BAFTA Screenwriters Lecture: Moira Buffini
Moira Buffini (Tamara Drewe, Jane Eyre) took to the stage at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly on 16 September, for the second in our Screenwriters' Lecture Series.
#BAFTAwriters Moira describes how a script evolves and the interplay between actor, director and writer.- #BAFTAwriters "A screenplay must not be set in stone, but must be as tough as bricks".
- #BAFTAwriters Moira "I fully expect my work to get slapped around a bit when working for Hollywood"
- #BAFTAwriters "If you are in a position to choose, choose carefully. The story must chime with you. "
- #BAFTAwriters a good developement exec will listen, protect the material and be the writer's closest confidante.
- #BAFTAwriters "Perhaps the pain of separation is why I have yet to attempt an original film screenplay."
- #BAFTAwriters Until a piece of work is finished, it is still partly inside us. And this is why it hurts when it is pulled out.
- #BAFTAwriters Moira loves edits and editors. "they do with pictures what we do with words"
- #BAFTAwriters "If ever there was excellent training for being a writer, it's being an actor."
- #BAFTAwriters "no wife parts. Unless she is the kind of wife that puts lobsters in your bath"
- #BAFTAwriters There are 2 kinds of directors. Those with democratic leanings or autocratic tendancies. The former is better.
- #BAFTAwriters Everything should be in the script. That's why they are so difficult to write.
- #BAFTAwriters In advising budding screenwriters, Moira suggests not limiting oneself to screenplays alone. Write everything& you will learn.
- #BAFTAwriters how do you move from the first to the next draft? The rewriting is the real writing. I never count the numbers of drafts!
- #BAFTAwriters "I write in libraries mostly. I like writing where there are people."
- #BAFTAwriters Find the link between characters but then enjoy their differences.
- #BAFTAwriters Do you ever hate writing characters? If you really hate a character cut or change them.
- #BAFTAwriters "Screenplays are unusual. So few read them. But they are read in such detail."
