Pitch 1 Tofana - Fabel

Fabel Entertainment
Pitch #1: Tofana
"Give a woman the right makeup, and she can conquer the world." - Charlotte Tilbury
This is a quote I personally find to be true. As someone who started wearing thick
eyeliner to school for the first time in the seventh grade, I have always found liberation in such a
small part of my daily morning routine. Little did I know that women had been wearing that style
of eyeliner for over 6,000 years. But while I shop at my local Sephora now in 2023, women used
to go to their local apothecaries for beauty products. And in the 17th century, the makeup
business was booming.
Italy in the 1600s was no easy place to be a woman. Most of the time there was no way
they could make their own income and provide for themselves, so they were doomed to abusive
and controlling relationships. In a place in time with no way for women to escape such abuse,
one woman realized their need for a solution.
The logline for my series is: This hour-long drama chronicles the mysterious life of
Giulia Tofana, a 17th century Italian woman who grew a name for herself as a notorious
apothecary, offering a lethal solution for oppressed women of the time. With a skilled
investigator hot on her trail, Giulia must navigate a treacherous world of secrets, power, and
revenge while keeping her business, and her life, intact.
TOFANA follows Giulia's secret operation, developing Aqua Tofana, a poison disguised
as cosmetics, and distributing it to her clients. While staying ahead of authorities, Giulia forms a
network of women navigating the balance between survival and justice.
TOFANA explores the moral dilemmas faced by Giulia and her clients and the conflicts
arising from their actions. As Giulia's influence grows, she becomes entangled in a web of power
dynamics, rivalries, and personal vendettas within the secretive world of poisoners.
The series also delves into Giulia's personal life, including her complicated relationship
with her daughter, Girolama. As Giulia's operation gains notoriety, the authorities close in,
forcing her to make difficult choices to protect her network and herself.
A few characters we might see in this series are our protagonist,

- GIULIA TOFANA (late 30s-early 40s), the controversial poisoner and owner of her
apothecary.
- We would also follow her daughter, GIROLAMA TOFANA (16-18), a moral compass
torn between remaining loyal to her mother or finding a new (safer) life for herself.
- One of the main antagonists of the series would be CAPTAIN FABRIZIO MANCINI
(late 40s), a relentless investigator determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious
deaths linked to Giulia Tofana to the point of insanity.
- Another supporting character would be LUCIA RUSSO (20s), Giulia’s first customer and
eventual business partner who seeks Giulia's assistance in escaping an abusive marriage.
- Finally, another antagonist could be ISABELLA BIANCHI (30s), the younger and more
educated rival poisoner who is driven by a desire for power and recognition, often
clashing with Giulia as they vie for dominance within their deadly trade.
One piece of IP behind TOFANA is the popular nonfiction novel The Poison Keeper by
Deborah Swift, which depicts the true story of Giulia. After researching and digging for the
rights, I wasn’t able to find any networks or streaming services that have picked up this story yet.
I also searched for the general story of Aqua Tofana, where I also found no information on any
shows that are being developed with this premise in mind. There are a few podcasts that cover
the topic, mainly Bailey Sarian’s Murder Mystery and Makeup which has 7.1 million views, but
again, no rights have been claimed.
There are a few existing serieses and films that explore similar topics to TOFANA. The
main tonal comparison out there is ongoing series The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-) (HULU) due to
the exploration of themes of female oppression, rebellion, and the struggle for liberation. An
example of a film that exists in a similar world is Dangerous Beauty (1998) which is set in 16th
century Venice and has a main female protagonist who challenges the expectations placed on
women of the time.
After reviewing the mandate list, it is possible TOFANA could be a good fit for Amazon
Studios due to their need for female driven stories. HBO Max is similarly looking for female
driven ongoing thrillers, which suits the themes within TOFANA. Overall, TOFANA would
likely best fit on some streaming service due to the high budget nature of being a period piece as
well as the audience being skewed away from cable.
There is never a better time to create a story like TOFANA. Many networks and
streaming services are searching for strong female characters on the screen, and the series
presents complex and multidimensional women who navigate personal challenges and societal
constraints. Also, with makeup as a central element, the show can delve into the broader themes
of self-expression, beauty standards, and the relationship between appearance and identity.
TOFANA also follows characters that have complex morals, and the protagonists are not always
ethical. This would create a captivating drama with deep characters to keep audiences
entertained.
As an Italian woman who has a passion for makeup, I was immediately drawn to this
story. TOFANA has the potential to put a new spin on a story from hundreds of years ago, and
together we can finally reveal the real struggles that Italian women in the 17th century faced in
their daily lives to a modern audience. Thank you.

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Pitch #1: Tofana

A few characters we might see in this series are our protagonist,

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