 He compared his vision to the directorial style of Pedro Almodóvar, calling it "a bit of heightened reality, but a real sort of grounded, emotional factor".Richard Shepard was chosen to direct the pilot, after Horta saw his work on "The Matador" (2005).He thought the bright colors and the balance of comedy and emotion that Shepard set in the film was also the right tone for "Ugly Betty".