ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Producer Alex Berger of “The Bureau” and “La Maison” fame, delivered a rousing keynote speech on the Thursday opening day of the International Salon for Audiovisual Content (SICA) in Abidjan, drilling down on “Eldorado,”one of the most ambitious series at France’s Arte and why it had been “vital” to shoot the series in the Ivory Coast.
The keynote proved a highlight in first day proceedings at SICA. It also provided a roadmap for how Ivory Coast can move forward as a shoot local and international co-producer.
Berger said the six-episode series owed its Ivory Coast backdrop to relationships built during his first trip to Africa at last year’s November edition of SICA.
“I’d never been to sub-Saharan Africa before,” Berger told Variety. “I came to SICA knowing very little, and left knowing that this was where the story had to come to life.”
The resulting series, “Eldorado,” which Berger describes as a “wild adventure based on a true story,” centers on a Belgian entrepreneur in the late 1960s who sets out to find water in Africa only to become entangled with a French oil company desperately looking to find oil.
Written by up-and-coming talent Tarek Haoudy, “Eldorado” took three years to develop under the guidance of Berger’s Paris-based production outfit, TOP, and director Louis Farge, who helmed Prime Video series “Culte.”
Berger’s interest in Ivory Coast was sparked during candid conversations with local ministers, producers, and filmmakers at SICA 2024.
“They had a real vision for the future,” he recalled, adding, “But I was honest. You can’t just offer a backdrop. You have to build an ecosystem. That means attracting more productions and ensuring local crews grow with each project.”
Taking his own advice to heart, Berger shifted the project to Abidjan after originally scouting Senegal, convincing the rest of the team to follow suit. Once the show’s executive producer went to Abidjan, Berger said he understood his vision.
That decision shaped production. Berger estimates that just 20 members of the 80-strong crew flew in. Most of the team was composed of local talent, supported by an Abidjan-based production company. “That was important to me,” Berger said. “You can’t say you believe in local talent without putting your money where your mouth is.”
When it came to financing for the series, Berger got creative, inking a co-production deal with Belgium to maximize tax incentives for the project. Berger also praised Arte for green-lighting a show set so far outside its traditional European comfort zone. “The story had to come to Africa. So there was no doubt from day one. I think that Arte trusted us a lot,” he relayed.
The show’s historical inspiration, the Great Oil Sniffer Hoax, a scandal that captivated French media in over 1979-84, has contemporary resonance. “It’s a crazy, high-stakes story,” Berger stated. “And telling it here, with people who live this reality, was vital.”
Berger is already looking to deepen his ties to the region. Though tight-lipped about future projects, he hinted at possible collaborations with Ivorian director-producer Alex Ogou (“Invisibles” on Canal+), Ivory Coast-based Nigerien producer Mamane (“Bienvenue au Gondwana”), and Abidjan-based Kimberly Azria (“Legends”).
While Berger is careful to manage expectations, especially when it comes to infrastructure and training, his optimism is palpable. “There are still real challenges,” he acknowledged. “I really hope that in that room is going to be that producer that’s going to make that difference and come up with that organic idea from here. If I can be part of it, it would be amazing. If not, I’ll just be happy.”
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