About
“Your job as an editor and a director in the world of television is to figure out what their show is, and try to do it the best possible way you can. And surprise them with something - surprise yourself with something, so that you walk away with something that’s personal.”
In her nearly four-hour interview, Elodie Keene talks about her early life, and attending film school at UCLA. She describes starting out as an editor for the Norman Lloyd-produced series Tales of the Unexpected, which led to her editing for several Aaron Spelling produced shows such as Fantasy Island and Hart to Hart. She chronicles working for Mark Tinker and Bruce Paltrow as an editor on St. Elsewhere, and later moving on to editing L.A. Law. She recounts becoming a producer and director on L.A. Law, under executive producer Steven Bochco, and winning two Emmy Awards. Keene discusses stints directing ER, and well as the short-lived classic My So-Called Life. She outlines working for Bochco a second time, directing NYPD Blue, where she also worked with writer David Milch and producer Gergory Hoblit. She speaks of working on several series for Ryan Murphy, with whom she has an on-again-off-again professional relationship, including Popular, Glee, and Nip/Tuck. She details directing several other series, including Scrubs, The Fosters, Pretty Little Lies, The Wire, and Switched at Birth. Keene concludes by discussing how opportunities have vastly improved for women in television directing since she began her career. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on April 9, 2018 in Sherman Oaks, CA.
Highlights
Elodie Keene on editing St. Elsewhere for Bruce Paltrow and Mark Tinker
Elodie Keene on advocating for more female directors on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on directing episodes of NYPD Blue, and on adjusting to the very different style of the show
Elodie Keene on directing Cory Monteith's final episode of Glee
Elodie Keene on directing My So-Called Life, created by Winnie Holzman
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story before being "banished"
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on directing projects while in film school at UCLA; on starting out as an editor, and turning to directing
On editing Tales of the Unexpected for Norman Lloyd; on editing various Aaron Spelling shows, including Fantasy Island and Hart to Hart
On editing St. Elsewhere for Bruce Paltrow and Mark Tinker; on the shooting style of St. Elsewhere
On dealing with the actors while editing St. Elsewhere; on how she was assigned episodes of St. Elsewhere to edit; on the impact St. Elsewhere had on medical shows that followed
On how she came to work for L.A. Law; on working with Steven Bochco and the other writers on L.A. Law; on winning an Emmy for editing L.A. Law
On becoming a producer for L.A. Law, and on how she came to direct; on winning an Emmy as producer of L.A. Law; on becoming a regular director of L.A. Law
On advocating for more female directors on L.A. Law; on a typical week directing an episode of L.A. Law; on how the director worked with the director of photography on L.A. Law
Chapter 2
On choosing ER as her next directing project; on attempting to impose what she'd learned on St. Elsewhere on to directing ER, and on dealing with the sets
On directing My So-Called Life, created by Winnie Holzman; on directing Claire Danes and Jared Leto on My So-Called Life; on directing the final episode of My So-Called Life without knowing if it was going to get picked up for a second season
On directing episodes of NYPD Blue, and on adjusting to the very different style of the show; on working with Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits, and producer David Milch on NYPD Blue; on Gregory Hoblit and David Milch's respective contributions to NYPD Blue
On Bill Clark, a former member of the New York City Police Department and a producer of NYPD Blue; on Steven Bochco dealing with network censorship issues surrounding the language and nudity on NYPD Blue
On directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story before being "banished"; on what makes Ryan Murphy's work so groundbreaking, and on what it was like to work with him; on the challenges of shooting Ryan Murphy's Nip/Tuck
On working with the cast of Nip/Tuck; on the challenges of directing Ryan Murphy's Glee; on directing Cory Monteith's final episode of Glee
Chapter 3
On directing The Closer with Kyra Sedgwick, and on the positive impact it has had for women on television; on directing the first lesbian kiss on television on L.A. Law, and on the lesbian scenes in Pretty Little Liars
On directing scenes in Switched at Birth in sign language; on directing The Fosters, and on doing socially conscious work; on what she likes about directing
On her directing style; on the differences between directing comedies like Scrubs and dramas; on directing The Wire for show creator David Simon
On how the television industry has changed since she started, and on how directing for television has changed; on having creative freedom as a director in television, and on getting notes from networks and studios; on her work being watched on new media
On how opportunities for women in the industry have changed since she started; on advice that has helped her as a director; on how she would like to be remembered and on being a left-handed director
Shows
American Horror Story
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series' Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story before being "banished"
Closer, The
Elodie Keene on directing The Closer with Kyra Sedgwick, and on the positive impact it has had for women on television
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Elodie Keene on winning an Emmy for editing L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on winning an Emmy as producer of L.A. Law
ER
Elodie Keene on choosing ER as her next directing project
Elodie Keene on attempting to impose what she'd learned on St. Elsewhere on to directing ER, and on dealing with the sets
Fantasy Island
Elodie Keene on editing various Aaron Spelling shows, including Fantasy Island
Fosters, The
Elodie Keene on directing The Fosters, and on doing socially conscious work
Glee
Elodie Keene on the challenges of directing Ryan Murphy's Glee
Elodie Keene on directing Cory Monteith's final episode of Glee
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story before being "banished"
Hart to Hart
Elodie Keene on the formula for editing shows like Hart to Hart
L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on working with different directors as an editor on shows like L.A. Law and on becoming a director on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on how she came to work on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on working with Steven Bochco and the other writers on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on winning an Emmy for editing L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on becoming a producer for L.A. Law, and on how she came to direct
Elodie Keene on winning an Emmy as producer of L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on becoming a regular director of L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on advocating for more female directors on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on a typical week directing an episode of L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on working with the regular cast as director of L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on how the director worked with the director of photography on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on directing the first lesbian kiss on television on L.A. Law, and on the lesbian scenes in Pretty Little Liars
My So-Called Life
Elodie Keene on directing My So-Called Life, created by Winnie Holzman
Elodie Keene on directing Claire Danes and Jared Leto (who drove her to distraction) on My So-Called Life
Elodie Keene on directing the final episode of My So-Called Life without knowing if it was going to get picked up for a second season
Nip/Tuck
Elodie Keene on the challenges of shooting Ryan Murphy's Nip/Tuck
Elodie Keene on working with the cast of Nip/Tuck
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series' Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story before being "banished"
NYPD Blue
Elodie Keene on directing episodes of NYPD Blue, and on adjusting to the very different style of the show
Elodie Keene on working with Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits, and producer David Milch on NYPD Blue
Elodie Keene on Gregory Hoblit and David Milch's respective contributions to NYPD Blue
Elodie Keene on Bill Clark, a former member of the New York City Police Department and a producer of NYPD Blue
Elodie Keene on Steven Bochco dealing with network censorship issues surrounding the language and nudity on NYPD Blue
Pretty Little Liars
Elodie Keene on directing ABC Family series like Pretty Little Liars
St. Elsewhere
Elodie Keene on editing St. Elsewhere for Bruce Paltrow and Mark Tinker
Elodie Keene on the shooting style of St. Elsewhere
Elodie Keene on editing St. Elsewhere
Elodie Keene on dealing with the actors while editing St. Elsewhere
Elodie Keene on how she was assigned episodes of St. Elsewhere to edit
Elodie Keene on the impact St. Elsewhere had on medical shows that followed
Switched at Birth
Elodie Keene on directing scenes on Switched at Birth in sign language
Tales of the Unexpected
Elodie Keene on editing Tales of the Unexpected for Norman Lloyd
Wire, The
Elodie Keene on directing The Wire for show creator David Simon
Topics
Advice
Elodie Keene on advice that has helped her as a director
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Elodie Keene on Steven Bochco dealing with network censorship issues surrounding the language and nudity on NYPD Blue
Classic TV Series Episodes
Elodie Keene on directing Claire Danes and Jared Leto on My So-Called Life
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Elodie Keene on what makes Ryan Murphy's work so groundbreaking, and on what it was like to work with him
Drama
Elodie Keene on directing Claire Danes and Jared Leto on My So-Called Life
Emmy Awards
Elodie Keene on winning an Emmy for editing L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on winning an Emmy as producer of L.A. Law
First Big Break
Elodie Keene on editing Tales of the Unexpected for Norman Lloyd
Historic Events and Social Change
Elodie Keene on advocating for more female directors on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on how opportunities for women in the industry have changed since she started
Elodie Keene on directing the first lesbian kiss on television on L.A. Law, and on the lesbian scenes in Pretty Little Liars
Elodie Keene on directing scenes in Switched at Birth in sign language
LGBTQIA+
Elodie Keene on directing the first lesbian kiss on television on L.A. Law, and on the lesbian scenes in Pretty Little Liars
New Media
Elodie Keene on her work being watched on new media
People with Disabilities
Elodie Keene on directing scenes on Switched at Birth in sign language
Pivotal Career Moments
Elodie Keene on editing Tales of the Unexpected for Norman Lloyd
Elodie Keene on what makes Ryan Murphy's work so groundbreaking, and on what it was like to work with him
Pop Culture
Elodie Keene on directing Claire Danes and Jared Leto on My So-Called Life
Representation on Television
Elodie Keene on advocating for more female directors on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on how opportunities for women in the industry have changed since she started
Elodie Keene on directing the first lesbian kiss on television on L.A. Law, and on the lesbian scenes in Pretty Little Liars
Elodie Keene on directing scenes on Switched at Birth in sign language
Television Industry
Elodie Keene on Steven Bochco dealing with network censorship issues surrounding the language and nudity on NYPD Blue
Elodie Keene on how the television industry has changed since she started, and on how directing for television has changed
Elodie Keene on having creative freedom as a director in television, and on getting notes from networks and studios
Elodie Keene on her work being watched on new media
Elodie Keene on advice that has helped her as a director
Women
Elodie Keene on advocating for more female directors on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on how opportunities for women in the industry have changed since she started
Professions
Directors
Elodie Keene on what she likes about directing
Elodie Keene on her directing style
Elodie Keene on the differences between directing comedies like Scrubs and dramas
Elodie Keene on advice that has helped her as a director
Editor
Elodie Keene on the formula for editing shows like Hart to Hart
Elodie Keene on a typical week directing an episode of L.A. Law
Post-Production Professionals
Elodie Keene on the formula for editing shows like Hart to Hart
Elodie Keene on a typical week directing an episode of L.A. Law
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Elodie Keene on editing Tales of the Unexpected for Norman Lloyd
Comedy Series
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Elodie Keene on the formula for editing shows like Hart to Hart
Elodie Keene on directing episodes of NYPD Blue
Elodie Keene on directing The Closer with Kyra Sedgwick, and on the positive impact it has had for women on television
Elodie Keene on directing The Wire for show creator David Simon
Drama Series
Elodie Keene on editing various Aaron Spelling shows, including Fantasy Island
Elodie Keene on directing My So-Called Life
Elodie Keene on directing ABC Family series like Pretty Little Liars
Elodie Keene on directing scenes on Switched at Birth in sign language
Elodie Keene on directing The Fosters, and on doing socially conscious work
Legal Dramas
Elodie Keene on editing and directing L.A. Law
Medical Dramas
Elodie Keene on editing St. Elsewhere
Elodie Keene on choosing ER as her next directing project
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story
People
Steven Bochco
Elodie Keene on working with Steven Bochco and the other writers on L.A. Law
Elodie Keene on Steven Bochco dealing with network censorship issues surrounding the language and nudity on NYPD Blue
Bill Clark
Elodie Keene on Bill Clark, a former member of the New York City Police Department and a producer of NYPD Blue
Claire Danes
Elodie Keene on directing Claire Danes and Jared Leto (who drove her to distraction) on My So-Called Life
Dennis Franz
Elodie Keene on working with Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits, and producer David Milch on NYPD Blue
Gregory Hoblit
Elodie Keene on Gregory Hoblit and David Milch's respective contributions to NYPD Blue
Winnie Holzman
Elodie Keene on directing My So-Called Life, created by Winnie Holzman
Jared Leto
Elodie Keene on directing Claire Danes and Jared Leto (who drove her to distraction) on My So-Called Life
Norman Lloyd
Elodie Keene on editing Tales of the Unexpected for Norman Lloyd
David Milch
Elodie Keene on Gregory Hoblit and David Milch's respective contributions to NYPD Blue
Ryan Murphy
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story before being "banished"
Elodie Keene on what makes Ryan Murphy's work so groundbreaking, and on what it was like to work with him
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story before being "banished"
Elodie Keene on what makes Ryan Murphy's work so groundbreaking, and on what it was like to work with him
Elodie Keene on the challenges of shooting Ryan Murphy's Nip/Tuck
Bruce Paltrow
Elodie Keene on editing St. Elsewhere for Bruce Paltrow and Mark Tinker
Kyra Sedgwick
Elodie Keene on directing The Closer with Kyra Sedgwick, and on the positive impact it has had for women on television
David Simon
Elodie Keene on directing The Wire for show creator David Simon
Jimmy Smits
Elodie Keene on working with Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits, and producer David Milch on NYPD Blue
Aaron Spelling
Elodie Keene on editing various Aaron Spelling shows, including Fantasy Island
Mark Tinker
Elodie Keene on editing St. Elsewhere for Bruce Paltrow and Mark Tinker