‘Ozark’s’ Mark Williams On ‘Safe Harbor,’ About Tech Geeks Caught in a Drug War, and Loving Keeping Things Gray

As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the silver screen world, I must say that “Safe Harbor” piques my interest like few others have in recent memory. The blend of Hollywood finesse with European production values is an intriguing prospect, and the cast seems to be nothing short of stellar.

Among the standout events at Mipcom’s premiere screenings on October 21, the much-anticipated international action thriller “Safe Harbor,” represented by Eccho Rights, attracted a notable creative team in Cannes. This team includes Mark Williams, co-creator of “Ozark” and the showrunner, as well as stars Colm Meaney from “Gangs of London” and “The Patriarch,” Alfie Allen from “Game of Thrones,” and Martijn Lakemeier known for his roles in “Maxima” and “Marie-Antoinette.

At Mipcom, Eccho Rights (a division owned by Night Train Media) was engaging in discussions about the show with various broadcasters and streaming platforms.

Under the guidance of Submarine, Mediawan’s Dutch division, the series is being produced in collaboration with Night Train Media from Germany and Zero Gravity from Williams, for the Dutch streaming platform Videoland and the Belgian streamer Streamz. This unique production brings together the finest aspects of Hollywood artistry with the European skillset and technical prowess.

“The European [filmmaking] world is new to me,” admits the Emmy-nominated Williams, who serves as creator, executive producer, head-writer and co-helmer on the show. “As the only American onboard, I could help them expand a little bit more than what they’re used to. I loved the process and had a great time,” he told EbMaster.

Based on real-life occurrences, the narrative revolves around hacker Tobias (Allen) and his driven friend Marco (Lakemeier), who aspire to infiltrate the exclusive tech billionaires circle. Their lives take an unexpected turn when they encounter the Irish mob. The story unfolds as they find themselves entangled in criminal activities. Leading the Dutch operations for their father, the powerful Irish leader Keiran Walsh (Meaney), are the sophisticated and intelligent Sloane (Charlie Murphy from “Peaky Blinders”) and her brother Farrell (Jack Gleeson known for “Game of Thrones”), a character with a cold heart but possibly a hint of compassion.

The brothers opted to engage Tobias and Marco for the purpose of clandestinely infiltrating the security network at Rotterdam Harbor, Europe’s biggest shipping hub, with the intention of facilitating unnoticed drug transports.

The concept for the show originated from Femke Wolting, a co-founder, producer, and two-time Emmy nominee at Submarine, who became fascinated with a real-life case in Belgium where drug traffickers employed hackers to infiltrate IT systems within a significant harbor. Intrigued by the tale and believing it could form an engaging international thriller series, Wolting expressed her interest. “Mark and I discussed it, and he shared my enthusiasm,” Wolting recalls. “We spent time developing the idea approximately two and a half years ago.

As a movie enthusiast, I stumbled upon an intriguing concept: a group of tech-savvy individuals entangled in the midst of a drug war. This unique blend of technology and crime had me hooked, even managing to elicit a chuckle or two – precisely what I crave when searching for my next cinematic gem.

To ensure the story felt genuine and compelling, Williams and the production crew delved into the narcotic conflict between the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as hacking incidents, while taking care to avoid overly technical details that might confuse viewers. The showrunner aimed for a level of understanding that would allow him to discuss the topic fluently, but not so extensive that he became an expert in the field. Essentially, the focus was on portraying the relationships between characters and their significant others, as that’s where the emotional core of the story lay.

In many of Williams’ creations, such as “Ozark” on Netflix, “The Accountant,” starring Ben Affleck, and Liam Neeson’s films like “Blacklight” and “Honest Thief,” the protagonists often find themselves in moral gray areas. The seasoned U.S. executive in “Safe Harbor” echoes this sentiment, stating, “Gray is my favorite color.” He suggests that we all reside in this gray zone, despite our attempts to present a clear-cut, binary view of ourselves as either good or bad. People are complex, he explains, and even characters like Tobias and Marco, who may lean towards the darker side due to their lawbreaking actions and relationships with women, are still human beings with varied experiences.

Once more, Williams emphasizes that the complex relationship between the two primary characters, which undergoes continuous change and strain, serves as the heart of the series. “It’s about friends who turn into each other’s family,” he clarifies. “Additionally, there’s a powerful Irish patriarch who desires his children to be content and refined, but they may not be following that path. He raised them in a deeply flawed and hazardous environment, so they are attempting to navigate their own paths through it.

Through his portrayal of the character, Meaney – who was brought onto the show thanks to a suggestion from fellow Irishman Neeson – finds the Irish mafia boss “fascinating.” He’s been managing the drug trade for years, gotten himself into some dangerous predicaments and carried out unsavory actions. However, he’s now reached a stage in his life where he feels content. Nearing semi-retirement, he allows his children to take control of the family business. He straddles two worlds – agreeing with his son Farrell’s traditional ways, but preferring his daughter Sloane. In his eyes, she can do no wrong!

Allen perceives Tobias Chapman as a man standing at a significant juncture in his life. “He’s grappling with his challenging past and attempting to construct his future around his affection for his girlfriend, aspiring to be the primary provider. However, things aren’t quite unfolding as he had planned.

The genuine camaraderie between Marco and him drew me in as well. They both strive to bring out the best in one another and balance each other out.

The grim backdrop of Rotterdam, Europe’s major shipping hub and a prime gateway for illicit substances, held a certain allure for Allen, who had already been on Williams’ radar during scriptwriting. As he explains, “The stark surroundings offered a visually stimulating landscape that echoed ‘The Wire’ Season 2, which was set in the docks.

As a Rotterdam-native who’s just been cast as the esteemed character, Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, in the highly anticipated “Maxima” series, I couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with such an illustrious international team. Not only will I get to shoot in my beloved hometown, but overcoming the challenge of filming in English has been a rewarding journey, thanks to the support and guidance from everyone involved.

Williams shared his thoughts on working on his initial European TV production: “It was wonderful to have a guide throughout the process,” he pointed towards Wolting, “However, I was taken aback when I arrived and found only 20 people in the production office! I’m accustomed to larger teams. Over time, our team did expand, but not to the extent I’m familiar with. Instead, it was about me adapting to their [European] system, which is efficient but different from what I’m used to.

In the first season of “Safe Harbor,” the roles of co-directors are shared between Arne Toonen, known for his work on “Amsterdam Vice,” and the Belgian directing pair Inti Calfat and Dirk Verheye, who are also recognized as ‘Norman Bates.’

In addition to Williams and Wolting, the show is also executive produced by Herbert L. Kloiber, James Copp, and Adam Barth. It has received funding from Creative Europe, ScreenFlanders, and the Netherlands Film Fund. The Dutch premiere is scheduled for January 2025 on Videoland, followed immediately by its release in Belgium on Streamz.

2024-10-22 21:17

‘Ozark’s’ Mark Williams On ‘Safe Harbor,’ About Tech Geeks Caught in a Drug War, and Loving Keeping Things Gray

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