60Edward Toby Wagstaff is a writer, editor, and script consultant with a focus on entertainment and conversational AI. Originally from the United Kingdom, he graduated with first-class honors in Philosophy and Modern Languages (Italian) from the University of Oxford. He is currently based in the United States, where he continues to thrive in his creative endeavors.
Toby spent a year in Rome as part of his studies, attending the Università degli Studi Roma Tre. While there, he pursued courses in cinema and art history, volunteered as a teaching assistant, and directed a student production of The Importance of Being Earnest. His time in Rome also allowed him to work as an English tutor and nurture his passion for photography, capturing the city's historic beauty.
After completing his studies, Toby began his career in London's film industry, working in script analysis and production coordination at Studio 8 Productions and Peace Arch Films. He also gained hands-on experience in post-production during an internship on the BBC series Monarch of the Glen, where he learned about film editing, sound mixing, and color correction.
In 2004, Toby's first significant on-set experience came with the feature film Shadows in the Sun, starring Harvey Keitel and Joshua Jackson. Filmed in Tuscany and London, he served as an assistant to the producers and translator and occasionally took on the role of an on-screen double.
Later that year, Toby relocated to Los Angeles to join Fierce Entertainment as a Creative Executive. In this capacity, he was instrumental in developing the company's first in-house feature, War, starring Jet Li and Jason Statham. His contributions also significantly expanded the company's buyers' rep operation. Realizing his passion for writing, he transitioned to a role at Original Content, where he focused on discovering and mentoring new screenwriters.
Toby eventually transitioned to full-time screenwriting, with his first spec script, Arena, optioned by Summit Entertainment in 2008. Since then, he has continued to write and sell screenplays across various genres, including thrillers like The Day I Die and dramas like Break My Bones. His assignments have included projects such as the adaptation of the graphic novel Shrapnel and romantic comedy rewrites for television.
In recent years, Toby has expanded his expertise into the field of conversational AI, contributing to the development of AI models for a leading tech company. Although he firmly believes that AI will never replace the human touch in creative writing, he is excited about its potential to enhance access to information and address global challenges.
Outside of work, Toby Wagstaff enjoys a variety of hobbies, including music, photography, fencing, and exploring nature. He has played guitar and bass in several bands since his youth and was a top-ranked youth fencer in the UK, representing Oxford University. In his free time, he enjoys capturing stunning landscapes with his 35mm SLR camera.