Behind the scenes: Script writing
Shortland Street's writers turn out script after amazing script 49 weeks of the year. We talked to long-time script writer Kim Harrop about how the magic is created...
Where does the script writer fit in the creative process
of getting an episode of Shortland Street onto our
screens?
Once the
storyliners
have
created story and structured episodes, it's the script writer's job
to turn it all into dialogue (that's the words the actors
say).
How does writing for SS differ from other productions?
Does it differ?
Shorties is the machine that never sleeps, so everything is fast,
fast, fast - a lot faster and more furious that other
productions.
It's a long-running show so you really get to know the characters -
see them grow and change.
Because Shorties is a serial drama you get to write a bit of
everything - a bit of drama, a bit of comedy, a bit of romance, a
bit of thriller. This is great because it keeps things
interesting.
How long have you worked at Shortland Street?
Around 8 years on and off. As well as writing scripts,
I've worked as a storyliner, story editor and script
editor.
It's Hotel California, baby - you can check out any time you like,
but you can never leave.
What advice would you give for someone who wanted to aim for a job
like yours?
Be a people watcher and a story magpie. Get to know all
different kinds of people, learn their stories and figure out what
makes them tick.
Eavesdrop on the things people are saying and the quirky way
they're saying it. Most importantly though, listen to
the things they're not saying.
Writing is all about getting inside people's heads - thinking what
they're thinking, feeling what they're feeling.
What's a typical working week?
Read a week's worth of story breakdown. Drink coffee, chat
with script editors, procrastinate. Start to write.
Drink more coffee, check Trade Me. Write some
more.
Agonise over terrible pain of unrequited love experienced by
character X. Write furiously. Watch audition
tapes.
Google whatever bizarre surgery is about to be undertaken so I
(vaguely) understand what I'm writing about. Write
furiously.
Find myself face-acting the dialogue that I'm typing, feel
embarrassed when script secretary witnesses this. Write
furiously once more.
Get that "who are you again?" look as I pass an actor in the
hallway. Finish script, time script with stopwatch, fiddle
with script some more.
Chat with other writers. Chat with producer. Drink
wine. Venture out into the light and go sailing.
What do you love most about the job?
Doing something I totally love with the coolest, hardest-working
people in the world.
Any favourite storyline you would like to share?
Favourite stories? The stuff we're doing now is great -
Shorties is in fine, fine form right now. I loved Kieran's
intro - all his dark, crazy flashbacks and piecing together his
life.
The Dominic Warner story (way back when) was heaps of fun
too. Oh and Barb and Sticky's romance. Does anyone else
remember that? Man...I have been here too long. Hee
hee.
Finally, who is your favourite SS character?
Impossible to answer! It's a like asking a mother which child she loves best. As writers, we have to love and understand every character unconditionally - sounds corny but it's all true.
