CREDITS

Format 10 x 45 minutes Genre psychological drama series with a crime plot

Written by Tom Lenaerts - Paul Baeten Gronda Directed by Norman Bates Main Cast Tom Dewispelaere, Natali Broods, Kevin Janssens, Tom Van Dyck, Jeroen Perceval, Evgenia Brendes Produced by Kato Maes - Tom Lenaerts Production company Panenka NV Co-produced by VRT/ Eén - Telenet Supported by Port of Antwerp City of Antwerp Belga Films Fund

Country of origin Belgium Worldwide distribution ZDF Enterprises GmbH Main broadcaster Eén (VRT) Release December 2018

Season 2 shooting 2018 - release winter 2019 - 2020

1 CREDITS ONE LAST CHANCE

Once upon a time John Beckers was Flanders’ favourite TV celebrity. In his heyday, he ruled the small screen and the audience absolutely adored him. His heavy addiction to drink and gambling led him down a dark path, however, causing John to lose almost everything he had worked so hard for. Popularity, friends and success disappeared faster than they had come.

Over Water, a series by Flemish broadcaster Eén, tells the story of John Beckers, who is given an ultimate chance by his wife and two kids to get his life back on track again and regain their trust. After his umpteenth stay in rehab, John joins Michielsen Shipping Co, the company of his father-in-law with renewed courage. The former TV celeb starts working for the port. It’s a process of ups and downs. Until the day comes when he has the port start working for him.

Will John Beckers be able to contain his old demons and resist new temptations in this new, cut-throat world? Will this allow him to regain the trust and love of his wife and children? Over Water tells the story of how a former addict can make the wrong choices with the right intentions. And how, along the way, a newbie can become a lynchpin in the most lucrative but also the by far most dangerous dealings on the Antwerp docks.

Over Water boasts a top-notch cast that includes Tom Dewispelaere, Tom Van Dyck, Ruth Becquart, Natali Broods, Kevin Janssens and Jeroen Perceval. The series was written by Tom Lenaerts and Paul Baeten Gronda and directed by the duo Norman Bates.

SYNOPSIS 2 JOHN BECKERS CARL DOCKX

John Beckers (39) is a has-been TV host addicted Carl Dockx (54) also works at Michielsen Shipping to booze and gambling. After intense rehab, he is Co. Carl is a tough guy and an ex-prisoner, but he aiming to build a new life for himself and his family. has got this caring side. In the office he acts as a John is trying hard but when a serious incident father to his younger colleague Ella. In fact: he is her occurs, he gets caught-up in a spiral of increasing father. Carl has always known she is his daughter problems. His attempts to cover it all up or make up but he promised her mother that he would take for it, will turn out to be the grounds for his new life that secret with him to the grave. as a criminal in the Port of Antwerp. TOM VAN DYCK (1972) has become part of Flanders’ TOM DEWISPELAERE (1976) has made a name for television history after having starred in Het Eiland, himself as a major talent of his generation, with In De Gloria, De Parelvissers, Matroesjka’s and Van leading roles in television series like De Parelvissers, Vlees en Bloed. Van Vlees en Bloed, Cordon and Callboys.

3 CAST MARJAN MICHIELSEN FREDDY MICHIELSEN

Marjan Michielsen (39) is the driving force behind Freddy Michielsen (67) learned everything from her own art gallery. Marjan is a strong woman who the port and the port taught Freddy Michielsen evolves from a caring wife to an emancipated, but everything he needed to know. He was raised in the disappointed and bruised opponent to John, who old days, a time that was identified by clear rules, is gradually drifting away from her. She feels less and he managed to lead his company through forty and less appreciated by John, but more and more years of changes and evolution. Freddy feels an by Patrick De Beco, John’s art-loving competitor. enormous love for his only child and he projects the dream of a son he cherished for so long on his NATALI BROODS (1976) starred in The Misfortunates son-in-law, John. by . Broods also appeared in the former television series by Tom Lenaerts and HERMAN GILIS (1951) made history in the Belgian Tom Van Dyck, Met Man en Macht and in Tabula theatre scene with the Rotterdam-based Ro Rasa. Theater and the Ghent-based Arcatheater. In 1997 he won the Louis d’Or.

CAST 4 BARRY SNOECK PATRICK DE BECO

Barry Snoeck (38) is John’s best friend and was his Patrick De Beco (40) controls the majority of the manager and personal driver during his successful incoming cocaine. He knows everybody, he knows years. But Barry likes to drink and gamble and acts everything. Patrick feels a strong affection for as a bad influence on John. Together they have Marjan Michielsen and believes that together they gone through peaks and valleys. Barry is a loud, could be conquering the world. Patrick strives for unrefined man but he has got a heart of gold and more power and money than he already owns, but an unconditional loyalty towards his best buddy. his weaknesses will turn out to be fatal. He falls in love with the wife of somebody he better not JEROEN PERCEVAL (1982) rose to fame with his opposes, John Beckers. role in the Oscar-nominated movie Bullhead by Michael R. Roskam. He also plays one of the main KEVIN JANSSENS (1979) appeared in various tv- characters in the 2016 Belgian submission to the series including Salamander. He also played in , D’Ardennen by Robin Pront. In D’Ardennen and Tueurs. Most recently, Janssens 2017 he had a major role in Tabula Rasa. co-starred with Jean-Claude Van Damme in The Bouncer.

5 CAST ELLA GOES ARNO BECKERS JULIE BECKERS

Ella Goes (27) is an only Arno Beckers is John and Julie Beckers, the daughter of child, living alone in a modern Marjan’s introverted son. Arno John and Marjan, is a young apartment in Antwerp. As is quieter and more sensitive woman who has it all. She is a student, Ella had already than his older sister. He lacks the assertive and beautiful and interned at Michielsen Shipping courage to say what he thinks blessed with a strong personality Co. and she was offered a job and feels. Perhaps because he and a seemingly unbreakable immediately after graduating. is being bullied at school. Arno character. John’s arrival at the company is evolves from a fairly relaxed like a breath of fresh air and Ella adolescent into a headstrong VIOLET BRAECKMAN (1996) makes sure he lands on his feet young man who increasingly played recurring roles in tv-series in the world of the port. stands up for himself to the such as Aspe and Salamander. point he can no longer contain EVGENIA BRENDES (1989) his pent-up aggression. appeared in the series Matroesjka’s 2 and in 2015 she This marks JEF HELLEMANS’ played in the film Problemski (1999) first appearance in a TV hotel. series. In 2017, he appeared on stage in a play by Michael De Cock and Patrick Lateur.

CAST 6 DE PELSMAECKER RASHA TALHAOUI

De Pelsmaecker – “Pels” – is a female lawyer who Rasha Talhaoui is a determined detective with a acts as a go-between for the Mexican cartel in strong moral compass. Her name or the mere fact Antwerp. She mediates between the cartel and that she’s a woman gets her a lot of flak in the importers like Patrick De Beco and, ergo, John male-dominated world of the port and the police. Beckers later. She is an extremely diplomatic and She and her corrupt boss are constantly at odds. polite woman, albeit slightly boring looking. Her tone of voice may be calm and serene, she is IKRAM AOULAD (1978) played one of the leads in undoubtedly the most powerful woman in the port. De 16. She also appeared in Cordon and guested in Callboys, Vermist, De Ridder, Achter de wolken and RUTH BEQUART (1976) played in the theatre with Generatie B. Theater Malpertuis, Toneelhuis and Het Paleis. Becquart starred in the feature films Linkeroever, Dode Hoek and Dirty Mind, as well as series like Clan and Chaussée d’Amour.

7 CAST KAIN TICHA WALID EL IDRISSI

Kain is an Antwerp based and Ticha was an art history student Wallid El Idrissi is Patrick De hugely self-involved painter when she got a job at Marjan’s Beco’s right hand man. Issued who wants to make it big time. gallery, where she now works as from a family of well-to-do Marjan Michielsen believes in his her assistant. She admires Marjan Moroccan shopkeepers who work and sells a lot of it in her enormously, and always follows don’t have a clue as to the work art gallery. Kain is a womanizer her advice, unlike Julie. he’s doing, he is smart but knows though, and it doesn’t take long when to keep his mouth shut. before the young Julie falls for his MARTHA CANGA ANTONIO While physically imposing, he sweet-talking and good looks. (1995) starred in the 2015 film also acts as a sounding board for Black by Adil El Arbi and Bilall De Beco. Ramsey Nasr (1974) is a Dutch Fallah. In December 2015, she actor and writer of Palestinian was nominated as a European SOUFIANE CHILAH (1991) played descent. He played in over a shooting star at the Berlin Film roles in Black, Fien Troch’s Home dozen movies and tv-series, Festival. and Nabil Ben Yadir’s political was the National Poet of The thriller Dode Hoek. Netherlands and won a Louis d”or for his theatre work with Toneelgroep Amsterdam.

CAST 8 WRITER WRITER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

TOM LENAERTS PAUL BAETEN GRONDA KATO MAES

Tom Lenaerts was born in 1968 Paul Baeten Gronda (1981) Kato Maes was a co-founder and grew up in Antwerp. In grew up in Belgium but lives in and partner of production the mid-nineties he became a Italy since 2012. He published company Caviar. In 2014 she household name in Belgium after his debut novel in 2008, which founded Panenka, together with hosting and creating a string of became a critical success as well Tom Lenaerts. As an executive hugely popular and critically as a bestselling top ten novel. In producer she created several acclaimed television shows. the years that follow, he wrote television series and movies such Up to this day, some of these four more books, revolving as De Smaak van De Keyser, Clan formats still rank among the around the themes that have and Dirty Mind. Apart from being most watched shows in Flanders, become a staple of Baeten Panenka’s business manager, carving out nice careers abroad Gronda’s work: family tragedies, Kato Maes is also the executive as well. De Mol (The Mole), unresolved confl icts, crime and producer of this series. which has been sold to over 50 punishment and impossible countries, is the most successful love. Baeten Gronda’s books of them all. also got published in Germany, Switzerland and Austria by On top of that, Lenaerts also German publishers Luchterhand wrote and directed the drama Literaturverlag, a subsidiary of series De Parelvissers and Met Random House Deutschland. Man en Macht. Since 2006, Baeten Gronda So far, Tom Lenaerts’ work has has also worked as a writer on won him more than a dozen several tv-shows, ranging from national awards and the Golden late night talk shows, quiz shows Rose of Montreux. and comedy.

9 MAKERS NORMAN BATES - DIRECTORS

Norman Bates, AKA Inti Calfat & Dirk Verheye is an international directing duo, based in Brussels. Combining a documentary background with a more classical art history education, the duo created a very organic and genuine aesthetic. Their music videos have won diff erent awards. They recently got international attention with their global campaigns for big brands such as Samsonite, European Parliament and Coca Cola. Besides their commercial work they are also developing a feature fi lm called Redemption.

BJORN CHARPENTIER - D.O.P.

Bjorn grew up outside Antwerp, he attended the Narafi Film School in Brussels. He earned multiple awards, including the Gold Lion in Cinematography at the 2015 Cannes, for his work in Leica 100 and his Milow “We Must Be Crazy” music video was nominated for Best Cinematography at the prestigious Camerimage Film Festival. In 2016, Bjorn started production on his fi rst feature, Behold a White Horse, with Carl Erik Rinsch, which has already generated buzz for its groundbreaking visual style. Bjorn most recently wrapped Brad Anderson’s political thriller Beirut starring Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike, written and produced by Oscar nominated Tony Gilroy. Bjorn was recently named one of ASC’s Rising Stars of Cinematography.

MAKERS 10 PANENKA

Is an independent production company founded by Kato Maes and Tom Lenaerts in the summer of 2014. It is Panenka’s ambition to produce shows, television series and movies that appeal to a Flemish audience, but at the same time have the potential of being successful internationally. Quality always wins over quantity.

Since the start, Panenka created and produced some awards winnings TV-Shows and fi ction series

• A Matter of Luck, A Matter of Happiness (award winning docu-series directed by Kat Steppe - 1 season) - 2016 • Keep Calm (prime time game show - 3 seasons) 2015 - 2016 -2018 • Switch (daily game show - 3 seasons) 2016- 2017 -2018 • Clinch (six episode tragicomedy series - nominated Prix Europa) 2016 • Winteruur (awarded daily intimate talk show hosted by comedian Wim Helsen - 4 seasons) 2015 -2016 -2017 -2018 • Taboo (factual entertainment series, combination of human interest & comedy, directed by Kat Steppe - the biggest entertainment launch ever on VRT - scored more than 60% share - 1 season) 2018

The name Panenka is a tribute to the legendary football player Antonín Panenka who netted the winning penalty in the european championships fi nal in 1976 between West Germany and Czechoslovakia.

He scooped his shot down the middle of the goal while Sepp Maier, the German keeper, was already down in one corner. Ever since, such a penalty is referred to as a ‘Panenka’.

11 PRODUCTION COMPANY EPISODE SYNOPSIS

12 EPISODE 1

Having spent a few months in rehab for alcohol and substance abuse, John Beckers, a former TV show host and celebrity has-been, returns home. His wife Marjan and their two kids, Julie and Arno, want to give him one last shot at building a quiet family life together. John goes to work in the port company of his father-in-law Freddy, hoping his old demons won’t be able to fi nd him there. Whenever he can, John secretly visits his mysterious friend Barry, who’s in a coma at the hospital. Everything goes according to plan until John accidentally runs over his father-in-law during a very unsettling episode and has to leave him for dead at the bottom of a port dock ...

13 EPISODE SYNOPSIS EPISODE 2

After the accident, John is in a state of shock. Not surprisingly, since he discovered a large amount of cash and a pistol on Freddy’s body. As John quickly begins to erase his tracks, the disappearance gradually starts to sink in with family and friends. Lying and denying, John tries to keep his head above water. Carl Dockx, a friend of the family and Freddy’s right-hand man, starts looking for him, to no avail. Meanwhile, criminal port magnate Patrick De Beco discovers a secret about Carl Dockx he intends to use as leverage to take over Michielsen Shipping Co, Freddy’s company. When Freddy’s body fi nally surfaces near the banks of the Scheldt, it comes as a huge shock to everyone. Everyone except John ...

EPISODE SYNOPSIS 14 EPISODE 3

Freddy’s death sends a shock wave through the lives of Marjan, the children and Carl. With characters from his previous life knocking on his door to collect an old gambling debt, John has little time to deal with their mourning. At the autopsy, police inspector Rasha discovers that Freddy’s fall didn’t kill him, but merely rendered him unconscious. Hearing the news, John collapses and starts drinking again. In the meantime, John has to secretly relocate Barry and tend to his medical needs. Shortly after, powerful business lawyer Benedicte De Pelsmaecker makes him a proposition. It concerns criminal activities that could earn him a lot of money. John refuses.

15 EPISODE SYNOPSIS EPISODE 4

Freddy Michielsen’s funeral. Marjan is a total wreck and John hides the fact that he is drinking again. De Pelsmaecker turns up again, reminding John there’s no escaping her in the port’s microcosm. John’s young colleague Ella is now taking care of Barry after John has confi ded his secret to her. The notary of Michielsen Shipping Co. informs John and Marjan of the fi nancial dire straits the business is in. John realizes he’ll never manage to pay off his debt if he doesn’t do something. Meanwhile, his gambling addiction is costing him a fortune. So, he decides to contact De Pelsmaecker after all. They strike a deal, but John has to complete a task fi rst, by way of a test. Fortunately, Carl is there to watch his back.

EPISODE SYNOPSIS 16 EPISODE 5

Rasha and her partner Sven continue their relentless investigation into the death of Freddy Michielsen. They question Patrick De Beco as well as Carl, who has a criminal record. Carl, meanwhile, is looking to confront John. Tailing him, he watched John walk straight into De Pelsmaecker’s trap. John was fi lmed by The Driver while carrying out illegal activities and De Pelsmaecker can now use that footage against him. Now John enters into a pact with Carl and Ella, eff ectively turning Michielsen Shipping Co. into a covert crime organization.

17 EPISODE SYNOPSIS EPISODE 6

Rasha urges the commissioner not to take her off the Michielsen case. As things stand, the commissioner is held on a tight leash by De Pelsmaecker. Marjan hesitates when Patrick De Beco invites her to accompany him to an art fair abroad. De Pelsmaecker settles John’s problems with his old creditors. This makes John realize he’s untouchable. Texts to and from Ella grow increasingly explicit and lead to them having sex in Barry’s apartment for the fi rst time. While Ella is taking a shower, John receives a frightened call from Carl. It’s about Ella.

EPISODE SYNOPSIS 18 EPISODE 7

Carl tells John he is Ella’s father. And how Patrick De Beco has been aching to use his secret as leverage to sabotage their business with De Pelsmaecker. Carl is livid and wants to destroy De Beco. John promises Carl he will burn down De Beco’s empire to the ground. Licking his wounds, Carl agrees. Meanwhile, Marjan learns that John has been hiding his friend Barry from her. She discovers the apartment where John has tucked away Barry. For their part, Sven and Rasha are trying to prove that Freddy did not surface at the spot he was found by accident.

19 EPISODE SYNOPSIS EPISODE 8

Marjan drives to the apartment building where Barry is. She is astonished to see Ella come out of the building. Having built a strong case, Rasha suspects Patrick De Beco of killing Freddy. She wants to raid Patrick De Beco’s premises, but meets with opposition from the commissioner. John discovers that De Beco has been spying on him and has tons of evidence documenting his addictions and adultery. John and Carl agree that the De Beco problem needs a permanent solution. Adjusting her strategy, De Pelsmaecker manipulates the commissioner into allowing Rasha to conduct a large-scale raid on De Beco after all.

EPISODE SYNOPSIS 20 EPISODE 9

With the raid on De Beco’s site proving a wild-goose chase, the fed-up commissioner decides to pull the plug on Rasha’s investigation. De Beco has fallen in love with Marjan and is aching to take off with her. His emotions are making him more impulsive and less attentive. John hires a small-time criminal to take out De Beco. The murder attempt fails and De Beco kills his attacker in the ensuing fi ght, making sure John is updated through the grapevine. Bent on revenge, Patrick De Beco anonymously tips off Rasha about the drug traffi cking on John’s site.

21 EPISODE SYNOPSIS EPISODE 10

With John’s knowledge, Carl drives to Patrick De Beco’s house to put a bullet in his brain. He and John dump the body into an acid vat in the port. Rasha and Sven pick up John’s trail when Patrick’s tip leads them to discover a container full of cocaine on John’s site. That evening, John and Marjan are dining at a restaurant together. Their relationship has turned into cold and hostile one-upmanship, each trying their utmost to spite the other. John seems to think he’s got the upper hand. But when he leaves the restaurant, he is arrested by Rasha and his empire crumbles beneath his feet.

EPISODE SYNOPSIS 22 WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION

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