Barbara Hall on Being an Executive Producer: “Women Have to Work Twice As Hard”

Hall, who has published 11 novels, worked on I’ll Fly Away, in which Regina Taylor’s Lilly Harper was a beacon of wisdom to a white family in the segregated South.  She also wrote for Showtime's much-honored Homeland, tackling tough stories about a dedicated CIA agent dealing with the challenges of bi-polar disorder.  As portrayed by Claire Danes, agent Carrie Mathison has developed into one of the most complex characters in the history of television.

Over the years, Hall and I have chatted about her shows, including the underappreciated Joan of Arcadia.  She spoke with MediaVillage about her career, and what follows is an edited version of that discussion.

Jackie Cutler:  It didn’t quite wind up as life imitating art, but you envisioned a woman Secretary of State with presidential aspirations.  What were you thinking of when you crafted Madam Secretary?

Barbara Hall:  I wanted to create a show about politics that is not polarizing.  I made it before the 2016 election.  And even more so now, what we wanted to make clear is this is a show not against a party.  It is a show against extremism on either side.  We just wanted to be sure that we made it clear this is a place where all sides could be discussed.

Jackie:  Why is it so critical to have strong women on TV?

Barbara: To show people what the journey looks like.  Popular culture always has an opportunity to give people a visual of what it can look like.  One of its strengths, and it is a very powerful thing, is seeing women in strong positions of authority for future generations, and even current generations, to visualize what it looks like.  I have e-mails from people whose daughters have decided to study poli-sci because of watching the show.

Jackie:  How did you become a showrunner and executive producer?

Barbara:  I always tell people that my story about how I broke in is not helpful for anyone.  It was a different time, and it was a strange way that it came together.  It wasn’t such a crowded field.  People didn’t know what writing for television was.  If you could write a spec script, and it made sense, and you could get an agent, you had a pretty good chance.  My sister (Karen Hall) was a pioneering female TV writer.  She was the first female writer on M*A*S*H and on Hill Street Blues.  I came out here, and my reasoning was if I had to starve, I didn’t have to freeze.  Because I was in L.A., my sister showed my novel to an agent, and there was some speculation it could be a movie.  This agent called me and said, ‘Do you want to write for TV?’ Sure.  I wrote a spec script and a play, and he was Gary David Goldberg’s agent.  I came in and pitched and got an assignment.  I started as a comedy writer and switched to drama.

Jackie:  Who were your mentors?

Barbara:  My sister taught me a lot.  Joshua Brand and John Falsey, who created A Year in the Life and Northern Exposure, and David Chase who ran I’ll Fly Away when I was there, and the comedy writer Barry Kemp, who created Newhart.

Jackie:  What are the differences toward women in TV from when you started and now?

Barbara: I was pre-Anita Hill.  It was a very different world; it was very much a man’s world, the pickiest of guys’ clubs.  I always worked with great guys.  I can say I got more than one job to be the “female voice.”   Often you would be the woman in the room, and that has changed drastically.  There are a lot of women writers working and a lot of women getting to the point of running shows.  There are plenty of women, and we need more.

Jackie:  What’s your advice for younger women who want to go into the business?

Barbara:  As women, you know what you are up against.  You probably have to work twice as hard and can’t make as many mistakes and be aware it is just a fact.  It is a fact that women, not just in this business, get punished for what men get rewarded for in terms of this job as a creative person.  You have to be aware of what your point of view is as a creative person.

Jackie:  What is your goal with Madam Secretary?

Barbara:  I would love to be able to do a presidential primary or an election in any version.  I would love to be able to do it because it is a completely different look at female leadership.  I want to keep doing what we do, a discussion of politics where everyone is invited, and the opportunity to show how the government could work with a woman out in front.

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