Taiwan-based global LGBTQ+ streaming platform GagaOOlala premieres its first post Covid-19 drama series, Unlocked, on 19 June, with new episodes released every Friday. 

The six-part anthology series, co-produced by Philippines’ filmmaker Adolfo B. Alix Jr and GagaOOlala, looks at how quarantine has affected gay couples’ relationships. 

“Each episode deals with issues of love, heartbreak and uncertainty in the time of the pandemic,” he says. 

Episodes run between 15 and 20 minutes. The production budget was approx US$5,000 per episode. 

Unlocked is not the first isolation-themed content Alix has produced.

“In 2012, I did a film with Ananda Everingham called Kalayaan (Wildlife), which dealt with the isolation of soldiers stationed in the Spratlys. They’re alone and they start to experience things which they cannot explain. Are these even real or a product of their imagination,” he explains.

Eight years later, the Covid-19 lockdown in Manila inspired his return to the theme. 

“I thought of how this situation can be a catalyst for dramatic situations,” Alix says.

“There are a lot of parallel themes that can be discussed given the times in the context of a relationship. The lockdown will act as a purgation of sorts to unlock issues on their relationships in different levels,” he adds.

Implementing safe production protocols meant a series of virtual auditions and discussions, as well as a skeleton crew of four.

“Shooting with a crew of four is not usual, but it’s like working with your family to create something special,” he says.

Alix says the challenges presented by safety protocols “enabled us to be more creative” in order to get the series made, with new processes applied to familiar production steps. 

Unlocked will be distributed worldwide by Jay Lin’s Taipei-based Portico Media, except in the Philippines, which will be managed by Alix’s production company, Noble Wolf ABAJ Productions.