Tom Scott made his name for his portraits - both written and drawn - of politics and politicians, and for getting thrown out of the occasional press conference by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. Scott has also had a diverse career in the screen industry.

Tom Scott made his name for his portraits - both written and drawn - of politics and politicians, and for getting thrown out of the occasional press conference by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. Scott has also had a diverse career in the screen industry.

Apart from writing new feature film Separation City, he has worked with racist school teachers, animated border collies, and written drama and documentaries on iconic Kiwis David Lange and Sir Edmund Hillary.

In this ScreenTalk interview, Tom Scott talks about:

• The joys of running around “doing all the things that kids do” while making screen romance Separation City, and how his script for the film is better for being more emotionally honest.

• Being invited to work with fellow cartoonist Murray Ball, writing the big-screen version of Footrot Flats.

• Scott’s first venture into television, with a play about anorexia nervosa.

• His two projects based around David Lange - mini-series Fallout, and the documentary Reluctant Revolutionary.

• Sir Robert Muldoon actually saying kind words about something Scott wrote.

• How dodgy school teacher Mr Gormsby began his journey to TV screens, after playwright Anthony McCarten begged Danny Mulheron to perform an old stand-up routine

• Being offered the chance to tell Sir Edmund Hillary’s life story, less than 48 hours after meeting him

NZ On Screen: Direction and Interview - Ian Pryor.  Camera and Editing - Alex Backhouse