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A MILLION LITTLE THINGS: Allison Miller Previews Her Directorial Debut

April 26, 2022 by  

A MILLION LITTLE THINGS Allison Miller directing

A MILLION LITTLE THINGS – “60 minutes” – Gary hits multiple roadblocks while trying to meet an important deadline; Eddie makes a surprising discovery at Katherine’s house, and Rome struggles to connect with an impressionable group of young artists on an all-new episode of “A Million Little Things,” airing WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Darko Sikman)
ALLISON MILLER (DIRECTOR), ROMANY MALCO

After four seasons of playing Maggie on A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, Allison Miller is taking on a new role on the ABC series: director.

Miller, who wrote/directed the 2020 short GROWTH, makes her primetime directorial debut with the Wednesday, April 27 episode, “60 minutes.” But for the performer, this was a long time coming.

“I directed my short between season 1 and season 2, knowing that I wanted to A) do it and B) have something to bring to the producers and everyone on our show to say, ‘Here’s a calling card for what I would like to do and any skill that I have,'” Miller recalls. “And so I started planting those seeds in season 2. With season 3, and the COVID of it all, there wasn’t really an opportunity to throw my hat in the ring.”

“When season 4 came around, and we had a new producing director come on-board, [during] our first meeting with her, I just started the hard sell,” she continues. “She was so supportive from the get-go. So a lot of credit is due to Joanna Kerns for championing my entry into the DGA and directing our show this season.”



Of course, Miller isn’t the only one making her directorial debut on the series in the final stretch of season 4: Series creator DJ Nash helmed his first episode with the episode that aired on April 13, and co-star David Giuntoli (who previously directed an episode of his former series GRIMM) steps behind the camera for the hour airing on May 4.

“It was great—DJ went first and so I was able to pick his brain when he was done,” Miller recalls. “Then we were just passing the baton as it went along. And it was nice to have sounding boards, people who were also doing it for the first time. I had so many great mentors in very experienced directors, but I think it’s the things you don’t really expect to come at you that the other first time directors were great to share [those experiences] with.”

Miller could also lean on Giuntoli and co-star James Roday Rodriguez (who directed himself in PSYCH) for additional insight into the unique challenge of directing yourself.

“I did that on my short, as well, and it is so much more challenging when you’re having to split your brain between acting and directing,” Miller says. “The main note that I got from James was, ‘It’s going to be very hard, but you’ll get through it.’ [It’s] just trusting the people around you to have your back, knowing that the actors in the scene with you are going to be watching things differently. The DP, the producing director, everyone is there to act as a support system to make sure that you don’t get lost in the vortex.”



The crew also showed up for Miller in a big way, wearing “It’s Miller Time” shirts—complete with photos of her face—for her big debut.

“I showed up to our safety meeting at the beginning of my first day of directing, and we’re going through what hazards are around this location and how to be safe on set,” Miller recalls with a laugh. “And then, suddenly, everyone is wearing these shirts and my face is staring back at me from every angle. It was so encouraging and surprising. I felt so much love coming from the crew and it was just a really, really wonderful way to start the week of filming, because I immediately felt like I had the support and everyone had my back. It was just so, so special. I believe that our A-camera operator Bob Findlay was the one who initiated the t-shirt making—and did it himself. I don’t know where he went to do that, but it was so special.”

On-screen, “60 minutes” is also an important hour for Gary (Roday Rodriguez) and Maggie, as the duo take the next steps in their attempt to become parents.

“Gary and Maggie have already been through so much together, [so] I think they understand this is just one more hurdle that they have to jump,” Miller teases. “It’s not necessarily great that they have more hurdles to jump, but they are in it together. And I think it’s another opportunity for them to become even closer and solidify their relationship. So they’re working on it, and they’re a good team.”

A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, Wednesdays, 10/9c, ABC

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