OGUZHAN TOKER
 OGUZHAN TOKER
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in Istanbul, Türkiye — a city of hidden, incredible stories and street cats. Your script stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your story and why did you write a script instead of a short story or a novel? There are several different inspirations behind my screenplay “The Temptation of Holding Tight”. The first is my long-standing interest in stories of people who die shortly after losing their spouse. I’ve always been deeply affected by the ways people experience grief. The second influence comes from a quiet anger I’ve felt toward the way relationships are often portrayed on social media — as if they are supposed to be easy, effortless, and made up only of beautiful moments. I believe the beauty of being in love lies in the wholeness of the experience. But the most important inspiration is my beautiful partner, Hande, whom I love dearly. Since the day we met, she has been the source of inspiration for all my stories. In the case of this screenplay, she inspired the very emotion at the core of this screenplay — just by being herself, she made me fall in love with love itself. Beyond love’s defining and transformative power, it also allowed me to confront darker parts of myself that I had never fully acknowledged before. In many ways, I discovered the protagonist of this story within my own inner conflicts. How long did it take you to write your script...and what is your writing process? Do you outline...use index cards...white board...or just start with FADE IN? It took me approximately one month to write the screenplay. My writing process always begins with questions. Before outlining anything, I prepare a set of honest questions about the subject I want to explore and answer them as sincerely as possible. This helps me understand where I stand within the ethical debate at the heart of the story, and allows me to examine its different dimensions. After that, I take out a large sheet of paper and begin mapping out the main structure of the narrative. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to use index cards during the outlining stage — I believe they would be incredibly helpful in organizing the structure visually. However, for this particular project, I didn’t follow that method. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? I believe we live as long as we are remembered, and we grow as much as we share. As a writer, I want to share both the light and darkness within people; their triumphs, celebrations and struggles. I hope to grow alongside those who find something of themselves in my work. If the films I write can create a smile, bring a tear to someone’s eyes, or awaken a quiet discomfort within them, I believe I can become immortal in the emotions I leave behind. There are still so many stories we need to listen to — and I want to be one of the people who tells them. |
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Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
It was a full script. I chose to submit the complete screenplay because I felt the character’s journey had reached its natural conclusion. Once I sensed that the emotional arc was complete, I believed the story had fully earned its meaning and was ready to be shared. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? I always find this question difficult to answer, so I would like to respond with two films. The first is “Airplane!”. I admire how it never lets the pace drop, packing jokes into almost every second and using the full potential of cinema in an absurd and creative way. Every time I watch it, my admiration grows. The second film I would mention is “Time to Love” by Metin Erksan. I consider it a masterpiece of Turkish cinema. Through the story of a man who falls in love with a photograph, it opens a new window onto love, melancholy, and human relationships. It holds a very special place in my life. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Writing. Even when you feel like you have nothing in mind, just pick up the pen. I believe it requires great discipline. I don’t always manage to maintain that discipline myself, but whenever I do, I see its impact clearly. That’s why this is the advice I would give to all writers — and to myself: Whatever you write, just write every day. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I’m currently developing my first feature screenplay. In parallel, I’m completing the pre-production of a short film that will be my first experience |
