10 Facts about 'I am not Okay with this'

WhatsApp Image 2020-02-09 at 8.11.10 AM (1) — *Unlike other superhero shows where the main character discovers their powers, the narrative deviates from the typical formula*

What it’s about:

Premiering tomorrow on Netflix, I Am Not Okay With This is an irreverent origin story that follows a teenage girl who’s navigating the trials and tribulations of high school, dealing with the complexities of family, her budding sexuality, and mysterious superpowers just beginning to awaken deep within her. From director and executive producer of The End of the F***ing World, Johnathan Entwistle and the producers of Stranger Things comes a new series based on Charles Forsman’s graphic novel.

“I’m making young adult shows, but I’m shooting them like adult television. I’m making stylistic choices inspired by Fargo and Twin Parks, but the story matters toward a youth audience. Bridging those two elements will, hopefully appeal to both. There’s an analog quality to the way I work, it’s very simplified.” explains Entwistle, “It feels like someone’s going to pull out a cell phone, but they don’t. I don’t like to set my shows in a specific time, but I do like them to feel contemporary. I want them to aesthetically feel like they fall anywhere between 1978 and 1995, which really gives a feeling you can only capture when you can’t Instagram it”

“Both Stranger Things and I Am Not Okay With This defy the old Hollywood assumption that stories with young people need to be exclusively made for your people”, adds Executive Producer, Shawn Levy, “Jonathan’s distintive filmmaking style and aesthetic is built with wardrobe, set design and music choices that are weirdly timeless, regardless of the contemporary setting. It’s all an integral part of this well-crafted, elevated, stylish storytelling that appeals to all ages”

WhatsApp Image 2020-02-09 at 8.11.10 AM (3) — *While it is dialogue intensive, the director of photography uses alot of symmetry in shots.*

No spoiler review:

You don’t have to be a fan of The End of the F***ing World to enjoy this one, however the setup as you’ll find out in our fun facts below is in place for worlds to cross over at some stage.

By the end of Season 1 it doesn’t feel like a supernatural or superhero coming of age story as the dramas and issues around the main character, Sydney are quite heavy and we’re given small glimpses on her abilities just a handful of times in the seven episode season.

It’s a superhero super powers without the action, sitting more on drama and would disappoint fellow fans of Titans, Arrow or Iron Fist, but be a great watch for fans of The End of the F***cking World, Everything Sucks or Degrassi: Next Class.

The pacing is good with each episode beginning with a harsh “Dear Diary” moment running just under 22 minutes on average.

WhatsApp Image 2020-02-09 at 8.31.07 AM — *A modern day ‘Breakfast Club’ with the cast being asked to prepare for their roles by watching ‘Dawson’s Creek’.*

10 Fun Facts about the show:

1. Jonathan Entwistle made the creative decision to set the events of I Am Not Okay With This during the same fictional timeline as the first season of The End of the F***ing World

2. If you keep an eye out, you’ll see an End of the F***ing World reference: A newspaper with a picture of James and Alyssa when they’re on the run under the law.

3. Entwistle describes the new show as “X-Men meets Lady Bird meets The Breakfast Club”

4. The costuming in the show includes a lot of yellow and black, which is a nod to Pittsburgh‘s sports teams

5. Costume designer, Bex Crofton-Atkins handmade many of the costumes in the show, including Stanley’s power blue suit and the Enya T-shirt, and Sydney’s Homecoming dress.

6. Musician Graham Coxon returned to compose the music for I am Not Okay With This after working with Entwistle on the music for The End of the F***World. Coxon, a former member of the band Blur, was a childhood idol of Entwistle’s. He describes the music in the show as “Twin Peaks meets 1980s high school”.

7. Sydney wears dog tags in both the comics and the series, which is a nod to Charles Forsman’s (the author) father

8. The character Stanley Barber is loosely inspired by Anthony Michael Hall’s character in Sixteen Candles.

9. Entwistle asked all the young cast members to prepare for production by watching John Hughes movies and the TV shows “My So Called Life” and “Dawson’s Creek”.

10. Episode 5, “Another Day In Paradise”, is a homage to The Breakfast Club.

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