DNA

The Originals Method

Creation and Innovation:

The writer and producer work as a team and are committed to complete transparency with one another while keeping the lines of communication open. On the one hand, the showrunner is at the heart of the project, as he co-writes the episodes and oversees the show’s overall artistic direction. He manages a Structured Writing Workshop (Atelier d’Écriture Structuré – ADES) consisting of in-house episode writers and associate screenwriters.

On the other hand, the executive producer is responsible for bringing the script to life. He also ensures that brand requirements are met. He strives to preserve the DNA of the program, the show, and the brand, so that they remain clearly understood and well-managed at all times—from the development process through broadcast and throughout the first and subsequent runs.

The two of them should ensure transparency, ongoing communication, and coordination between themselves.

Production Process

The Writing Room:

TOP tested, perfected, and implemented this process, first with the company’s inaugural and eponymous project, *The Oligarchs*, and years later with Éric Rochant’s creation, *The Bureau*.

In order to produce a season of ten 52-minute episodes each year, with production taking place both in France and abroad, Alex Berger and Éric Rochant have implemented a development and production system based on the Structured Writing Workshop (Atelier d’Écriture Structuré – ADES), led by Éric Rochant as showrunner.

Structured Writing Workshop (ADES), France

ADES places the writing process at the forefront. Producers, screenwriters, and especially the showrunner must foster a strong working relationship. Roles are strictly defined: the showrunner must ensure that the creative process is not compromised; the line producer ensures that production resources are made available to the writer and creator; and the executive producer is responsible for the legal and financial aspects of the production. These three roles complement one another and require absolute trust and transparency.

A new structure

The specific case of *The Bureau* illustrates this system perfectly. The Canal+ Création Originale division fully endorsed both Éric Rochant’s original idea and artistic vision, as well as the production approach proposed by TOP – The Oligarchs Productions and its production partner, Federation Entertainment, which centered the show around the showrunner himself (a position that did not previously exist in France).

Industrial Process and Brand Management

As the work is released, broadcast, and embraced by the audience, it becomes a brand—one that resonates emotionally with viewers, who dedicate 10 hours to each season. It is tied to a fictional world with which viewers have become familiar, and must be adapted for various social media platforms, international audiences, and multiple viewing formats. To successfully convey the brand’s DNA and preserve its unique identity, the PMDC (Promotion – Marketing – Digital – Communication) unit works to oversee every logo, poster, press release, image, and piece of merchandise. This process extends from the development stage well beyond the broadcast.