Nkechi Okoro Carroll on Crafting a Much-Needed TV Series with ‘Found’ [INTERVIEW]

“Found,” the captivating new NBC series, offers a fresh perspective on the world of television drama. With an ensemble cast led by Shanola Hampton, the show delves into the harsh reality of missing persons, shedding light on the staggering number of people who disappear in the United States every year. Created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll, “Found” promises not only to entertain but also to raise awareness about this pressing issue, particularly within marginalized communities.

In a recent interview with BLEX, Carroll shared her motivations and inspirations for bringing “Found” to life. She explained that her frustration with the lack of attention and coverage given to missing persons, especially in black, brown, and LGBTQ+ communities, drove her to explore the topic. Carroll was moved by the prevalence of missing persons cases and the disconnect between social media conversations and mainstream media coverage. She was particularly struck by the 14 missing black and brown teens in 2015 whose stories went largely untold.

“Honestly, it was out of frustration of what I, in real life, kind of shows attention to something, something, um, or make an improvement to the world I, my kids in, in some way, sort of the heart of every show I do. And this particular prevalence with which we were watching missing cases in the black community, missing cases in the indigenous community, missing cases in the LGBTQ community sort of being talked about on social media from those communities but not in the media, which was so frustrating. And so it was around 2015 where we had 14 black and brown missing, and it was being talked about online but not being covered. Very similar to what we’re seeing in Cleveland right now with all those youth that have gone missing over the summer.”

This frustration became the driving force behind “Found,” motivating her to research missing persons cases, how they are covered, and the role of public relations in shaping public perception.

She elaborated on the inception of the character Gabi Mosley: “The idea of the character Gabi Mosley and the idea that she would be someone with a PR background who was once a missing teen girl herself and spent a year until she rescued herself because no one was looking for her. What that person could look like now as an adult and what would her sort of mission in life be. The next challenge was how to make it interesting and dynamic and keep the audience tuned in while we continue to draw attention to something that definitely needs to be fixed in the real world. And that’s exploring all these different people who come from very different walks of life, who have all, in some way, shape, or another, experienced either being a missing person themselves or losing a loved one, and how that shaped them as adults. And that includes Gabby and her little secret in the basement.”

The character of Gabi Mosley, portrayed by Shanola Hampton, is central to the series. And in finding her Gabi it came unexpectedly as Carroll originally wanted the character to be only 10 years outside her kidnapping, not the 20 as portrayed in the series.

However she recalled her initial meeting with Hampton, which was supposed to be about directing on a different show she also created, quickly turned into a realization that Hampton was the perfect fit for the role.

“I hopped on a Zoom with her to do a general interview for directing, and I’m sitting and staring [at her]. I couldn’t have told you what she was talking [about] because I was like, it was instantaneous. I was like, she’s Gabi Mosley, she’s Gabi Moley. And I literally started texting under my desk, my fellow producer, and I’m like found Gabi Mosley.”

Carroll emphasized the importance of exploring the backstories of Gabi and her team members to understand why they would be so blindly loyal to Gabi, who operates outside the traditional boundaries of the law. Carroll explained, “I felt we needed to explain their backstory and the personal connection that all of them had the same.” These backstories provide depth to the characters and their unwavering commitment to Gabi’s mission.

She further elaborated on the character development: “The specific details of their past are still to be explored. I know what they are, but those will surely be delved into in season one for each character, and even further in the subsequent season, godwilling. So, as in-depth as we get with Gabby’s backstory in season one is how in-depth we will eventually get with everyone’s backstory over the course of the series.”

“Found” does not aim to play the blame game but instead highlights the urgent issue of missing persons in the United States, particularly those from marginalized communities. Carroll made it clear that “Found” is not about casting blame but about bringing people home. Gabi’s disregard for the law and her willingness to do whatever it takes to save lives set the tone for the series.

She emphasized this perspective: “The show wasn’t about, ‘oh, I’m gonna play the blame game.’ This show was like, ‘okay, this is the system we’re working within, so how do we fix this? Yeah. The priority is bringing these people home. How do we bring these people home and how do we plant the seed in our audience’s mind of the role they too can play as the extra set of eyes in bringing people home.'”

“Found” is not just entertainment; it’s a platform for raising awareness about a real-world problem. Produced by Rock My Soul Productions, Berlanti Productions, and Warner Bros. TV, the show aims to provoke conversations and encourage viewers to be an extra set of eyes in bringing missing persons home.

If you have seen the series, which we hope you have, there is a moment in which Gabi, while speaking to reporters on live TV, says, “While you continue looking for the missing blonde girls of the world, my team will gladly pick up the slack for the rest.” Carroll explained, “That line has literally been in there since the pitch years ago. If a network or studio pushed back on this line, they don’t get our show.”

She also praised Warner Bros and NBC for their support, stating they “got it” in regards to her vision for the show.

“Found” breaks away from conventional TV drama by tackling real-world issues head-on. It doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths but instead presents them in a way that encourages viewers to think and engage in meaningful conversations. Carroll believes that watching the show and discussing it with others can help raise awareness and provoke change.

Carroll urged viewers to actively support the show by tuning in every week. She emphasized the importance of linear ratings, which include same-day ratings and viewing within three days of airing, as “Found” is a broadcast network TV series. Carroll said, “Watch the show and then not only watch the show, talk about the show, use it as a way to, you know, engage in conversation with your coworker, your fellow neighbor, encourage them to watch it.”

In closing, Nkechi Okoro Carroll expressed her gratitude to organizations like the Black and Missing Foundation, which work tirelessly to bring missing individuals home. She emphasized the importance of the community coming together to support

Found now comes on NBC, Thursdays at 10PM ET. If you haven’t already, watch the first episode here.

 

 

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