TORONTO — Streaming service BritBox announced Tuesday a new original, limited series called Isolation Stories, which reflects what families are going through after weeks of lockdown, will debut exclusively on the service in June.
Produced by Oscar-nominated writer and producer Jeff Pope (Philomena, A Confession) and his Factual Drama label part of ITV Studios, the four-episode event will feature a roster of British actors including Sheridan Smith (Mrs. Biggs, Gavin & Stacey), David Threlfall (Shameless, Ripper Street), and Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan, Little Dorrit), among others.
“Sometimes all we have left is storytelling. I wanted to try and add the voice of writers, actors and directors to the crisis engulfing the world, to hold up a mirror to families living in isolation and to reflect what we were going through,” said Pope, in the news release. “These stories were written in just days and then filmed in the most challenging conditions ever faced by drama crews — but in an amazing spirit of togetherness actors and technicians came together to create these stunning short films. We were never in the same room together and all the filming was carried out by the actors’ families, but the results were astonishing and will live long in the memory of those involved.”
The series was filmed observing the strict rules of lockdown with actors and their families filming the scenes themselves, guided remotely by an array of acclaimed directors including Paul Whittington (The Crown, Hatton Garden), Paul Andrew Williams (A Confession, Broadchurch), Louise Hooper (Flesh & Blood, Colby Street) and David Blair (The Street, Accused). The team watched footage via their laptops, giving advice to the actors and their family members about camera positioning, scene composition and lighting. BritBox is a joint venture between BBC Studios and ITV. International distribution of Isolation Stories is handled by ITV Studios.
BritBox is available for $8.99 per month — after an introductory seven-day free trial period — on Roku, Apple TV 4th Gen, Samsung, LB and all iOS and Android devices, AirPlay, Chromecast and online at www.britbox.com/ca. BritBox is also available on Amazon Channels for Prime members and on Apple TV Channels on supported devices.
