Filmmaking advice from "The Morning Show" director and executive producer Mimi Leder

Mimi Leder, director and executive producer of Apple TV+ series “The Morning Show” (starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell), joined Women's Weekend Film Challenge (WWFC) for a live Zoom Q&A as part of WWFC's virtual series.

Hear about how “The Morning Show” — one of the most expensive TV series ever — was developed and how Mimi created the look of the show. Mimi also shares her experiences with sexism in Hollywood, being put in “movie jail,” and directing as a new mother.

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ABOUT MIMI LEDER

Mimi Leder began her directing career on the legal drama “L.A. Law,” and she quickly established herself as one of the most sought-after directors in television. Her most notable credits include the HBO drama “The Leftovers,” where she served as an executive producer for twenty-two episodes, while directing ten. Additional television credits include “Shameless,” “Crime Story,” HBO’s “Luck,” The West Wing," and “ER” which redefined television drama in the 1990s.

In 1997, Steven Spielberg personally selected Leder to helm the first-ever feature film for DreamWorks SKG — the George Clooney and Nicole Kidman-led action-drama “The Peacemaker.” Leder’s next feature was “Deep Impact,” which earned over $350 million at the world-wide box office was the highest-grossing film ever made by a female director at the time of its release.

Currently, Leder is the executive producer and director of acclaimed Apple TV+ series THE MORNING SHOW, which was nominated for three Golden Globes: Best TV Series, Drama, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama, for Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The show stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, and Billy Crudup. The comedy-drama takes an inside look at the cut-throat world of morning television exploring the unique challenges faced by the men and women working inside the industry.

Last year, Leder’s On The Basis of Sex, was released on the 25th anniversary year of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court appointment. The film details Ginsburg’s origins story as she brings a ground-breaking gender equality case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which forged her path to the Supreme Court, overturning a century of sex discrimination laws and changing the moral compass of our Nation.

ABOUT WOMEN'S WEEKEND FILM CHALLENGE

Women's Weekend Film Challenge (WWFC) works for gender equity by creating opportunities for women to bring their leadership, talents, and stories to the forefront of the film industry. WWFC places professional filmmakers on crews to write, shoot and edit a short film in one weekend and provides top-of-the-line equipment, insurance and workshops. This career-building opportunity is free for participants.

Since its first challenge in January 2018, WWFC has worked with over 700 women to produce 30 short films, which have been accepted to more than 60 festivals. This grassroots, bi-coastal movement combats the gender imbalance of the film industry by providing an intensive networking experience and telling women's stories on screen.