The online drama market, the first of its kind in Vietnam, which will kick-start late this month, is expected to promote deserving scripts by local scriptwriters, especially young ones, to directors and theaters and help solve the inherent script shortage.

The market, at chokich.vn, initiated by artist Trieu Trung Kien, art director of HK Media, will post and promote scripts and contact clients free of charge. Fees are paid only when the scriptwriter and the script buyer strike a deal. 

According to Kien, 48 writers have joined the website so far and are completing their stories. However, among them, young writers remain few.

“Young writers are usually not confident enough to personally present their works to directors or theater management, who sometimes don’t bother to take a look at the stories, though several young writers have great talents and potentials. The market is designed to boost their confidence, artistic creativity and opportunities to get their scripts accessible to potential buyers,” Kien shared. He and his partners are now on the lookout for both trained and amateur young writers. A lecturer at the Hanoi University of Stage and Motion Pictures, Kien also encouraged his outstanding students to join the website.

Scripts will be posted anonymously to ensure maximal objectivity while the buyers are reading and selecting the scripts and the writers will only come out to strike a deal with the buyers in the presence of HK Media.

In response to concerns raised by some regarding the script quality available on the website, Kien stressed that less excellent scripts also stand chances of being appreciated and bought via the website.

Local scriptwriters, directors and theater management have embraced and held high expectations of the welcome addition.

“We painstakingly searched for almost two years to locate and contact the scriptwriter of one of our plays titled “Khuc ca bi trang” (The epic song). Hopefully the website will help prevent such waste in time and expenses,” said artist Hoai Hue, head of the Binh Dinh Musical and Bai choi (central region’s folk music) troupe.

“We’re quite strong regarding directors and actors, but good scripts remain hard to come by. Hope we’ll find worthy ones on the website,” said artist Thanh Ngoan, head of the Vietnam Cheo Theater.

Every year, supply fails to meet art troupes and theaters’ high demand for scripts, resulting in bland repetition, even at national festivals.

Meanwhile, writer Hoang Song Viet noted that the website administrator must ensure the writers’ benefits and the writers themselves must pay respect to the administrator’s role by avoiding secret transactions with buyers.