‘She’s the One’ Writer on How Brazilian Telenovelas Broach Issues of Racism and Sexism in Family-Friendly TV Slots: ‘It’s All About the Tone’ (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor The 6 p.m. telenovela slot at Globo — the free-to-air channel of the biggest production force in Latin America — has long been known for its highly successful, family-oriented period pieces, from “The Thorn and the Rose” to “Pepper Chocolate.” Currently on air, “She’s the One” is eyeing to join this prestigious rank.

Speaking exclusively with Variety ahead of the launch of “She’s the One” at Content Americas — a Miami-based event aimed at the Latin and Hispanic markets, with telenovelas, series, documentaries and formats — showrunner Alessandra Poggi says she is thrilled with the audience reception of the story in Brazil so far.

Set in 1958, “She’s the One” follows Beatriz (Duda Santos), who believed she was abandoned at four years old but later discovers her loving mother (Carol Castro) suffered a grave accident and was subsequently manipulated by a villainous mother-and-son duo, played by renowned actors Lilia Cabral and Fábio Assunção.

This is the third period piece helmed by Poggi, joining “Dark Days” and “A Trick of Fate.” On setting the story in 1958, Poggi says she likes “to set a period telenovela in a specific year instead of a certain decade.” She adds, “In ‘A Trick of Fate,’ we were in 1944 when Brazilian soldiers went to fight in World War II, as I like to make the most of our country’s vast and rich history.