Today, we’d like to introduce you to Toby Kearton.
Hi Toby, since we last spoke to you, what have you been up to?
Since my last conversation with Voyage LA, I have embarked on two meaningful projects.
The TV Pilot: ‘Livin’ with the Devil’ – Involves a financially constrained young couple, recently split, navigating their continued survival in shared living, and the docudrama ‘Dick Dangerfield: Defending Drama’ – A British Thespian’s Response to the Lack of Arts Funding in the Uk. These projects hold significant meaning for me as they resonate deeply with overcoming adversity, mirroring my own journey getting started as a filmmaker.
I would suggest to anyone wanting to embark on a similar journey to embrace compromise and see the challenges that come your way as opportunities to realize your own creative aspirations, even if it means taking risks and making sacrifices. I was under the impression everything has to be perfect from the onset, but I have learned through both triumphs and failures that it’s your compromises (especially when starting out) that force you to hone your vision within practical constraints, pushing you to find alternative solutions while staying true to the essence of your story.
It has only enchanted my ability to be creatively disciplined which is a skill I continue to improve in my work, whether it’s related to budget, resources, or logistics, it means you can only make decisions with improved intention and purpose.
Tell us more about your upcoming projects, has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
“Dick Dangerfield: Defending Drama,” an upcoming documentary I have directed, has emerged as a response to the scarcity of arts funding back in my homeland of the UK.
It’s a beacon of creativity in its own right, an art piece commenting on the importance of the arts and what it means to working actors. The docudrama chronicles the indomitable journey of Thespian extraordinaire Dick Dangerfield as he undertakes a quest to reinvigorate the cultural landscape by championing his troop of amateur dramatics in his hometown of Tunbridge Wells.
The production faced its fair share of challenges, but every step in bringing Dangerfield’s vision to life was met with resilience and determination. Despite limited resources in crafting our documentary, there was an undeniable sense of camaraderie and shared purpose among the cast and crew, who were all united in their mission to prove the transformative power of drama in even the most unlikely of places.
In the realm of documentary filmmaking, a commitment to authenticity and a dedication to giving voice to the voiceless, it’s been fulfilling to use the format as a way to explore the complexities of the human experience. From Mr. Dangerfield’s intimate character in private to his sweeping sociopolitical exposés in public, his story serves as a testament to the power of storytelling to provoke thought, inspire empathy, and ignite change. It was a unique opportunity to approach the ‘documentary’ format in a new way, I myself was reminded based on the responses and reactions captured live, the importance of preserving and championing the arts in an ever-changing world.
“Dick Dangerfield: Defending Drama” may have been a challenge to make, but its message rings loud and clear: in the face of adversity, creativity and passion can triumph against all odds. And in the heart of Tunbridge Wells, a new chapter in the story of amateur dramatics has only just begun…
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a film director, I always remind myself to step out of my comfort zone and explore new horizons in storytelling. Only recently have I decided to put this into practice with our docudrama and now a TV Pilot currently in Pre-Production. “Livin’ with the Devil” is a unique concept that emerged from the minds of Emilia Böhme and Praveen Srinivas.
I have been tasked to write and direct the pilot episode of the series. The thought of two twenty-something ex-lovers forced to cohabitate due to financial constraints presents a horrifying scenario but one that offers great dramatic and comedic value. At its core, our story is an intimate scenario where unresolved emotions surface, set against the backdrop of today’s hostile social pressures on young people.
Trapping two clashing personalities in close quarters presents a unique exploration of the choices we make when faced with adversity, the wounds we carry from the past, and the prospect of confronting the demons within ourselves. I aim to offer our audience a thought-provoking experience to invite viewers to reflect on their own experiences of love and loss through the eyes of two relatable but flawed characters who find hope in the possibility of embracing the messy, beautiful complexity of the human experience of love.
As a film director today, it is easy to merely follow in the footsteps of those who came before you. Instead, I try to forge my own path by charting new creative territory through bold experimentation with the goal of helping to redefine the possibilities of what film can achieve, one project at a time.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I have to side with Obi-Wan Kenobi, who famously said: “In my experience, there is no such thing as luck.” I’m a strong believer that it comes down to preparation for meeting opportunities. There is, however, a right place at the right time for a particular story, especially if it resonates with an audience during a relatable time in our lives that sparks an unmatched level of intrigue and fascination. I regard being inspired, while intuitive, it is my own form of luck.
When ideas enter my head, certain moments play a large part in my life and what I decide to create or work on. Embracing these moments of serendipity and remaining open to the unexpected can lead to unexpected creative discoveries and innovations I never would admit existed. You have to surrender yourself to your own creativity. That’s the closest way of defining luck and the role it has played in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tobykearton.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/tobykearton
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/DirectedByTobyKearton
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tobykearton
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/tobykearton
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/TobyKearton
- Other: letterboxd.com/tobykearton
Image Credits
Hadleigh Perry Productions
