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Top of the Lake a plunge into uncharted waters for BBC Top of the Lake a plunge into uncharted waters for BBC
(2 months later)
There is something out of the ordinary about BBC2's new drama Top of the Lake, starring Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss – it is directed by an Oscar winner, Jane Campion, and set and filmed abroad.There is something out of the ordinary about BBC2's new drama Top of the Lake, starring Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss – it is directed by an Oscar winner, Jane Campion, and set and filmed abroad.
But viewers can expect to see more of both as film-makers increasingly turn their attention to the small screen and domestic broadcasters expand their horizons worldwide.But viewers can expect to see more of both as film-makers increasingly turn their attention to the small screen and domestic broadcasters expand their horizons worldwide.
A six-part crime drama about the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old, Top of the Lake has been compared to the Danish TV hit The Killing and David Lynch's Twin Peaks.A six-part crime drama about the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old, Top of the Lake has been compared to the Danish TV hit The Killing and David Lynch's Twin Peaks.
But the programme remains quintessentially Campion, co-starring Holly Hunter, who last worked with the director on The Piano, 20 years ago. Campion says she was inspired to switch to TV after watching HBO's western drama Deadwood. "Television was commissioning amazing material and, in a way, they had a more loyal, more interesting audience than film," she has said. "I liked the idea of having something novel length. I like novels and this was too wide and big for a film."But the programme remains quintessentially Campion, co-starring Holly Hunter, who last worked with the director on The Piano, 20 years ago. Campion says she was inspired to switch to TV after watching HBO's western drama Deadwood. "Television was commissioning amazing material and, in a way, they had a more loyal, more interesting audience than film," she has said. "I liked the idea of having something novel length. I like novels and this was too wide and big for a film."
With executive producers including Emile Sherman and Iain Canning, who made The King's Speech (another Oscar winner), Top of the Lake was filmed in New Zealand's South Island, where Lord of the Rings was shot. Its backers included the BBC, the Sundance Channel in the US and Screen Australia, among others.With executive producers including Emile Sherman and Iain Canning, who made The King's Speech (another Oscar winner), Top of the Lake was filmed in New Zealand's South Island, where Lord of the Rings was shot. Its backers included the BBC, the Sundance Channel in the US and Screen Australia, among others.
These multiple funders gave Campion a budget she could work with, but the relationship between the broadcasters was not entirely straightforward. Australian broadcaster ABC pulled out over Moss's casting in the lead role of child crime specialist Robin Giffin because she was not homegrown talent.These multiple funders gave Campion a budget she could work with, but the relationship between the broadcasters was not entirely straightforward. Australian broadcaster ABC pulled out over Moss's casting in the lead role of child crime specialist Robin Giffin because she was not homegrown talent.
"You are going to get the best actors in the world who are right for the part," said BBC controller of drama commissioning Ben Stephenson."You are going to get the best actors in the world who are right for the part," said BBC controller of drama commissioning Ben Stephenson.
"They understandably felt they had a certain set of criteria they needed for investment. That's perfectly reasonable – it's actually healthier to part company if you disagree than muddle along.""They understandably felt they had a certain set of criteria they needed for investment. That's perfectly reasonable – it's actually healthier to part company if you disagree than muddle along."
Many homegrown dramas are filmed overseas, almost invariably for tax reasons, but Top of the Lake is unusual in being set abroad, with antipodean accents. The BBC's Wallander remake was made in Sweden but with an entirely British cast.Many homegrown dramas are filmed overseas, almost invariably for tax reasons, but Top of the Lake is unusual in being set abroad, with antipodean accents. The BBC's Wallander remake was made in Sweden but with an entirely British cast.
"This is something that is really key for me going forward," said Stephenson. "That we don't limit our horizons by thinking we are British, therefore we just have to make things set in Britain.""This is something that is really key for me going forward," said Stephenson. "That we don't limit our horizons by thinking we are British, therefore we just have to make things set in Britain."
Stephenson is also keen to bring more film directors to the small screen. He recently met Gurinder Chadha, co-writer and director of Bend It Like Beckham, the film that turned Keira Knightley into a star.Stephenson is also keen to bring more film directors to the small screen. He recently met Gurinder Chadha, co-writer and director of Bend It Like Beckham, the film that turned Keira Knightley into a star.
Other big screen talent the BBC is working with includes David Heyman, the producer behind the Harry Potter films, Dangerous Liaisons writer Christopher Hampton, and Steven Knight (Eastern Promises, Dirty Pretty Things).Other big screen talent the BBC is working with includes David Heyman, the producer behind the Harry Potter films, Dangerous Liaisons writer Christopher Hampton, and Steven Knight (Eastern Promises, Dirty Pretty Things).
On screen, Dark Knight star Maggie Gyllenhaal is the latest US film actor to switch to British TV (after Gillian Anderson in BBC2's The Fall and Jeremy Piven in ITV's Mr Selfridge) in BBC2 thriller, The Honourable Woman.On screen, Dark Knight star Maggie Gyllenhaal is the latest US film actor to switch to British TV (after Gillian Anderson in BBC2's The Fall and Jeremy Piven in ITV's Mr Selfridge) in BBC2 thriller, The Honourable Woman.
Top of the Lake has already been screened overseas to almost universal acclaim. "A taut and provocative thriller about damage, vengeance and escape," said one critic. "Gorgeous and ambiguous and grips like a hallucination," said another.Top of the Lake has already been screened overseas to almost universal acclaim. "A taut and provocative thriller about damage, vengeance and escape," said one critic. "Gorgeous and ambiguous and grips like a hallucination," said another.
The BBC will hope it garners similar notices when it begins on BBC2 on Saturday night. The corporation's other big drama, BBC1's The White Queen starring 29-year-old Swedish actor Rebecca Ferguson, underwhelmed critics, with a disappointing weekly audience of 4 million viewers.The BBC will hope it garners similar notices when it begins on BBC2 on Saturday night. The corporation's other big drama, BBC1's The White Queen starring 29-year-old Swedish actor Rebecca Ferguson, underwhelmed critics, with a disappointing weekly audience of 4 million viewers.
"I couldn't care less about the critical reaction," said Stephenson of the White Queen. "I'd like it to be doing a bigger audience, but the truth is this is what the BBC is all about – taking big risks and giving people the opportunity to do things. I'm really glad we did it.""I couldn't care less about the critical reaction," said Stephenson of the White Queen. "I'd like it to be doing a bigger audience, but the truth is this is what the BBC is all about – taking big risks and giving people the opportunity to do things. I'm really glad we did it."
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