During the first five seconds of the series trailer Meganticwe see a glass of water vibrating in close-up. It is not a purely artistic choice, it is a signal agreed with the Méganticois. When they see it, they can choose not to watch the sequel.
This is called the frame buffer. This code has been put in place by the producers with the local CIUSS in recent months to prevent citizens from being exposed to images of the disaster that killed 47 people in 2013 against their will during the airing of the trailer and TV commercials.
This is one of the many measures taken to prepare the residents of Lac-Mégantic for the series’ arrival on Club illico.
“We’re not just entertaining. With this project comes a responsibility,” said Denis Dubois, Vice President of Original Content at Quebecor Content.
850 people
Thus, on Monday, 850 Méganticois will be able to watch the first two episodes of the series during two public screenings that will take place at the Polyvalente Montignac in the presence of health interest groups and social workers.
Photo courtesy of Club Illico
The images from the Mégantic series may worry citizens in the city that was hit by a devastating train derailment in 2013. Several measures have been proposed to prepare the population.
For its part, the trailer was made available to the local cell Lac-Mégantic a month before its unveiling, to counteract the surprise effect. A survey was also carried out to determine whether the population would like the film to be filmed in their city and biweekly meetings have been held since November with City Hall, CIUSS and CLSC.
Based on the comments of the few people who have seen the series, Denis Dubois believes that Mégantic will “do good for the population”.
“I don’t want to generalize, but it’s a show that can help some people. There’s a benevolence that’s been there from the start and it’s quite moving. »
do useful work
However, the wounds are still open. Several Méganticois have denounced the series and will refuse to watch it.
Why does such a drama need a fiction not to be forgotten? Why Mégantic and not the deluge of Saguenay or Saint-Jean-Vianney?
‘In that case, Mr Dubois replies, it is an accident that could have been avoided. With the series, we can do useful work and help move things forward – we’re still talking about circumvention – so that a tragedy like this never happens again. »
series Megantic will be available from Club illico on February 9th.