This is the last of the three free interviews – a real trip into Sci-Fi and fantasy story-telling.
This time it’s a really impressive, totally insider chat with Toby Whithouse, who is a massively experienced TV writer.
Recently he’s worked on Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Hotel Babylon, devised his own show No Angels, and has another supernatural show called Being Human in production.
(That’s a good one – just an average story of three twenties something housemates trying to live a normal social life, despite being a vampire, a ghost and a werewolf.)
In this audio interview he talks about his career to date, and describes what they went through to bring back Sarah Jane Smith to the Doctor Who series.
Toby’s a great talker, and in this interview he really goes to town on a wide range of subjects, including:
- What made him start writing in the first place when, as he puts it, there are some days he thinks he ‘couldn’t write ‘F**k on a dusty blind’
- HOW HE GOT HIS AGENT
- How writing in the theatre and entering the right competition is a great way to get noticed
- Why you need a calling card script
- The inside story on coming up with THAT episode when Sarah Jane met the Doctor again – and how it wasn’t all plain sailing. (Just listen to the subtext, and ponder the amount of work that went on there!)
- What it takes to write all six episodes of your own show
- His advice for new writers on breaking into the industry
And an awful lot more!
Just press the Play button to hear the interview in the site player:
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While you’re listening, something to let your subconscious loose on:
You may remember I’ve been banging on about the THEME of these interviews. Well, this interview is a prime example of this theme in action.
I’m going to tease you a little bit further, and say that this theme, the theme I believe to be SO crucial to becoming a successful screenwriter, crystallises around just ONE PARTICULAR SENTENCE.
One sentence that those doomed to stay on the outside use all the time, and those on the inside never ever seem to utter…
Not sure what I mean?
One further clue. When Toby reveals the way he managed to get his agent?
THAT is the exception that proves the rule…
All will be revealed in two days – when I open the doors to the new site.
Remember, if you’re on the Priority News Screengold list (sign up at http://www.screenwritinggoldmine.com) you’re first in line for advance notice of what’s going on behind the closed doors – including details of a pretty great bonus that early bird registrations for the new site are going to love.
How To Write A Screenplay
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Really interesting. Going to get myself a rucksack and some walking boots and be just like Toby, lol. (Do you think you don’t actually need to write??)No, but, seriously, this series of interviews has been SO fantastic Phil, it’s so rare you actually get people of this stature off guard enough to actually just be quietly honest about what they do instead of puffing themselves up in a sort of celebrity armour. Those of us who are just starting out can’t fail to learn by just listening to what’s being said and really taking the whole world view on board. So can’t wait for the new site. But come on man, get on with it – the suspense is killing me!