INTERVIEW
ANTONIA WOODWARD
“You just have to believe in yourself when no one else believes in you!”
Antonia Woodward is an international award-winning screenwriter & actress. She is known for Parental Responsibility (2018) and Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die. She has received many accolades for her screenwriting such as Best First Time Screenwriter (Los Angeles Film Awards), Best Drama Screenplay (New York Film Awards), and many others.
Thank you so much for interviewing with us! Can you share your story on how did you get started in the film industry?
I went to Kingston University and trained as a social worker. I wanted to make the world a better place but with limited resources, it was very challenging. I was able to have longevity in my mental health career because I was able to escape into my training over the weekends to become an Actor. I trained with some of the best lecturers in the world when I went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. The feedback I got was extremely positive, so when I moved to Australia, I went to the New York Film Academy to train full time. My storytelling as a screenwriter won me so many awards internationally. I got investments to produce one of my screenplays, but unfortunately, Covid happened.
Who are you grateful towards your success and can you share a story about that?
God and my fans. My faith and hard work enabled me to achieve anything I set out to do. My motivation is my family. I have a very small circle of beautiful supportive family and friends and they are my comfort place and source of happiness. Sometimes, you just have to believe in yourself when no one else believes in you. I am grateful to my loyal fans who support me regardless. They are my family and the reason I continue to work.
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Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Someone wanted to finance my first feature film and when we met he wanted money from me. So be careful because there are a lot of fake people out there. I am struggling at present because Covid has completely changed my plans. I am a natural fighter so I will continue to look for ways to make my first feature film.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far? How did you overcome it?
Covid. I have had to turn some of my screenplays into a book Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die and an audio-book Fine Line is Not Just a Wrinkle. You can check out iTunes, Amazon, Audible and bookshops. I am working on another audio-book Crippling Fear, But Death Comes to All.
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I was approached recently by a few musicians to write lyrics for them. I am enjoying this because I have to work on the backstory of each lyric. I have also written for teenagers, so my approach has to be different and age-appropriate. This is also effortless for me so I want to do this more.
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How do you prepare for the job/project?
As a writer, in my head, I go back to my elders in Africa. As a child who has crystal clear imagination in storytelling that transports you into a different world. It is pure and simple. I have a wicked imagination so I find it easy to make up stories from nothing. I meditate, do yoga and ask God for directions. I also have a wealth of experience from my own life, family and friends. I was a Mental Health Professional for many years. My issue is typing, not the storytelling. Once I have an idea in my head, I can write for 14 hours straight.
What methods or techniques do you use to find truth in your characters’ behaviours?
As an actor, I was taught Meisner’s approach. It works because you are in the moment and responding to instincts that come naturally to you as a human being. However, I can’t ignore Stanislavsky’s method of using my imagination, the triggers from my past emotional memory and the relaxation technique as it gets me to the truthfulness of the character. I also do my research, self-tape, practice in front of the mirror and experiment with different ways of delivering the same dialogue. I practice until it becomes second nature to me.
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What are your top 3 tips for writers that are starting?
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Write about what you know to start with and that way you don’t struggle to find information.
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Be patient with yourself. Rome was not built in a day.
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If you are struggling, take a break and clear your mind.
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What movie would you recommend watching and why?
I like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017). The story is about a mother’s struggle to get justice for her daughter’s rape and murder. Within this serious topic, there are pockets of comedy, which breaks the sadness of the story. It reminds me that no matter what the circumstances are, you can still take a break to laugh at life.
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What is one message you would give to your fans?
I appreciate your support. You continue to inspire me to do better and to continue to work at it even when I want to give up.
