Michelle MacLaren
Michelle MacLaren
Michelle Maxwell MacLaren is a television director and producer. She has directed episodes of The X-Files, Breaking Bad, Frank Darabont's The Walking Dead and HBO's Game of Thrones...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionDirector
CountryCanada
time
'Once Upon a Time in the West' is one of my favorite films.
call directed director eight shooting time worked
After I directed for the first time, I wanted to call every director I'd ever worked with and apologize. In television you are tasked with shooting 42 minutes, or whatever, in eight days. That's not a lot of time.
affect ahead incredibly music pace time
A montage is incredibly challenging. When I can, I'd like to know what the music is going to be ahead of time because that will affect the beat, the pace of the montage.
almost approach god piece plot sequence sit step time
I approach an action sequence almost like a mathematical problem. Sometimes you get these action sequences that you read and go, 'Oh my God, this is huge, how do I do it?' and I go, 'Just a step at a time. Sit down and plot each piece of it out.'
Would I like to do a feature? Absolutely.
choose episode feeling great pick whatever
My feeling is, from when I started on 'Breaking Bad,' there's no reason to pick and choose because every episode is great. Whatever episode you get, you're lucky to do it.
dark drama gravitate love seem side toward
I seem to gravitate toward the dark side of things when it comes to directing. I love action, but I love the drama as well.
scares surprised tend
I'm not surprised that I tend to go for the dark side. I was a really scared kid, so I think I understand what scares people.
bad breaking sergio shoot
In general, we like to shoot Breaking Bad like a modern day Western, and Sergio Leone is one of my all-time favorite directors.
definitely expected finds himself
In 'Breaking Bad,' we have a lead character who definitely finds himself in a situation he would never have expected to find himself in normally.
opportunity work
I've been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work on wonderful shows.
people produce
Vince Gilligan and AMC are really wonderful people to direct and produce for because they don't put the demands of any conventionalism on you.
amazing experience honored
'Breaking Bad' was a magical, amazing experience. I'm honored to have been a part of it.
creates themselves
Every character a writer creates has some of themselves in it somewhere.