ANJI LOMAN FIELD

Anji is an established writer, storyliner, script editor and producer.

​She has worked in film, television and radio drama in multiple genres across three continents, most recently as lead writer on THE DEVIL'S PROMISE, a 6 x 50' episode English/Arabic supernatural thriller, created by Tony Jordan (Red Planet) for MBC. 
 
Her UK writing credits include BBC’s EASTENDERS, HOLBY CITY & DOCTORS. Her original plays for BBC Radio 4 have starred Dame Penelope Wilton, David Tennant and Lucy Benjamin.
 
She’s produced broadcast documentaries for C4 and S4C and has been running writing courses and workshops for Euroscript and other organisations since the mid 90s.

She penned 40 episodes of TASTE OF LIFE for BBC Media Action in Cambodia and was the creator and show-runner of HOUSE WITH MANY WINDOWS, a long running BBC Media Action TV drama series set in Vietnam.

Anji trained BBC Media Action’s Libyan team to devise an original TV drama series and has done similar work in Thailand and Vietnam. 

For the Cambodian market, Anji has written/produced several issue-led films and a reality TV show YOU'RE THE MAN, and wrote the romantic hit comedy movie STAYING SINGLE. Her work for the German market includes comedy drama series SINGLES for ZDF, a TV movie EMAIL TO GOD for Pro7 and the acclaimed comedy feature film LOVE SCENES FROM PLANET EARTH.

She was actively involved with the London Screenwriters’ Workshop for several years, running various courses and events. She's also taught at the London Institute (now London College of Communication), West Herts College, Central Film School, the RCA and BECTU, and she has been a mentor for RAINDANCE students for some years. Among her former students are Mike Bullen, creator of COLD FEET and writer/producer/ director Sean McConville (DEADLINE, THE QUIET HOUR, THE LAST MOON)

​At Euroscript she runs a variety of courses and workshops, the SPEAKEASY evenings and also organises the Summer School, which this year includes two of her weekend workshops - a simulated writers' room experience and how to create a TV drama series.

Here's a snapshot of what previous participants have said about the above:

"Anji is very generous with her time and her expertise. The workshops were very focused and her advice is practical, demystifying and clear. Enormously useful."   Desi Lyon (Radio & TV writer represented by the Blake Friedmann Agency)
 
"In addition to delivering what was promised in terms of how to approach writing for Existing TV Drama, Anji’s clear expertise in writing provided insights that I can apply immediately to projects across various other formats."  Sean Kelly (Executive Producer/Screenwriter)
 
"Excellent teacher. Fun. Very clear and real information about how a story is developed from a pitch to production, as well as how it's woven into longer show storylines. We had such fun working on storylines together. It was superb. I would go every Sunday."  Mera Kalam - Aspiring Screenwriter
 
Anji is also developing original projects for film, TV and radio. 

Q:  What’s your favourite TV series?

A:  I have very eclectic taste so it's hard to pin down any one show but some I've enjoyed lately are the BBC's Sally Wainwright series HAPPY VALLEY, Lulu Wang's (Amazon MGM/Blossom Films') EXPATS (starring Nicole Kidman) and Amazon's bonkers Australian comedy-drama DEADLOCH, written by Kate McCartney & Kate McLennan.

Previously I've enjoyed BBC/AMC/The Ink Factory’s THE NIGHT MANAGER, adapted by David Farr, KEEPING FAITH by Matthew Hall for Vox Pictures/BBC and DOCTOR FOSTER, written by Mike Bartlett for Drama Republic/BBC.

I also enjoyed Keshet/Fifty Fathom’s THE A WORD, adapted by Peter Bowker for BBC,  Alice Oseman's HEARTSTOPPER, produced by See-Saw Films  for Netflix and, last but not least, Matthew Weiner's MAD MEN (Lionsgate TV/ AMC/Netflix). 


Q:  Who is the best screen drunk?

A:  There are a few memorable drunks but Billy Bob Thornton's dark and funny performance in BAD SANTA does it for me - along with Benedict Cumberbatch as PATRICK MELROSE (Two Cities TV for Sky Atlantic) and of course Richard E Grant's inspired portrayal in WITHNAIL AND I.


Q:  What’s your most romantic encounter on screen?

A:  It would have to be a toss up between CASABLANCA and WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, I think. Although years ago I did get to write the first, long-awaited kiss between will-they-won't-they EASTENDERS characters Kat Slater and Alfie Moon, which was quite a thrill. I can still remember the lines that led up to that moment!


Q:  What's the worst film or TV box set you could be stuck with on a desert island?

A:  Any horror, sci-fi or fantasy that wasn't also a comedy, or anything featuring gratuitous violence.
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Q:  What's the most memorable line of dialogue

A:  So hard to choose but "Jesus, I must be crazy to be in a loony-bin like this" - from Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest works for me. (Not very PC these days, I know!)