THE challenges of self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs working in a rented office space are featured in the new Tonton original series 'SeOfis'.
The series focuses on three dynamic women who want to build their careers, played by Siti Saleha, Nadiya Nisaa and Nadia Aqilah.
Produced by Parallax Pictures and directed by Faizul Jais, the 12-episode drama was written by Nadia Khan and Mamu Vies.
Siti Saleha, who plays Samirah or Sam, said it was a good chance to take on a strong female character.
"She's an ambitious and independent person who has no filter and says what she wants.
"Sam is also an architect, which is a role I haven't taken on before so it was a challenge for myself as well," she said at a recent launch for the series.
Sam aspires to be on the Forbes 40 Under 40 list and always does her best in the hopes of achieving her dreams.
Siti Saleha said the show gave an exciting glimpse into office and work life filled with scandal and gossip.
"But at the heart of it is a theme of friendship and it's also inspirational. As a big opportunist, Sam wants to succeed and decides to form a team with two other capable women," she said.
Enter Nadiya's Muhaini, an entrepreneur who has just started a business selling her father's self-made wooden furniture.
Aini then introduces the trendy visionary and experienced real estate agent Liyana (Nadia) to Sam.
"Muhaini or Aini is also ambitious but has low self-esteem. She's thinking of ways to expand her father's business and that's when she meets these two other dynamic women at the shared workspace," said Nadiya.
"My character Yana is very independent but she's ambushed by Sam's energy and strong personality. Sam believes that we can do anything," said Nadia.
Aini is quickly influenced by Sam's very outspoken nature but Yana is suspicious of Sam.
It's a rather difficult start for the three women with different personalities and goals to work in the same workspace.
Sam wants recognition and dreams of winning an award. Aini dreams of a future husband who matches her father's persona, while Yana wants to reach her savings target to pursue her original ambition of becoming a singer.
But the three bond together and start to value cooperation when they realise that they have a common enemy in another co-worker, who is willing to do anything for his success.
Director Faizul said that the experience of filming the drama was akin to a regular office setting.
"We filmed it for 36 days from 7am to 6pm and it went smoothly. It was kind of like an office work experience.
"It features three strong female leads who are put in interesting scenarios as the challenges mount one after another.
"There's a lot of tension but it's also light-hearted and suitable for family viewing, so I think it'll be an interesting watch for viewers."
Faizul added: "It's very relatable and people will see things that they go through in real life as they follow the show."
On the message of the drama series, he said: "The people you work with are like an extended family. We spend lots of time with them.
"So, appreciate and cherish the people around you, whether they are friends, family and the people you work with."
'SeOfis' also features Fahrin Ahmad, Hafizul Kamal, Munir Kharuddin, Akmal Azwar, Syahir Shafien, Ikhwan Lein, Anas Ridzuan, Malia, Kimberly Chuah, Aeril Izz, Hafidzuddin Fazil and many more.
Watch the Tonton original series on the Tonton streaming platform via www.tonton.com.my or the Tonton app.