Beth Bigler

Last Sunday’s episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta reached its highest ratings ever with 3.43 million viewers. Currently, Atlanta is the top rated branch in The Real Housewives franchise. You might be wondering how this pertains to you. Well, the creator of the series, Beth Bigler, may be one of your teachers.
Bigler is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan; however, her journey in television began while studying at New York University she says,

“I began interning at various media outlets when I was an undergraduate at New York University (ABC, Sony, CBS, etc…) when I relocated to Los Angeles, opportunities developed because of my New York experiences.”
Once in Los Angeles, Bigler began her work in feature films and scripted television, then, her career path took a turn she explains,

“Things were very uncertain in 2006 when the writer’s strike was looming. I knew reality TV was becoming very popular and that my job might be safer if I transitioned from the scripted side to the unscripted side. “
 Lucky for her, she made the right move. Eventually, many of her friends, working on the scripted side, lost their jobs.

While in Los Angeles, she worked on many shows, but The Real Housewives of Atlanta holds a special place in her heart because it was one of her first projects.
“It is exciting to be involved in the creation of television. You constantly have your finger on the pulse of what is current, hip, and new. You get to associate with celebrities and have a lot of power when you are creating new shows. “

She continues to tell us about what it was like being a female in a male dominant industry,
“Being the only woman in a meeting or at a pitch, I was frequently turned to for the ‘female perspective’ and because those types of shows are typically for a female audience, I thought I made insightful contributions to my company,” Bigler asserts.

Even though she was enjoying the Hollywood lifestyle, Bigler left the glitz and glam to pursue her love for creative writing. She is now a student here at UIC and is working on a PhD in English-Creative Writing.
“Although I experienced success and I enjoyed my career very much, I was ready for a change. I wanted to pursue my own writing projects rather than create television for other people. I didn’t aspire to run a network or production company and that was where my career was going.  It wasn’t too difficult to leave. I gained valuable executive and leadership skills,” she explains.

It’s obvious the life of a Hollywood executive and that of a teacher are very different, however, after so many years, Bigler explains the transition wasn’t that difficult because teaching is more meaningful.
“I have always enjoyed teaching. Both my parents are teachers and I have always respected and admired good teachers. I feel that I am really helping to make a difference in the writing abilities of my students. Since I value writing so highly for its ability to express, create change, and empower people, I can’t think of a more important skill to be teaching.”

Bigler is looking most forward to having time to herself to write. In her spare time, she explores Chicago and is actually still involved in some “top secret” television projects in Los Angeles.
Though there are times where she does miss the California sun and mingling with high-profile celebrities, Bigler is very excited to be here as not only a teacher, but also a student.
To anyone looking to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, Bigler stresses the importance of internships.

“Internships, internships, internships. Do as many as you can in as many different fields of entertainment so you can see what is available and possible. It’s the best way to meet people, make connections, and gain experience.” She also adds, “Realize that every person you meet has the potential to help you. Treat everyone with respect, do good work for them, and always write thank-you notes!”
Be cautious though, the industry isn’t all glamour, Bigler emphasizes. The hours are tedious, and rejection becomes a reoccurring theme, she says,

“You can spend months developing a promising show only to have a network pass on it. There are a lot of things you must do to network effectively in addition to the hours you are in the office.”
In an industry where it is a lot about who you know, she is finally able to apply what she knows to teaching. Students who are fortunate enough to have her as a teacher will be able to learn through her experience. UIC is lucky to have Beth Bigler.