Scriptwriting
from the Producer's Perspective
Well-known
actor turned producer Soni Razdan held forth on the producer's perspective
on scriptwriting.
Reiterating
that the key to a serial's success lay with the producers, writers as
well as directors, Razdan maintained that every scriptwriter should
approach the producer with a kitty of possible storylines, do their
research beforehand, think up a USP for the script and finally, be flexible
to possible changes in the script. "The only way to succeed is to be
open to feedback constantly", she added. It was also necessary that
writers be paid development money for the time that the serial is under
production so that he does not suffer financially, she noted, a suggestion
taken up enthusiastically by other speakers.
Offering
a few tips to budding writers, Razdan suggested that writers should
keep a few spare storylines and plots ready while meeting producers.
A USP in a story is always helpful, she claimed, adding that television
is a monster that's always hungry for new ideas. Flexibility within
a storyline is as important as being convinced about one's concepts,
she said. Razdan also appealed to channels to be logical in their intervention
in the making of serials and soaps.