Showcase: Inter Medya

October 15, 2024 Kristin Brzoznowski

Powerhouse Turkish drama producer TIMS&B Productions is once again teaming up with Inter Medya to bring its latest hit dramas to the global market: Valley of Hearts (Siyah Kalp) and Loveberry (Karadut). Inter Medya is launching both titles at MIPCOM, looking to replicate the success the two companies have had on past productions.

Loveberry centers on Zuhal Erdem, a renowned personal development expert at the height of her career who specializes in guiding others through the complexities of love and relationships. Yet, her personal life tells a different story. After losing her mother when she was young, Zuhal dedicated herself to her father and her three sisters, putting her own desires on hold. Everything changes when she meets Tayfun, igniting a passionate journey filled with love and disappointment, forcing her to confront deep-seated family dynamics and her father’s expectations. İrem Helvacıoğlu stars as Zuhal, with Şükrü Özyıldız in the role of Tayfun. The drama is currently airing on atv in Türkiye.

The idea for Loveberry came about in wanting to do a project that centered on a modern and urban woman, says Timur Savcı, president and co-founder of TIMS&B Productions. “For a while, we were developing a project with Sırma Yanık, the writer of popular series such as Fazilet Hanım ve Kızları (Mrs. Fazilet and Her Daughters), Adını Feriha Koydum (The Girl Named Feriha) and Zalim İstanbul (Ruthless City). When she told us about the general idea of Loveberry, we really liked it. The motto ‘only its leaf cleanses the black mulberry’s stain’ inspired us to create the urban woman’s story we were looking for, and we decided to bring Loveberry to life. After some rigorous development that lasted about a year and a half, the bible was designed first, followed by four episode scripts.”

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The story features themes of family and love, but also a woman’s struggle and her eventual triumph. “The show is a full-fledged family drama,” says Burak Sağyaşar, TIMS&B Productions’ co-founder and CEO. “Self-sacrificing Zuhal, who shatters herself for the happiness of her family members, will face opposition from her sisters, who don’t want their lives to be disrupted, and be exposed to her father’s mobbing, just as she is about to reach the peak of happiness after finding love. In this struggle, we will watch her rediscover her own strength and rise again—just as how only the leaf of the black mulberry can cleanse its own stain.”

Inter Medya believes the themes of relationships and family bonds will resonate on a global scale, says Can Okan, founder and CEO. “As viewers follow the story of this remarkable woman, they are invited to reflect on the many facets of love and family ties. Loveberry resonates with authenticity, portraying the emotional journey of a woman trying to keep pace with life while being swept in every direction. In this heartfelt story, everyone can find something to question and reflect on. This connection to universal human experiences is what captivates audiences around the world. Alongside her search for her own path, we witness the healing power of love.”

Okan adds that from the very first episode, Loveberry draws viewers in with the thrill of uncovering the truth. “Its compelling, emotional storyline is brought to life through richly developed characters, portrayed by a successful cast,” he says. “The talents behind the show, both in front of and behind the camera, include creators and actors who have been part of projects that achieved international success, positioning Loveberry as a strong contender for the global stage.”

Valley of Hearts, meanwhile, is currently airing on Show TV in Türkiye. Its intricate storytelling and emotional depth have captivated Turkish audiences, already making it one of the most-watched dramas of the season. In the series, Sumru (Ece Uslu) has abandoned the twins she gave birth to at a young age and married a wealthy businessman, Samet Şansalan (Burak Sergen), in Cappadocia. Years later, Nuh (Aras Aydın) and Melek (Hafsanur Sancaktutan) discover their mother’s identity and come to Cappadocia to confront her. Meanwhile, the return of Cihan (Burak Tozkoparan), Samet’s son from his first marriage, increases the tensions within the family. As Sumru tries to maintain her lavish life with her new family, the secrets she hid in the past and the arrival of Nuh and Melek lead to unexpected encounters with Cihan and his reluctant fiancée, Sevilay (Leyla Tanlar), sparking new conflicts within the family.

The discussions on Valley of Hearts started between TIMS&B and writer Yıldız Tunç, who is a frequent collaborator, while the final episodes of Deception were on air. “We believed that a series centered around power struggles within a family would resonate with audiences all over,” Savcı says. “Yıldız came up with a brilliant idea: ‘Let’s tell the story of the conflict between characters with black and white hearts.’ We liked the idea because, since the dawn of the world, the battle between the good and the bad has never ceased.”

Sağyaşar says that what makes Valley of Hearts special is that those representing the good and the bad are members of the same family, with the entire central conflict centering on that large family. “So, this show is also a family drama,” he says. “When the abandoned twin siblings hit the road to find their mother, they discover that she is living la dolce vita. While they try to call their mother to account, both characters fall in love with the other children of the Şansalans, the most powerful family in Cappadocia, who share no blood ties with each other.”

Okan adds that the “star-studded cast and enthralling storyline” are propelling the series. “Set against the stunning backdrop of Cappadocia, Valley of Hearts blends emotional depth with intense drama. The show offers viewers a passionate journey of love, mystery and desire. It has everything global audiences look for in a Turkish series—family intrigue, power struggles and love stories filled with battles for control and dominance. Valley of Hearts is bound to deeply impact audiences worldwide, delivering a gripping tale of love intertwined with a family’s intricate web of secrets.”

Inter Medya and TIMS&B have partnered on the international distribution of numerous projects to date—a relationship that has proven fruitful and a win-win for both parties. TIMS&B’s “exceptional production expertise, meticulous attention to every detail and the work ethic of their entire team make them a truly invaluable partner for us,” Okan says. “It is a great pleasure to collaborate with them and to bring their productions, crafted with such dedication and care, to global audiences. The achievements of TIMS&B Productions’ titles have garnered widespread international recognition. We are incredibly proud to work alongside them, and we are excited to continue building on our shared successes with the addition of these two new titles.”

“We value greatly any company or individual who sees themselves as part of the team and takes risks alongside us in order to bring good stories to life,” Savcı adds. “As a production company in Türkiye, it is us as the creators that carry the most burden from the inception stages of a production until its international sales journey and onward, so within this intense cycle, it is of utmost importance to find solution partners who see eye to eye with us in our strategy and who support us all the way. Inter Medya has certainly become one of those fellow collaborators over the past four years that we have worked together.”

Sağyaşar says that “executing a production is one thing, but adding wings to that production and making sure it soars high all over the globe is yet another ballgame. Internally, we craft our international strategy for each of our series meticulously, but the expertise and wide network that Inter Medya brings to the table is an immense contribution to that strategy. And as always, we are confident that they will bring these two different dramas to global markets with success.”