Be scared, be very scared: Skoop Media has dropped the trailer for new series “Raspberry Hill.”
“It challenges children in a way that’s refreshing,” says Skoop Media’s head of acquisitions and marketing Fulko Kuindersma.
“Nowadays, kids are more resilient than we give them credit for. ‘Raspberry Hill’ [‘Hallonbacken’] embraces this by delving into suspenseful themes, which also makes it appealing to parents. It’s truly something special.”
In the story – shot in Swedish and based on a book by Finnish-Swedish author Eva Frantz – 12-year-old Stina suffers from a lung disease and lives in the slums of Helsinki in the 1920s. When she is sent to a sanatorium on an island in the middle of nowhere, she begins to explore it with her two roommates, Astrid and Christine.
One night, a mysterious boy shares a terrifying secret with her. When her roommate suddenly dies, Stina realizes her life is in great danger: someone is after the children’s hearts.
Over the course of three 30-minute episodes, “Raspberry Hill” will “fearlessly” tackle such complex topics as death, greed, evil and romance. All with an “unfiltered approach,” teases Kuindersma, currently attending Helsinki’s Finnish Film Affair.
“We are seeing a shifting trend in the industry with a greater emphasis on series. We have adjusted our content portfolio to align with this evolving landscape.This change mirrors current market dynamics and it’s only natural that events like FFA would adapt accordingly,” he says, referencing the event’s recent move into series.
Still, darker shows for children are relatively scarce.
“Our intention was to ensure the series didn’t become overly terrifying, but we didn’t want to make it too ‘lame’ either. I am confident that we have managed to find a satisfying balance,” says Teresa Ekman, producing for Söder Films, alongside Helsinki Finland, with YLE, SVT, NRK and DR also on board.
“We should never underestimate children and their ability to take on stories with darker themes. It’s crucial to offer them something that challenges them and stimulates their thinking.”
“Author Eva Frantz had the chance to provide feedback on the scripts. In the book, the main character, Stina, is often alone. In the series, she has two roommates who enrich her journey,” she explains.
Director Saara Cantell adds: “Some things have to be changed when you adapt a story from one artform to another, but I find it really important to stay true to the soul of the original.”
“The task was to maintain the same level of horror as in the book. In my experience, pre-teens and teens love to be scared. And since the end of the story is happy and hopeful, there is room for dark shades before that.”
No stranger to children’s entertainment thanks to the popular “Jill & Joy” franchise, Cantell also explored darker themes in “Devil’s Bride.”
“I think you should never underestimate your audience, whether you create content for kids, young people or adults. As a filmmaker, you have to tell stories that touch your own soul,” she says, praising the show’s young cast.
“They are just brilliant. I am also very pleased with our visual storytelling. We have succeeded in creating the right atmosphere for the story.”
However, no continuations are planned. “This is a one-off.”
As Skoop Media readies for Mipcom and MipJunior,“Raspberry Hill” will be joined by Norwegian offerings “Flus” and “Kasko” – commissioned by NRK – and Finland’s very own “Evilside.”
“It has recently found a home with Amazon Benelux, marking a great achievement for Finnish content on the global stage. We are optimistic about Mipcom’s potential to further showcase the excellence of Nordic and Finnish series to a broader audience,” adds Kuindersma.
