34 - Liz Tigelaar

Showrunner Liz Tigelaar joins host Jenny Curtis to talk about her
illustrious career in television, from beginning as an intern on
a hit show to creating LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE. Throughout the
conversation they discuss: 


 


0:38 - LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE being nominated for five Emmy
awards. 

1:07 - Adventuring in quarantine. 

2:00 - Beginning her career in the industry on DAWSON’S
CREEK. 

3:30 - Her first writing partner, Holly Henderson, and the
value of starting out with a partner.

7:05 - The steps of the ladder of writers and producers and
her path up the ladder on AMERICAN DREAMS.

8:41 - Her experiences from show to show as her titles
changed. 

10:31 - Her first experience as a showrunner on LIFE
UNEXPECTED.

12:10 - Being on the CW with MELROSE PLACE before LIFE
UNEXPECTED

12:50 - Unintentionally putting herself in the story of her
show. 

13:43 - Being in an overall deal with ABC

14:42 - Her takeaway from working on various shows and why
she wasn’t the best fit for ONCE UPON A TIME. 

16:13 - Working as a team on CASUAL

17:52 - The difference she found between streaming and
network shows. 

19:33 - Having LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE come to her from Reese
Witherspoon and Kerry Washington

20:22 - Finding the show from what the book provided. 

22:05 - How she linked the themes and found her story
arc. 

22:40 - The continuous process of finding your voice in your
work

24:18 - The opening and closing moments of the show and how
she put a twist in the show that was slightly different
from 

25:50 - The complexities of the character of Elena and
exploring the levels of her prejudice and privilege. 

28:20 - The collaboration between Liz, Reese and Kerry in
bringing Elena and Mia to life. 

29:28 - The power of Mia being unapologetic. 

31:11 - The actors working to create Young Mia and Young
Elena. 

32:18 - The famous photo differing from the actress who plays
Young Mia. 

33:58 - Creating the photo that could believably be an
extremely valuable work of art

36:05 - The adoption storyline and the conversations on what
the right ruling would be in the court case. 

38:06 - The differing view on Pearl and Mia’s definition of
belonging and the conversations of motherhood in the writers
room.

39:45 - The scene in the show that Liz is proudest of. 

41:30 - The day on set Liz would live over and over if she
could. 

42:40 - The set hawk

43:33 - Getting to create a life in storytelling. 

 


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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis


Edited and Co-produced by: J Whiting


Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin


Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick


A CurtCo Media Production




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