This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/aug/26/the-collection-v-the-crown-amazon-and-netflix-turn-to-uk-talent-in-tv-wars

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
The Collection v The Crown: Amazon and Netflix turn to UK talent in TV wars Battle royal: Amazon and Netflix turn to UK talent in TV wars
(35 minutes later)
As the battle between Amazon and Netflix for the next generation of viewers intensifies, both streaming services are adding a new weapon to their arsenal: the creative muscle of the British television industry.As the battle between Amazon and Netflix for the next generation of viewers intensifies, both streaming services are adding a new weapon to their arsenal: the creative muscle of the British television industry.
Next week, audiences who miss the stylish US hit Mad Men will be able to get their fix from lavish fashion drama The Collection, Amazon’s first original UK series. Netflix will soon follow suit with its own British debut, The Crown, focusing on the life of Elizabeth II.Next week, audiences who miss the stylish US hit Mad Men will be able to get their fix from lavish fashion drama The Collection, Amazon’s first original UK series. Netflix will soon follow suit with its own British debut, The Crown, focusing on the life of Elizabeth II.
Amazon’s all-star postwar period piece cost £16m to make. A large part of that budget went on costumes, with Parisian designers spending six months creating a couture collection especially for the show and more than 1,000 outfits for the cast.Amazon’s all-star postwar period piece cost £16m to make. A large part of that budget went on costumes, with Parisian designers spending six months creating a couture collection especially for the show and more than 1,000 outfits for the cast.
It is perhaps more than just fortunate timing that the retail giant has this year launched its own clothing lines. The Collection may provide the kind of advertising tie-in Don Draper would dream of, and Simon Vaughan, the chief executive of producer Lookout Point, acknowledges that Amazon may have foreseen some kind of “strategic” benefit when it picked up the show. It is perhaps more than just fortunate timing that the US multinational has this year launched its own clothing lines. The Collection may provide the kind of advertising tie-in Mad Men’s Don Draper would dream of, and Simon Vaughan, the chief executive of producer Lookout Point, acknowledges that Amazon may have foreseen some kind of strategic benefit when it picked up the show.
But Vaughan says Amazon also saw that the glamorous, pacey drama is much more than just good marketing – it is a big-ticket series in the increasingly competitive world of global television. The Collection is a serious rival to another postwar series, Netflix’s £100m The Crown, which begins in November.But Vaughan says Amazon also saw that the glamorous, pacey drama is much more than just good marketing – it is a big-ticket series in the increasingly competitive world of global television. The Collection is a serious rival to another postwar series, Netflix’s £100m The Crown, which begins in November.
The Collection’s top-notch cast includes Mamie Gummer, The Good Wife actor and daughter of Meryl Streep; Harry Potter and The Lady in the Van’s Frances de la Tour; Crossbones and Coupling actor Richard Coyle; Mistresses star Sarah Parish; Games of Thrones’ James Cosmo; and Jenna Thiam of French drama The Returned. The Collection’s cast includes The Good Wife actor Mamie Gummer, The Good Wife actor and daughter of Meryl Streep; Frances de la Tour; Crossbones and Coupling actor Richard Coyle; Mistresses actor Sarah Parish; Games of Thrones’ James Cosmo; and Jenna Thiam of French drama The Returned.
The show’s eight episodes follow the rise of the fashion house of Paul Sabine, played by Coyle, whose creative genius is actually his brother, Claude, played by Da Vinci’s Demons actor Tom Riley.The show’s eight episodes follow the rise of the fashion house of Paul Sabine, played by Coyle, whose creative genius is actually his brother, Claude, played by Da Vinci’s Demons actor Tom Riley.
Coyle took the part because he was “intrigued by the delicious dramatic set-up – an ambitious and hugely gifted man on the cusp of the superstardom he craves, terrified of what the spotlight will also show in the shadows behind him”. He adds: “Paul is like a moth drawn to the flame that may well kill him.Coyle took the part because he was “intrigued by the delicious dramatic set-up – an ambitious and hugely gifted man on the cusp of the superstardom he craves, terrified of what the spotlight will also show in the shadows behind him”. He adds: “Paul is like a moth drawn to the flame that may well kill him.
“Reinvention is one of The Collection’s major themes. Paul has worked fiercely to reinvent himself and his family, and the new Sabine collection represents the reinvention of France after the stain of Nazi occupation and collaboration in World War II.”“Reinvention is one of The Collection’s major themes. Paul has worked fiercely to reinvent himself and his family, and the new Sabine collection represents the reinvention of France after the stain of Nazi occupation and collaboration in World War II.”
Coyle admits he knew “little of the business of haute couture”, nor how “extensively it reached into all aspects of French society and culture during this period”. But he now sees it as “a mirror which reflects who we are, what we are and where we are, but more than that endows possibility and hope”.Coyle admits he knew “little of the business of haute couture”, nor how “extensively it reached into all aspects of French society and culture during this period”. But he now sees it as “a mirror which reflects who we are, what we are and where we are, but more than that endows possibility and hope”.
The series was sparked by a visit to the Victoria & Albert museum in London by one of the show’s executive producers, Kate Croft. She took the idea to Oliver Goldstick, showrunner and writer on hits such as Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Lipstick Jungle and Pretty Little Liars. Despite the glamorous world the Sabines work in, Goldstick was keen to make the series work primarily as a family drama and an “entrepreneurial fable”. The series was sparked by a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London by one of the show’s executive producers, Kate Croft. She took the idea to Oliver Goldstick, producer and writer on hits such as Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Lipstick Jungle and Pretty Little Liars. Despite the glamorous world the Sabines work in, Goldstick was keen to make the series work primarily as a family drama and an “entrepreneurial fable”.
Although it is threaded through with sumptuous couture, The Collection contrasts the glitz with the grit. “I thought there was just this incredible juxtaposition,” Goldstick tells the Guardian. “I felt that needed to be illustrated … and show these clothes represented something politically, too. The clothes represent hope. I can’t think of a time in more recent history where clothes had more impact emotionally and politically.” Although it is threaded through with sumptuous couture, The Collection contrasts the glitz with the grit. “I thought there was just this incredible juxtaposition,” Goldsticksays. “I felt that needed to be illustrated … and show these clothes represented something politically, too. The clothes represent hope. I can’t think of a time in more recent history where clothes had more impact emotionally and politically.”
Amazon’s advertising team have got behind the show with a big campaign and Goldstick has started preliminary work on a second series, in the hope that the first is a hit. With its themes of family, success, secrecy and love, as well as its stylish look, The Collection should appeal to a global audience, not just a UK one.Amazon’s advertising team have got behind the show with a big campaign and Goldstick has started preliminary work on a second series, in the hope that the first is a hit. With its themes of family, success, secrecy and love, as well as its stylish look, The Collection should appeal to a global audience, not just a UK one.
It represents the new way television drama is being made in the US and the UK, with producers and writers having more of a say in how the finished show looks than under the traditional system, where broadcasters have greater ownership and sway. It represents the new way television drama is being made in the US and the UK, with producers and writers having more of a say in how the finished show looks than under the traditional system in which broadcasters have greater ownership and sway.
Lookout Point made the acclaimed War and Peace for the BBC, and although the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, was involved in putting together funding for The Collection, it was just one of a number of production partners.Lookout Point made the acclaimed War and Peace for the BBC, and although the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, was involved in putting together funding for The Collection, it was just one of a number of production partners.
Vaughan says: “It’s been very different on this particular project. Amazon have been very hands-off editorially. It started off more like an acquisition. In a funny kind of way, it almost felt like a self-commissioned series, in that we are making it together with a number of commercial partners. We’ve had input from our partners, but in some ways it’s been quite an independent project.”Vaughan says: “It’s been very different on this particular project. Amazon have been very hands-off editorially. It started off more like an acquisition. In a funny kind of way, it almost felt like a self-commissioned series, in that we are making it together with a number of commercial partners. We’ve had input from our partners, but in some ways it’s been quite an independent project.”
Goldstick agrees Amazon have been “supportive partners who want to hire the best people and the best teams”. He adds: “Amazon is a company that’s all about thinking what’s next. Being on set on Wales, it wasn’t a day-to-day relationship, but they were very supportive and benevolent, encouraging us to hire the best people and see this vision through without compromise.”Goldstick agrees Amazon have been “supportive partners who want to hire the best people and the best teams”. He adds: “Amazon is a company that’s all about thinking what’s next. Being on set on Wales, it wasn’t a day-to-day relationship, but they were very supportive and benevolent, encouraging us to hire the best people and see this vision through without compromise.”