Instagram Micro-series '168 Hours' Becomes Unexpected Hit

The Instagram series '168 Hours' has become an unexpected phenomenon, gaining at least 616,000 subscribers on the Jimer Play page within three weeks of its release. The show features short, vertical episodes of just over two minutes each, utilizing a cinematic style to tell a story about a man contemplating suicide and a woman who asks for one week, or 168 hours, to change his mind. The final episode of the 15 part series is scheduled to air on Friday, September 11, at 6:00 PM.

Created and directed by Eduardo Gil Jr. a cinema and television school owner in Porto Alegre, the series was produced by Jimer Play, a free platform cofounded by Gil and five partners. While the creators initially expected a younger audience for the vertical micro-series format, they discovered that the viewership is predominantly adult. This shift in demographics led the team to prioritize adult themes over three other planned teen series. A new production titled 'Nossa Casa de Vidro,' which focuses on child violence, is set to debut on September 28, and a separate channel for teenage content is planned for November.

The plot follows Otávio, played by Matheus Xavier, who struggles with a betting addiction, and a woman played by Isadora Vasconcellos, who has a history of abuse. The production was filmed over one week on the streets of Porto Alegre. Gil stated that the script was inspired by real life stories of dependency, compulsion, and abuse. Both reports note that the series has been well received by viewers, with Gil mentioning a lack of negative comments on the channel.