What kind of pressure is an individual wishing to work as a scriptwriter with a public institution, namely Czech Television, subject to? What kind of conflicts will inevitably arise and why does this happen? Screenwriting practice is about pushing boundaries – both personal and those that determine the demands of the work. But what if there are limits that must be crossed according to the institution and the creator feels the opposite? “When cinnamon is crushed, it smells the best.” “Diamonds are made under pressure.” I explore this issue from the position of someone who works for Czech Television, and I also prepare my students for this practice. Together, we reflect on what expectations we think are linked with the internship and what lessons we take from that, and whether it is possible to set our own boundaries and make sure that no one crosses them – not even us. We also reflect on whether there is any way to get prepared for conflict situations, or whether it is simply necessary to live them out.
Markéta Sára Valnohová (*1988) graduated in Combined Art Studies from Masaryk University and later in Radio and TV Dramaturgy and Scriptwriting from the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts (JAMU), where she is currently completing her PhD studies. Since 2015, she has been cooperating with Czech Television as a freelance dramaturge and screenwriter for documentary series, feature-length solitaire films and children’s shows. At JAMU, she teaches subjects related to scriptwriting, dramaturgy, and television, and in addition to theory, she also shares her experience in actual projects with her students. In her dissertation, she draws on her direct screenwriting experience with Czech Television and international co-productions, analysing the creative, screenwriting, and dramaturgical limits.