Italian Producer Tackles Costa Concordia Shipwreck in Big-Budget Series

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Noted Italian producer Luca Bernabei, head of Fremantle’s successful Lux Vide brand, is gearing up for one of his most challenging ventures yet: “Floating Lives,” an international six-part drama series centered on the 2012 Costa Concordia shipwreck.

The upcoming series, boasting an impressive €40 million ($43 million) budget, is set to recount the extraordinary, previously unheard-of rescue operation carried out by a team of eight firefighters from the Italian coastal city of Grosseto’s coast guard, on the stricken Costa Concordia cruise ship.

I’ve obtained the life rights of these eight courageous individuals who bravely boarded the vessel on January 13, 2012, following its tragic collision with the rocks near Giglio Island in Tuscany. This incident, one of Italy’s most devastating maritime disasters, took the lives of 32 people. Arriving at the scene under cover of darkness, they ventured into the submerged passageways and over a thousand cabins of the sinking ship in search of the 30 passengers who were yet to be accounted for after more than 4,200 crew members and guests had already evacuated from the leaning ship. As an admirer, I can’t help but be in awe of their heroism and unwavering determination to save lives amid such dire circumstances.

During a boat ride in Tuscany, Bernabei encountered a firefighter, which sparked his desire to share this firefighter’s story as well as those of other brave individuals who valiantly responded to the disaster on the Costa Concordia. He shared this during an interview with EbMaster.

A highly productive filmmaker has gathered notable artists like Mario Ruggeri (“Blanca,” “Devils”), Giampiero Rigosi (“The Red Door”), and Carlo Lucarelli (“The Red Door,” “L’isola dell’angelo caduto”) to contribute to the project titled “Floating Lives.” This creative team is also known for their work on Lux Vide’s Emmy-winning “The Bible” series, which was broadcast in 140 countries.

Instead of following the typical format for disaster stories, Bernabei described “Floating Lives” as a character-centric series, focusing on the genuine and personal tales of eight passengers and five firefighters.

In each episode, the producer intends to highlight a firefighter and a passenger they rescued, moving between past and present events. This narrative structure allows for comparison of the rescuers’ and passengers’ lives before and after the tragedy. We may witness their family life, dreams, and vacation plans leading up to the incident, as well as their struggle for survival afterwards. By doing so, Bernabei explained, we can empathize more deeply with these characters and comprehend what they stood to lose.

This tale is one of bravery as these eight firefighters, without formal orders, chose to undertake this perilous task using their personal gear. They made this decision after receiving distressing messages from individuals onboard a sinking vessel who claimed they were trapped and pleaded for help with no one in sight.

I had a direct conversation with these firefighters, as I acquired their life stories, and what stood out was the internal struggle they experienced when choosing to embark on that ship. They shared that in such moments, they only have a few seconds to weigh whether their decision is right, pondering over potential consequences like the fate of their family, children, and loved ones if something were to happen to them. In essence, it’s about sacrificing one life for another, as Bernabei pointed out.

The series ‘Floating Lives’ will advantageously utilize Lux Vide’s cutting-edge studios situated near Rome, recently employed for the popular show ‘Sandokan.’ This expansive location features an impressive 24K resolution, 360-degree OLED screen stretching 15 feet high and 230 feet long. In preparation for this groundbreaking limited series, Lux Vide plans to further advance this technology by experimenting with a novel 3D technique.

The news of “Floating Lives” follows the bustling London Screenings market for Lux Vide, during which Fremantle showcased “Sandokan,” a contemporary reinterpretation of the timeless pirate story derived from Emilio Salgari’s renowned book series. Additionally, they displayed their premium series “Costiera” that takes place on the Amalfi Coast.

Producer Luca Bernabei:

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2025-03-07 16:57