Suzette Doctolero, the head writer of the hit historical drama series ‘Pulang Araw,’ revealed that despite her long career in the industry, she still experiences insecurities with her work.
In a recent episode of the ‘Updated with Nelson Canlas’ podcast, Doctolero opened up about how writers are often the most insecure people in the entertainment industry. According to her, writers tend to be highly self-critical, frequently second-guessing their choices even after their work has aired.
“Tapos ‘pag pinapanood ko siya, tapos hindi naman napapansin ng mga audience pero sabi ko, ‘Oh, my God, sana pala ganito ginawa ko. May ganitong eksena akong pinasok pala dito, o dapat ganito ang ginawa ko sa eksenang ‘yun,’” she explained.
Doctolero, a seasoned writer known for her blockbuster shows, further shared, “So it is always natututo ka lagi pero totoo ‘yun para sa’kin dahil ang writer, laging napaka-insecure, laging dinadaga ang dibdib lalo na kapag halimbawa ipapalabas na siya. Ganu’n ang mga buhay natin, nakasalalay halimbawa sa ratings or review.”
The writer also admitted that in today’s digital age, insecurities are heightened because everyone has the freedom to voice their opinions on social media. With countless online critics, Doctolero said that she has even developed a sense of paranoia.
“Una kong gagawin ay iche-check ko after manood ng mga tao, halimbawa sa Netflix or sa television, sa YouTube, ginagala ko siya e, kasi tinitingnan ko kung ano ang reaksyon ng mga tao du’n. Importante din ‘yun kasi para natututo at the same time, ‘pag maganda ang sasabihin, e, di ang saya, parang tapik siya sa sa balikat na ‘You did a good job.’ Now, ‘yung may masabi namang masama, para kang sinasaksak sa dibdib but kailangan lang maging mature ka about it and tingnan ‘yung may point ba siya. Baka naman troll lang ‘to, ‘di ba?,” she explained.
Despite the challenges, Doctolero emphasized the importance of being open to criticism, whether it’s good or bad, and learning from it as a writer.
Best known for creating groundbreaking shows like ‘Encantadia,’ ‘Amaya,’ ‘Indio,’ ‘My Husband’s Lover,’ and ‘Voltes V: Legacy,’ Suzette Doctolero has left a lasting impact on Philippine television. Her ability to weave captivating stories has not only earned her critical acclaim but also set new standards in the industry.
