Michelle MacLaren | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Director, producer |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Notable work | Game of Thrones The Walking Dead Breaking Bad Harsh Realm The X-Files Westworld Booker Better Call Saul |
| Relatives | Ashleigh Banfield (cousin) |
Michelle Maxwell MacLaren is a Canadian television director and producer. She has directed episodes ofThe X-Files,Better Call Saul,Breaking Bad,The Walking Dead,Game of Thrones, andWestworld.
MacLaren won two back-to-backPrimetime Emmy Awards for producingBreaking Bad in 2013 and 2014.
MacLaren grew up inVancouver,British Columbia.[1] She graduated fromQueen's University inKingston, Ontario.[2] MacLaren is a cousin of television anchorAshleigh Banfield.[3]
"I don't see myself as a female director, I see myself as a director who happens to be a woman."[4]
MacLaren made herdirectorial debut on the season nine episode ofThe X-Files, "John Doe", which was written by her futureBreaking Bad collaboratorVince Gilligan. She approaches shooting action sequences as mathematical deconstruction and likes using multiple cameras and wide lenses.[4]
She was nominated for sixPrimetime Emmy Awards, all forBreaking Bad: one for directing the episode "One Minute" (season 3, episode 7) in 2010,[5] one for directing the episode "Gliding Over All" (season 5, episode 8) in 2013, and the other four in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 forOutstanding Drama Series, on which she served as an executive producer,[6] winning in 2013 and 2014. She was also nominated for threeProducers Guild of America Award for Best Episodic Drama forBreaking Bad, winning in 2014 and 2015. On the tenth anniversary of the premiere ofBreaking Bad,io9 singled out MacLaren among the breakout directors on the series as theMVP, noting she directed 11 episodes, more than any other director.[7]
In June 2014, it was announced MacLaren had signed a two-year first-look deal withHBO.[8]
In November 2014, it was announced that MacLaren would develop the script and directWonder Woman, the iconic character's first solo cinematic appearance and the fourth installment of theDC Extended Universe.[9] However, in April 2015 MacLaren left the project due to "creative differences".[10][11]
She was the executive producer of and directed the pilot forDavid Simon'sHBO dramaThe Deuce.[12] She was the first director hired and established the overall 1970s tone and style of the show.[4]
In August 2016, it was announced that MacLaren would direct the film adaptation ofKristin Hannah's novelThe Nightingale.[13] She was attracted to the prospect of directingThe Nightingale because it is a "muscular" project and the female characters are unsuspecting heroes.[4]
The same year she also directed the ninth episode of theHBO seriesWestworld. When the directors of the final season ofGame of Thrones were announced, several prominent news sites, includingPolygon andNerdist, expressed disappointment that MacLaren, the only woman to direct on the series, was not included.[14][15]
In December 2017, MacLaren visited theDubai International Film Festival as a guest ofOSN.[16]
On January 31, 2018, MacLaren was confirmed as director for the filmCowboy Ninja Viking.[17]
She is developing a miniseries for HBO withBreaking Bad co-producer Vince Gilligan calledRaven, based on theJonestown massacre.[18]
Film
TV series
| Year | Title | Director | Executive Producer | Episode(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Constellation | Yes | Yes | "The Wounded Angel" |
| "Live and Let Die" | ||||
| 2021 | Coyote | Yes | No | "Call of the Void" |
| "Silver or Lead" | ||||
| 2019 | The Morning Show | Yes | No | "Lonely at the Top" |
| 2017–2019 | The Deuce | Yes | Yes | "Pilot" |
| "My Name Is Ruby" | ||||
| 2017 | Modern Family | Yes | No | "All Things Being Equal" |
| 2016 | Westworld | Yes | No | "The Well-Tempered Clavier" |
| 2015–2022 | Better Call Saul | Yes | No | "Mijo" |
| "Breathe" | ||||
| "Nippy" | ||||
| 2014 | The Leftovers | Yes | No | "Cairo" |
| 2013–2014 | Game of Thrones | Yes | No | "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" |
| "Second Sons" | ||||
| "Oathkeeper" | ||||
| "First of His Name" | ||||
| 2013 | Chicks 'n' Guns | Yes | Yes | Breaking Bad bonus scene |
| 2012 | The River | Yes | No | "Doctor Emmet Cole" |
| NCIS | Yes | No | "Need to Know" | |
| 2011 | Hell on Wheels | Yes | No | "Revelations" |
| Camelot | Yes | No | "Igraine" | |
| 2010–2014 | The Walking Dead | Yes | No | "Guts" |
| "Pretty Much Dead Already" | ||||
| "A" | ||||
| 2010 | The Event | Yes | No | "Your World to Take" |
| Lie to Me | Yes | No | "Dirty Loyal" | |
| Memphis Beat | Yes | No | "Suspicious Minds" | |
| 2009–2013 | Breaking Bad | Yes | Yes | "4 Days Out" |
| "I.F.T." | ||||
| "One Minute" | ||||
| "Abiquiu" | ||||
| "Thirty-Eight Snub" | ||||
| "Shotgun" | ||||
| "Salud" | ||||
| "Madrigal" | ||||
| "Gliding Over All" | ||||
| "Buried" | ||||
| "To'hajiilee" | ||||
| 2006 | Kyle XY | Yes | No | "Blame it on the Rain" |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Yes | No | "Infected" | |
| 2005 | Night Stalker | No | Yes | "Pilot" |
| 2003 | John Doe | Yes | No | "John D.O.A." |
| 2002 | Without a Trace | Yes | No | "Midnight Sun" |
| 2000–2002 | The X-Files | Yes | Co-Executive | "John Doe" |
TV movies
| Year | Title | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | A Song from the Heart | Yes | Executive |
| 1998 | Beauty | No | Yes |
| 1997 | A Child's Wish | No | Yes |
| 1995 | The Other Mother: A Moment of Truth Movie | No | Yes |
| 1994 | Moment of Truth: A Mother's Deception | No | Yes |
| Heart of a Child | No | Yes | |
| Moment of Truth: Broken Pledges | No | Yes | |
| Moment of Truth: To Walk Again | No | Yes | |
| 1993 | Moment of Truth: A Child Too Many | No | Yes |
| For the Love of My Child: The Anissa Ayala Story | No | Yes | |
| 1992 | Shame | No | Yes |
Primetime Emmy Awards
| Year | Category | Title | Episode | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Outstanding Drama Series | Breaking Bad | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Nominated | |||
| 2013 | Won | |||
| 2014 | Won | |||
| 2010 | Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | "One Minute" | Nominated | |
| 2013 | "Gliding Over All" | Nominated |
Producers Guild of America
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Best Episodic Drama | Breaking Bad | Nominated |
| 2013 | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Won | ||
| 2015 | Won |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
