ISTANBUL—Featuring heartthrob heroes, emancipated heroines and picturesque scenery, Turkish television drama series have taken the world by storm, gaining faithful audiences in dozens of countries across Europe, the Middle East and even the Americas.
But life on the sets of the dramas—with episodes that can last up to three hours in series of up to 50 parts—is not all glitz and glamor.
It is fraught with grueling work, with crews routinely clocking 15 to 18-hour days at the expense of their families, their health, and even their lives.
“The worst day I ever worked on a show was 27 hours, “ young Turkish actress Elif Nur Kerkuk told AFP. “It was like going back to slavery.”
Kerkuk recalled how last year after 24 hours of shooting in central Turkey, the whole crew was piled on a bus and taken to Istanbul for another day of filming, with neither time to sleep nor prepare.
“I asked myself, is this it?… Is this going to be my life?” she asked. “But I stay in because I love it.”
A number of fatal accidents have prompted unions and actors to organize an industry-wide movement to put pressure on production companies and government to improve standards.
Selin Erden, a 26-year-old video assistant for the hit teen drama “Arka Siradakiler” (Those at the Back Row), died tragically when the set’s sleep-deprived truck driver hit her during a cigarette break.
In September last year, Engin Kucuktopuz, a set worker for “Kacak Gelinler” (Runaway Brides), died of a heart attack after working 45 hours in three days.
“Everything that your mother ever told you not to do when you were growing up, in our industry you crumple it up and throw it out the window,” said Tilbe Saran, actress and secretary general of Turkish Actors’ Union.