Toby Wagstaff is a writer, editor, and script consultant with extensive experience in both entertainment and conversational AI. Originally from the United Kingdom, he earned a first-class honors degree in Philosophy and Modern Languages (Italian) from the University of Oxford. Now living in New York, he continues to build on his creative and technical expertise.
As part of his studies, Toby spent a year in Rome, where he attended the Università degli Studi Roma Tre. There, he took courses in cinema and art history, volunteered as a teaching assistant, and directed a production of The Importance of Being Earnest with Italian students. In addition, he tutored English and developed a keen interest in photography, capturing the rich history of Rome through his lens.
After graduating from Oxford, Toby started his career in London's film industry, working in script analysis and production coordination at Studio 8 Productions and Peace Arch Films. He furthered his knowledge through an internship in post-production on the BBC series Monarch of the Glen, gaining hands-on experience in film editing, sound mixing, and color correction.
In 2004, Toby Wagstaff gained valuable on-set experience while working on the feature film Shadows in the Sun, which starred Harvey Keitel and Joshua Jackson. Shot in Tuscany and London, he served as an assistant to the producers and a translator and occasionally stepped in as an on-screen double for the lead actor.
Later that year, Toby moved to the US to join Fierce Entertainment as a Creative Executive. In this role, he played an integral part in developing the company's first in-house feature, War, starring Jet Li and Jason Statham. His efforts also significantly expanded the company's buyers' rep operation. Seeking to focus more on writing, Toby transitioned to Original Content, where he specialized in discovering and nurturing new screenwriting talent.
Toby eventually transitioned into full-time screenwriting, with his first spec script, Arena, being optioned by Summit Entertainment in 2008. Since then, he has continued to write and sell original screenplays, including thrillers like The Day I Die and dramas such as Break My Bones. His assignments have ranged from the adaptation of the graphic novel Shrapnel to romantic comedy rewrites for television.
In recent years, Toby has also ventured into conversational AI, where he contributes to the development of AI models for a major tech company. While he believes that AI cannot replicate human creativity, he sees its potential to enhance access to knowledge and address global challenges.
Beyond his career, Toby Wagstaff is passionate about music, photography, fencing, and exploring the outdoors. 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. During his free time, he enjoys photographing dramatic landscapes with his 35mm SLR camera.
