This pilot season is one for the history books. Jude Weng and Jessica Yu have both booked directing gigs and, according to Deadline, are set to become the first Asian-American women to helm a half-hour broadcast network pilot and a broadcast drama pilot, respectively.
Weng will take the reins on an untitled ABC single-cam comedy from Jessica Gao (“Silicon Valley”). The project sees Janet Zhao, a first-generation Chinese-American woman, being named sole inheritor when her grandmother dies. “Suddenly [she] finds herself the unwilling new matriarch of the family she’s spent her life trying to keep at arm’s length,” the source details.
Weng will also be the first time a woman of color to direct a half-hour broadcast network pilot since Debbie Allen helmed “The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air’s” first episode in 1990. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Camping,” “Black-ish,” and “Fresh Off the Boat” are among Weng’s previous credits.
Yu is on board to direct NBC’s “Bluff City Law,” centering on a Memphis law firm specializing in civil rights cases. “Led by legendary lawyer Elijah Strait (Jimmy Smits) and his brilliant daughter, Sydney Keller (Caitlin McGee), they take on the toughest David-and-Goliath cases while navigating their complicated relationship,” Deadline synopsizes.
Documentaries such as “Misconception” and “Last Call at the Oasis,” Maria Bamford’s comedy special “Old Baby,” and episodes of “13 Reasons Why” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” are among Yu’s previous directing credits.
Overall, the 2019-20 season is a solid one for women and POC directors. Thirty-seven percent of hourlong pilots are being helmed by women, as compared to 34 percent in 2018. Eight women will direct comedy pilots, a slight increase from last year’s six. Thirteen directors of color will make pilots this year — nine on drama pilots, four on comedy. 2018 featured 11 pilot directors of color.
Three of the Big Five networks boosted their number of female and POC pilot directors. Eight of ABC’s 16 pilots (50 percent) will be helmed by women and/or POC, as compared to last year’s 35 percent. Eight of CBS’ 16 pilots have women/diverse directors, also up from 35 percent in 2018. The CW made the biggest strides: five of its six pilots (83 percent) are being directed by women/diverse helmers. That’s a huge increase from 2018’s 36 percent.
Fox held steady with last year. Four of its 10 pilots will be helmed by women/POC. NBC is the only Big Five network with losses. In 2018 60 percent of its pilot directing jobs went to female or diverse directors. This year women/POC will take on five of its 12 pilots (42 percent).
The women and POC directors attached to 2019-20 broadcast pilots so far are below. List adapted from Deadline.
Women directing drama/dramedy pilots
Anne Fletcher – ABC’s “Heart Of Life”
Francesca Gregorini – ABC’s “The Hypnotist’s Love Story”
Susannah Grant – ABC’s “Until the Wedding”
Uta Briesewitz – CBS’ “Frankenstein”
Kate Dennis – CBS’ “Tommy”
Victoria Mahoney – CBS’ “Under the Bridge”
Patricia Riggen – CBS’ “Surveillance”
Jessica Yu – NBC’s “Bluff City Law”
Leslye Headland – untitled Fox project
Sanaa Hamri – untitled Tom Kapinos project
Eva Longoria – The CW’s “Glamorous”
Catherine Hardwicke – The CW’s “The Lost Boys”
Maggie Kiley – The CW’s “Katy Keene”
Women directing comedy pilots
Kat Coiro – ABC’s “Happy Accident”
Zoe Lister-Jones – ABC’s “Woman Up”
Jude Weng – ABC’s untitled Jessica Gao project
Pam Fryman – CBS’ “Carol’s Second Act” and “The Us Project”; NBC’s “Friends In Law”
Beth McCarthy Miller – CBS’ “Bob Hearts Abishola”
Julie Anne Robinson – NBC’s “Life Magic”
Claire Scanlon – Fox’s “Adam & Eve”
Betsy Thomas – Fox’s “Patty’s Auto”
People of color directing broadcast pilots
George Tillman, Jr. – ABC’s “Hank Steinberg”
Anthony Hemingway – ABC’s “NY Undercover”
Jude Weng – ABC’s untitled Jessica Gao
Victoria Mahoney – CBS’ “Under the Bridge”
Patricia Riggen – CBS’ “Surveillance”
Jessica Yu – NBC’s “Bluff City Law”
Sanaa Hamri – untitled Tom Kapinos project
Eva Longoria – The CW’s “Glamorous”
Victor Gonzalez – CBS’ untitled Urman/Herschlag
Chris Rock – NBC’s “Saving Kenan”
Oz Rodriguez – NBC’s untitled Penn/Murray
Larry Teng – The CW’s “Nancy Drew”
Marcos Siega – The CW’s “Batwoman”
