Michelle MacLaren
Michelle Maxwell MacLaren is a Canadian television director and producer. She has directed episodes of The X-Files, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Westworld.
Michelle MacLaren | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation | Director, producer |
| Years active | 1989–present |
Notable work | Game of Thrones The Walking Dead Breaking Bad Harsh Realm The X-Files Westworld Booker |
MacLaren won two back-to-back Primetime Emmy Awards for producing Breaking Bad in 2013 and 2014.
Early life
MacLaren grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia.[1] She graduated from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.[2]
Career
"I don't see myself as a female director, I see myself as a director who happens to be a woman."[3]
MacLaren made her directorial debut on the season nine episode of The X-Files, "John Doe", which was written by her future Breaking Bad collaborator Vince Gilligan. She approaches shooting action sequences as mathematical deconstruction and likes using multiple cameras and wide lenses.[3]
She was nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards, all for Breaking Bad: one for directing the episode "One Minute" (season 3, episode 7) in 2010,[4] one for directing the episode "Gliding Over All" (season 5, episode 8) in 2013, and the other four in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 for Outstanding Drama Series, on which she served as an executive producer,[5] winning in 2013 and 2014. She was also nominated for three Producers Guild of America Award for Best Episodic Drama for Breaking Bad, winning in 2014 and 2015. On the tenth anniversary of the premiere of Breaking Bad, io9 singled out MacLaren among the breakout directors on the series as the MVP, noting she directed 11 episodes, more than any other director.[6]
In June 2014, it was announced MacLaren had signed a two-year first-look deal with HBO.[7]
In November 2014, it was announced that MacLaren would develop the script and direct Wonder Woman, the iconic character's first solo cinematic appearance and the fourth installment of the DC Extended Universe.[8] However, in April 2015 MacLaren left the project due to "creative differences".[9][10]
She was the executive producer of and directed the pilot for David Simon's HBO drama The Deuce.[11] She was the first director hired and established the overall 1970s tone and style of the show.[3]
In August 2016, it was announced that MacLaren would direct the film adaptation of Kristin Hannah's novel The Nightingale.[12] She was attracted to the prospect of directing The Nightingale because it is a "muscular" project and the female characters are unsuspecting heroes.[3]
The same year she also directed the ninth episode of the HBO series Westworld. When the directors of the final season of Game of Thrones were announced, several prominent news sites, including Polygon and Nerdist expressed disappointment that MacLaren, the only female to direct on the series, was not included.[13][14]
In December 2017, MacLaren visited the Dubai International Film Festival as a guest of OSN.[15]
On January 31, 2018, MacLaren was confirmed as director for the film Cowboy Ninja Viking.[16]
She is developing a miniseries for HBO with Breaking Bad co-producer Vince Gilligan called Raven, based on the Jonestown massacre.[17]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | Cowboy Ninja Viking | Director | Theatrical film |
| 2019 | The Morning Show | Director | Season 1, episode 8 |
| 2017–2019 | The Deuce | Director Executive Producer | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Modern Family | Director | Season 8, episode 20 |
| 2016 | Westworld | Season 1, episode 9 | |
| 2015-2018 | Better Call Saul | Season 1, episode 2 and season 4, episode 2 | |
| 2014 | The Leftovers | Season 1, episode 8 | |
| 2013–2014 | Game of Thrones | 4 episodes | |
| 2013 | Chicks 'n' Guns | Director Executive producer | Breaking Bad bonus scene |
| 2012 | The River | Director | Season 1, episode 6 |
| NCIS | Season 9, episode 17 | ||
| 2011 | Hell on Wheels | Season 1, episode 7 | |
| Camelot | Season 1, episode 8; TV miniseries | ||
| 2010–2014 | The Walking Dead | 3 episodes | |
| 2010 | The Event | Season 1, episode 9 | |
| Lie to Me | Season 3, episode 3 | ||
| Memphis Beat | Season 1, episode 7 | ||
| 2009–2013 | Breaking Bad | Director Executive producer | 11 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series (2013–2014) Producers Guild of America Award for Best Episodic Drama (2013–2014) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (2010, 2013) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series (2010, 2012) Nominated—Producers Guild of America Award for Best Episodic Drama (2011) |
| 2006 | Kyle XY | Director | Season 1, episode 6 |
| Population 436 | Feature film debut | ||
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Season 7, episode 12 | ||
| 2005 | Night Stalker | Executive producer | Season 1, episode 1 |
| 2003 | John Doe | Director | Season 1, episode 11 |
| 2002 | Without a Trace | Season 1, episode 10 | |
| 2000–2002 | The X-Files | Director Co-executive producer | 47 episodes |
| 1999–2000 | Harsh Realm | Co-executive producer | 8 episodes |
| 1999 | A Song from the Heart | Writer Executive producer | TV movie |
| 1998 | Beauty | Producer | |
| 1997 | A Child's Wish | ||
| 1995 | The Other Mother: A Moment of Truth Movie | ||
| 1994 | Moment of Truth: A Mother's Deception | ||
| Heart of a Child | |||
| Moment of Truth: Broken Pledges | |||
| Moment of Truth: To Walk Again | |||
| 1993 | Moment of Truth: A Child Too Many | ||
| For the Love of My Child: The Anissa Ayala Story | |||
| 1992 | Shame | ||
| The House on Sycamore Street | Production manager | ||
| Diagnosis Murder | |||
| 1991 | Omen IV: The Awakening | ||
| K2 | Second unit manager | ||
| 1989–1990 | Booker | Production manager | 22 episodes |
| 1989 | The Ranch |
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-24. Retrieved 2013-09-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Gunn, Andrea. "A woman of action: Michelle MacLaren". Queen's University. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
- "In Conversation With... Michelle MacLaren". entertainment.ie. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- "2010 Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series". Television Academy. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- "2010 Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Drama Series". Television Academy. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- McLevy, Alex. "Breaking Bad showcased some of film and TV's most noteworthy directors". io9. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- Andreeva, Nellie. "Director Michelle MacLaren Inks HBO Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/michelle-maclaren-signs-develop-direct-752055
- Fisher, Russ. "Director Michelle MacLaren Leaves 'Wonder Woman'". /Film. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
- Kit, Borys. "'Wonder Woman' Movie Loses Director Michelle MacLaren (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
- Andreeva, Nellie. "Maggie Gyllenhaal To Topline HBO Drama Pilot 'The Deuce'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- Kroll, Justin (August 11, 2016). "'Game of Thrones' Director Michelle MacLaren to Helm TriStar's 'The Nightingale'". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- Alexander, Julia. "Game of Thrones showunners to direct series finale as final directors announced". Polygon. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- Lutes, Alicia. "GAME OF THRONES' FINAL SEASON DIRECTORS ANNOUNCED". Nerdist. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- Newbould, Chris. "'Breaking Bad' director Michelle MacLaren on television's technological game changer". The National AE. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- Kroll, Justin (January 31, 2018). "Chris Pratt's 'Cowboy Ninja Viking' Taps 'Game of Thrones' Director Michelle MacLaren". Variety. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- Bernstein, Abbie. "Director Michelle MacLaren talks THE DEUCE and GAME OF THRONES – Exclusive Interview". Assignment X. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
External links
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