News, Television, Women Directors, Women Writers

“Conviction” Co-Creator Liz Friedlander Directing ABC Crime Dramedy Pilot

“Conviction”: Ian Watson/ABC

Liz Friedlander is the first hourlong directing hire of the 2018–19 season. Deadline writes that the “Conviction” co-creator will helm and EP the pilot of ABC’s straight-to-series crime dramedy “The Rookie.” This news (hopefully) bodes well for 2018 being a better year for female TV directors than 2017, when only one of the 41 drama pilots was helmed by a woman.

Starring Nathan Fillion, “The Rookie” follows the oldest newbie on the LAPD and is inspired by a true story. “At an age where most are at the peak of their career, John Nolan (Fillion) cast aside his comfortable, small town life and moved to LA to pursue his dream of being a cop. Now, surrounded by rookies 20 years his junior, Nolan must navigate the dangerous, humorous, and unpredictable world of a ‘young’ cop, determined to make his second shot at life count.”

Friedlander was the one woman to direct a drama pilot in 2017 with “Las Reinas.” She and Jennifer Getzinger were the only two women to helm drama pilots in 2016. Friedlander directed “Conviction’s” first ep that year and Getzinger took on NBC’s “Miranda’s Rights.”

Feature “Take the Lead” and episodes of “Stalker” and “The Following” are among Friedlander’s directing credits. She also helmed multiple episodes of “Conviction,” which she created with Liz Friedman. The legal drama ran for one season on ABC. Friedlander currently has a woman-led cop drama in the works at NBC. The series is about the first female partnership in an elite LAPD division. Friedlander is set to write and direct the pilot.

In Her Voice Podcast Episodes from This Week- May 12

Please check out the latest podcast episodes of In Her Voice Weekly News Brief on May 10- includes latest Writers Strike info Interview with Laurel Parmet- writer/director of The Starling Girl which...

Apply Now: Women and Hollywood Internship

Women and Hollywood is looking for an intern for the second half of 2018. The position will begin on July 1, 2018 and end on December 23, 2018. Applicants must be willing to commit to six months for...

Weekly Update for May 4: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You

Films About Women Opening This Week   Angels Wear White — Written and Directed by Vivian Qu (Opens in NY; Opens in LA May 18) In a small seaside town, two schoolgirls are assaulted by a...

Posts Search

Publishing Dates
Start date
- select start date -
End date
- select end date -
Category
News
Films
Interviews
Features
Trailers
Festivals
Television
RESET