We Started with Zero Budget, We Wrote a Zero to Success Story
In this interview, we sat down with Kadri Beran Taşkın, who has a successful career. A graduate of the cinema and television department, Taşkın has been a part of many significant projects by positioning himself at the heart of Istanbul's industry. Particularly known for his work in music videos and documentaries, Taşkın gained widespread recognition with the web series 'Sıfır Bir.' Now, we've had an enjoyable conversation with Kadir Beran Taşkın about his career, projects, and experiences in the industry
-HELLO, MR. KADRİ, FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME. CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN: Hello, thank you. My name is Kadir Beran Taşkın, born in Diyarbakır. I graduated from the Cinema and Television department of Anadolu University. Since Istanbul is the heart of the industry, I moved there. I've done various jobs on sets, whether it be assistant work or art assistance. Later on, I started directing music videos and documentaries.
-YOU STARTED WITH NAMES LIKE EZHEL AND FATE FAT, BUT HOW DID THE CREATION PROCESS OF "SIFIR BIR" COME ABOUT?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN: It all started with shooting Ezhel's music videos. After that, we prepared a video for the Adana rapper Fate Fat. The foundation of "Sıfır Bir" was laid when we met Cihangir Ceyhan (Cio). The idea of telling a crime story was born, and we started the project by writing a joint script.
-AFTER MOVING TO ISTANBUL, YOU ENTERED THE INDUSTRY. WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE CHALLENGING CONDITIONS AND WORKING CONDITIONS ON SETS?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN: After moving to Istanbul, I worked in various jobs, but the conditions on sets were quite challenging at that time. There were no union rules, coping with long working hours and harsh conditions was difficult. Therefore, working on sets was mentally and physically demanding.
-HOW WAS THE DECISION MADE TO USE THE ATMOSPHERE AND LOCAL ELEMENTS OF ADANA WHILE SHOOTING "SIFIR BIR"?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN:Shooting in Adana provided the opportunity to experience the warm atmosphere and people of Hürriyet Mahallesi up close. Shooting in real streets and locations was important to add authenticity to the project. Working with amateur actors also increased the naturalness and realism of the story.
-YOU COMPLETED THE FIRST SEASON OF "SIFIR BIR" WITH ZERO BUDGET. WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED DURING THIS PROCESS?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN:: Completing the first season with zero budget was a challenging process. We were able to bring this project to life with the investments and support of our believing brothers. However, working with limited resources and an amateur team made the shooting process even more challenging.
-HOW WERE THE REALISTIC ATMOSPHERE AND VIOLENT SCENES IN "SIFIR BIR" RECEIVED BY THE AUDIENCE? HOW DO YOU APPROACH CRITICISMS?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN:The realistic atmosphere of "Sıfır Bir" was well received by the audience. However, due to the violent scenes, we faced criticism. As an internet series, we can directly interact with viewers and are open to feedback. Nevertheless, we believe that "Sıfır Bir" is an original project and has gained great appreciation among viewers despite criticisms.
-WAS THE DECISION TO BROADCAST "SIFIR BIR" ON THE INTERNET CONSCIOUS? WHAT WERE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THIS FORMAT?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN: Yes, the decision to broadcast "Sıfır Bir" on the internet was a conscious choice. This allowed us to preserve the uniqueness of our project and reach a wider audience. As an internet series, we had a more flexible structure and the chance to interact directly with viewers. However, we had to give up some advantages offered by the television format.
-WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CRITICISM OF "SIFIR BIR" DUE TO SCENES CONTAINING VIOLENCE AND SEX?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN: Criticism of scenes containing violence and sex is a situation often encountered in a series broadcast on the internet. Our choice to use such elements is a preference to maintain the realism and atmosphere of the story. However, we are aware of their potential impact on viewers, so we carefully handle such scenes.
-AFTER THE SUCCESS OF "SIFIR BIR," HOW DID YOU EVALUATE THE OFFERS THAT CAME YOUR WAY?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN: After the success of "Sıfır Bir," we received many offers, but we wanted to protect an independent project. We decided to continue on our own and independently carried on the project. This was an important decision to preserve our originality and creativity.
-IS ADANA'S ATMOSPHERE A SPECIAL PLACE FOR YOU? HAVE YOU CONSIDERED RETURNING?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN: The atmosphere of Adana is a very special place for me. The warm hospitality of the people and the comfortable working environment were unforgettable experiences. We thought about returning, but our current projects are based in Istanbul, so we have no plans regarding this.
-WHY IS THE SCREENWRITER OF "SIFIR BIR" KEPT SECRET? WHAT IS THE THOUGHT BEHIND THIS DECISION?
KADRİ BERAN TAŞKIN:The decision to keep the screenwriter of "Sıfır Bir" a secret aims to preserve the integrity of the project and protect the personal life of the creator. It is a choice to minimize external influences during the creation process of the script. However, along with the rest of the project team, we want to provide more information to the audience and share the creative process behind the project.
We thank Kadri Beran Taşkın for sharing his valuable time with us. His successful career and projects continue to be an inspiration to young talents. Taşkın's experiences and projects in the industry serve as an exciting example for future cinema and television projects. We wish him success in his future projects and thank him again.
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