Production has started on Float, a digital drama produced by Black Camel Pictures for BBC iPlayer.
Commissioned by BBC Scotland in partnership with Screen Scotland, the 6×10’ drama forms part of BBC Scotland’s multi-platform drive to develop and commission content for young under-represented audiences in Scotland.
Written by Scottish playwright Stef Smith, Float follows Jade, a university dropout who has found herself back in her seaside hometown working as a lifeguard at the local pool. Jade is hiding the terrible truth of why she left Glasgow, and the rest of the motley crew of staff have troubles of their own. Set in a small town in Scotland, Float is a lesbian coming-of-age story about how the secrets you hide can consume you.
Commenting on the drama, Stef says: “I’m so very grateful to have had the opportunity to finally shine a light on the LGBTQ+ stories that exist outside of urban centres, and to lead this drama with two female queer characters, played with such honesty and complexity. Representation matters, and I hope that viewers might see some of themselves in this series and feel a little less alone in what makes their heart ache and what gives them hope.”
Boasting a cast of young Scottish breakthrough acting talent, Float stars Hannah Jarrett-Scott (Trust Me), Jessica Hardwick (Snow Angel), Ben Presley (Doctor Who, Galavant), Jack Stewart (Outlander), Polina Sulim (Sweet) and Izuka Hoyle (The Outpost, Clique).
Hannah Jarrett-Scott adds: “It’s so important to see characters like Jade on screen. I’m holding all the folk in her heart that wished they’d seen her before now. They make her who she is and they are keeping her afloat. It’s a true privilege to feel a part of something that I know is the first of its kind in Scotland.”
The LGBT drama was developed from an initial pilot with BBC Writersroom Scotland. The series is commissioned by Gavin Smith, Commissioning Executive for Scripted and Entertainment at BBC Scotland: “Stef’s brilliant script has authentically captured a young adult story set outside the big towns and cities of Scotland. It’s full of heart and romance and we are delighted to be working with Black Camel and partnering with Screen Scotland to bring Float to iPlayer. Float continues our commitment to portray contemporary Scotland and the lives of our audience across our services, and iPlayer is the perfect destination for the young adult audience to find it both locally and across the whole UK.”
Jennifer Armitage from Screen Scotland said: “Float introduces us to a community of young people living in rural Scotland, and the real issues they are facing today, and we can’t wait for audiences to meet Jade and her friends. It is fantastic to be working in partnership with BBC Scotland to provide vital development opportunities for Scotland’s writing and acting talent through commissions like this fresh new drama from Stef Smith and Black Camel.”
Float is a Black Camel Pictures production. Arabella Page-Croft executive producer/director says: “Float gives us the opportunity to take some of Scotland’s brightest and smartest theatre talents in writer Stef Smith and actors Hannah Jarrett-Scott and Jessica Hardwick, and to introduce their talents to a much broader digital audience. We are hugely grateful that both BBC Scotland and Screen Scotland committed to a six part series for Float. We’ve fallen in love with Stef’s two lead characters, Jade and Colette, and can’t wait to share their beautiful and tender love story with our audiences.”
Float will be scheduled for BBC iPlayer later in the year.
Jon Creamer
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