Banijay’s French script label forms an alliance with local writers

Aiming to expand its footprint within the scripted space, Banijay Entertainment’s French label Screenline Productions has entered into a creative partnership with writing duo Matthieu Rumani and Nicolas Slomka.

Screenline just collaborated with Rumani and Slomka on the upcoming Prime Video series “Trash.”
miniseries inspired by the true events of ‘Loft Story’, the French adaptation of ‘Big Brother’, which marked the first reality show of this kind in the country in 2001.

The partnership gives Screenline access to all future projects and developments from Rumani and Slomka, who will also co-produce through their own company Vodka & Caramel. In the meantime, the writing couple will be able to make use of Screenline’s production expertise.

Banijay France CEO Alexia Laroche-Joubert, who produced “Loft Story” and even inspired one of the lead actors of “Trash,” said that “when (she) first came across the project, led by two young talented writers, (she) immediately intrigued to delve into their behind-the-scenes look at ‘Loft Story.’”

“Their investigative work and deep knowledge of reality TV and its social phenomenon convinced me to be part of bringing this project to life,” continued Laroche-Joubert. The director added that working with Nicolas and Matthieu “has only reaffirmed their talent, their ability to play with different narrative genres and their adaptability to platform requirements.”

Rumani and Slomka said: “When (they) created the character Isabelle for ‘Trash’, inspired by Alexia Laroche-Joubert, they envisioned a passionate reality TV producer who would stop at nothing to defend her beliefs.” “Meeting Alexia exceeded our expectations as she proved to be an exceptional script producer,” they continued.

In addition to creating “Trash,” Slomka and Rumani have also written two seasons of Netflix’s “Family Business” and Julie Delpy’s next film, “Les Barbares,” which opens in French cinemas in September. They also made their first feature film ‘Camembert’, which will be produced by Jerico, the creator of ‘La Famille Belier’.

Screenline Productions’ pipeline also includes an adaptation of Gemma Maley’s YA novel ‘The Declaration’.