Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain – The highly anticipated technological thriller ‘Day One’ is set to premiere this Friday, March 13th, on Amazon Prime Video (with 3Cat airing a Catalan version titled ‘Dia u’). The series, featuring Álex González, Alba Planas, Iván Massagué, and Jordi Mollà, plunges viewers into pressing moral questions surrounding technological advancement, such as the trade-offs between peace and freedom, happiness, and the crucial need for ethical boundaries in technology.
‘Day One’: A Thriller Born from Barcelona’s Tech Ambition
The narrative of ‘Day One’ unfolds against the backdrop of the Mobile World Congress, following a race against time to prevent the global launch of a revolutionary new technology. Simultaneously, police investigate a murder intricately linked to the unfolding events. Cristina Pons, screenwriter and executive producer of the series, revealed that the project, produced by Zebra Producciones, NewCo Audiovisual, and Documentales en Canarias S.L., originated as an initiative from the Mobile World Congress. The goal was to “internationally position Barcelona’s innovation ecosystem and showcase the city to the world as a benchmark for technological innovation.”
Beyond the Hype: Exploring Technology’s Ethical Core
Pons emphasized that ‘Day One’ aims to go beyond mere promotion, directly addressing the ethical dilemmas inherent in technological development. “The series is being released at a perfect time, because a few years ago, there wasn’t as much talk about technologies not being neutral; behind them is the person who invests the money, and it is important to have national and European technological sovereignty,” Pons stated in a video call interview on March 2nd, coinciding with the Mobile World Congress. She added, “We need to innovate, but at the same time, an ethical regulatory paradigm is needed so that these advances do not end up going against human rights or minorities.”
Filming in Barcelona’s Cutting-Edge Locations
The series extensively utilizes some of Barcelona’s most emblematic technological and scientific sites. Locations such as the Barcelona Supercomputing Center with its quantum computers, the Alba synchrotron, the Talent Arena, the Collserola Tower, and the 22@ District serve as key settings for the action. Marta Pahissa, who directed three of the episodes, noted, “Until now, we were asked to portray touristy Barcelona, but this series proposed filming in a totally different Barcelona, which is very present in the lives of people here, but is not as well known.”
Overcoming Production Challenges in High-Tech Environments
Filming in these specialized environments presented unique challenges. César Martí, executive producer, explained that shooting at the Alba synchrotron was only possible during its brief annual shutdown periods. Similarly, filming with the quantum computers at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, which require specific temperature and humidity conditions and are sensitive to movement, proved complex. However, Martí highlighted the cooperation received: “But when the hurdles of permits, time, and organization were overcome, they were very willing to help everywhere and understood that we were doing a job for them to show their work.” Víctor Cuadrado, director of the other three episodes, echoed this sentiment. Interestingly, the villain’s headquarters, portrayed by Jordi Mollà, is actually the University of La Laguna, chosen for its brutalist architecture and curved forms, which are rarely seen in audiovisual productions.
Balancing Technology with Storytelling and Realism
A core objective for the creators was to ensure technology played a significant role without overshadowing the story or its characters. Furthermore, they aimed for technological advancements depicted in the series to remain relevant upon its release. To achieve this, the story is set in the present rather than the future. Cuadrado reflected on the challenge: “The challenge was to understand the characters and not be Manichaean.”
Expert Collaboration for Authentic Depictions
The series features various technologies, from AI utilities to robots. Martí emphasized the commitment to realism: “It was important that everything we told at a technological level had a real basis.” This was achieved through collaboration with experts from the Mobile World Congress, who reviewed scripts and provided guidance. Even the series’ catalyst – augmented reality contact lenses that offer advanced capabilities – has a real-world foundation, albeit with creative liberties that add a poetic dimension as the plot unfolds. Martí concluded, “Part of the charm of the series lies in basing itself on existing technologies to tell an ethical dilemma of today. While it entertains you, it also makes you uneasy.”
