Strong characters, a unique universe, a prestigious cast, Paris as a backdrop: 3PU has many strengths. Nicolas De Saint-Meleuc, producer at Storia Television , Charles Touboul, head of acquisitions, and Randall Broman, director of international scripted sales at Mediawan Rights tell us more about this series which integrated international distribution very early in its development.
Unifrance: Where did the idea of producing 3PU, a detective series centered around the stories of patients who have just been admitted to a psychiatric unit, come from? Can you tell us about its genesis?
Nicolas de Saint-Meluc: We're always looking for new investigative methods and backdrops for our detective series. When Jean-Christophe Grangé revealed to us the existence of the psychiatric infirmary of the Paris police headquarters, or "3PU" and told us about the team of psychiatrists who treat people who've been picked up in a state of delirium in public spaces every day, we were immediately intrigued. In fact, when these doctors discover that their patients are linked to crimes, they can probe more deeply than the police in complex and psychological cases. Jean-Christophe combined this ambition with his taste for remarkable worlds—in the present case, three monuments and famous districts of Paris—to explore the hidden face of the French capital. TF1 International was quick to trust us with these characters and this unique setting.
After the Franco-Belgian series HPI, you chose to produce this program called 3PU. Why did you choose once again an acronym for the series' title? What is its meaning?
NdSM: The choice of the acronym (3PU stands for Paris Police Psychiatric Unit) is a guarantee of realism to introduce a hero through a particular arena that genuinely does exist, and it is also a way of telling viewers that they'll be able to follow the characters over several seasons.
Parts of the film were shot at Sainte Anne psychiatric hospital in Paris. Did that particular setting give rise to any incidents?
NdSM: Many of the psychiatrists we met worked at the Paris Police Psychiatric Unit and wanted to be extras in our series, and conversely, some of the actors were actually nurses, but I won't reveal any names!
Marc Lavoine acts alongside Barbara Schulz, whom he already had as a partner in the film Celle que j'aime. How was the casting done?
NdSM: A singer as well as actor, Marc Lavoine has an immediately recognizable voice, deep and full of emotion, with a touch of madness that sometimes characterizes psychiatrists. Celle que j'aime revealed how he and Barbara Schulz click and they both seemed a perfect fit for their characters. We were looking for a complementarity between two sensitive beings, a psychiatrist who defies norms and a cop who ticks all the boxes, but who gets caught up in the game of investigating cases that would end up forgotten if it weren't for the pair working together.
This is an internal Mediawan production. How was the project team put together? What is the synergy between Storia and Mediawan Rights?
NdSM: We are in constant contact with Mediawan Rights, who accompany us on most of our projects. They are very familiar with Jean-Christophe Grangé's fictional worlds and share our attraction for this type of thriller. So they were hence aware of the project's progress and were ready to promote it together from the beginning.
Charles Touboul: Storia is a producer that always integrates international distribution into its production budgets, whatever the project. Also, we frequently collaborate around their programs, whether at the development stage or during marketing. We worked together on Unclaimed, Beneath the Skin, and Elementary Particles. 3PU was always a series that we've kept a careful eye on: because of its genre and certain aspects (its atypical hero and the focus on Paris, in particular), distributing it internationally was an easy decision to make.
What differenciating strengths does this new series possess that will appeal to an international audience?
Randall Broman: 3PU has very distinct elements that set it apart from other police procedural series:
- A fresh and original angle, that of a psychiatrist working in a specialized police department dealing with patients arrested by the police and brought to the 3PU. This structure really exists and is attached to the Sainte Anne psychiatric hospital in Paris.
- A strong and charismatic lead character.
- An interesting dynamic between the main character, the psychiatrist Mathias Bernardt, who is eccentric, and the police lieutenant Nathalie Fontaine, who is rather down to earth.
- The city of Paris, which provides a fantastic backdrop and is a genuine asset (as evidenced by Lupin, Call My Agent!, Emily in Paris, etc.).
- The series was created and written by Jean-Christophe Grangé, to whom we owe the France 2 series based on his novel The Crimson Rivers.
What are your ambitions for the program internationally? Are you targeting it in any particular way?
RB: We have great ambitions internationally, especially in key markets such as the USA and United Kingdom, which are becoming more and more open to procedural series, whereas a few years ago they tended to favor serialized shows.
You presented the series exclusively at the Coming Next from France pitching session, which took place during the Series Mania Forum. What are your impressions after this session? Do you already have contacts or leads for exporting the series?
RB: We are delighted to have participated in Coming Next from France this year, and very proud to have presented 3PU at it. Our participation generated the interest of several clients in various countries. At this stage, we are in discussions with the USA, Italy, Spain, and Germany.
