Euphoria EP On “Mindful” Approach Of Portraying Drug Use – ATX

ATX Television wrapped Day 1 with a screening of HBOs upcoming drama Euphoria, the risque teen drama based on the Israeli series from HOT. The highly graphic series follows a group of high school students as they navigate drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love, and friendship.

Creator and EP Sam Levinson, an addict who has been sober for over ten years, had a deep connection to this piece. “The hardest thing about portraying a drug addict is — there are a lot of cautionary tales, there are a lot of after-school specials — but what I really wanted to get to the core of is the pain and the shame about what youre doing and youre inability to get clean despite the havoc and destruction youre wreaking round you.”

Levinson was on hand for a Q&A discussion following the screening, along with stars Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Barbie Ferreira, and Eric Dane

Speaking on the challenge of being authentic, while running the risk of glamorizing drug use “just by the sheer nature of it being on screen,” Levinson said its something that the producers are “mindful of.” Though he is “sensitive of portrayals of drug addiction. We have to be authentic about it,” he contended. “If were pulling our punches and were not showing the relief that drugs can bring it starts to lose its impact. Drugs are not the solution but they can feel like it at times at thats what makes them so destructive.”

Zendaya leads the cast in the role that is truly a departure from her Disney days. She plays the cocaine-snorting, foul-mouthed, anxiety-riddled teenager Rue, who shows no signs of a desire to change her destructive ways.

“Its a big jump, its very different,” said Zendaya, describing the leap as “nerve-wracking.”

“I think whats really important is that its done in a space where I can take that next step in my career but its done in a place where its best to do that.”

On the decision to take on a more adult role, Zendaya shared, “I dont think there was a strategy. I just knew that I had to take my time and I had to go slow and I had to earn my way up.” She continued, “It was just about being patient and slowly opening those doors for myself and getting into the rooms and getting people to see me a little bit more in a different way and not ever pushing it too far too fast because I think a moment like this, if it happened too soon, people wouldnt be willing to accept it.”

Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa DRead More – Source

Deadline