E20: Meet the writers
With E20 ready to jump from the web to television, I caught up with some of the writers, who are all aged between 17 and 22, to find out about their experiences working on the programme.: "So what feels like a million years ago is finally here. The premiere of EastEnders:E20 on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Three. The wait has been anticipated by me and the other writers as we feel like we have finally come full circle. From starting out with no idea on what project we would be working on to trekking down to visit the EastEnders set and actually bumping into cast such as Barbara Windsor and Patsy Palmer - it has been a lot of hard work but definitely fun."
What was it like being a writer, and working with the other writers?
: "Oh my days.Ìý Being a writer on E20 is an incredible experience.Ìý Every Saturday morning, thirteen young writers invade the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳.Ìý Security guards look at us like we're a tour group that has got lost!Ìý Sometimes, we catch a glimpse of Peggy (Barbara Windsor) and Dot (June Brown) in the canteen.Ìý
"The writing room is where it all happens.Ìý Having spent so much time together, the writing team has become a gang, a family.Ìý Not so different from the gang you see in E20.Ìý We talk.Ìý We laugh.Ìý We joke.Ìý There are endless jokes.Ìý Only we have serious writing to do as well.Ìý Everyone throws in ideas. ÌýThe good, the bad, and the ugly make it onto the board.Ìý Then we get rid of the bad and the ugly.Ìý And try to make the good better.ÌýWe spend so much time talking about our characters that they begin to feel like real people, like your friends.Ìý Zsa Zsa, Fat Boy, Leon, and Mercy grow into living breathing people with lives of their own... And lots of secrets."
: "We spent four weeks story lining and crafting our characters from our own experiences of East London (and as I grew up there I'd say we did pretty well!). At the end of what felt like a really hard 'writing summer school' ÌýI think we all came to the realisation that E20 could and would be much bigger than we had anticipated."
What was it like to see your writing being filmed?
: "Going to the shoot was an unforgettable experience! After weeks of drafting, re-drafting, endless cups of coffee and more re-drafting, it was amazing seeing my work jump from page to camera. Being in the presence of respectable producers, directors and artists made me feel privileged; reminded me why I'm a writer... and the biscuits weren't bad either!"
How does it feel to know your writing will be on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Three?
: "If seeing my name on the credits at the end of my online episode wasn't enough to feel proud of,Ìýthe prospect of seeing it rise on the television screen is unbelievable. OnÌýtop of that, we've been given the go-ahead for series two, and are currently developing some juicy storiesÌýto really sink your teeth into."
"One of the best things about this journey has been the amazing people I've met, I've made some of the best friends as well as memories that, even though some are nearly a year old, still make me laugh out loud, in sometimesÌýsomewhat awkward situations, particularly when on my own.. on a bus... We've proved that young people have something to give, have our own views on the world and opinions that we want to be heard."
Graham Matthews is content producer for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Three online.
Comment number 1.
At 1st Jun 2010, shadyslady wrote:I must admit I did not think I would like E20 but I was very wrong. I am a 30 year old married mother of three. After watching lastnights hour long episode of Eastenders(which I watch faithfully)and again tonight I then went onto the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳i player to watch all 3 episodes of E20 and loved it. Well done to the E20 writers and actors my favourite character has to be Fatboy AKA Arthur LOL. I hope this programme will continue and I also hope to see Billie, Whitney, Lucy and Peter joining the gang in the next series as regulars. To anyone reading this its not just a show for teenagers it reminded me of when I was 17 minus the mobile phones and laptop LOL. This is how teenagers today act and E20 has it spot on I was not surprised by the swearing or banter beetween the gang I laughed my head off. I also hope the E20 characters stay in eastenders episodes as well as E20 being screened. Well done ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳.
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Comment number 2.
At 31st Jul 2010, EastEndersfanever wrote:Thanks for posting this online thanks to the EastEnders team 4 everything x
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Comment number 3.
At 3rd Feb 2011, phkk wrote:Show them this and they'll think again - its not his fault that a linesman needs an eye test every so often - I hear Spains Linesmen have theirs done
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