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I was working with the script assistants. A typical week
starts off Monday morning with a script department meeting,
where the whole department attends (except the writers).
We raise any problems we are having and talk about new characters
and how they are being introduced into the show, we also
talk about characters that are leaving.
Tuesday, the script producer Coral Drouyn is away from
the department preparing for the two days of plot ahead
of her. The script assistants catch up on any outstanding
synopsis that needs to be written (we write a synopsis for
every episode - this is what is sent to TV Week etc.)
Wednesday and Thursday are the plot days where the writers
come into the department. Home and Away like all shows is
written and produced as a 'block' - a block on Home and
Away is five episodes. Coral will have plotted the whole
week out in advance, and she tells the writer what she wants.
The writer has the chance to ask questions and also make
suggestions.
During this day, the script assistant assigned to that
block will be on the computer writing 'meeting notes' -
these are released to the whole script deparment (and writers)
so they know what is going on in Summer Bay. It is a very
full on two days.
The hardest part of the plot is the fact we are restricted
by how many sets and locations we can use. And also how
many episodes per week the cast are contracted to appear.
Alf is the only character who is contracted to appear in
all five episodes, the other cast are generally only contracted
for two or three episodes per week.
Friday is when the script assistants write up set and
cast memos and release them to the production side of the
show. This is so they know if they need to hire in extra
actors or ring up semi-regulars like Leah's family.
The Script Process: After the writer leaves the plot,
they have a couple of weeks to write a scene breakdown.
This is a description of what is going to happen in each
scene. Coral will look over this and make sure the writer
has what she wants. A couple of weeks later the first draft
script is due. This is the only draft that is written on
Home and Away. The show is moving that fast, that they do
not have time for multiple drafts.
The script editor will go over the first draft and pick
any mistakes in it. They will also make sure the timing
is right, they may need to cut bits out or even add them
if its running short. Coral then has the last say with 'over
edits'. She can change an episode completely if she wants.
When she is happy with a block, it goes to "release".
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