SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: Ed Bernero and Rola Bauer, co-creators and executive producers of new series Crossing Lines, spoke to Screen Africa about their involvement with the show, which airs only on Sony Entertainment Television on DStv Channel 127 from 22 October at 20h55.
Before becoming a television writer, producer and director Ed Bernero used to be a police officer. As Crossing Lines taps into the charter of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to mandate a special crime unit, he says he put in a lot of his own experiences to create the characters’ back stories.
“In a sense, they are all me at a different stage in my career, like when I was a rookie, in the middle of my career, and towards the end. Our characters are all different, so I put parts of what I thought about when I was that age in the story,’ says Bernero.
“I think I bring to characters a fuller understanding of how a police officer thinks and acts. That’s one of the things that make this show more realistic. I think I’m able to create a more wildly diverse group of officers as I’ve known so many different types of people who were in the police,’ he adds.
Bernero comments that Crossing Lines differs from other shows in a similar genre because the notion is that this team is made up of officers from different countries. “We use actors from those countries, and it’s the first show with international police officer teams. The idea that you can bring a team of international officers together is long overdue. It’s a show about what global police do for the world.’
In terms of ensuring that the story stays consistent and powerful, Bernero says: “We have an incredible team of people. I think that everyone cares so much that we really are just making something we love and are proud of. We love what we do and we are always pushing ourselves to be better and better.’
Rola Bauer comments on her and Bernero’s partnership on the show and its subsequent success: “Ed really gets into the detail. He actually researches each country, the nuances of politics there, and how that would make sense for the show. That’s something you don’t see often today. It provides another layer of richness. We get that from the bloggers. They say, “We love the credibility of the show – it relates to a similar incident’. Although this is quite rare, I think it’s essential to our success.’
Bernero says there isn’t much difference between shooting in America and Europe. “Other than the language, it’s similar – with the same schedule and same budgets. I think the feeling is that it was going to be different, but once we got into it, it was just the same. Except for more travelling!’
According to Bauer it wasn’t difficult to find funds because “this was a story that touches a lot of people, not just in Europe. We were able to put it together quite easily. I met Ed in February 2012 and we started to shoot in July 2012. It moved very quickly, and very smoothly.’
Bauer says Bernero’s understanding of Europe specifically attracted her to working with him on Crossing Lines. “I think you’ve got to find someone as a partner who understands the story and understands the essence of the story. If you don’t have it, it might as well be thrown out of the window.’
Bauer concludes that they are very pleased with the cast of Crossing Lines, with the second season already airing early next year: “It’s remarkable that we got all of our first choices (as actors). And less than a year after our first meeting, we are filming the last 10 episodes. All the actors are ideal for their roles.’
In Crossing Lines, an organisation functioning as a European FBI investigates serialised crimes that cross over European borders to hunt down criminals to bring them to justice.
Crossing Lines stars Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winner Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games, The Pillars of the Earth, Path to War), William Fichtner (Prison Break, Black Hawk Down), Marc Lavoine (The Good Thief, My Wife is an Actress), Gabriella Pession (Wilfred, Jesus), Tom Wlaschiha (Game of Thrones, Brideshead Revisited), Richard Flood (Titanic: Blood & Steel, Three Wise Women) and Moon Dailly (OSS 117: Lost in Rio, Black Heaven).
Report by Martie Bester
