SINGAPORE — A Singapore children’s book series is set to be adapted into a live-action television series, and its director is holding public auditions to look for new blood to helm the show.

Based on the series Extraordinary Losers penned by Singapore author Jessica Alejandro, the show will be directed and written by Woosh Pictures’ Phillip Lim, who said he is not just hoping to find child actors that fit the books’ description.

“More importantly, (I’m looking for) actors that are likeable on screen, able to act, and connect with the readers and viewers. I’m also looking for undiscovered talent,” he told TODAY.

Extraordinary Losers, which was recently renamed Exlosers, is about four 11-year-old social misfits who have superpowers. Together, they investigate crimes and mysterious happenings in Brightstar Primary School. The series, which is published by Bubbly Books, was acquired by production house B.O.S. Pictures, which will be working with Woosh Pictures on the show.

Comprising eight half-hour episodes, filming will begin later this year. It is slated to air in February on the Mediacorp Okto channel.

Alejandro said she is excited to see her characters coming alive on screen.

While the 36-year-old author has been consulted by the screenwriter and will be attending auditions, she is “not a stickler” and not too concerned about the actual plot or the dialogue of the characters in the show, she said.

“I am quite prepared for variations, lots of it! That’s fine because screenwriters are creative people too! It would be unfair if I insist on my style,” she said. “My ideal TV series is one that will bring out the themes in my book; friendship, integrity and believing in oneself.”

Alejandro said she decided to write the story “because children in Singapore tend to measure their worth based on academics”.

Because of this “common benchmark”, she was inspired to write about “seemingly loserly kids who have talents and abilities unknown to their peers”.

“As the stories unfold, the readers will see that they are not being judged superficially; by how cool they look or how well they do in school, but by their characters, their strengths and their heart,” she explained.

There are currently four books in the Exlosers series, and Alejandro is currently working on a fifth book to coincide with the launch of the TV series.

Lim, known for successful book-to-screen adaptations such as the Diary of Amos Lee TV show and The Teenage Textbook movie, said he was drawn to the storyline about socially awkward children with unique abilities.

“I think every kid has gone through that phase, or is still going through it. Though I’m not sure if they all have special powers,” he quipped.

Lim hopes to do justice to the books, and attract both fans and viewers unfamiliar with the series. “Curiosity will probably draw them to the first episode. From then, it will be my job to make sure the stories are compelling enough for them to follow through the eight weeks,” he said.

As to how he foresees adapting the series from paper to screen, Lim says he is aware he would need to “take some creative licences, with permission from the publisher and author”.

The challenge, he added, would be “to find the essence of what made the books appealing, and bring it to the TV platform”.

Alejandro added that she is curious to see how the internal dialogue in her books will play out on screen. “That might be a challenge. But I am not too worried about that,” she said, pointing out that most of the books have plots that revolve around crime such as kidnap, arson and theft.

“There is also some tension and chemistry among the characters. So, I really think it will be a very suspenseful and emotionally-charged TV series,” she added.

One thing’s for sure, it wouldn’t be a dramatic or slapstick comedy. “I have produced many TV drama series for Mediacorp and I generally don’t like to go the ‘comical’, ‘over the top’, ‘over-acting’ approach,” explained Lim. “It will be ‘naturalistic’, and at the same time, a universe where awkward kids with superpowers are not seen as unusual,” he added. JOY FANG

Auditions will be held on July 3 from 11am to 6pm for those aged between 9 and 14. At the stage area of the Titbits and Stationery Carnival, at Suntec Convention Centre Level 3 Concourse. For more information, email hellobos [at] bospictures.com.sg.