Ben Schiffer


Ben Schiffer is a British television screenwriter and playwright. He was cited as one of Screen International's Stars of Tomorrow in 2009 and his screenplay Cheerleaders 3D came second in the 2010 Brit List with 8 Votes.
He is married to actress Emily Taaffe.

Early life and education

Schiffer was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the second son of American emigrants. He moved to London at the age of two. He attended University College School before moving to Dublin, Ireland to read English and History at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating with a First-Class Honours B.A. in 2006. His first commission, whilst still at University, was the short film Hot Or Not, broadcast on BBC One in 2006.

Career

Theatre

Schiffer wrote his first play, Paper Tigers, whilst still at university; the play ran to sell-out crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe. His recent theatre work includes His Ghostly Heart and 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, both commissioned by and performed at The Bush Theatre as well as at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Ben has been on the Royal Court Theatre's Young Writers Scheme and has had his previous plays performed in London, Dublin, Edinburgh and the Latitude Festival.

Television work

Schiffer wrote episodes of Brief Encounters and in 2006 and 2008, respectively. He then would work on the UK teen drama Skins, writing a total of five episodes for the first four series, as well as contributing a story for the episode Abbud in 2011. In 2013, he wrote and co-executive produced Dates, created by Skins creator Bryan Elsley for Channel 4. He wrote a pilot, Goths, with Jack Thorne, for Shine Media. His previous comedy pilot Not Safe For Work won an RTS Student Award in 2010.
He would contribute episodes to Stan Lee's Lucky Man and Ransom, on which he also serves as co-producer.