‘Someone has to die so that someone else can live’ | TV Tonight

In their brand new drama that focuses on the world of organ donation, Best life makers were presented with a sensitive paradox, but a lot was at stake.

“This is literally life and death,” explains writer/producer Robyn Butler. “The premise is that someone has to die so that someone else can live.

“We’re always thinking about stakes in the story… but this is really just a story that happens to regular people in everyday life. People get sick, people get hurt, people have long battles with long-term illnesses. It became something very real that we could just watch unfold. The more we started thinking about it and playing with it, it became a drama.”

Indeed Best life is Gristmill’s first full-fledged drama, which Butler shares with husband and co-creator Wayne Hope. Better known for comedies such as Upper Middle Bogan, The inBESTigators, Little Lunch, The Librarians And Summer lovethis time the topic required a more thoughtful tone.

“Thematically, we realized that this comes back to something that we continue to explore in our work in general. A theme of what connects us?” says Wayne Hope. “We continue to explore ideas about what brings people together. Above Middle Bogan They were people on the other side of the highway who had to come together through adoption. What are the unlikely circumstances in which people must come together and forge connections?

The bond between Butler and Hope is central to the genesis of Dear Life’s story.

“The genesis was crazy when I had one of my strange flights of fancy,” Butler explains. “I had a similar moment a few years ago where I thought, ‘Oh God, what if Wayne died?’ What about insurance, for example if you don’t hire a hitman? He is my everything, so what would I do?

“And I thought I was going to cling to my kids because that was going to be the new reality of us: me and my girls. Then I thought, ‘What if I hadn’t had kids? What if I hadn’t gotten to that part of my life yet, or I didn’t have that in my life? What would I do?’ Then all I thought was, ‘I wonder if I had donated his organs, if his heart was out there somewhere in someone else. I wonder what that would feel like?’ As if that would be a comforting thought.

“Then I said, ‘I wonder if that’s a show? I wonder if that’s an idea?’ It literally came from the way I think about things.

“I immediately thought it was a great starting point,” Hope agrees. “My first feeling was that it made perfect sense that someone would look for a recipient, and at the same time it didn’t make any sense. I thought it was one of those ideas that was two things at once, and had a deep emotional connection to both. I thought there was so much power in the idea, and I was incredibly jealous that she came up with it!”

In the six-part series, Lillian (Brooke Satchwell) struggles to come to terms with the death of her fiancé Ash (Krisraw Jones-Shukoor), but finds solace in searching for the recipients of his organs.

The series comes with in-depth research through DonateLife and hopes to have a social impact on the low levels of organ donation in Australia. But that does not mean that identifying organ recipients or donors is necessarily endorsed.

“In the series, Lillian seeks out the recipients. Technically, you’re not supposed to do that,” Hope clarifies. ‘But we’ve spoken to both sides of the families, and people are indeed reaching out to each other.

“In the age of social media, it’s not at all difficult to map out different circumstances surrounding someone’s loss. The way we remember people, the way we post about them, the way they died… our donation rates are very low in this country, so it’s often documented when and where it happens. So you can kind of circle around and narrow that field relatively quickly.”

“Which for some people is no problem at all. For other people it’s terrible,” Butler emphasizes. “So we certainly don’t want to encourage it. But we’re not a documentary. We’re a drama, so we’re obviously taking dramatic license with the rules and protocols in place. And it’s very clear throughout the series that Lillian is not supposed to be doing what she’s doing.”

Given the subject matter, were there concerns about tackling a heavy topic and potentially putting off viewers? This is where Butler and Hope discover their comedic background.

“You start the moment with humor and fun because that’s a coping mechanism that makes it bearable,” Hope explains. “We’ve had a few screenings with audiences and we were so happy to hear laughter. It’s that laughter that comes from experiencing emotions.”

“It’s not just a show about sadness. Grief is certainly our starting point. But it’s a show about hope and possibility,” Butler agrees. “When you watch the whole series and you’re delivered to the other side, I think you feel like there’s lightness in the world. There is, there are possibilities.”

“I dare say in a sophisticated drama we can do both things. If you look at Broadchurch, which is a very, very heavy show, they’re funny. If you look at Succession, it’s funny.”

“We’re not in the business of making sad shows to do that. We want to make Lillian better. We want the audience to know that you’re doing okay. This is a good watch. This is a watch that makes you feel all the things… but ultimately the good things.”

Filmed in Ballarat, the series also stars Eleanor Matsuura, Ryan Johnson, Ben Lawson, Annie Maynard, Daniel Henshall, Kerry Armstrong, Deborah Mailman, Megan Smart and Marg Downey.

Naturally, there are also the contact details of those who want to participate in organ donation after watching the series.

“Most people still believe that if they’ve checked a box on their license (they’ve donated), but that’s not really true. We have an opt-in system. It hasn’t been on our license for 20 years,” Hope continues.

“It varies from state to state, but right now you have to actually go online and sign up. We have a QR code in the credits that takes you straight to Donate Life.”

“DonateLife really talks about having a conversation,” Butler adds. “I mean, we didn’t know anything. This isn’t a public announcement about organ donation. It just happens to align with the values ​​that we hold and we’re all about saving lives and extending lives wherever you can.

“But one of the great things we’ve come to understand is that having a conversation with your family is really important.”

Dear Life all episodes Thursday January 1 on Stan.