Will Gould, Executive Producer, Tiger Aspect Productions
Q: Why Jack the Ripper? A: When the project came to us, we asked ourselves “why do that when it’s done many times before?” So the first goal really was to find a new angle that people would be interested in. The first thing we said was we weren’t going to do a hunt for Jack-the-Ripper story and one of the first decisions made was to set this show six months after the last of the Jack the Ripper killings so we couldn’t even tell those stories.
Jack the Ripper is kind of emblematic of a specific era in UK history and we were interested in that era; that time and space. Whitechapel in 1889 is incredibly interesting. It’s a time of great change, social change, and technological change, so we’re kind of using Jack the Ripper as a way to explore all these other things that were going on at that time, while still telling the story of the policemen that failed to catch Jack the Ripper and had that great sense of failing; but also a great kind of drive to make the world a better place in other ways.
Q: A lot of popular crime drama now is based on modern-day settings but Ripper Street is clearly period drama. Are there concerns that this would be different from what audiences are used to? A: We’ve never worried about it because we thought the central idea was very interesting. We hope the quality of the show will hook audiences in. I certainly think what we’ve done is to try to create a different sense of that period. The BBC is very well known for making such period pieces; a lot of Dickens, and Jane Austen. We were trying to do a different kind of show that’s set in a similar period, so I think our show is quite modern in many ways. Our characters live in a modern age; an age full of opportunity, an age full of technological advances. So because they think of the world as modern I think this show feels modern. It has a kind of a swagger; a modernity to it. I think it’s a great new way of telling crime stories.
Q: How would you tackle scenes of violence and gore? A: The title of the show Ripper Street conjures up a certain tone that the audience would expect but while we try to stay true to the events, we’re not explicit. In fact, many times we pulled away from the material we shot when we came to the edit because I think sometimes it’s more interesting not to see and to suggest, and I think ultimately a lot of our stories are about other crimes as well. So it’s not all about dismembered bodies or things like that. I think many other shows are a lot more violent and gratuitive than our show.
Q: This fall, some U.S. networks are coming up with shows featuring serial killers (Hannibal on NBC and The Following on FOX). Is there a trend? A: I only heard about these other shows only after we’d finished shooting our show – a coincidence if anything. Our show, I think, is a very different show. It’s not a hunt for Jack the Ripper. It’s not a serial killer show as such where I’m sure with Hannibal, it’s much more about that but yes, you can’t deny, there seem to be a lot of serial killer elements and shows coming up. Maybe it’s a trend, and if we’re a part of that, then great!
Q: Where’s the bulk of the budget for Ripper Street going to? A: We’re a good-sized television budget. What we did as a conscious decision earlier on is to try and build our world practically, to have it physically there, rather than rely on CGI to create that look. Obviously Whitechapel of 1889 doesn’t exist, so we had a great designer Mark Geraghty, who painstakingly found ways on our limited budget to create this world in Ireland. I think it helps as it means the place has a sense of itself. We have CGI and the CGI guys have done a great job but it’s really very much a supporting role rather than being the star of the show, and I think that (the location) has been an important element for us in the way we managed the budget. CGI is incredibly expensive. So we’ve tried to physically build this world and the budget has allowed us to create a world that’s very believable and visually interesting.
Q: Why do you think the crime genre is appealing to audiences? A: I think that people like the crime genre because it has a narrative that pulls you through. At the very simplistic element there is some chaos; something has gone wrong, and then characters bring order to the world. Wherever you are, whatever period you’re in, it kind of just give you a narrative backbone to then be able to explore other things, like great characters. I’m always surprised how many ways and reinventions of that genre there are.
Q: Would the crime genre continue to reign or are there new genres that are “taking over”? A: Things come in waves but crime will always be there. I don’t see that waning at all here. People always love seeing new versions of that genre so if you look at shows like Luther (BBC One) for example, that was a great new version of doing crime. I think as long as shows like that are coming through, there’ll be always be crime and I think that will always be the most popular genre in television. Sarah Doole, Creative Director & Head of Indie Drama, Content & Production, BBC Worldwide
Q: Crime seems to increasingly popular for the BBC. From a sales perspective, would this be a trend that will attract international buyers? A: Crime drama has always been a hugely popular genre throughout the world and a perennial best seller for BBC Worldwide. For example, we have sold crime dramas such as Silent Witness, Waking the Dead and Sherlock to over 200 territories and Inspector Lynley, Whitechapel and New Tricks to over 190. There was a recent Eurodata TV report that found “investigation” series accounted for 38% of audiences’ drama viewing which absolutely cements the strength and importance of this genre amongst television schedules around the world.
Q: What will buyers expect in terms of exposure for Ripper Street at MIPCOM? A: BBC Worldwide will be hosting a big launch event for Ripper Street at MIPCOM which shows our level of commitment for this title. We think it is a fantastic crime drama series that happens to be set in Victorian times. It has all the crucial elements of great script, superb cast and high production values. Buyers will want to see some visuals and have some interaction with the talent which is exactly what we will deliver at the launch. They will see a clip of Ripper Street for the first time and we will have the three lead actors present, Matthew Macfadyen (MI-5, Pride and Prejudice), Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones), Adam Rothenberg (Alcatraz), along with one of the Executive Producers from Tiger Aspect, Will Gould. All of the talent are looking forward to meeting our clients and answering any questions they might have about the series.
Q: Can you share about the sales for this title so far? A: Pre-sales include USA and Australia and we are looking to announce more at MIPCOM. Ripper Street will premiere in the U.S. on BBC America and on Network Ten in Australia.
Q: Period drama – what do you think are buyers’ sentiments on this genre? A: Britain is synonymous with period drama and I think this country does it better than anyone else. There is always an appetite for this type of drama. The very recent success of Parade’s End, which delivered an audience of 3.5 million making it BBC TWO’s highest rating drama in seven years, shows that having an amazing cast and the highest quality of production is exactly what audiences want. While Ripper Street might be considered a period show because it’s based in 1889, it is also very modern and entertaining in its storytelling.
