We have reinvented production mechanisms in Venezuela

José Simón Escalona, writer, and producer, said in his participation on #PRODUprimetime with Richard Izarra how they have had to reinvent themselves in order to produce content in Venezuela. “We had to entirely forget the ways and mechanisms we had been working with and have reinvented ourselves in the technological part, effects, logistics, even transportation that is so complex nowadays in Venezuela,” comments Escalon who has 53 years of experience in the industry, having produced more than 100 telenovelas. 

Escalona also made reference to the new RCTV streaming app, which he qualified as “a necessity” in the light of the changes television has had and a “wonderful way to make the most of the huge library RCTV has”.

He highlighted the virtues of streaming, mentioning it allows a freedom that is impossible in open TV. “All of us who write for TV understand that the storytelling structure for open TV has nothing to do with TV streaming. There is a great deal of freedom that has to do with the storytelling mechanisms and it doesn’t have the censorship that open TV has always had. This is one of the things that has amazed everyone over streaming TV because you can do the things you would never set out to do on open TV,” expresses Escalona, who admits being a fan of the industry made in Venezuela, to which he is devoted and in which he hopes to continue working.

In this time of the pandemic, he is developing, together with a group of writers, a series and programs that can go to the communities. “I am organizing everything, with a number of talents, through their phones, delivery of scripts, and use of the huge library we have at RCTV. We continue doing things that you will probably be able to see on the RCTV app. They are things we need to prepare, it is the TV that has a social component,” he said.

Watch José Simón Escalona on #PRODUprimetime with Ríchard Izarra