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American Focus > Blog > Entertainment > The Mediapro Studio’s ‘Jakarta’ Broken Down by ‘Celeste’ Creatives Diego San José, Elena Trapé: ’It’s a Spain Without Spark Yet Beautiful’
Entertainment

The Mediapro Studio’s ‘Jakarta’ Broken Down by ‘Celeste’ Creatives Diego San José, Elena Trapé: ’It’s a Spain Without Spark Yet Beautiful’

Last updated: October 13, 2025 3:57 am
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The Mediapro Studio’s ‘Jakarta’ Broken Down by ‘Celeste’ Creatives Diego San José, Elena Trapé: ’It’s a Spain Without Spark Yet Beautiful’
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Madrid-based The Mediapro Studio Distribution is showcasing its significant scripted series “Jakarta” (“Yakarta”) at Mipcom and it’s also featured in the lineup for Barcelona’s Serielizados Spanish competition. This show is noteworthy as one of Spain’s most innovative and heartfelt offerings, bringing together some of the country’s top talents.

The six-part, half-hour series is the brainchild of the creators behind the acclaimed comedy-drama “Celeste,” which won two International Panorama awards at Series Mania: creator/head-writer Diego San José, known for the phenomenally popular film series “Spanish Affair,” and concept director Elena Trapé, recognized for the Movistar Plus+/Arte thriller “Rapa” and the highly awarded film “Distances.”

Joining them in the early stages of development was Javier Cámara, a beloved actor renowned for his roles in “Talk to Me” and “Truman,” who also directed one episode and stars in the lead role.

In a compelling portrayal, Cámara plays Joserra, once an Olympic badminton player, now a weary physical education teacher residing in a small Spanish town. His mundane existence takes an intriguing turn when he encounters a gifted young badminton player, 16-year-old Mar (Carla Quílez, awarded best actress at San Sebastián for “Motherhood”), during a school tournament.

The core creative team further includes co-writers Daniel Castro (“Celeste”) and Fernando Delgado (“Hierro”), who also directed several episodes.

Following “Celeste,” which stars the talented Carmen Machi as a middle-aged tax inspector facing retirement, San José expressed that finding an even duller setting for “Jakarta” seemed difficult, yet he succeeded. The series unfolds in the realm of regional badminton tournaments and “championships held in uninspiring venues.” Rather than focusing on a specific city, it reflects “a type of city” – the provincial ones that lack the charm of urban centers or the quaintness of villages.

“I believe that’s the essence of real Spain,” San José shared with Variety prior to Mipcom. “The interchangeable Spain, which I say fondly as someone from Irún, a provincial city similar to many others—similar architecture, stores, and the same bands at local festivals.” He views the two main characters, Joserra and Mar, as representative of this concept—two provincial cities themselves.

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While badminton serves as a significant element of the narrative, the central theme revolves around defeat. “Not in a sports context, but existentially,” San José clarifies, adding that “Jakarta” is a celebration of failure as a lifestyle choice. The story unfolds in an environment where achieving success doesn’t equate to being a winner. “Regional badminton embodies this. Even if you excel, you might still consider yourself a loser. It’s defeat squared,” admits the showrunner, humorously acknowledging his own lack of athletic talent as a catalyst for his writing career.

Diego San José: Transition from Comedy to Drama

At 46, San José is known primarily for his comedic work, making an ambitious transition into pure drama with this project, which he refers to as “the first project where we genuinely engaged with emotion—both the unsettling and uplifting kinds that comedy often bypasses.”

Alejandro Flórez, executive producer of “Jakarta” and director of Mediapro Studio’s 100 Balas label (“Celeste”), emphasizes San José’s courageous pivot from comedy to a narrative unlike any he’s previously developed, describing it as a masterpiece of maturity, enhanced by the stellar performances of its cast. Both Javier Cámara and rising star Carla Quílez deliver profoundly moving interpretations of their roles, forming the emotional heart of the series.

“Diego ranks among the most intriguing creators in Spain,” praises Fran Araújo, executive producer of Movistar Plus+ Originals, lauding his “remarkable talent for delving into intricate themes while maintaining accessibility for viewers, which makes him truly unique.”

Trapé, initially approached by San José while they were wrapping “Celeste,” regarded working on his script as a fortunate opportunity. “Diego has a unique talent for captivating the audience and delicately uncovering the characters’ psychological depths and traumas.”

She was also drawn to the concept of setting, describing it as “the beautiful, yet unexciting, Spain” that is intimately tied to the characters’ inner experiences. “Alongside our cinematographer Rita Noriega (“Piggy”), we focused on reproducing the sense of emptiness both characters experience before they meet, using gray landscapes to evoke an atmosphere that is both lonely and poetic.”

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San José delves deeper into his protagonists, sharing insights from his research involving young badminton players and their coach. He explains that Joserra and Mar are individuals who aren’t taking steps to address their emotional wounds. They bear their pain but continue moving forward. Their connection and journey through sorrowful landscapes in Spain will ultimately prompt them to confront their emotional struggles, making each a beacon of hope for the other.

“And, of course, the issue is whether it is worse for your hope to come from a 16-year-old girl or an adult still stuck in 1992,” he reflects, admitting his affinity for anti-heroes, be it “Celeste’s” Sara Santano or Joserra.

“I often feel like one of them,” he confides to Variety. “As a screenwriter uninterested in directing, I empathize deeply with the everyday person! I’m not drawn to those for whom life is straightforward, be it in fiction or reality. There’s profound poetry in defeat that clashes with contemporary ideals centered around success and achieving dreams. To me, not realizing dreams embodies adult life more closely than achieving them does. Strikingly, losers, though less common in scripted narratives, are the overwhelming majority in real life.”

San José identifies two film references that influenced him significantly. “The Color of Money,” featuring an adult guiding a young prodigy on a journey through America, served as inspiration. “I wanted to adapt that style but transport it to provincial Spain. Then there’s ‘Foxcatcher,’ which I admired not for the sports aspect but for its exploration of obsession, stylistic ambiguity, and its darker themes.”

For her part, Trapé found inspiration in Charlotte Wells’ debut “Aftersun,” noting its persistent sense of discomfort expressed through its characters and ambiance. “You anticipate some kind of eruption, leaving you in suspense.” She also drew on the classic “Harold & Maud” for the way it showcases two contrasting characters whose encounter drastically alters their lives.

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Araújo reflects on the primary challenges faced during filming, highlighting the need to recreate various locations across Spain in the vicinity of Madrid, crafting unique settings for each episode. However, he stresses that the most significant challenge was artistic—Javier Cámara’s performance was “absolutely monumental.”

As “Jakarta” prepares for international distribution by The Mediapro Studio Distribution at Mipcom, both Araújo and Flórez emphasize the show’s universal appeal.

“There’s a line in the series stating, ‘no one starts playing badminton if they’re happy,’ which I believe is universally relatable,” shares Araújo.

“The two main characters navigate through a lesser-known Spain, those inconspicuous places that are often overlooked. Every nation has such locations filled with people like them. The themes explored in the series are easily identifiable. At its heart, it’s about two lost souls finding unexpected solace in sports that typically falls under the radar.”

Flórez adds, “The series centers on the dynamic between a former Olympic athlete turned coach and a promising young badminton player, which resonates globally across numerous disciplines. It’s fundamentally a human story, defined by personal connections, emotional nuances, and the intricacies of ordinary life. Although tied to a specific locale, the narrative could easily take place anywhere, making it relatable to audiences worldwide. Furthermore, the sport at the core of the storyline, badminton, enjoys international popularity, further enhancing the series’ global appeal.”

Produced by 100 Balas in collaboration with Buendía Estudios Canarias and co-produced with Movistar Plus+, “Jakarta” is executive produced by Araújo, Flórez, San José, Laura Fernandez Espeso, and Javier Mendez. The show will premiere in Spain on November 6.

TAGGED:BeautifulBrokenCelesteCreativesDiegoElenaJakartaJoseMediaproSanSpainSparkStudiosTrapé
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