Danielle Fishel grew up in the public eye, playing a young actor on Boy Meets World, and that experience on the show provided her with valuable lessons on how to direct young stars, like those in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.
She learned from her past that fast-paced dialogue, which was common on Boy Meets World, isn’t always the best approach for effective storytelling.
Fishel, 43, spoke about her directing role on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’s first season. She explained, “One thing I try to pivot away from that we did a lot on Boy Meets World is super fast-paced dialogue.
There were a lot of scenes where the characters would rapidly exchange lines. While that could increase the humor depending on the content, it sometimes gave the impression that no one was truly listening to each other.”
She emphasized the importance of listening as a fundamental acting skill, noting, “Being a good actor is all about listening to your scene partner and letting what they’ve said affect you in some way,” something she felt wasn’t always present in her hit ‘90s sitcom.
She now strives to move away from that approach when she’s in the director’s chair. “I want my actors to feel like they’re living in a reality,” she said. “Even if that reality involves magic, it’s still their character’s reality. So, I do my best to ground them as much as I can.”
Fishel’s breakthrough role as Topanga Lawrence on Boy Meets World, which aired from 1993 to 2000, taught her valuable lessons about both what to avoid and what to embrace in the TV industry.
She recalled, “I try to incorporate movement into the scenes. It can be tough, though, with many characters in one set, especially when everyone has to interact.” Finding natural moments for the characters to move and cross paths can be challenging.
She continued, “One thing Boy Meets World did well was making the actors’ movements feel organic. They never felt forced, like, ‘Why did they just do that?’”
Fishel plans ahead by mentally blocking the episode before rehearsals, but she also values the input of the actors. “I want to respect the actors’ expertise when it comes to their characters,” she said. “If something I’m suggesting doesn’t feel right for you, I want you to tell me. Let’s work together to find a solution.”
That open communication is something she prioritizes when working with younger actors. She understands how daunting it can feel to be the center of attention and tries to avoid putting pressure on her young cast members.
“I think it’s essential to have one-on-one conversations with each child, away from everyone else,” she explained. “When you’re rehearsing on set, there are crew members and often their parents or guardians watching, and giving notes in front of everyone can sometimes make a child feel self-conscious.”
Danielle Fishel (Photo: Disney)
Fishel pointed out that acting doesn’t have a set right or wrong way, but rather different approaches and risks to explore. “If I sense an actor is feeling insecure or needs a confidence boost, I’ll ask their parent or guardian to step aside with them for a private conversation. I’ll tell them, ‘Tell me what’s going on.’”
Fishel’s directing career began in 2014 with the Boy Meets World spinoff, Girl Meets World. While she reprised her role as Topanga, she also stepped behind the camera for the first time.
It was during this time that she realized her strong “maternal instincts” — she felt like the stars, Rowan Blanchard and Sabrina Carpenter, were “very much like my kids.”
However, becoming a mother herself changed her approach to directing. Fishel, who shares sons Adler, 5, and Keaton, 3, with her husband Jensen Karp, said, “Seeing my own kids and their vulnerabilities made me realize that every child, even the star of their own TV show, is dealing with their own insecurities.
If I can encourage them, help them learn something new, or make them feel good about their performance, then I know I’ve done my job well.”
Fishel has directed many popular shows such as Raven’s Home, Sydney to the Max, and Lopez vs. Lopez. She recently made her debut on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, a revival of the beloved series from the early 2000s.
The episode, titled “Potions Eleven,” follows teen wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) as she delves into the mind of her mentor, Justin Russo (David Henrie), to uncover the truth about why he was fired from WizTech years ago.
The episode builds on a storyline from the original series’ finale, which starred Henrie and Selena Gomez, who reprises her role as Alex Russo. Fishel acknowledged the pressure involved in handling such a significant plot point.
“The biggest challenge was overcoming my own fear of letting anyone down,” she admitted. “The Wizards franchise is so special to fans, and having such an important episode in my hands was nerve-wracking.”
However, the supportive environment on set helped ease Fishel’s nerves, especially the presence of fellow former child star Henrie, who is also a producer on the show.
“David Henrie is amazing. He excels in both heartfelt moments and over-the-top physical comedy,” Fishel praised. “Once I saw what the entire cast was capable of, I knew there was no way I would fail. Only success.”
New episodes of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place air Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on the Disney Channel.
