Toronto-based Boat Rocker has teamed up with Ireland’s Deadpan Pictures for the 6 x 30-minute scripted comedy-drama series Video Nasty.

Set in 1985, it tells the story of three weird teenagers who go on an epic quest to complete a cult VHS collection, but instead get mixed up in a murder investigation.

Production starts in April, with filming taking place in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The series is produced with the help of Screen Ireland/Fis Eireann. Boat Rocker will distribute globally.

The series is written and created by Hugh Travers (Your Mother Should Know), and co-directed by Christopher Smith (Spy/Master) and Megan K. Fox (Too Good to be True). Ailish McElmeel (Northern Lights) is the series producer with Julie Baines (Something in the Water) as producer.

Video Nasty is executive produced by Boat Rocker’s David Fortier (pictured left), Ivan Schneeberg (pictured right), Nick Nantell and Erik Pack.

Additional EPs are Eddie Doyle and Raphaëlle Oloan for BBC; Frank Tönsmann for WDR, SWR and NDR (FabFiction-Initiative); Nada Cirjanic for Screen Ireland; McElmeel, Paul Donovan and Marc Lorber for Deadpan Pictures; and Travers.

The series will be available on BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Three and iPlayer, Virgin Media Television (Ireland) and WDR (Germany).

Photo by Josh Fee