Daniel Bennett, the head script producer comes up with the storylines for Home and Away. Read what goes through his mind in the process of creating a storyline

Via: E-mail

How did you get to be script producer?
I started work on the program a little over 5 years ago, in the role of script assistant (which is the entry level position of the script department). From there I worked my way up through the various ranks until I reached the position of script producer.

What exactly does your job involve?
I'm responsible for overseeing the scripting process from episode plot to script release. I (along with my team) devise all the storylines you see on the show; then make sure they have been properly executed by the writers of the episode(s).

Did you always want to be a scriptwriter since you were young?
Yes. I was very fortunate in that I always knew this is what I wanted to do. Thankfully for me, it's worked out.

Since Home and Away became PG, did that affect any of your storylines?
We still approach Home and Away as a 'G' rated program, though obviously it's always at the back of out mind that if we happen to push the envelope a little too much, we've got the backup of a higher classification for that particular episode.

Where do you get your story ideas from?
This is always a really hard question to answer just because there’s no specific place(s). Story ideas sort of just come to you –often, the character themselves will dictate their next story, simply because of the dramatic momentum they have at the time. But inspiration can come from just about anywhere.

When you write storylines, do you come up with a storyline and then allocate it for a character or do you write your storylines based to suit a specific character?
We always look at the character first to see what story would suite them./ Coming up with a story than allocation a character rarely works because the storyline hasn’t come from a place of truth for that character- its been forces upon them

What inspired you for the Stalker Storyline?
The stalker storyline was inspired by a number of factors. First, I love a good mystery – so I’d always wanted to plot a long term, ‘whodunit’ arc. But I was also very aware that the show was in dire need of an injection of new viewers- and history shows us that stories such as the stalker line, are one the best ways to drag new viewers to a show Luckily it worked!

Who are you favourite characters?
I love them all for different reasons. I guess if I absolutely had to choose on, I'd say Sally - I have a really big soft spot for her. And Amanda too – three’s nothing that girl wont do.

How long does it take for planning a storyline before it is put into action?
This one varies. We plot episodes about six months in advance before they air, and those stories have often been in the drawing board for about six months before they’re plotted - so sometimes its up to twelve months in advance. Other times, we plot a story literally as we think of it. Both scenarios are equally as effective if the story is right.

How long does it take to write a script for one episode?
There’s 8 weeks between script plot and episode release. During that time, 5 different people will have worked on that episode.

There are so many characters in the show. Do you ever think there are too many and you run out or storylines?
We never run out of storylines –well haven’t yet anyway! As for the characters, I sometimes do think we have too many = but it’s the nature of the show and the way we shoot that so many characters are required (we’re filming portions of up to 15 episodes in any one week, so without a large cast to share the workplace, the crossovers of actors who need to work on location/in studio just wouldn’t work)

Who is your favourite current character to write for and favourite character from before your time on the show?
In terms of wring actual dialogue for a character, you can’t go past Colleen – she’s such a fun character, and Lyn is sensational. And it’s always a joy to be able to write for Debra Lawrence as Pippa when she’s back visiting us. She’s such a legend!

Which character that has left Summer Bay, would you love to bring back?
I think everyone would love to have Vinnie stop in for a visit, so I guess I’d say him.

Do you actually watch Home and Away?
Absolutely!

Were you concerned that the fact the stalker was a guest character would dis-credit the storyline as a whole? Did you ever consider that the stalker should have been a long term member of the bay?
The stalker storyline was devised, around the identity of culprit, not the other way around. As cool as it would have been to have one of the regular characters be the stalker, none of them had appropriate motivation to because that clinically insane – It would have been a complete untruth for it to be one of them.

Would you ever consider having a full time disabled character in the show (in a similar vein to "Mikey") or an "alternative" teenage character (similar to "Diesel"), in order to represent a more realistic cross-section of today's teenage society?
If there was a completing ongoing storyline for either of this type of characters, then absolutely. It’s all about the storyline and what place the character would have within the ensemble

Did you ever consider axing the already established character of Hayley from the show, as oppose to re-casting the part?
When the lovely Bec announced that she was to leave the show, wed already written more than three months worth of stuff for Hayley so it was actually going to be impossible to go back and pull the character from the show altogether. Thankfully the sensational Ella Scott Lynch stepped in to the void and has done a stellar job in creating her own Hayley.

Other than the stalker storyline, which do you consider to be the boldest storyline you've created during your time on Home and Away, in terms of impact on the audience?
The Hayley/Scott/Kim love triangle and paternity saga has been fantastic in terms of keeping the audience watching.

Has the outcome of a storyline ever been changed after listening to or reading public opinion?
Because we work so far ahead, the outcomes of storyline has a chance to response. But we always welcome audience feedback for future reference.