Barbara Hall on Being an Executive Producer: “Women Have to Work Twice As Hard”

Hall who has published 11 novels worked on Iamp8217ll Fly Away in which Regina Tayloramp8217s Lilly Harper was a beacon of wisdom to a white family in the segregated South amp160She also wrote for Showtime39s muchhonoredamp160Homeland tackling tough stories about a dedicated CIA agent dealing with the challenges of bipolar disorderamp160 As portrayed by Claire Danes agent Carrie Mathison has developed into one of the most complex characters in the history of televisionOver the years Hall and I have chatted about her shows including the underappreciated Joan of Arcadiaamp160 She spoke with MediaVillage about her career and what follows is an edited version of that discussionJackie Cutler amp160It didnamp8217t quite wind up as life imitating art but you envisioned a woman Secretary of State with presidential aspirations amp160What were you thinking of when you crafted Madam SecretaryBarbara Hall amp160I wanted to create a show about politics that is not polarizing amp160I made it before the 2016 election amp160And even more so now what we wanted to make clear is this is a show not against a party amp160It is a show against extremism on either side amp160We just wanted to be sure that we made it clear this is a place where all sides could be discussedJackie amp160Why is it so critical to have strong women on TVBarbara amp160To show people what the journey looks like amp160Popular culture always has an opportunity to give people a visual of what it can look like amp160One of its strengths and it is a very powerful thing is seeing women in strong positions of authority for future generations and even current generations to visualize what it looks like amp160I have emails from people whose daughters have decided to study polisci because of watching the showJackie amp160How did you become a showrunner and executive producerBarbara amp160I always tell people that my story about how I broke in is not helpful for anyone amp160It was a different time and it was a strange way that it came together amp160It wasnamp8217t such a crowded field amp160People didnamp8217t know what writing for television was amp160If you could write a spec script and it made sense and you could get an agent you had a pretty good chance amp160My sister Karen Hall was a pioneering female TV writer amp160She was the first female writer on MASH and on Hill Street Blues amp160I came out here and my reasoning was if I had to starve I didnamp8217t have to freeze amp160Because I was in LA my sister showed my novel to an agent and there was some speculation it could be a movie amp160This agent called me and said amp8216Do you want to write for TVamp8217 Sure amp160I wrote a spec script and a play and he was Gary David Goldbergamp8217s agent amp160I came in and pitched and got an assignment amp160I started as a comedy writer and switched to dramaJackie amp160Who were your mentorsBarbara amp160My sister taught me a lot amp160Joshua Brand and John Falsey who created A Year in the Life and Northern Exposure and David Chase who ran Iamp8217ll Fly Away when I was there and the comedy writer Barry Kemp who created NewhartJackie amp160What are the differences toward women in TV from when you started and nowBarbara amp160I was preAnita Hill amp160It was a very different world it was very much a manamp8217s world the pickiest of guysamp8217 clubs amp160I always worked with great guys amp160I can say I got more than one job to be the amp8220female voiceamp8221amp160 amp160Often you would be the woman in the room and that has changed drastically amp160There are a lot of women writers working and a lot of women getting to the point of running shows amp160There are plenty of women and we need moreJackie amp160Whatamp8217s your advice for younger women who want to go into the businessBarbara amp160As women you know what you are up against amp160You probably have to work twice as hard and canamp8217t make as many mistakes and be aware it is just a fact amp160It is a fact that women not just in this business get punished for what men get rewarded for in terms of this job as a creative person amp160You have to be aware of what your point of view is as a creative personJackie amp160What is your goal with Madam SecretaryBarbara amp160I would love to be able to do a presidential primary or an election in any version amp160I would love to be able to do it because it is a completely different look at female leadershipamp160amp160I want to keep doing what we do a discussion of politics where everyone is invited and the opportunity to show how the government could work with a woman out in frontClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

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Barbara Hall on Being an Executive Producer: “Women Have to Work Twice As Hard”

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Jacqueline Cutler

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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Barbara Hall on Being an Executive Producer: “Women Have to Work Twice As Hard”

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Jacqueline Cutler

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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