Virginia Murray
‘I like to write about people who cause trouble.
’
As a writer for the screen, Virginia Murray is drawn to stories that explore relationships and magical events and, perhaps most importantly, conflict. ‘I'd say this to a student,
’ she says, ‘write about someone who you feel has thwarted you or somebody or something that has made you really angry.
’ This approach is reminiscent of Stanislavski, the creator of ‘the method
’, where the actor draws on inner resources to construct a character. It is no surprise to find that part of Virginia's training is as a director. This background offers a craft-based, hands-on approach to writing.
One of the age-old debates or assumptions about writing is that it must come from experience. Virginia is more inclined to privilege observation ‘and a certain ear
’. Script writers – for stage or screen – need to look and listen, more than reflect. ‘Maybe where life experience comes in
’, she says, ‘is that as we get older we tend to become less self-absorbed and more aware of the outside world.
’
Virginia writes at her desk, by the light of her favourite ‘incandescent
’ lamp. She starts with pen and paper, but is most at home writing on screen. ‘I write because I want to be surprised by myself,
’ she says. As a script writer she is very aware of issues of genre. ‘I like to write freely,
’ she says, ‘but have the kind of genre in the back of my mind so that it shapes the work unconsciously.
’
