Always Take Notes #28: Peter Moffat, BAFTA-winning screenwriter
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Apr 24, 2018 BAFTA-winning screenwriter Peter Moffat discusses his transition from law to writing, the differences between British and American TV drama production, and the role of intensive research in his writing routine.
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Legal World Reacted To Criminal Justice
- Moffat's Criminal Justice provoked complaints from the legal profession for showing lawyers shaping a client's story.
- He defends the portrayal as realistic: solicitors and barristers routinely refine clients' accounts before court.
Fabrications Risk Audience Trust
- Moffat objects to filmmakers inventing patriotic or mythic scenes because they erode trust in the rest of the film.
- He prefers dramatizations that serve a 'bigger truth' but admits fabricated moments can make audiences doubt accuracy elsewhere.
Research Like A Journalist
- Do deep, on-the-ground research: spend time in location, read journalists, and meet experts to introduce you to insiders.
- Keep asking questions during fast writing and pick up the phone to trusted contacts for precise answers.