“Positive Marriage Of Tech And Creativity” Justin Trefgarne Talks ‘Sherwood’ On YouTube Originals

The large and small screen landscape is rapidly changing. This provides more avenues for screenwriters and content creators to showcase their work. Creative Screenwriting Magazine chatted with MetFilm School (UK) lecturer, Justin Trefgarne who wrote Sherwood, a 10-episode series aimed at 9-11-year-olds for the YouTube streaming platform.

Sherwood draws on the legend of Robin Hood for its inspiration, but with the added dimensions that Robin is a girl, and it’s set in the 23rd Century. Modern-day creatives call this a “hook.”

Justin asserts that the internet has democratized filmmaking, and I want to demystify the filmmaking process – the only way to learn how to make films, any kind of film, is to actually start making them. “YouTube has opened up lots of new employment opportunities and it’s both very rewarding and challenging for me to work with these young people. It’s hugely enriching.”

In the mid-2000s, Trefgarne worked as Development Director at Working Title films and worked on films such as Atonement, Hot Fuzz, Pride and Prejudice and more.

Justin Trefgarne

Trefgarne wrote and directed his first feature film, Narcopolis, released in 2016 starring Jonathan Price and is currently working on his second feature film called – Shake Loose the Border, a Western-style film about 17th century Scotland/England and the union of the English and Scottish crowns.

Nadine Zylstra, Head of Learning, YouTube Originals, said “in this modern telling of Robin Hood, Robin is a girl and she uses technology and code to battle the sheriff of Sherwood. Sherwood is a new series set to inspire young women and girls on their role in the technology of the future.”

We asked Justin about his role as a screenwriter and content creator on YouTube Originals.

What differentiates a YouTube show from other platforms?

I don’t speak for YouTube so you’d have to ask them as to how they see themselves, but my experience was that they seem to have a very clear sense of who their audience is. We weren’t overwhelmed with viewing data, but they gave us some very helpful insights into how their audience behaves. This helped us shape our stories, and some of it was challenging.

YouTube viewers have a much faster impulse to click away from something if they aren’t taken with it, and the critical time is under a minute. So, in reality, this meant we had about 45 seconds to hook the audience in, establish the premise, character etc. – which is a fraction of what you get on a more conventional platform. But they really supported us in this and it was always a very positive marriage of tech and creativity.

The other thing to say is YouTube’s commitment to diversity is real. We had an amazing team and everyone was determined to make sure that the show’s characters and storytelling were as rich and representative as possible.

How did you work with the YouTube Originals team?

Nadine was all over the show and was our major anchor throughout the process. She was passionate about the material and formed a powerful bridge between us and broadcaster. On an individual level, her notes were really strong and it felt she had a real connection with Robin, our main character.

Why did you choose to work in an animation format?

Sherwood was always pitched as an animation. The obvious answer is you’re creating a whole world here – a flooded 23rd Century Britain is not going to be easy to do as live action – but there was something about the heightened tone that we felt was best served by animation from the get-go. Bruce Carter, the genius director we worked with, was involved from the start so it was only ever going to be this format.

Why did you choose a tween demographic?

We always wanted the show to work for the tween audience. We felt that there’s a generation coming through for whom diversity and environmental concerns are baked into the way they see the world. Rather than have to convince anyone of anything, we could just get on with telling our story and they would accept the assumptions we make about the world we have created. YouTube’s core audience is also within that demographic so I imagine that’s why this appealed to them.

How did you combine your background in features, branded content, and games to forge a career?

I guess the answer to this is I go where I’m wanted. But I also enjoy working across different platforms. You get to learn new skills and especially on the tech side I get to take part in this revolution we’re all living through, which I find very exciting. But in the end it’s stories – storytelling principles remain the same whatever the delivery system. My job sometimes is to represent the story and protect it even from being overwhelmed by technology. It’s easy to get distracted by how and where people watch things but they’re only going to care and remember them if the stories are strong.

You can view the first episode of Sherwood by clicking on the image below:

by Staff Writer

From our in-house editorial team.