Vertigo Films and Munich-based SquareOne Productions are to produce supernatural drama series, Vamping (8×60’).
The two companies previously collaborated on the StreetDance film franchise and will join again for the “new, cutting-edge gender-bending creative ride.”
Developed for a Young Adult audience, the supernatural drag drama set in Berlin, uses the city’s hedonistic, nocturnal LGBTQ+ club culture as the backdrop in which to tell the story of a vampire community that’s fighting to find its place in the world, through the eyes of young performer, Everett.
Vamping was created by London-born writer, director and producer, Matthew Jacobs Morgan (The Rig, PompeII). He will co write with German-born multi-disciplinary artist and screenwriter Sophie-Yukiko Hasters.
Vamping follows young British drag queen, Everett, a “young, black, brash, queer performer” after he wakes up to find that he has unwittingly been turned into a vampire. “Terrified, angry, and unsure what’s happened to him, he sets off to uncover the truth and finds himself the protagonist in an impending culture war between vampire tribes.”
Al Munteanu, founder of SquareOne Productions, says: “Vamping is a supernatural drama about Drag Queen Vampires. This already gives you all you need to know. It is with these words that Matthew Jacobs Morgan piqued our interest years ago. We further developed the script with him and our partners at Vertigo Films and knew immediately, that we were on the right track to locate the story to Berlin and pair Matthew with German-American multi-talent Sophie-Yukiko Hasters for this story to finds its unique voice. This is a show that celebrates otherness. When rejoining forces after the Street Dance franchise, Allan Niblo and I we knew we that together we understand brash, bright and in-your-face!
Allan Niblo, co-founder of Vertigo Films, said: “Vamping is bold, bonkers and brilliant! We’re extremely passionate about exploring many of the topics that young people are grappling with today, whether it’s championing queer representation and visibility or challenging societal expectations and trying to understand the world we live in. Young people want to see themselves represented in a fun, meaningful and exciting way and Matthew’s vision, alongside Sophie’s experience and background, could not be more perfect in achieving that for Vamping – they will bring an authenticity to the script and characters that is so rare to see on screen.
Matthew Jacobs Morgan, creator, said: “I’m so excited to be writing a show set in one of my favourite cities, and through a genre lens which I have always been obsessed with. We’re blurring the lines between queerness and vampirism in a way which explores otherness, belonging and community whilst also bringing a noisy, queer joy to the forefront with a brilliant army of creatives by my side.”
Sophie-Yukiko Hasters, writer, added: “It have loved working with Matthew to bring Vamping to life and to find its unique German voice, and to explore painting a new portrait of Berlin and its inhabitants – a city and a community that is obviously very close to my heart”
Vamping is executive produced by Allan Niblo for Vertigo Films and Al Munteanu from SquareOne Productions. The series was created by Matthew Jacobs Morgan and written by Matthew and Sophie-Yukiko Hasters. The production will draw on talent from minority and underrepresented communities both in front and behind the camera, with casting taking place in the coming months.
pic: L-R: Matthew Jacobs Morgan and Sophie-Yukiko Hasters
Jon Creamer
Share this story
