Interview: In-Depth with Toby Wilkins
Posted by jonathon in Interviews, News on October 21st, 2008
After an hour and six minute phone conversation with Toby Wilkins (spent in my car at a CVS parking lot) I began to get a pretty clear look into the life of a talented director on the rise. It was a challenging conversation. By the end I felt as if I had run a marathon. But I don’t mean to make it sound drab. On the contrary, it was a most enjoyable and in-depth chat covering all the bases of the filmmaker’s career. Something I am excited to watch develop and suspect others are, as well.
I began taking interest in Wilkins’ career after watching his most excellent debut feature Splinter. What’s abnormal and refreshing about Wilkins’ film is that even though it’s an homage to inspirations like Dawn of the Dead and Evil Dead, and could be categorized along the lines of trendy horror, it obtains a level of mature craft; something not seen very often, especially with a new director–not that Wilkins is a new director. He’s helmed a slew of incredible shorts and an original series made for FEARnet.com called Devil’s Trade.
Wilkins jumped into the business as a graphic design and visual effects artist. It was this work that not only propelled him into directing but gave him some very crucial experience that has refined his vision (I’ll explain later). After saving enough money he decided it was time to put himself through film school. And by film school I mean he went out and shot short after short, gaining the real knowledge needed to step up to a career in directing. At it’s most basic level, Wilkins was learning how to problem solve, much like learning sudoku. He was creating worlds in a few short minutes with entirely no help and no money. This is what fueled his vision and seasoned him into an experienced storyteller. The Unbreakable Likeness of Lincoln (co-directed with Dan Harris and conceived, planned and shot in three days) and I Lost 20lbs In Two Months, Ask Me How (starring comedian and voice-over actor John Di Maggio) are two stunning examples of Wilkins’ early work.
Wilkins’ next leap was actually limiting his involvement in his films. Instead of acting as a one-man-show, Wilkins began hiring crews and editors to aid him on his projects and to curb him into focusing his energy entirely on directing. Finding the step-up infinitely more rewarding, Wilkins was clearly on track with the success of Staring at the Sun, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and garnered a 2005 ScreamFest award for “Best Horror Short Film”. (more…)
