Netflix and Fiction Valley announced today the new Dutch original series, Dirty Lines. The series is inspired by the book 06-Cowboys by Fred Saueressig and is about the rise of erotic phone lines in the late 80s. Dirty Lines is written by Pieter Bart Korthuis (Fighter’s Heart, Penoza).
The series tells the story of young businessman Frank Stigter. After several unsuccessful attempts to start his own business, Frank sees his chance when the national telephone company PTT introduces premium-rate numbers. With the help of his brother and sister and some dubious investors, he starts the first telecom sex company in Europe. What starts as a clumsy improvised experiment in their parents' garage, rapidly develops into a multi-million dollar industry. Set at the end of the Cold War, the series inspires a young generation to shake off the doomsday thinking of the ‘80s and focus on how to celebrate life to its fullest. Amsterdam becomes the center of that cultural revolution with a radical new form of music (house) and a new love-drug (XTC). The erotic phone lines offer the opportunity to experience anonymous sex in a new way, changing the morality of its consumers, but also the people creating it. Both of them looking for new ways to express their hidden erotic fantasies.
Tesha Crawford, Director International Originals Northern Europe: “We’re thrilled to announce our latest original series Dirty Lines about young entrepreneurs seizing a once in a lifetime opportunity. Dirty Lines is a raw portrayal of the liberal Amsterdam of the late 80s. We have been excited to tell a surprising story that combines elements of Amsterdam we have seen before but is told from an angle that is new to many. By working together with Fiction Valley, we can create a unique feeling of that era.”
“Dirty Lines gives you a glimpse into the late 80s when the Netherlands underwent huge changes. The rise of the club scene in Amsterdam with its fast money and inevitable darker underbelly provides the perfect backdrop for a show that grapples with sexuality and power. The trust that Netflix has placed in us is incredibly exciting," says Pieter Bart Korthuis.
Annemieke van Vliet, Creative Director and producer at Fiction Valley: “I am honored that Fiction Valley will produce Dirty Lines in collaboration with Netflix. I have experienced what it is like to be able to work with them and I admire their drive and professionalism. Very exciting times ahead of us and I can’t wait to join forces again on this project.”
