6 of Us tells a story of strong family bonds and resilience in the face of hardships. What specifically drew you to this project and resonated with you?
Cem Karcı: First and foremost, our story sheds light on the struggles in today’s Türkiye. It paints a portrait of the Turkish people fighting against all financial struggles. It emphasizes the bond of siblinghood, the importance of family, and the strength that comes from standing tall together against all the hardships. In a way, it’s a series about never losing hope, and that’s what drew me in the most.
The series also features strong character depth and development. As the director, how did you work with the actors to enrich the characters’ stories?
Cem Karcı: One of my main priorities was to bring life to the journey of our six young actors, who each portray siblings with distinct personalities, yet must also feel as inseparable as flesh and bone. To make this happen, we did two weeks of intensive preparation. Together with our second director, Enes Kartal, along with our coach Bahar Kerimoğlu, we conducted a ‘character development workshop.’ Over two weeks, we delved into the unique traits that set each sibling apart. We practiced how they should unite against every challenge and, how they would sense each other’s presence even with their eyes closed.
The cast features young actors and child characters. What was your approach to directing this young cast? It must have been challenging to reflect the dynamics of six siblings, each with different character traits.
Cem Karcı: First, it was essential for me that all six actors truly feel like siblings. We shot difficult scenes under very tough conditions. Sso it was important for them to bond off set, supporting and lifting each other up whenever they felt overwhelmed. Fortunately, we were very lucky to have a cast that genuinely cares for one another, respects each other, and never lets go of each other’s hands. This bond was built through the work we did during the preparation phase. It made things much easier during shooting.
6 of Us explores universal themes such as loss, family bonds, and resilience. Do you think these themes will be equally impactful for viewers from different cultures? What aspects of the story make it relatable to the international audiences?
Cem Karcı: The most important quality of this series is its emotional core. This means that even if watched on mute, viewers can easily empathize with it, regardless of the language. Naturally, it will resonate more with audiences from cultures similar to ours, but it won’t exclude those from different backgrounds either. No matter how different our languages or cultures are, I believe in the universality of emotions.
Cem Karcı: “First and foremost, our story sheds light on the struggles in today’s Türkiye. It paints a portrait of the Turkish people fighting against all financial struggles.”
The series’ strong visuals and atmosphere add dimension into the story. How might international viewers perceive İstanbul’s captivating aesthetic? In portraying the impact of locations on the characters’ emotional worlds, what feeling do you aim to evoke for the audience?
Cem Karcı: We’ve set the world of our series in Balat, one of İstanbul’s most beautiful and touristic neighborhoods. With its high-ceilinged, bay-windowed houses, its blend of Ottoman and Byzantine architecture, and its residents of various religions and languages, Balat beautifully reflects the harmony between East and West. Through our story, we aim to show how each of our characters is affected by this modern complexity at times
This exclusive interview with Cem Karcı was featured in Episode Magazine’s DICM 2024 issue.
