OITNB

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Quick facts:
- Comedy, Crime, Drama
- Duration per episode, approx. 60 minutes
- 13 episodes per season
- Nominated for 6 Golden Globes
- Another 33 wins
- Plus 77 other nominations
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Created by
Jenji Kohan
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Based on
Piper Kerman´s memoir
"Orange is the new Black: My Year in a Woman´s Prison"


A series based on Piper Kerman's memoir about her year in a women´s prison(2010).  The series starts out with a happy and satisfied Piper (played by, Taylor Schilling), a woman in her thirties enjoying her quiet, law-abiding New York upper-middle-class life with her fiance and family. Before, one day she gets sentenced to fifteen months in prison after being convicted of a decade old crime (10 years prior to the start of the series) transporting a suitcase full of drug money for her at the time drug-dealing girlfriend. This unexpected indictment threatens the relationships with her fiance, family as well as friends. The series follows her journey as she gets right into the middle of power-struggles between white, afro-American, and Latin-American. At the same time as we get to see how her family and friends are doing outside of prison. And how they learn to cope/live with the fact of Piper being locked up in prison. 

Characters // From upper left to right, Piper Chapman, Alex Vause, Sophia Burset, Stella Carlin, Bottom left to right, Suzanne "crazy eyes" Warren, Gloria Mendoza, Big boo and Dayanara Diaz.

The series is produced by Tilted Productions in association with Lionsgate, and it is being distributed by the multinational on-demand internet streaming media - Netflix. It has become Netflix´s most-watched, when it passed by House of Cards, series over the last couple of years, since the first release of season one in 2013. The series is also the first to score award nominations in both the two different categories of comedy and drama. There are three released seasons, 1 in 2013, 2 in 2014 and 3 in 2015, as well as the fourth season, was renewed to be released June 17. 2016. The series, in general, has also been debated as well as being received critical acclaim, as to how it brings up themes such as  corruption and inadequacies of the U.S prison system and the abuse of power by some correctional officers upon female inmates. It sizes to concentrate more one this as a theme as we get further out in the series, rather than just the focus on Piper. 


The reason I chose to write about this series is because this is first and foremost a series I really like and enjoy watching myself. It is one of those series that manages to make your butt stuck to the seat and keeping you there throughout. The story in itself is very interesting, and we also get invited into the whole universe they have created. Introduced to each and every character, their stories, and lives. Cleverly done by showing the audience scenes/flashbacks to each character´s lives or stories from outside of the prison. As to how they ended up there, or what made them be who they are. 

It can be put in context with my own drama by how they both include crime, drama and comedy all in one place and one series. There is a certain rawness to both, that they manage to reach out with, as well as focusing on what is the humorous aspect in dark or sad moments. The Mentalist and OITNB both also manages to not let the comedy aspect take too much attention, even tough you get a good sense it's there throughout. This is something I really like and want to achieve in my own drama.


As with I would say all series, each episode is directed by different directors where some of them do several episodes, and others have only done one. What is interesting is to each time look if the first director has set the pace for the rest to follow or if they go their own ways, in term of style and shots. With OITNB, I would say hat there is a very distinct "same" style through all series, despite the different directors. Sure, they all bring a few elements into it each, but overall it has the same style and tone. This is a big plus because it makes the series seamless which creates a wholeness to it all. 

When it comes to how this TV-series has affected my own project, it is how to achieve a seamless look. The great choice of tone and style contributes to this, as well as the way it is shot really does inspire me. There is overall, in general, A4 shots, which is needed to get the necessary coverage, but it also uses different and more close up detail shots in a way I really enjoy. It is almost as if you feel like knowing Piper yourself, all the other characters being your friend as well. And to be able to achieve such a great accomplishment, having the audience relate, invited into the story and make them feel as if they are "home" when watching it. 


//All images from google.com

//Sources of information




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