The screenplay for the series was written by Štěpán Hulík, writer of another HBO miniseries, the acclaimed Burning Bush directed by Agnieszka Holland. The direction of Wasteland was shared between Ivan Zachariáš, an internationally award-winning Czech commercials director, and Alice Nellis.
The new series, consisting of eight one-hour episodes, tells the story of a mining village on the verge of extinction. The village sits on huge reserves of coal and foreign mining interests plan to acquire the village, remove its population and their homes and establish a soul-less mining complex. The villagers are divided; some see this as an opportunity for a new life elsewhere, while others want to preserve their homes and traditional life.
Shooting began in September 2015 and wrapped in May 2016. The mining district of the North Bohemian town of Kadaň was one of important filming locations.
Wasteland was produced by Nutprodukce and Etamp, who also produced Burning Bush for HBO Europe, and was supported by the State Cinematography Fund. The production received 651,000 EUR in film incentives.
Production information:
HBO Europe s.r.o.
Jankovcova 1037/49
170 00 Praha
Czech Republic
Tel.: +420-261-094-444
Fax: +420-261-094-455
Nutprodukce
Bubenská 1
170 00, Praha 7
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Etamp Film Production
Struhařovská 9
Prague 4
141 00
phone: 420 272 772 258
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Credits:
Screenplay: Štěpán Hulík
Director: Ivan Zachariáš and Alice Nellis
Producer: Tomáš Hrubý (nutprodukce)
Creative producer HBO Europe: Tereza Polachová
Cast: Zuzana Stivínová, Jaroslav Dušek, Eliška Křenková, Jan Cina
