Liverpool Narcos
The city transformed by the drugs trade
Liverpool Narcos is the story of the 1980’s drug boom, which turned dealing into a multi-billion pound business, and changed Britain forever. With unprecedented access to those on the forefront of the meteoric rise of heroin in the city, this is a look into how a small group of criminals and underclass figures seized a new opportunity to flood Liverpool, and turned themselves into millionaires overnight.
Liverpool Narcos is the flagship show as part of the launch of the Sky Documentaries channel, so this needed to lead with impact.
Unlike a lot of other entertainment titles, this involved creating something different, in 3D. Something which would be recognisable for years to come. This is also how we wanted to approach the channel branding.
We wanted to show the corrupting influence of the drugs trade on one of the UK's most iconic cities. So we took the symbol of Liverpool, the Liver bird, and sculpted out of cocaine with help from the 3D studio Territory. Rising from a pile of powder, beautifully fragile and crumbling but nonetheless defiant, Liverpool's identity stands strong in spite of its challenges.
Sky Documentaries
DEVELOPING AN IDENTITY
Folding device
We wanted to show that with some of the most impactful stories in the world, there is more to what you initially see. The folding device reveals more to the copy, as well as the image itself, giving you a broader context.
Image focus
Black and white imagery was a strong art directional choice across the board, displaying a very raw side to all of these stories. We incorporated an effect which brings the image in and out of focus, to put emphasis on a specific subject within it.
Agency: Sky Creative
Production: Territory
Creative director: Simon Corkin
Art director/designer: Charles BIgnell
Copywriter: Luke Butler