Ray Tavares, a 27-year-old resident of the city of São Paulo, started out as writer by creating books for teenagers. Currently, she is part of the screenwriting team for Bugados, a TV show on Globo.

In her interview to junior reporter Mariana L., the screenwriter talked about the profession that she herself considers unconventional. “I had always imagined that only Americans who work in Hollywood [a neighbourhood in the city of Los Angeles] in the United States, would have these super cool professions,” said Ray in her conversation with Mariana. Check out their conversation below:

What is the day-to-day in your profession like? What do you do first?

My day-to-day is quite hectic. Usually, between books and scripts, I spend 10 hours writing. That is the minimum! When I wake up, the first thing I like to do is have breakfast while I organise my tasks.  I can then write more calmly, knowing what I have to deliver that day. Afterwards, I sit in front of my laptop and work.

Have you always wanted to be a series screenwriter? How old were you when you decided this?

I was already writing books in 2017 when I started conversations with production companies about the possibility of adapting my work for audiovisual (what video and audio formats used in movies and series are called). It was love at first sight! This happened when I was 24.

This is not a common profession, like being a doctor or a lawyer. How did you discover it?

I think I always knew that this profession existed, ever since I was a child. But I didn’t know that I could try for a career as a screenwriter in Brazil. It’s funny, I had always imagined that only Americans who work in Hollywood had these super cool professions (laughs).

Do you write anything else aside from scripts?

Yes! I write everything: books, scripts, audiobooks (books in audio format), audio dramas (stories told in audio and read by several actors)… I write anything that comes up and gives me the opportunity to tell a good story.

Do you know the actors in the series you write for?

I have met some of the actors in Bugados, but I plan to participate in the taping so I can get to know them better (once the new coronavirus pandemic has ended).

Which programs have you written for?

I currently write for Bugados, a children’s program on Globo about three videogame characters that decide to jump out of the screens and have adventures in the real world. I have also developed other movies and series that have not aired yet, so I cannot tell you the details.  

What were your favourite subjects in school?

I loved Portuguese, writing essays (for obvious reasons), History, and Geography.

Who inspires you as a screenwriter?

Some screenwriters inspire me a lot. Among the Brazilians, Bia Crespo and Carô Ziskind. Among the foreigners, I like Gillian Flynn a lot.

Do any of your relatives also write for television?

No, no one in my family is in the arts, just me. My father, for example, worked in IT (information technology), which is completely different from what I do today.

Which style do you most enjoy writing?

Comedy! I love writing comedies!

Do you like your profession?

I really love it. These days I am sure I cannot see myself doing anything else.

Who are some of the screenwriters who have influenced the interviewee?

* Bia Crespo: wrote the Brazilian children’s movie 10 Horas para o Natal (10 Hours until Christmas), which has not been released yet, but is expected to be at the end of 2020.

* Carô Ziskind: wrote the Globo soap opera Malhação – Viva a diferença, which originally aired between 2017 and 2018.

*Gillian Flynn: American author and screenwriter, writes adult police thriller stories.

Questions

1) Which series does Ray Tavares write for?
a) Malhação
b) Detetives do Prédio Azul
c) Bugados
d) 10 Horas para o Natal  

2) If you were a TV screenwriter, what kind of story would you like to write?

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