PREVIEW: Put Your Soul Into It - With BBC's 'The Responder' Writer Tony Schumacher!
Oct 14, 2022*Act On This members get access to the FULL 90 MINUTE recording of this feature, in BOTH video and audio-only formats. CLICK HERE to grab your PREMIUM membership NOW!
Tony Schumacher spent 10 years as a Merseyside police officer, before hitting burnout, suffering a breakdown and ending up homeless.
A chance encounter with a passenger when he became a taxi driver, set him on a writing path that changed his life forever and could easily see him win a BAFTA in the next few months.
In this 90 MINUTE member-only mastermind, Tony explains EXACTLY how he wrote and had The Responder commissioned by the BBC, he shares what it took to get Martin Freeman to star in the show, discusses why EVERYONE has a story to tell - and members of Act On This jump on camera for some 1-2-1 coaching too!
During the broadcast, we discuss:
- Tony's life today as a full-time writer.
- His first day as a policeman - and why he knew he wouldn't be one forever.
- The road to burnout and a breakdown that saw him lose EVERYTHING.
- Living in his car and why he became a taxi driver.
- The chance encounter with a passenger that got him into writing.
- His first 3 novels and why he didn't want to write a fourth.
- Deciding to write for TV.
- His first TV script and the email he sent to Jimmy McGovern's production company.
- Writing 'The Responder' and why he wrote it for Martin Freeman.
- Getting it in front of Martin and convincing him to star in it.
- How Tony sold 'The Responder' to the BBC.
- What he would do to get his first TV commission now - if he was starting again from scratch.
- Agents - and why you might not want one.
- Why there's no such thing as luck - and only HARD WORK.
- What Tony saw in Martin Freeman on set.
- Why EVERYONE has a story to tell - and why so few decide to tell it.
- The ONE thing Tony wants EVERY actor to know.
- And MUCH MUCH more!
This is honestly, one of the best Zoom calls we've held in 12 YEARS of doing this!
Hit 'play' NOW!
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Watch a PREVIEW of this broadcast above, then grab your PREMIUM membership to unlock the full chat!
It's waiting for you in the Members' Area!
