How do you turn ”niche” subject matter into a broadly appealing and award-winning drama series? In this session with Steven Canals, creator of the hit show Pose, we examine the process and challenges of creating a compelling period drama set in a subculture - and getting it out to a wide audience.

This session is organized by Copenhagen TV Festival/Producentforeningen in cooperation with Vision Denmark

The three seasons of Pose revolve around New York City's drag ball culture scene, an LGBTQ subculture in the African-American and Latino communities, throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Featured characters are dancers and models, who compete for trophies and recognition in this underground culture and who support one another in a network of chosen families known as Houses. The show balances the celebration of minorities in the glamorous balls with serious themes such as HIV, race and trans discrimination.

Steven Canals developed the pilot script for Pose while still in film school and ended up co-creating the show for FX. In this session, Steven will share his experience as a writer and producer of the show, taking us through the process from initial idea to launch of the final season.

Fotocredit: HBOMax