THE ENDLESS WORLD OF TV SERIES | ANALYTICAL
“ The most interesting fact for us is that local TV channels don’ t buy foreign series at all, since they have enough of their own content!” us is that local TV channels don’ t buy foreign series at all, since they have enough of their own content!
At present, the most demanded TV products in Azerbaijan are family dramas and comedies, though the latter enjoy slightly less popularity. Why family dramas? Because, for historical reasons, family ties are extremely important in this region. So, if a serious family problem occurs, every member of this family is concerned. That’ s why family breakdowns and family relations problems have always been and will be interesting for local viewers. In 2016 Khazar TV is planning to film at least two series: a family drama and a comedy. So let’ s speak about production process and especially about their two most popular series: My Family and Life – You’ re Wonderful.
“ At present, the most demanded TV products in Azerbaijan are family dramas and comedies, though the latter enjoy slightly less popularity”.
TARANA MURADOVA
Khazar TV Coordinator For Foreign Televisions
“ We’ re shooting 20-25 episodes per month, with an average budget of 50,000 Azn”.
“ We spend 6 months on preparation: we’ re writing the script and calculating the budget. We spend another 3 months on selection of actors and locations. Then we’ re shooting the show by ourselves, without any further assistance or co-production”.
Interview.
SSTR: Which TV series for the last year did you make by yourself? How did you determine what genre and what kind of idea would be successful?
Khazar TV: Well, we keep shooting our TV series Life – You’ re Wonderful( 478 episodes) and My Family( 376 episodes). Comedy and drama are the most popular genres of the Azerbaijan television. But our viewers also like romances and something connected with revenge. And, you know, all these: rich-poor, love, revenge, wrong decision of the head of a household, a foreign law,- we believe exactly these topics are interesting for our viewers.
SSTR: How much do you spend to produce one of the series? How many TV series are you shooting per year?
Khazar TV: We’ re shooting 20-25 episodes per month, with an average budget of 50,000 Azn. As for the last year, we focused on two series: the series Life – You’ re Wonderful and My Family.
SSTR: How much, approximately, does it take you to produce TV series? Do you practice co-production? If yes, can it be international?
Khazar TV: We spend 6 months on preparation: we’ re writing the script and calculating the budget. We spend another 3 months on selection of actors and locations. Then we’ re shooting the show by ourselves, without any further assistance or co-production.
ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2016 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 15