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 Felix Van Groeningen. 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 Academy Awards, 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.