HBO’s Grey’s Anatomy is set to return for its 21st season this September and fans are so excited about it. Ahead of that, Kim Raver, who plays Dr. Teddy Altman, opened up about her experiences as a female director on set and what it’s like working as a director.
On August 10, Raver, who also directed a Season 19 episode called Training Day, discussed his comments on a panel at the D23 fan convention in Anaheim, California. He emphasized the special characteristics of working on a Shonda Rhimes-produced show, and explained that the setting is different from other sets in the entertainment business.
“I came into a business where there were a lot of men, which is great — love you all,” she joked, adding that she didn’t see “a lot of women doing a lot of the things.”
Raver found an environment at Shondaland that enabled her to explore directing opportunities. Although it wasn’t an easy road, Raver valued the support and guidance of her co-workers, especially Kevin McKidd and Chandra Wilson, who guided her along the way. They are both experienced directors who have helmed 42 episodes and played a key role in Raver’s development as a filmmaker. Raver also revealed that they were both “incredibly supportive” of her training process.
She said that Wilson gave her a lot of notes and advice. “I really had the best time of my life and I loved it and I felt really well prepared and incredibly supported,” she commented. When Raver spoke about this at the conference, she remembered, “Everyone just wanted me to do my best, which is an incredible feeling but I also got to see other women directing and other women editing and writing and running the show.”
Although he has previously directed a television movie called Tempting Fate, he made it clear that directing opportunities like this aren’t something that Grey’s Anatomy actors just come across. “You really have to work hard,” he said.
Other female cast members who have directed episodes of Grey’s Anatomy include Sarah Drew, whose webisode series The B Team received an Emmy nomination in 2018, and Ellen Pompeo.
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