Though many productions have been halted, BritBox is making do with the launch of a new limited original series titled, “Isolation Stories.” The four-episode series, which is meant to be a reflection what families are going through after weeks of isolation, will premiere on the BBC Studios and ITV streamer on June 23.
Produced by Oscar-nominated writer and producer Jeff Pope, the series will feature a variety of stars including Sheridan Smith, Eddie Marsan, Angela Griffin, Darren Boyd, David Threlfall, Michael Jibson, Leanne Best, Philip Jackson, Robert Glenister and Tom Glenister.
With production shut down in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the series was shot remotely, with actors and their families filming scenes themselves, guided remotely by several esteemed directors, including Paul Whittington, Paul Andrew Williams, Louise Hooper and David Blair. Directors watched footage on their laptops and gave notes to actors and their family members regarding camera angles, scene composition and lighting.
“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,” stated Pope. “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.”
The news comes a month after BritBox announced they reached one million North American subscribers.
BritBox is available for $6.99 per month and can be accessed via Roku, Apple TV 4th Gen, Samsung, LG and all iOS and Android devices, AirPlay, Chromecast, and online at www.britbox.com. BritBox is also available on Amazon Channels for Prime members and on Apple TV Channels on supported devices.