Rough Cut ( Welsh: Dal y Mellt: translates as "Catch the Lightning") is a Welsh language contemporary thriller series.
Dal y Mellt is a six-part series made by Vox Pictures and originally shown on S4C. [1]
The series is based on the contemporary thriller novel written by Iwan ‘Iwcs’ Roberts, from Trawsfynydd and is set in Meirionydd, Cardiff and Soho in London. [1] The novelist Iwan Roberts also wrote the script and co-produced the drama alongside Llŷr Morus and Huw Chiswell. [2]
The series director, Huw Chiswell says that filming was a challenge where 6 six hours had to be finished in 50 days. [3]
A second series of the show would return to S4C in 2024. [4]
Abacus Media Rights sold the crime drama to Netflix which is set to be the first ever Welsh language-only drama licensed on Netflix, streaming in the UK from April 2023. [5]
Benjamin King of Netflix said that has said that the content that is made in Wales and about Wales "travels extremely well" to worldwide audiences. [6]
CEO of S4C, Sian Doyle said that "To sell a Welsh-language-only series to a major global streamer like Netflix sets out our ambition to take Welsh talent and language to the world and creates further exciting opportunities for S4C." [7]
Netflix says they could play a role in helping to "promote and preserve the Welsh language". COBA executive Adam Minns said that "We've gone from a situation where there was literally one shown being made in Wales 15 years ago to Cardiff being one of the biggest production centres in the UK at the moment." [8]
The director of the series said that that subtitles are becoming "second nature" in TV and film which could lead the way for other minority language productions. [3]
A policy advocate for the Welsh Tourism Alliance says that the series could be beneficial to the tourism industry in Wales. [3]
The series was renamed for its Netflix streaming as Rough Cut. [9]