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New Shomi series ‘Mozart in the Jungle’ like ‘Girls’ meets ‘Smash’

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NEW YORK, N.Y. – Jason Schwartzman had one thought after reading a review of the book “Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs and Classical Music:” “If I was going to watch a TV show, this is what I would like to watch.”

Schwartzman, 34, is better known for acting (he’s shot five films with director Wes Anderson, including “The Grand Budapest Hotel”) than executive producing. He does both, however, in “Mozart in the Jungle,” a new series from Amazon Prime. All 10 first season episodes will be available for streaming starting Friday on the digital platform Shomi.

Loosely based on Blair Tindall’s memoir, the half-hour drama explores a young oboe player’s adventures as she tries to crack the lineup of the fictional New York Philharmonic. It’s been compared to “Girls” meets “Smash” with a little “Fame” thrown in.

Schwartzman teamed up with his cousin, Roman Coppola, as well as director Paul Weitz (“About a Boy”) for the series. All three responded to this world of temperamental artists but especially Schwartzman and Coppola, who both grew up in artistic environments. The Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola (“The Godfather”) is Roman’s father and Schwartzman’s uncle. Schwartzman’s mother is actress Talia Shire (“Rocky”). Brothers, sisters, uncles, grandfathers and other cousins — including Nicolas Cage — all have made their mark in the world of entertainment.

Roman Coppola had a window to the symphony world through his grandfather, Carmine, a flautist who became a composer and musical director, contributing scores to his son Francis’ films. Roman was fascinated by the way of life often imposed on musical prodigies who practise many hours a day.

“You have these, in many ways, immature people whose experience is so specific and limited and who in many cases didn’t choose this for themselves.”

At the centre of the story is Hailey Rutledge, a talented young oboist from North Carolina trying to make it in Manhattan. Actress Lola Kirke identifies with her character’s greenness as well as her ambition.

“She is a very driven and passionate individual and she definitely inspires me to tap into that,” says Kirke, who studied with a real oboist to make her concert scenes look believable. The secret to faking the oboe, she says, is “just make sure that you look as ugly as possible. It’s not a flattering instrument.”

Gael Garcia Bernal (“The Motorcycle Diaries”) plays fiery young conductor Rodrigo — a rock star of the baton and a thinly-disguised version of real life Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

Bernadette Peters, as the head of the symphony’s board of directors, Saffron Burrows, as a respected cellist who befriends Hailey, and Malcolm McDowell, as an aging conductor bumped aside by Rodrigo, round out the cast.

— Bill Brioux is a freelance TV columnist based in Brampton, Ont. While in New York, Brioux was a guest of Shomi

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