Debra J. Fisher is a writer, producer, and director. She currently serves as the showrunner, writer, and executive producer of the Netflix series Ginny & Georgia.  Season one of the hit series was watched by over 52 million subscribers in its first month on the platform, gathering a devoted fan base. The highly anticipated second season premiered on January 5th. Ginny & Georgia is Debra’s first time in the showrunner’s seat.  Through her long and varied career, she has worked her way up the ladder on numerous beloved TV shows including Alias, The O.C., Charmed, and Criminal Minds, among others. With a wealth of experience from her own professional journey, she works to pay it forward by mentoring the next generation of creatives.

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Are there any particular themes in your shows that you like exploring? Or do you explore what theme seems most prevalent in your life at that moment?

DEBRA J. FISHER

I need a balance of light and dark. It can't be just one thing. I want you to be laughing one minute and by the end I want you to be crying. For me, character study is what is the most important. It all comes down to the characters. It's less about action or things like that, which you can have some of that, but it tonally, has to be female-centric and you have to be crying and laughing. There's so many interesting shows that walk that line of light and dark. I want to always live in the gray area with characters. Always. Nothing is ever black or white. It's always a weird gray area.

"I like to say that Ginny & Georgia is a show about women by women for everyone. And I will say women in charge, they do things differently. I think that women, we tend to do relationships differently than men do. It's very, very important to me - and I'm not saying that men don't do this - but as a woman, as a female showrunner, it's very important for me to uplift young up-and-coming writers."

Antonia Gentry as Ginny, Brianne Howey as Georgia (Netflix) (Copy) (Copy)

Brianne Howey as Georgia, Antonia Gentry as Ginny (Netflix) (Copy) (Copy)

Chelsea Clark as Norah, Sara Waisglass as Maxine Baker (Netflix) (Copy) (Copy)

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

And you mentioned those female showrunners, which we're so happy to see there's more and more, and so many female creatives on Ginny & Georgia. If you could contrast those different showrunning or writing styles and how a woman holds and maintains power. It seems like there's a great parallel to what you do as a showrunner and Georgia's own life, and Ginny's own life.

FISHER

I like to say that Ginny & Georgia is a show about women by women for everyone. And I will say women in charge, they do things differently. I think that women, we tend to do relationships differently than men do. It's very, very important to me - and I'm not saying that men don't do this - but as a woman, as a female showrunner, it's very important for me to uplift young up-and-coming writers.

This interview was conducted by Mia Funk and Jamie Lammers with the participation of collaborating universities and students. Associate Interviews Producer and Digital Media Coordinator on this episode was Jamie Lammers.

Mia Funk is an artist, interviewer and founder of The Creative Process & One Planet Podcast (Conversations about Climate Change & Environmental Solutions).