David McKenzie is a seasoned attorney offering the full gamut of consulting services for criminal law movies: storyline consultation, script analysis, wardrobe advice, set design, actor training, and character development.
Collaborative and respectful of your vision, David’s 20 years of real-world legal experience uniquely positions him to guide your film to success with authentic legal insights and creative suggestions that ensure gripping, entertaining narratives.
David’s criminal law consultancy blends legal accuracy with creativity to ensure your movie’s narrative remains compelling and true to life.
His knowledge of statutes, case law, and legal precedents; experience navigating the criminal justice system as both a prosecutor and defense lawyer; and interactions with the varied characters comprising the legal and criminal justice worlds – not to mention the research skills he’s honed over the course of two decades – help you create an authentic foundation on which to build compelling stories.
With a background in criminal law, David is adept at identifying conflicts or inconsistencies within the movie script that deviate from real-world criminal law experiences – inconsistencies that fall back on old and tired stereotypes or that undermine your story.
As a criminal law consultant for your movie, he’ll advise on solutions that maintain both legal accuracy and narrative coherence, helping you develop a credible and compelling storyline with dialogue to support it.
In his review of “A Few Good Men,” David demonstrates the power of dialogue.
“It’s impossible to reference “A Few Good Men” without decrying its most famous line, ‘You can’t handle the truth!’” he says. “What an amazing line and crescendo to the figurative dance between Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) and Col. Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson). The scene excels in depicting the nuanced art of cross-examination by showcasing Kaffee’s skillful manipulation of Jessup during testimony.”
The scene is memorable not only for its most famous line but for its portrayal of skilled cross-examination. Skillful manipulation guides not only testimony but your film’s storyline. David advises on crafting dialogue between the characters that is as true-to-life as if it were being spoken in an actual courtroom.
This approach is much more effective than sensationalist stories that leave audiences feeling cheated, as if what they got was not worth the price of admission. The audience should not walk away thinking, “Those are two hours of my life that I’m never going to get back.”
Guiding the creation of realistic criminal law practitioners is also crucial to your film. The trick is striking the delicate balance between reality, intrigue, and creativity by digging into the character’s environment and motivations.
David consults on movie characters all throughout the legal and criminal justice worlds, including prosecutors, defense lawyers, law enforcement, judges, criminal defendants, and families and others in the orbit of the justice system.
The result is interesting characters that contribute to the dramatic, comedic, or other creative goals of the project.
Take “My Cousin Vinny,” for example. In the film, the character “Vinny” is Vincent Gambini, a fast-talking, street-smart lawyer from Brooklyn who is called upon to defend his cousin and his cousin’s friend in a murder trial in the rural South.
Gambini, portrayed by actor Joe Pesci, brings humor and charisma to the film, and his performance was well-received. The film, however, often took the character to extremes. Who can forget Vinnie trying to clarify the term “youths” to the baffled Judge Chamberlain Haller, played by Fred Gwynne?
Judge Chamberlain Haller: “Two what? Did you say yutes?”
Gambini: “Yeah, two yutes.”
Judge Haller: “What is a yute?”
Gambini: “Oh, excuse me, your honor. Two yoouuths.”
The audience loved it. And more than 30 years later, you mention Vinny and the response always involves “yutes.”
It worked because it was done for comedic effect, and the film’s director, Jonathan Lynn, knew exactly what he was doing. Lynn has a master’s degree in law from Cambridge University and knew that stretching the truth would contribute to the film’s longevity.
David will consult your team to help develop realistic characters that resonate with your audience. Real-life characters in criminal law offer complexity and charisma. Reality can be sexy when finesse and skill combine to create characters your audience can relate to.
Integrating ethics into a film without sacrificing drama and entertainment value is an art that requires a delicate balance. One approach is to weave ethical dilemmas into the narrative, using them as pivotal points that propel character development.
Complex, multidimensional characters grappling with moral decisions enhance the narrative, and careful scriptwriting is essential to maintain this delicate equilibrium. The goal is to subtly challenge the audience’s perspectives without sounding preachy.
“Scent of a Woman” is a good example.
The film follows the story of a young student, Charlie, who befriends a blind and retired Army Colonel, played by Al Pacino. An ethical dilemma emerges around the Colonel’s sense of honor and Charlie’s internal struggle with the right course of action – that is, whether to reveal the identities of students he witnessed playing a prank on the school’s headmaster.
The film weaves these ethical considerations into the narrative of a quasi-judicial review of Charlie’s actions and character, enhancing the creative storytelling and adding layers of complexity to the characters’ development. The exploration of morality and the consequences of one’s choices elevates the drama and emotional impact.
By making ethical considerations an intrinsic part of character decisions, the audience becomes emotionally invested in the characters’ moral quandaries.
The key lies in treating legal and moral ethics as an integral part of the story, allowing it to coexist with drama and entertainment. This authenticity resonates with viewers, inviting them to reflect on their own ethical beliefs while remaining engrossed in the unfolding drama.
Beyond criminal law consultancy, David brings a creative flair to storytelling. He understands how to infuse drama, suspense, and emotional depth into legal narratives without compromising accuracy, ensuring that the film captivates audiences while authentically grounded in the legal and criminal justice system.
Wardrobe and set design shape a film’s identity. Wardrobe choices and accurately designed sets transport audiences into the narrative. They enhance character development, evoke specific eras, and create a visually compelling and immersive cinematic experience.
David has spent two decades in these environments.
And no two are the same. Films often depict courtrooms, for example, as grand, oak-filled shrines to the legal establishment. Those courtrooms certainly exist, though many legal hearings take place in mundane, beige-colored rooms lit by fluorescent lights.
How you depict courtrooms or other settings in your story establishes your story’s tone and the environment in which your characters develop.
Further, David consults on wardrobe for criminal law movies, too, advising on accurately portraying only attorneys, but other characters as well, including:
A recent example of a criminal law movie in which wardrobe adds authenticity is 2007’s “Michael Clayton,” which gave George Clooney a Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar nomination as the main character.
Clayton is his law firm’s “fixer.” He cleans up messes for the firm’s clients so well that one of them refers to him as a miracle worker. I’m not a miracle worker,” Clayton says. “I’m a janitor.”
He dresses impeccably with every hair in place and plays the role perfectly, even though his life behind the scenes is anything but prosperous.
This is a classic example of how wardrobe gives credibility to a character. It’s especially appropriate because the character plays a role within a role. Clayton looks and plays the part of a successful lawyer, but beneath the facade is a humanity that resonates with audiences.
David’s 20 years of real-life criminal law experience includes a comprehensive understanding of legal procedures, terminology, and the intricacies of criminal cases and the people who inhabit this world. As a criminal law consultant, David works seamlessly with movie producers, writers, and directors to enhance the film’s legal accuracy and creative elements.
Most of all, he understands that this is your project. In the end, his goal is the same as yours: to render advice that ensures your film’s success. You can confidently choose David for your project, knowing that he brings a unique blend of legal expertise and creative storytelling to the film, enriching it with authenticity and engaging narrative depth.
David McKenzie is a seasoned professional offering expert TV and Film Consulting services, bringing valuable insights and guidance to the entertainment industry.
“My foregrounds are imaginary, my backgrounds real.”