filmmaker creates series for TikTok – news Culture and entertainment
