Interview:

Matt Toomey lives in Livermore, CA with his wife and two dogs.  After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2001, he moved to the bay area and has worked as a software engineer ever since.  He currently manages a group of software developers and in his free time he enjoys writing, traveling, and watching baseball.

Is “Sleeping With Goats” your first script? If not, what else have you completed?

“Sleeping With Goats” is my first completed script, though I’m currently working on another one which is more of a romantic comedy.

Why did you write “Sleeping With Goats”? And how long did it take you to write it?

I wrote “Sleeping With Goats” because I thought I could write something funnier and more entertaining than the bland and formulaic films I’d seen recently.  It took me about 6 months to write the first draft, but that also included reading 4 or 5 books on screenwriting and comedy writing.  As much as I wanted to just sit in front of my computer and start writing, I first needed to know how the heck to write a screenplay.  I didn’t want to write something that looked amateurish.

Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for writing?

I tend to put together a very loose idea for a script and then start thinking about the protagonist(s) and supporting cast.   I write possible scene ideas on index cards and pin them to a cork board in sequential order and use this as my outline when I’m writing.

What inspires you to write?

Everyday situations and conversations are the basis for quite a bit of my writing.  There is so much funny stuff happening around us—you just have to open your eyes and listen closely. 

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

My wife, my two dogs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Mexican food. 

What influenced you to enter the Movie Script Contest?

I liked that MSC provided feedback on each script—great idea. 

Do you feel that screenwriting contests are worthwhile for writers and why?

I think so.  Obviously, most screenwriters' ultimate goal is to sell their script, and placing high in a contest could open doors to achieve this because of the exposure that some contests, like this one, offer.

Who is your favorite screenwriter or writer and why?

I love what Judd Apatow is doing right now—R rated comedy with heart. And of course the Coen brothers and Farrelly brothers have written some incredible scripts over the years.

Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

If you enjoy writing, then keep doing it.  Not many people can say they’ve written a novel, screenplay, etc., and that is something to be proud of regardless of whether there is any commercial success. 

What’s next for you?

I’m working on an ‘R’ rated interracial romantic comedy at the moment and have a couple other script ideas I might pursue after that.  I’m actively looking for a manager and hoping the WGA strike will end soon.