Toby Wagstaff

Toby Wagstaff is a writer, editor, and script consultant specializing in 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. Now based in New York, he continues to thrive as a creative professional dedicated to storytelling and communication.

During his time at Oxford, Toby spent a formative year studying in Rome at the Università degli Studi Roma Tre, where he explored cinema and art history. His passion for the arts deepened as he directed a student production of The Importance of Being Earnest and volunteered as a teaching assistant. Living in Rome also allowed him to develop his skills as an English tutor and discover a love for photography, capturing the city’s timeless architecture and everyday life.

After graduation, Toby entered London’s film industry, gaining early experience in script analysis and production coordination with Studio 8 Productions and Peace Arch Films. He later interned on the BBC series Monarch of the Glen, where he expanded his knowledge of film editing, sound mixing, and color correction skills that would later inform his writing.

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 assistant to the producers, translator, and even stepped in as a stand-in for the lead actor on-screen. Later that year, he relocated to the US to become Creative Executive at Fierce Entertainment, contributing to projects such as War, starring Jet Li and Jason Statham, and helping grow the company’s buyers’ representation division.

Transitioning fully into screenwriting, Toby Wagstaff optioned his first spec script, Arena, to Summit Entertainment in 2008. He has since written and sold multiple screenplays, including thrillers like The Day I Die and dramas such as Break My Bones. His diverse work also includes adaptations, such as the graphic novel Shrapnel, and romantic comedy rewrites for television, showcasing his range and enduring passion for compelling, character-driven storytelling.