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| Liam J. Stratton |
Rohan Dickson |
Isidingo's new head writer needs a thick skin and needs to love themselves.
This is the advice of former Isidingo head writer Liam. J. Stratton who's left the soapie and flitted off to pursue a production project with former SABC Commissioning Editor Marvin Mathibe.
The pair has gone off to start a production company called The Story Factory together,
six months after Liam was signed to Isidingo. Shortly after his resignation, Liam sent TVSA a letter revealing that he was leaving. He didn't go into details as to exactly why but one could read between lines that he was very unhappy with a lot of what went on behind-the-scenes.
This extract from his letter:
I resigned as Head Writer of Isidingo.
What? That’s it. That is the truth. Anything else, the whys, the reasons, the circumstances aren’t the truth, they are emotions, feelings... And yes they can be true emotions and feelings, believe me, mine are true, real and genuine but they are mine. My take on things. My opinion on what happened. And that’s how they will remain.
True, I could write pages on the subplots, the intrigue, the betrayal, the villains.. and true, it’d make a good story, but that’s all it would be. A story. My story. It wouldn’t be true, it would be an opinion and I don’t really want to do that... well... not yet... not like this...
....
Will I miss it? The work, yes. The job, yes. Having those actors to play with? With all my creative heart. Everything else? No. Not in any way shape or form. Do I regret taking the job? No. Am I sad? No. Will you tell us what really happened? I... Oh tried to sneak it in I see.
I gave Liam a phonebuzz to find out what "everything else" referred to and he was tight lipped about it. However, he did tell me that he was warned about taking the job before he signed on but that he took it because he's always wanted to write on the show and doesn't believe in myths.
Clearly he'll need to believe in them now. His departure wasn't solo. Isidingo's head of publicity Lebogang Thobye also recently left the show, shortly after Liam.
Between then and now Rohan Dickson, creator and head writer on The Wild, has been signed to take over from Liam. Rohan, who's also been Head Writer on Scandal! and Zone 14 and who co-wrote Jacob's Cross, started head writing on Isidingo 10 days ago.
I reckon he's already developed a thick skin after working on The Wild. As you may know, the show was riddled with rumours about behind-the-scenes conflicts before it got cancelled so Rohan's probably used to it.
Is his skin thick enough for Isidingo? Will be interesting to see how long he lasts.