YOU WON’T BELIEVE What Happens When Your Secrets Are Exposed

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In the realm of young adult thrillers, I can’t help but express my excitement for the upcoming German film, “Shadow Leaks.” This gripping tale will be unveiled at the forthcoming Series Mania Buyers Upfront on Monday, with Beta Film taking charge of its international distribution.

After the enigmatic suicide of a student, a small-town high school becomes tormented by an ominous website that appears to uncover their most private information. Dubbed the “Shadow Site,” it threatens to reveal confidential chats, screenshots, explicit images and videos, leaving no one untouched. It seems everyone is at risk, and as events unfold, it becomes clear that no one is entirely innocent.

So far, it’s reminiscent of “Gossip Girl”. However, this show, adapted from the bestselling book penned by actor and influencer Jonas Ems, isn’t necessarily Germany’s equivalent of the classic American teen drama set in New York. Instead, it has its unique twist on the storyline.

Stefan Raiser, a producer at Dreamtool Entertainment, notes that ‘Shadow Leaks’ shares the same fundamental concepts.” According to Beta Film, they distribute this product.

I’ve always been a fan of ‘Gossip Girl.’ I enjoyed it immensely. However, when the reboot came out in 2021, I found it quite dull. On the other hand, while I was engrossed in Jonas’ bestseller, I happened to be watching ’13 Reasons Why.’ That show resonated with us more as it shared some similarities – it had a darker tone and secrets being unveiled.

We are all hiding unsavory things on our phones, argues Ems.

I find myself sharing virtually everything with the cloud, despite my best efforts to remain cautious. This story aims to explore the repercussions when personal secrets are exposed. Is the liberation worth the potential chaos that ensues?

In addition to Ems, the cast includes Samirah Breuer as the fresh character Nola, Florian Geißelmann, Ludger Bökelmann, Tanya Nguyen, and Marven Gabriel Suarez Brinkert. (In this version, I’ve tried to make the sentence more conversational by using “In addition to” instead of “Also,” and “the fresh character” instead of “new girl.”)

Raiser notes, “My 12-year-old son is constantly contemplating how to communicate with his friends, yet he’s incredibly careless with his phone. One aspect of Jonas’ book that resonated with me was this idea: While it might be painful to have one’s secrets exposed, there’s also a sense of freedom in it.

This scenario is remarkably familiar: finding oneself young and reckless, taking a certain photograph and contemplating using it to escape a precarious predicament by handing it over to the truly nefarious individual. It’s no wonder they’re betraying one another. It’s engaging and marketable, leaning more towards mainstream popcorn flicks than arthouse cinema, yet it remains surprisingly authentic.

Sticking to the younger generation’s point of view, and their problems, was key. 

The first time I crossed paths with Jonas, he shared his thoughts: ‘Many TV shows portraying Gen Z and younger generations seem inauthentic to me. It’s almost as if 40 or 50-year-olds are producing them without truly understanding the subject matter. In our writers’ room, a sign read, ‘Make it authentic.’ We didn’t merely create a show about this generation; we collaborated with them instead,” Raiser points out.

I don’t support the approach that prioritizes youth above all else, as it can lead to newcomers feeling overwhelmed. It’s not wise to hand leadership roles like directors and writers to inexperienced individuals right away, as filmmaking experience is crucial. However, true creativity often arises when established professionals allow room for the fresh perspectives of the younger generation.

In the show, events unfold rapidly. The discoveries made on the “Shadow Page” have the potential to shatter lives, yet they are so intriguing that people can’t help but keep investigating further.

“Ems expressed that our goal was to immediately engage the audience with the story. Given our target demographic, who are frequently engaged in platforms like TikTok and Instagram, we needed to create something impactful and captivating to hold their attention for approximately 45 minutes,” says Ems, a social media influencer with 3.4 million followers on Tik Tok and 2.9 million on YouTube.

In our initial chat with Jonas, it immediately became apparent that he has a profound grasp of the entertainment realm, particularly on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube. His ability to quickly hone in on essentials is truly remarkable, notes Raiser.

As a film enthusiast, I found myself readily embracing his approach, yet I couldn’t help but question: “Is it all too intense? What on earth is going on in this bizarre town?” It seemed like nobody was living a typical life there, and I chuckled as I said it.

Later on, they persuaded me for an extensive exploration, and we essentially went undercover, dispatching individuals to various educational institutions. These were the narratives the students shared with us. They suggested that we infuse more intensity in the pilot episode’s script.

Shows for young viewers, such as “Sex Education,” are quite relatable with authentic characters, but some of these lack a commercial feel or style.

As a discerning film critic, I’ve noticed that many locally produced series in Germany and across Europe lean heavily towards the avant-garde, often lacking the cinematic appeal that truly captivates audiences. However, our approach was markedly different. We aimed to create a format that transcends geographical boundaries, and I firmly believe it will resonate globally.

Or result in more seasons.  

“Raiser is quite excited about the project. In fact, we’ve begun working on Season 2. You should see what we have planned next!”

“The parents are on the chopping block, too.” 

Apparently, the grownups are not alright either. XOXO.

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2025-03-21 14:48