As a writer and observer of human interactions, I find myself deeply moved by the heartwarming stories of camaraderie that unfolded behind the scenes of Brilliant Minds. The unique approach to character development, where actors and crew members forged bonds off-screen as well as on, is truly commendable.
In the latest installment of Brilliant Minds, we’ve been delving deeper into the lives of our interns. We gained some fascinating insights into Dana’s past, while there’s still much to explore about Ericka.
I had conversations with Aury Krebs and Ashleigh LaThrop, discussing their characters and plotlines. A significant part of our discussion revolved around Dana, given the latest developments in her backstory. However, I was equally interested in understanding their experiences collaborating on this series and what they’ve gained from being a part of it.
Dana’s past informing her choices in Brilliant Minds
Dana is quite mysterious. Often, she tends to be private and doesn’t reveal much about her history. However, in the latest episode, due to a panic attack she experienced, she opened up more than usual. This could mean that she’s becoming less reserved and is allowing others into her life, just as they are welcoming her into theirs, hinting at potential changes.
As a gamer, I dived into a heartfelt conversation with Dana, discussing how the tragic loss of her sister continues to shape her decisions in life.
I think the essence of Dana, of how she moves through life, is that she’s bery protected and she’s very guarded…She comes off as an open book; she comes off as though she doesn’t really care what other people think, and I don’t think she does, but that control of herself that she presents to people and that part where she doesn’t really care what people think about her, it’s all built up to protect her from that tragic loss that she has experienced.
Dana often employs humor as a shield, hiding her deepest struggles within. Her wit serves as a barrier to keep others at bay and navigate her life more securely. However, it seems like the barriers are softening a bit. She’s always been forthright about her mental health journey, but episode 6 marked a significant moment where she was able to be truly honest about what she’s dealing with and the reasons behind it.
In the third episode, when the bride appeared, it wasn’t just other interns who found themselves in a tough spot. Dana managed to open up and speak candidly with Wolf about her husband’s passing, a moment that wasn’t easy for Krebs to portray.
That scene gave me, the actor, so much anxiety because I’m very new to TV and film and I hadn’t really had that. There was a very specific request from the people creating the show as to how that moment is supposed to go in terms of the emotional level, and I remember talking to Ashleigh about it and just really stressing out.
While Krebs worried about not delivering, she certainly did. That was the moment for me when I needed to learn more about Dana’s backstory. There was clearly a world of hurt in there, but she didn’t feel safe enough yet to let it out. Oh how things have changed.
Without a doubt, LaThrop lent a hand at that particular instance. It’s evident from their conversations that the interns not only provide support for each other on camera but also foster a bond off-camera, acting as a family of sorts. They stand by each other unwaveringly.
Ashleigh shared this anecdote with me throughout, where she said it’s really not about you and your acting. It’s about creating something that people can feel seen in. And so that gave me a little bit more agency in terms of this actually [having] a purpose…It’s not about me and my ego and my vanity. It’s about how do we reach towards people and, hopefully, create a space where somebody can see themselves in this character.
In this instance, Krebs didn’t need to draw from her personal life to create the character; instead, the written narrative provided the foundation for her portrayal and guided her performance on-screen.
It became ‘what is Dana going through?’ I didn’t have to call upon my own experiences in order to bring that. I think that’s what made it so much stronger and honest is that I got to shape this character and her life, and I care about her so much. I got to rely on her story, thanks to the writers.
Ericka is the quarterback of the team in Brilliant Minds
It’s evident that Ericka takes charge among the interns, demonstrating her intelligence, composure, and unwavering support for everyone. In a recent episode, we discovered that Ericka’s soothing demeanor could serve Van well during labor pains. He found a way to apply his mirror-touch synesthesia in a beneficial manner.
How challenging is it to portray a tranquil personality convincingly, given all the commotion happening around in the scene?
I’m a person who feeds off of energy, so I think as a human being, I tend to run pretty calm. This group does not run calm at all. This group is full of life and energy, so I think it was actually a really fun challenge because they are so…Aury is like gregarious and bubbly, Spence is like everybody’s best friend and just a ball of warmth, and Alex knows everybody’s name.
As a devoted admirer, I’d put it this way: To convincingly portray Ericka, LaThrop had to find a means to transition from the exhilaration of the greenroom and ground herself for the performance. This transformation is so skillfully executed that you’d never guess there was such a need when watching her on screen.
The growth of a friendship off-screen as well as on-screen
In many television series, actors often portray characters who have pre-existing relationships. However, typically there’s only one fresh character to facilitate information sharing for the viewing audience. On the contrary, Brilliant Minds stands out by having almost every character encounter each other for the first time.
Discussing connections beyond the series aided us in portraying our characters authentically, as we witnessed these relationships develop.
Initially, LaThrop discussed that it wasn’t solely about the other actors; the writers and the entire team played a crucial role in fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie, making it feel like a family.
Everyone who came to our set was like, this is an amazing set to be a part of, and I wholeheartedly agree. I think there was such warmth and there was such a desire to create this beautiful thing together. So it was really fun. At first, I didn’t know what this was going to be, and then it ended up being this experience of lovely people that I would do this again and again with.
For Krebs, this was her initial major recurring character part and her first significant assignment. This opportunity brought about an uncertainty as she stepped onto a set for the first time not entirely sure of what lay ahead. Her friends emphasized that the key factor in such situations was who held the top billing position.
A lot of my friends who have been working on TV shows have said ‘you’d better hope that your No. 1 is great as a human being.’ It’s very rare to get somebody who cares, and I have to speak to Zach [Quinto] as a leader. Everything he asks for is because he wants the show, he is so committed to maintaining the integrity and the greatest potential of how good our show can be. That means he is always there for you.
On Brilliant Minds, it’s not uncommon for someone to make insightful comments about Quinto. In this case, Krebs delved deeper into how Quinto consistently supports the cast, even when the camera isn’t focused on him. He is there, encouraging them and providing the energy they need to perform at their best.
That’s very rare on set.
What to take from Brilliant Minds
This show prompts deep thought. Often, our assumptions about others’ experiences or possessions may be off-mark. Each episode offers insights that resonate with viewers on a personal level. In wrapping up this conversation, I was curious to learn what insights Krebs and LaThrop have gleaned from the series.
For LaThrop it’s about representation.
It feels like we are giving voice to people who might not necessarily frequently see themselves on TV or see themselves represented or see issues that they’re dealing with represented. I would say, I guess the joy of knowing that we’ve done something important with this show.
Krebs concurred, pointing out that the series has a clear intention, a fact which became evident to him during a viewing of the premiere episode.
Someone came up to me and shared that they had grown up in an elderly people’s home because their parent was a live-in nurse for dementia patients. It was the first person who I got to speak to who had seen the show, and got to watch it and say ‘oh my God, that’s exactly what I went through.’
This story included a bit about the piano, which connects right back to those opening moments that led to Dr. Wolf being fired from his original job before Pierce pulled him over to Bronx General.
Check out the full interview with Aury Krebs and Ashleigh LaThrop from Brilliant Minds below:
Brilliant Minds airs on Mondays at 8/7c on NBC. Catch up the following day on Peacock.
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2024-11-07 19:55