Wahala dey for Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital again o! But dis time, na different kind wahala wey involve one former actor wey don turn director. Jake Borelli, wey we sabi well as Dr. Levi Schmitt for eight seasons, don return to Grey's Anatomy. But e no come back as doctor o. Na as director e come, to handle one emotional episode wey dey show Jo Wilson struggle with postpartum stress.
n
For episode 16 of Season 22 wey dem call “Feel It Still,” Borelli take charge behind camera. Na im first time to direct for any show, and e choose im own former workplace. The episode focus on Jo Wilson, wey Camilla Luddington dey play, as e return to work after giving birth to twins. The delivery no easy at all – emergency C-section plus heart operation at same time. So e dey carry plenty stress.
n
Borelli yarn say directing that emotional scene between Jo and Link (Chris Carmack) touch am well well. “I dey cry too,” e confess. “That moment na when Jo finally open up about how e dey feel after the traumatic delivery. As I dey direct Camilla, all the Levi energy wey don dey my body for over one year just wake up again.”
n
How e take start this directing journey? Borelli say na during pandemic time. As dem dey work inside social bubble, e decide say e wan learn more about filmmaking. E approach Debbie Allen, the show’s executive producer and producing director, ask if e fit come shadow am. Debbie agree, and that na beginning of everything.
n
Even after Borelli character leave show go Texas for pediatrics fellowship, e continue to shadow other directors like Allison Liddi-Brown and Billy Woodruff. Then opportunity to direct finally show face. Debbie Allen invite am back to direct episode 16.
n
Grey’s Anatomy get history of actors wey dey turn directors. Debbie Allen sef na director. Kevin McKidd, Chandra Wilson, Kim Raver, and Jesse Williams – all of dem don direct episodes. Borelli talk say for show wey don reach 460 episodes, actors wey don dey inside the system get advantage. “You already know the history,” e explain. “You no need to watch 20 years of episodes to understand the characters. Na like cheat code.”
n
The episode Borelli direct full of relationship drama. E get elevator scenes, make-out scenes, and plenty medical cases. E talk about how e dey arrange all the scenes for im dining table with Post-It notes to understand the structure. Sandra Hamada, the writer for the episode, give am solid foundation to work with.
n
One interesting thing na how Borelli relate with im former colleagues in new capacity. “As actor, if you no dey in same scene with person, you fit no see am for three months,” e say. “But as director, I work with every single cast member for two weeks straight.”
n
E particularly enjoy working with Caterina Scorsone (Amelia Shepherd) and Alexis Floyd (Simone). With Caterina, dem no really get relationship as characters, but as director and actor, dem connect better. And Alexis Floyd na Borelli best friend for real life, even though their characters Levi and Simone hardly talk for the show.
n
The episode also feature new character Dani, wey Jade Tailor dey play. Borelli say e don fall in love with the character. “E dey give some Levi vibes, some April Kepner vibes,” e yarn with excitement. E even direct intimate scene between Dani and Lucas (Niko Terho) – and funny enough, Borelli and Terho don do rom-com movie together before.
n
Big moments for the episode include Evelyn Hunt (Debra Mooney) return. Borelli talk say e first fear to direct the veteran actress, but after meeting am, dem become quick friends. Another tense scene na between Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) about Blue‘s mistake.
n
Borelli insist say Richard and Bailey meeting must happen inside office, not hallway. Production team even build longer hallway overnight to make am work. That scene end up being the last one dem shoot for the episode.
n
For Easter egg hunters, Borelli put small thing for fans. The elevator scene between Jules and Winston happen for same elevator wey Levi and Nico have their first kiss. Borelli deliberately choose that location to give nod to im own character history.
n
As Grey’s Anatomy get renewed for Season 23, Borelli say e go love to return – either as director or actor, or both. E talk say as fan wey don watch the show three times from beginning to end, e want the show to continue forever. “Maybe until Zola become chief resident,” e suggest with laugh.
n
The episode show say even after characters leave, their spirit dey live on. And for Borelli case, e don find new way to contribute to the medical drama wey don shape im career. From intern to resident to director – na full circle moment wey prove say for Grey Sloan, anything fit happen.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
