David Barrett, director and executive producer of the MPI Original television pilot Public Interest, recently spoke with Hollywood North News about the upcoming series, which explores constitutional law, civil liberties, and the importance of civil dialogue.

During the interview, David explained that the series is rooted in the belief that people with different viewpoints can still engage one another with respect. Rather than focusing on political divisions, Public Interest aims to encourage “honest conversations without aggression or violence,” grounded in kindness, humility, and a genuine effort to understand different perspectives.

He also discussed why Washington, DC, was the natural setting for the series. As the home of the Supreme Court and the nation’s political institutions, the city serves as a constant reminder of the constitutional principles at the heart of the show’s stories.

The legal cases featured in Public Interest explore issues such as eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture, and government overreach. According to David, these stories are intended to spark meaningful conversations by focusing on the people affected by them, making complex constitutional questions more relatable through character-driven storytelling.

Looking beyond the courtroom, he said he hopes Public Interest can serve as “a model for how to communicate across divides.” Rather than advancing a particular ideology, the series is intended to defend the civil liberties that allow people with differing views to disagree openly.

David also reflected on the project’s development with MPI, expressing his appreciation for the organization’s support and noting that it gave him complete creative freedom to explore difficult constitutional questions “without any pressure to conform to a particular ideological agenda.”

The series stars Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond), Richard Schiff (The West Wing), James Wolk (Mad Men), Liana Liberato (Scream VI), Tiana Okoye (Twisted Metal), Carter Redwood (FBI: International), and Josh McKenzie (La Brea). Production began last month in Toronto.

Read the full interview with David Barrett here.