Maestro in Blue: From a Greek island to Netflix – A discussion with Christopher Papakaliatis

A fascinating discussion with popular scriptwriter, director, and actor, Christopher Papakaliatis, this year’s Agora ambassador at the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, was held on Sunday, November 8th, at Pavlos Zannas theater, moderated by the Festival’s Artistic Director, Orestis Andreadakis.

The discussion in the packed theater focused on Christopher Papakaliatis’s early creative steps, the challenges he has had to overcome throughout his career, as well as on the commercial success of the exceptionally popular series Maestro in Blue. “When we thought of asking you to be the ambassador of our Agora, I didn’t dare imagine you’d be available. I know that when you’re preparing something, you’re particularly committed. Ultimately, we were so fortunate and delighted you accepted to contribute through this role,” Orestis Andreadakis remarked.

Christopher Papakaliatis thanked the Festival for the opportunity, stressing Agora’s significance, characterizing it as an essential bridge of communication between industry professionals in Greece and abroad, while emphasizing that it serves as an invaluable means of acquiring the know-how from new creators. “I was thinking about how useful something equivalent would have been when I was just starting out,” he mentioned, explaining that he himself had to figure things out in more difficult ways.

“I’m constantly the one having to make the first approach, constantly knocking on doors, I even did so last week. This goes for creators all around the globe: attempting to tell a story, and making it stand out among the thousands of other stories circulating worldwide, is a particularly demanding process,” he pointed out.

He also referred to the resources available to new creators today, largely as members of a globalized society. “They’re far more knowledgeable than what we were at their age,” he stated, clarifying he has no particular piece of advice to offer, yet considers it particularly important that they be encouraged. “A great script and a great idea cannot be constrained by borders,” he stressed.

On the themes he explores, Christopher Papakaliatis disclosed that his interest has always centered on people. “A good story is one that stirs emotions, and in doing so, stimulates thought,” he stated, before adding: “There is exclusively one way to rouse the soul, and it is by asking questions, not pointing fingers.”

Looking back, he underlined that luck and right timing were crucial factors, both as it pertains to his own trajectory and to a broader context. “Being with the right people at the right time is so important,” he said. Upon reflecting on his beginnings at MEGA Channel, he reminisced about the time private television was just taking its first steps. “There was such enthusiasm. I was lucky I grew up in a safe environment and had the privilege of working with people I trusted. I had a lot of opportunities, I was highly persistent, and finally my persistence paid off,” he explained.

He then went on to share a story from a time when Q&A weren’t an established practice in Greece quite yet. As he recalled, he first encountered this practice when his film, What if…, was showcased at San Francisco International Film Festival. “We decided to implement this in our screenings, here in Greece, within the framework of a film’s promotion. We were among the first to do so, and it worked,” he recounted.

On the subject of his transition from television to the big screen, Christopher Papakaliatis divulged that this emerged during a period of deep economic crisis, at a time when funding for television productions had begun to decline, as well as during a phase he himself was having difficulty keeping up with television’s demanding rhythms. “I decided to take a step back. Of course, the idea of cinema was always within me. Yet the decision was difficult to make, as television was where I had found real family. You know, what we do, it is primarily an expression of emotional need, it’s only after that it becomes a ‘job’.”

In discussing his film, Worlds Apart, the filmmaker highlighted that “a good story cannot remain completely untouched by all that’s happening around it,” while also noting that reality has been a perpetual source of inspiration for him. Referring to the involvement of acclaimed actor J.K. Simmons in the film, he revealed how their collaboration came about. “Our producers sent him the script, he read it, liked it, and suddenly, one day, the phone rang and he told me ‘I can join you in October!”

Next, the discussion shifted to Maestro in Blue, Christopher Papakaliatis’s highly successful return to television, as well as the project which paved the way to Netflix. The filmmaker also gave the audience of Thessaloniki an exclusive first look at a short video, featuring snippets from the series’ fourth and final season, which, as he announced, is going to debut on Netflix in December. The final season will consist of six episodes, 75-to-90-minute long each, and, at a later date, the series will also be available on MEGA Channel.

“Since the very beginning of writing the script, I had already decided I was interested in having the series streamed on a platform. Once filming and editing wrapped up, we prepared a 9-minute video and sent it off to Cannes. The rest is well-known. Nevertheless, each stage was a test. Ultimately, Maestro in Blue was highly well-received, and it was decided that the final season would first first air on Netflix, and then on MEGA. However, I must also acknowledge that if it weren’t for MEGA, there wouldn’t have been Netflix either,” the filmmaker pointed out.

He also candidly addressed the challenges that accompanied the making of the series, underscoring that its completion wouldn’t be possible without the support of the people and sponsors who decisively contributed to bringing it to life. “It was a pivotal five-years of my life. It’s the project I’ve poured the most effort into, more than any other. It’s also the one for which I’ve gone knocking on more doors than any other throughout my entire career. I feel so incredibly grateful,” he remarked.

The filmmaker did not give away much detail on the last season’s plot; he simply said on the matter, “I wished for my protagonists to get the ending they deserved.” He did, however, reflect at length on the relationship between the characters he created, and the people who portrayed them, recognizing their vital contribution.

As he explained, the protagonists may have been born out of his own pen, but it was the actors that brought them to life, raising the bar with their singular talent. “I have a whole company of eleven talented leading actors, I believe I could keep writing Maestro in Blue forever, without it ever becoming boring. After all, I have at hand all the available resources to tell a story the right way,” he added, moved.

Subsequently, he made a special reference to the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center, which, as he noted, “helped significantly, providing some breathing room to creators,” as well as to the residents of Paxos, who embraced the production and actively supported it at each and every stage. “Shooting on an island made things easier for us to a great extent, as everything was within reach. We were able to split the crew in two, thus delegating responsibilities more effectively. I was already familiar with the Paxoi islands, and I had organized everything in my mind long before we began,” he elaborated.

“I consider it the hardest project I’ve ever done. I learnt a lot, but under no circumstances could I continue on my own” the filmmaker acknowledged, once again expressing the gratitude he feels towards his collaborators. “Maria Kavoyianni manages to balance between drama and comedy in a spectacular manner. As does Haris Alexiou. I believe no one owes anything to anyone. These matters are akin to communicating vessels. You wish to tell a story, and these people join in with their unrivaled talent, framing it,” he went on to say.

The discussion was followed by an extensive Q&A with the audience, during which Christopher Papakaliatis expounded on the next steps in his career, divulging that his immediate plans include the creation of a new film, among other things, without dismissing the possibility of a future involvement in theater.

In parallel, he referred to his artistic maturation, as well as to the ways in which growing older has changed his experience of love and life itself. Speaking on success, he observed that, as is the case to most people, he rarely manages to enjoy the moment while living it, as time is often required to realize and consciously recognize it as such.

As he noted, he doesn’t feel like he has unfulfilled desires; rather, he feels a deep sense of gratitude for the trajectory of his career thus far. “Of course, there’s still so much I want to get done,” he concluded.