For seven seasons of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. the character of Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) has enchanted audiences and pulled off the miraculous process of getting us root for her eternal happiness regardless of consistently discovering herself in universe-sized turmoil. She’s beloved. And whereas the character of Simmons consistently battles for a way of normalcy, the actress who portrays her, Elizabeth Henstridge, took on her personal adventurous process of directing an episode for the primary time.
Henstridge directs Episode 9 of the seventh season entitled, “As I Have At all times”. It is a departure from the primary half of the season, which discovered our favourite band of strong-willed Brokers, Superhumans, LMDs, and properly… Deke, leaping by way of many years and casually making an attempt to save lots of the world with out inflicting too many ripples in time. In distinction, “As I Have At all times” accommodates its motion throughout the Zephyr, in addition to in a loop of time alá Groundhog Day. However as a substitute of wrestling with the mundane (when do they ever?), the crew should discover a approach to cease the loop earlier than being obliterated by a time storm vortex.
In some ways, this episode appears poised as a pivot level for what’s shaping as much as be an emotional and fulfilling ultimate leg of the sequence. Henstridge spoke to TV Information about her directing origin story and the way she tackled one of many season’s most spectacular episodes.
Elizabeth Henstridge, Marvel’s Brokers of S.H.I.E.L.D.
How did this chance to direct an episode come about?
Elizabeth Henstridge: So, I began off by shadowing— I believe it was Season 3? Now we have essentially the most unimaginable administrators that come onto the present. And we have now a couple of which can be form of common administrators. So I bought to know them properly sufficient to say, hey, I might like to be annoying and hover over your shoulder and take tons of notes. So I shadowed Jesse Bochco a bunch. Kevin Tancheron, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Garry Brown, Clark Gregg— I did each his episodes and I simply completely cherished it.
I’ve at all times cherished being on set for the reason that second I bought my first job and I’ve simply been fascinated by the entire filmmaking course of. So I used to be curious to shadow. After which any time I wasn’t working, I used to be normally by the displays form of asking annoying inquiries to somebody, after which I gained the arrogance to place my title ahead to direct. And now, Season 7, they took the possibility.
Did you get to decide on the episode you directed or did the producers simply say, right here you go, this is one of the vital necessary episodes of the season?
Henstridge: [Laughter] The latter! You realize, it was form of a scheduling nightmare. For an actor to direct an episode — you will have a few weeks of prep as a director and you then shoot it and you then’re in post-production. So by way of making an attempt to have me in scenes after which additionally going to a ton of various conferences was troublesome. I believe Episode 9 was the proper one in plenty of alternative ways, but additionally simply logistically. I needed to be pretty mild within the episode earlier than after which have time within the episode after to form of sneak away and do director stuff. I have never truly requested [the producers], however I do not assume that it was a mistake that it was a Chloe Bennet-centered episode. We have form of seen Daisy recovering for some time now, so she wanted this. And for it to be centered on her relationship with Coulson as properly was simply, for me, pure magic as a loopy fangirl of each of them. It was a dream episode for me.
What was the largest studying curve? Or did you simply instantly stroll in like, “I bought this”?
Henstridge: Completely not. You realize, I am an actor by commerce, so I hope I gave off the impression that I used to be cool as a cucumber. However with the time loop and block capturing… there was only a lot that I had by no means accomplished. On prime of clearly by no means directing an episode of TV earlier than.
I’ve had such good recommendation and so many administrators that simply go, “Once you’re on web site, you possibly can prep as a lot as you need, however you simply have to have the ability to be versatile within the second, take opinions from completely different individuals.” Finally, you must make that ultimate resolution. And also you’re by no means 100 % positive if the choice is true. However simply making one is the principle factor. I believe after the primary day I form of felt extra assured saying, “Motion!” “Reduce!” after which it turns into all in regards to the episode and never about this is Elizabeth, the actor being a director. It simply turns into 100 % in regards to the script and the work. And all people’s form of over the novelty of me being the director and we’re simply right here to make one of the best episode attainable.
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What was it like working along with your castmates from behind the digital camera?
Henstridge: I imply, at first, I simply puzzled how this was going to be. The weirdest moments truthfully, are once you’re within the scene and you then yell, “lower!” and you then give route, all from throughout the scene. That was a special factor to get used to. And testomony to all actors and all people who have been so accepting and and simply instantly revered me as a director, which isn’t a simple factor to do. It is a completely different dynamic for everyone.
They made it so fantastic and have been very supportive. It was identified that I wished to direct and all people had seen me shadowing. It was one thing that felt very supported by the solid. They have been one of the best. Jeff [Ward] was so properly behaved it was virtually freaky how quiet he was. I am not used to Jeff Ward being quiet ever, and he was simply so eager to be well-behaved for me being the director. It was simply good. You realize, there’s at all times going to be a day the place all the things goes mistaken. And when you will have actors which can be simply keen to get by way of it… It was such a present.
This upcoming episode is an emotional one. How did you flip that change on and off from actor to director?
Henstridge: Properly, we see Simmons undergo a little bit little bit of trauma. And truthfully, I used to be on such little sleep by the point we bought to these scenes, it was very nice to have the ability to have some form of emotional outlet. [Laughter] So these scenes have been a few of the best I’ve ever accomplished, simply because, you possibly can form of let all the things go a little bit bit. So it was fairly cathartic to have the ability to do them.
However it was one thing I heard from different administrators that additionally act of their identical challenge that the lure is to probably not take into consideration the performing, as a result of you already know that you are able to do that. They usually mentioned, “Be sure to nonetheless do all of the performing work and nonetheless strategy the script in that manner as properly, as a result of typically you possibly can assume you need not fear about it and you then get to these scenes and go, ‘Oh, my gosh, what are my strains?’ After which rapidly you are simply making an attempt to consider too many issues.” So I actually took that to coronary heart and made positive that I ready these scenes as I might as an actor. After which take into consideration them as a director form of individually. There’s by no means sufficient hours within the day to do all the things that you just wish to do, however I used to be so grateful for that recommendation that I might take pleasure in these issues as an actor as properly.
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Was there something that actually stunned you about the entire endeavor?
Henstridge: I believe it was so much more durable than I assumed it was going to be. I knew I used to be going to be a problem, however there’s nothing that compares. No quantity of shadowing compares to truly doing it. And, in hindsight, I shadowed extraordinarily established administrators that form of could make it look simple. And when it is you that has to make these selections— it pushed me to my restrict. In a superb manner.
You’ve got been doing one thing very distinctive and enjoyable this season in that you just’re internet hosting YouTube lives alongside each episode so followers can watch with you and members of the solid and crew. How did that concept come about?
Henstridge: I’m so pleased with this season. I am so pleased with the crew and the solid and all of the individuals behind it. I believe as I begin to develop different tasks after the present, and it simply made me notice the caliber of people who I’ve connections with. And I’ve mined their expertise and their recommendation and their knowledge. I simply actually wished to have the ability to share a few of that with different individuals and particularly by way of directing and writing.
You realize, what would that appear to be to have the ability to hear from the writers and administrators of the completely different episodes? And the actors. And to seek out out enjoyable behind the scenes stuff. I have been fortunate sufficient to have the ability to direct this season, and that was only a dream come true for me. However to learn the way different individuals have accomplished it… Maybe there’s any person watching that may wish to direct and to learn the way these completely different administrators do it, as a result of there is no a method, there is no one path. So actually, it simply got here from eager to have a good time this season and eager to share and thank the followers which were with us for the reason that starting. After which additionally share a few of the ways in which individuals have gotten into this trade, which typically can really feel fairly closed off.
Do you assume it will be extra thrilling or extra nerve wracking getting the followers’ response in actual time this week?
Henstridge: Oh, gosh, I do not know! I’m actually nervous. I virtually mentioned I wasn’t going to do one, however I do not assume my buddies would let me not do one. I am nervous, however the factor is, by the point it will get to individuals’s TV screens there are such a lot of unimaginable people who have labored on it. And I am actually, actually excited for individuals to get to see how superb Chloe Bennet is on this episode as a result of she knocks it out the park, and it is so beautiful to get to see a Daisy front-and-center episode as a result of we’ve not had a kind of for a little bit bit. I am simply so excited for individuals to see her in it.
Any plans on directing sooner or later? Would you prefer to hold going with it?
Henstridge: Yeah, positively! After we wrapped I directed a brief that I wrote and we’re now growing that right into a characteristic. Directing goes to be an enormous a part of my life transferring ahead. I’ve bought the bug now.
Marvel’s Brokers of S.H.I.E.L.D airs Wednesdays at 10/9c