And Reg Watson.  And nothing else ... No storyline, no cast.  Just Reg Watson in charge of what was to be a three month experiment.

 

More than six years later he's still in charge ... dedicated producer and masterbrain behind all 1500 editions of a unique programme.

 

So what's he like, this man some call Mister Powerhouse?

 

For your mental picture of a hard-eyes loudmouth, Hollywood style, substitute a thoughtful young Australian type: fast-moving and the supreme professional, because that's the only way to be when your job is to make things work and work well.

 

Professionalism is the single watchword.  Crossroads is what he lives and breathes, and there is no limit to his working day.

 

It seems he can't switch off and there is no end to his restless searching for ideas for character development, story expansion and new and better techniques.

 

He retains a phenomenal memory for people, places, incidents, storylines that have gone ... knows the 'product' from the first line of every script to the last fadeout ...

 

And has a pretty good idea of probable storylines up to five years hence ...

 

Yet he's the quiet man who never misses a working trick.

 

"Crossroads is better now that it has ever been," he says.  "You see,we've never ceased to bother.  Once allow somebody to take an easy way out, ignore little things because they might pass unnoticed, and we might as well pack up.

 

"Things have got to be right.  We explore every character, situation and story development in detail.

 

"Planning, and keeping all departments in the picture, is essential.  That way, everyone associated with the programme knows what we are trying to do, where we're going, and why."

 

The fortnightly script conference is an occasion for complete candour.  "It's no good a writer keeping quiet if he doesn't like a particular storyline," he asserts.

 

"If he does he's not being fair to the actor, and I'll never be content with second best for the actor in front of the cameras."

 

In the studios, too, Reg's word is law.  Yet the players respect his friendliness and integrity, his readiness to discuss suggestions and offer a fair deal.

 

"It pays to talk things over," he says.  "There are times when, with the best of intentions, actors want an explanation on certain points: they can't always know why a scene should be played in a certain way - or its relevance to incidents and story developments months ahead."