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Interview with Jenna Milly Co-Creator of TBS’ Micro Series Gillian in Georgia

posted by Women & Hollywood
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 3:19pm CDT

Jill Marie Jones as Gillian

Here’s a look at an aspect of the business we have never covered before. Microseries. Writer Jenna Milly (who I had corresponded with previously when she interviewed my for an article) takes us behind the scenes about how she created, Gillian in Georgia, a new microseries which is running on TBS, Wednesdays this May during commercial breaks of Meet the Browns.

WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD: What is a microseries… exactly, how is it different from a regular show?

JENNA MILLY: A microseries is a short TV show, usually about 2-5 minutes in length, sponsored by an advertiser. Viewers who tune into “Meet the Browns” on TBS at 8 and 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday nights in May can see episodes of “Gillian in Georgia” during the commercial breaks.

“Gillian in Georgia” is about a hip city girl who moves in with her sister’s family in the South after getting laid off from her high-powered job.

WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD: Could the series become a full fledged show?

JENNA MILLY: Currently, the show’s format is such that it works well in a 2-minute time slot. Each episode features a new situation Gillian must encounter as she braves the south with her New York attitude. The characters, however, are built as such that a half hour show would be entirely possible.

WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD: How did you pitch to TBS?

JENNA MILLY: I became connected with TBS through my writing partner and co-creator Angela Gomes. She is the writer/director/creator of another hit microseries on TBS called “My Manny.” That show is about to enter its fourth season. Off the success of “My Manny,” Angela was able to pitch other ideas for new shows.

WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD: What was the writing process like?

JENNA MILLY: As soon as TBS informed us that they wanted to develop the microseries, we quickly began working out the details of each episode and the story arc to take us through a 10-episode season. It took us 14 months to produce, from a blank page to post-production, and after all that, it seems the 2-minute pitch was just a blip, but that’s the part that’s so important. An idea has to have a good foundation to weather all of the pre-production. Throughout everything, we stayed true to the original concept, a fish out of water story about a city girl finding a home in the south.

WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD: What was it like on set?

JENNA MILLY: Fantastic! I loved every minute of it. Angela directed half the episodes, so I was there to help her with any scene work that was needed while she was behind the camera. It’s one thing to write in your office with a warm cup of coffee and no distractions, but it’s another if you’re on the set and the logistics don’t quite match what you have on the page. We shot on location in Atlanta in March. Normally, Georgia is sunny and warm, but not the week we were shooting. It snowed the second day of production! We were scheduled to shoot episode 7, which called for exterior shots of the small town. Unfortunately, the snow-covered ground did not make for the picturesque springtime romp in the country we had imagined. Angela and I had to rewrite the scene minutes before we started shooting.

WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD: How did you collaborate with the network and the sponsor?

JENNA MILLY: The network was extremely helpful in guiding us through the writing process. They helped us meet the sponsors needs, but at the same time stay true to the narrative.

WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD: What advice to you have for people who want to make web series like this?

JENNA MILLY: Develop a concept that can weather multiple months of preproduction, logistical changes, technical pitfalls and most of all… snow. Work on your idea until it’s clearly defined. Pitch it to your friends. If their eyes glaze over, don’t be afraid to go back to the drawing board. And, get used to coming up with new ideas on a daily basis, because in this business, the pitch is a great place to start, but after that you have to be flexible to see your story to completion.

WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD: What’s next for you?

JENNA MILLY: I am knee deep in writing a new romantic comedy feature. Feature writing is my first love! In addition, Angela and I are currently working on another comedy microseries in development at TBS. We’re also working on an original pilot. Stay tuned!