[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Fire Country Season 3 Episode 14 “Death Trap.”]
Fast, somebody name 9-1-1 for Manny! Kevin Alejandro‘s character is basically not doing nicely on the finish of the most recent Hearth Nation.
The episode, directed by Kevin’s spouse, Leslie Alejandro, additionally options key emotional moments for Leones. First, Vince (Billy Burke) has to simply accept that his father Walter’s (Jeff Fahey) dementia has gotten to the purpose that he wants a care facility (however they’re costly). Then, Bode (Max Thieriot) opens as much as Audrey (Leven Rambin) on their first date about eager to take the capsules he’d been holding on to not only for his knee however when Birch died and when his grandfather went lacking, however he didn’t.
Under, Kevin and Leslie Alejandro take us inside this episode and tease what’s forward.
Leslie, how did you directing this episode come about? Was it simply the suitable timing? Was there one thing particular about it?
Leslie Alejandro: Oh, man. It was…
Kevin Alejandro: A journey.
Leslie: It was a giant journey. KristieAnne Reed over at Bruckheimer had ended up being, she’s simply been championing for me for years now. Earlier than this, I’ve simply finished music movies, brief movies, artistic content material, documentary, however by no means episodic. I did do the HBOAccess Administrators program, after which it got here with KristieAnne approving me to shadow direct Kevin when he had directed an episode of Nationwide Treasure, which was additionally tough as a result of it was throughout Covid and so she type of discovered a loophole for me. She actually wished me to be on that set and he or she made it occur. So between that, after which I shadowed a buddy of mine who occurred to be directing an episode of the primary season of Hearth Nation. I had requested if she can be okay if I shadowed her, and he or she mentioned, so long as it will get permitted. And naturally, KristieAnne had permitted it, and Tia [Napolitano] the showrunner had permitted it, and all people at Hearth Nation permitted it. So I used to be in a position to shadow her, which was an unbelievable expertise. After which final season, as soon as once more, I got here on and shadowed Kevin when he directed final season.
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Kevin: But it surely was in that second the place she was shadowing me the place lots of people realized that we’re not a director in a shadow, we’re a directing staff in lots of issues. We feed off of one another’s suggestions and get concepts from one another. And in reality, there was one time the place I couldn’t even present as much as the areas as a result of I used to be within the different episode the place everybody listened to her and he or she took the reins. So I believe that opened individuals’s eyes like, oh, this girl is a badass. And he or she does it too.
Leslie: Getting the decision that they gave me an episode was among the finest information I’ve ever had in my life. So I used to be simply excited for the chance and naturally nervous as a result of this was my first time dealing with this massive of a funds, but it surely was a lot enjoyable and I had the perfect time and I can not wait to do it once more. And I stored telling my DP, I’m simply ready for the opposite shoe to drop. And he’s like, no sneakers are dropping. And I felt supported as a result of I had been with this crew twice already, and all people was like, we’re not going to allow you to fail. And the collaboration that everyone had and being aligned with the imaginative and prescient was wonderful. And in addition something that I had pitched and them accepting it made me much more assured that I knew that I used to be purported to be there.
Kevin: Yeah, it’s actually cool with Hearth Nation as a result of they actually do spotlight the truth that they wish to encourage development from the very starting. It’s like, if you wish to shadow one other division, let’s try this. They simply need development from everybody. So it’s a really inviting world. Joan [Rater] and Tony [Phelan] —
Leslie: That’s their MO always.
Kevin: Let’s preserve individuals working and provides individuals the alternatives that we deserve to maneuver ahead within the careers that we would like.
Leslie: And if it wasn’t for his or her approval, too, I wouldn’t have been in a position to try this. So having that assist was fairly unbelievable. And I had simply met Joan and Tony by way of this course of once I received on set, so it was wonderful.
The episode opens on that heartbreaking second for Birch and that loss, and Manny’s taking it onerous. So Kevin, speak about filming that scene, and Leslie, speak about directing him for it.
Kevin: Yeah. Nicely, that scene was a really particular kind of setup. It was all her mastermind —
Leslie: — and Mark.
Kevin: Yeah, her and her DP actually got here up with the way in which to do that. So it’s at all times attention-grabbing when a director is available in they usually have a particular means they wish to do one thing that’s not a standard means that we shoot our present. So to determine how that individual needs it visually to look so that you could match the suitable feelings, it’s virtually such as you’re choreographing a dance. I have to choreograph how I really feel, how I’m feeling with this second, reduce all of the bulls**t out and get straight to the purpose of what this scene is making me really feel like in order that it strikes appropriately to the dance of nonetheless it’s the filmmaker needs to make it occur. So it was an excellent problem, however I cherished it as a result of I’m so invested on this planet of Three Rock and what occurs there and the way a lot I genuinely care as Kevin Alejandro about this world was straightforward for me to leap in and principally I simply needed to hearken to what she and her DP wished and determine for myself how I can match all of this inner world into that. So it was an superior problem and I believed it was an incredible opening shot. I don’t suppose we’ve ever seen something like that on the present.
Leslie: I’m so proud and glad about that shot. It’s a signature shot from my DP and choreographing it collectively and determining the way it was going to look was undoubtedly a problem, and a problem precisely to the purpose of Kevin, how do you create a choreography however nonetheless preserve the actors within the second seeing that we’re calling when — as a result of no person will be behind him, clearly when the digital camera’s behind him after which unexpectedly everybody has to step in, however make it appear to be they had been behind him the entire time. And when the lights come up, how shortly it’s going to show round, the entire above. However I like that s**t. I like doing that type of stuff.
Kevin: Should you actually have a look at it, you’ll see how nicely it’s. It begins after which a single gentle comes on after which it retains persevering with, then one other gentle comes on. It simply all seems to be prefer it’s all one fluid type of factor. But it surely was so, so technical. I believe we spent lots of time on the rehearsal of it, however solely did three takes.
Leslie: Yeah, it was nice.
Kevin: The rehearsal course of was so necessary in that second, and everybody knew it. Everybody knew that it was going to be a oner type of factor. You guys spent a lot time on the rehearsal to get it proper in order that by the point they put us in there —
Leslie: And so they nailed it, all people did. And it was, once more, it’s simply at all times nice to see that if you envision one thing occur. After which to see it come to fruition is like —
Kevin: [Singing] I did it, I did it.
Leslie: And it was such a enjoyable day. I believe we did that the primary day. As a result of the humorous factor was is that Kevin solely shot in the future out of my complete episode, and it was the primary day.
Kevin: Yeah, they put me on the primary day, which labored out completely. Whereas she stayed up there to direct, I received to come back residence whereas she was directing and be with our child. So it simply kind of labored out completely.
However now we have now this thriller of what killed Birch and is likely to be killing Manny, which could be very regarding. So Kevin, what are you able to tease about Manny’s situation going ahead? As a result of he actually was not trying good on the finish of this episode.
Kevin: Yeah, I believe what I can tease is that you just noticed what it did to Birch, and the place you see Manny is only the start of how impacts him health-wise, the way it impacts him mentally, and it turns into a very deep kind of journey on how to determine what the hell’s occurring. Anticipate to see extra of that, however count on it additionally for an enormous window to be open that can shed lots of gentle as to what’s truly occurring in Edgewater.
It was Eve and Manny main the cost on attempting to determine what occurred. Now Manny’s down for the depend, in order that’s going to deliver everybody else in as a result of Manny is so beloved throughout Three Rock, 42, Edgewater, proper?
Kevin: Precisely. Yeah. You get an thought of how sturdy the Military is when one in all their very own goes down.
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There have been two fairly emotional moments close to the tip of this episode. I wished to speak to you, Leslie, about directing them: the Leones at residence with Walter, after which Bode speaking to Audrey in regards to the capsules. What was your method to these two scenes?
Leslie: The Leones, speaking to Walter was such a strong scene, and Jeff, who performs Walter is simply such a strong actor, and he got here on and was actually like, “Okay, what do you see? And I’ve some concepts, can I simply attempt them first?” After all. And killed it. He’s a vet, he’s a professional. However the one which was so heartbreaking was seeing Vince’s response to the belief of what his father goes by way of. And that was fairly highly effective. Billy was actually, actually —
Kevin: He’s a powerhouse, man.
Leslie: Yeah, he did it so superbly. So I actually wished this, not three towards one, however opening it the place you see Walter and from Bode’s perspective, and he’s on this enormous room simply type of by himself as they’re type of just a little bit off. I actually wished that to hit as a result of we all know that that’s how he’s going to finish up feeling after which seeing the Leones witness this, they know what the wrestle goes to be forward of them. So yeah, I actually, actually love that scene.
The scene with Bode and Audrey, I like that this sort of opens up — that’s going to validate the connection they’re about to get into and the way a lot they had been in a position to open up to one another and never say what they mentioned as a result of they’re confessing, however say it in a means that they’re opening up and being sincere with one another and figuring out that the opposite individual just isn’t going to guage them or go away them simply due to their previous. So seeing Bode let someone in in that sense, and that made it so totally different than his tumultuous relationship with Gabriela, and seeing that distinction I believe was essential. And the chemistry that they’ve collectively was simply lovely to direct in any case. After which for the viewers to see that that is the start of one thing actually good by the tip of it, was necessary for me to indicate as nicely.
After which Kevin, if Manny didn’t have larger issues to fret about like probably dying, what would his take be on Finn for Gabriela? Particularly since Manny and Gabriela’s relationship is lastly again on observe.
Kevin: It will be like, why isn’t he a firefighter? What do his dad and mom do? I believe due to the journey that Gabriela’s occurring this season, she’s fairly wounded and attempting to determine who she is once more and the place she matches on this world and attempting to navigate her feelings with Bode. I believe at this level Manny would like her to step away and determine earlier than you add one other aspect that would solely damage you extra or take you in a route that’s not you anymore. So I believe his parenting, his father intuition is kicking in on excessive alert of being like, are you positive that is what that you must be doing proper now? But additionally respectfully figuring out that she is a lady who’s sufficiently old to make her errors. He’s going to step again and simply kind of watch it and be there for her if and when she wants him. However I believe initially he’d be like, come on, determine you out first.
Hearth Nation, Fridays, 9/8c, CBS