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Teen web-series Midsummer Chaos finally is ready to air

Teen web-series Midsummer Chaos finally is ready to air

The series had to be reshot after some actors developed creative differences with the production team.
12 Jun, 2021

After a series of delays, Midsummer Chaos, a coming of age web-series about a group of teenagers in Islamabad, is finally ready to air.

The show was supposed to be aired in March but the director and writer of the series, Ahmed Sarym, told Images that the project had to be pulled back because "the day of the first episode’s release back in March, a few actors who played leading parts felt as if the series, particularly its concept, wasn’t in line with their personal beliefs," leaving them with no option but to step back.

"At the time, shelving the project perhaps made more sense than redoing it, especially at the point that I’m at in my career; I’m just starting off and it genuinely came as a major setback. But I think it was only under such grim circumstances that the realisation of how much I believed in content that is progressive, real and raw, was reinforced," he explained. "Only a few days after, we’d started recasting and filming, and here we are, hours away from when it finally gets to see the light of the day."

The team recast some of the actors with whom they had creative differences and are now ready for a release today (June 12). Around 90% of the series was re-shot due to the changes.

But for Sarym, the cast change was a blessing in disguise. "I think all of us got an opportunity to try and correct errors we saw in the earlier version; we got actors on board who were absolutely gifted and invested into the world that we are attempting at creating, they believed in the story and their characters. The energy on set was completely different, in the best way possible."

Some members of the original cast — Mehar Bano, Saman Ansari, Mustafa Babar, Kamila Aazeen, Nael Aamir and Zainab Ejaz — reshot the series with the characters that they play. The new cast members include model Khushhal Khan, whom Sarym described as a brilliant actor who is the "next big thing", Mamia Shajaffar and Hiba Ajaz.

The plot of Midsummer Chaos hasn't changed. Sarym told Images in an earlier interview that it was about "a group of teenagers in Islamabad that have just gotten done with high school and their shenanigans over the summer before college". He wanted it to be an authentic representation of the Pakistani Gen Z.

The changes did allow Sarym a chance to tweak the script a little and work on the dialogues more. "We’ve added a few more scenes to further the character development and arc, but it is still very much a coming-of-age, teenage drama that centres seven high school graduates and their shenanigans over summer before college, shedding light upon subjects often brushed under the carpet."

The show will be available on the Qissa Nagri YouTube channel from today (June 12).

Comments

Fastrack Jun 12, 2021 05:10pm
Is that a depiction of Pakistan's young generation? If that's your idea of a joke, the joke's on you.
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Fastrack Jun 12, 2021 05:11pm
Does not represent 99% of the Pakistanis of that age. We have culture and values closely knit with our religion. Nice try. Not.
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Nick Gur Jun 12, 2021 07:52pm
Want more content like churails.
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Hussain Jun 12, 2021 08:04pm
Degenerate trash, most likely.
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Asad Jun 13, 2021 11:26am
Thats beautiful
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Say no political correctness Jun 13, 2021 01:24pm
Such series are needed to crush Mullahism in Pakistan. Good work.
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FS Jun 13, 2021 01:53pm
I have t been in the country for last 17 years. Is this representative of Pakistani Teen now?
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TenJee Jun 13, 2021 03:04pm
One wonders what the personal belief differences were that caused the cast to object. I can only guess that their 'ghayrat' and 'haya' were triggered into action. Good on them. This will become the new poster boy for the Pakistanis who reject Islam as a way of life, adding to the Churails movement. I think some sort of introspective take on the attitudes of Gen Z is required, but my fear is that what we get instead is a flag waving ode to that lifestyle, rather than a critique as to why the clash exists, what the internal conflicts/guilt are, how they try to resolve these, and what society and religion has to say about it.
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RationalBabu Jun 13, 2021 03:45pm
@FS Wouldn’t you say it’s long overdue?
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NiceBoy2000 Jun 13, 2021 04:28pm
I don't know but I feel like this is going to be a very pretentious, wanna-be and uninspiring kind of show.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jun 13, 2021 06:39pm
Great move and wonderful news.
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FAZ Jun 14, 2021 09:50am
Tale of ultra burger youth born with a platinum spoon in their mouths. Life is still a chaos for them? Huh
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HKL Jun 14, 2021 02:32pm
The positive images of smoking abound in this video - "cool young people smoke" - is that message intentional by the makers? Shame on you! Also - a hint to the videographer: tripods and monopods today cost very little - endless hand-held head-shaking camera views are really un-cinematic. If you want this series to run - please raise up the production standards so we suffer less vertigo when watching !!
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Al Jun 14, 2021 03:50pm
Are they Pakistanis; or kashmiris or caucasians or angloindians?
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murtaza9761 Jun 14, 2021 04:38pm
I'll give it a try to see where my country stands.
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Umer Shahbaz Jun 15, 2021 12:52am
So happy that there is a web series on my life. Nostalgic. Love it!
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