Self-shot Turkish series Homemade to go on air

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey's public broadcaster TRT has produced a new TV series which was shot by actors while self-isolating in their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The first season of the series Ev Yapimi (Homemade) will go on air on Thursday at 8 p.m. (1700GMT).

All scenes of the series were shot by actors and their family members at home.

The screenplay is written by veteran Birol Guven. Well-known Turkish actors Soray Uzun, Rasim Oztekin and Necmi Yapici are also part of the series.

After 'stay at home' calls by officials and experts to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, several sectors tried to find new ways to continue their work.

In the entertainment sector, while several projects were suspended or cancelled, some of them found new ways such as online concerts by singers through YouTube or social media platforms.

Another Turkish scenarist and producer, Gulse Birsel, also shot one episode of her TV series, Jet Sosyete, using a similar method.

In Turkey, the novel virus has infected over 30,200 people and caused 649 deaths so far, according to official figures on late Monday.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China, in December, the virus, has spread to at least 184 countries and regions, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

The global death toll has hit almost 76,000, with nearly 1.36 million people infected worldwide.

Meanwhile, over 289,000 people have recovered globally.