Timothy Moran is an Emmy Award-winning producer and writer whose work has consistently captured the cultural zeitgeist. His most recent series, Chimp Crazy, became HBO's most-viewed documentary series in four years.It was such an exciting, funny, and weird look at these people who keep exotic pets that should probably be in zoos or in the wild.Moran previously earned Primetime Emmy nominations for two projects that re-examined the lives of iconic women: the 2020 series Hillary and the 2022 special The New York Times Presents: Controlling Britney Spears.We spoke with Moran about the success of Chimp Crazy, his approach to revisiting complex histories, and what drives his powerful storytelling.Let's dive in. - YouTubewww.youtube.comNFS: Congrats on being nominated for your writing work on HBO’s Chimp Crazy! Can you begin by explaining the role of a writer on a documentary project?Timothy Moran: Thank you! Chimp Crazy was a dream project, and the recognition, especially in this category, has been really gratifying.The role of a writer on a documentary project is a big topic, and how it’s defined shifts from project to project. In the case of a series like Chimp Crazy, where we had more than a thousand hours of footage and a dozen potential storylines – some of which unfolded in front of our cameras and others which would be constructed from archival material and retrospective interviews – I perceived my role as the keeper of the roadmap. That manifested both somewhat literally – the creation and maintenance of the series outline...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today