“The Playoffs” (“Jogada de Risco”) will make its world premiere at SXSW London, an international festival held June 1-6, whose mission is to bring together business, technology and creative communities.
TV Globo, the world’s largest producer of Portuguese-language content, hosted the London premiere of the Globoplay original series “The Playoffs” produced by Estúdios Globo. “The Playoffs” is an adrenaline-filled show that explores the behind-the-scenes world of professional soccer.
Series creator and lead actor Kaur Raymond (Brazil Avenue, Anything Goes) attended SXSW London with director Bruno Safadi (My Name Is Dindy, Belair, Sofa).
A versatile actor, producer, and businessman, Raymond has been a mainstay of Brazilian film and television for over 20 years. Throughout his career, he has appeared in several films, soap operas, television series, and plays. His long-standing relationship with TV Globo and his participation in the highly successful telenovela “Brazil Avenue” (“Avenida Brasil”) made him widely known in his home country.
In “The Playoffs,” Raymond plays Mauricio, a former professional player. Mauricio starts over as a sports agent and must overcome the personal and professional challenges that come with working in the lucrative business of professional soccer.
“I’ve always been interested in the world of football. Soccer is something that captures the imagination of so many people around the world,” Raymond told Variety.
“The idea actually came from the news I watched every day and from a discussion with friends. I thought this subject would make a great work of fiction. I did extensive research throughout the conceptualization phase of the project, but the goal from the beginning was to shine a light on what we don’t normally see, what goes on off the field and what keeps the competitive football market going,” he added.
The show touches on a number of contemporary social issues, including doping scandals and gay athletes in professional sports.
“We sought to portray the humanity of the characters and their experiences beyond football, even with the fast-paced style we chose. Although we faced the usual challenges in the creative process, the development stage went very smoothly. In the first stages, we assembled a dream team and had all the support we needed to gather everything we needed to tell this story,” Raymond said.
Soccer is like a religion in Brazil, and this series succeeds in highlighting the energy, enthusiasm, and elation that comes from winning a championship match. The visually stunning soccer match scene was shot on location at the Nilton Santos Stadium (Engenhao) in Rio de Janeiro.
“Sport has the power to bring people together, and for me, that’s what soccer is all about: coming together around an event, cheering, socializing and celebrating together,” Raymond says.
“As fans, soccer is part of the Brazilian identity, and for us it is cultural. Friendships from our youth are formed around soccer, and going to the Maracanã is a staple of our daily routine, where people from different backgrounds and social classes can come together in one voice and share the same catharsis.”
“The Playoffs” was written by Thiago Dottori (“Monica and Friends,” “VIP”) and produced by Isabella Berenzani (“The End,” “Rencarne”). Raymond says that in addition to producing and starring in the series, he also had the opportunity to direct some scenes in the show.
“We had the direction of Bruno Safadi, who was amazing and guided us through this whole journey. We were able to collaborate and exchange ideas extensively not only during filming, but also throughout pre-production. I was very excited to have the directing experience. Of course, I will continue to challenge myself with this role and explore other creative possibilities,” Raymond said.
Cowan Raymond – Credit Fê Pinheiro
Set in Raymond’s hometown of Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Maravillosa itself becomes one of the main characters in the series.
Raymond explains that Rio is “a city with a very rich geography for artistic creation, able to unite a huge number of experiences and backgrounds within the same urban space. It is a city that is cosmopolitan and tackles very pressing issues, while also guaranteeing a life in constant contact with nature.”
“Above all, it is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with easy access to the sea, a constantly entertaining cultural scene and a vibrant sporting environment. Rio is the birthplace of the world’s largest football club and other sports. Rio is complex, passionate, vibrant and dynamic – just like Brazil.”
While Brazilian cinema is having a moment of glory with films like “I’m Still Here” and “The Secret Agent,” Raymond hopes international audiences will embrace Brazilian television with the same enthusiasm.
“It’s incredibly moving to see Brazilian talent recognized on such a scale and by a major global audience. It’s great for us to bring this premiere to London and witness the reaction of people from different cultures, an exchange that art beautifully facilitates. Although the themes are universal, our series has a Brazilian DNA, our own way of telling this story, our identity, and I think that’s exactly what makes all our audiovisual works so powerful.
The rest of the cast of “Playoffs” includes Mariana Senna, Letizia Collin, Rodrigo Lombardi, Marcos Flota, Juan Paiva, Breno Ferreira, Kahue Campos, Ricardo Teodoro, Marcelo Adonet, Maria Bopp and Mauricio Mattar.
The show is scheduled to premiere on Globoplay in Brazil this July.
