Aisha Hinds 9-1-1 on directing Bobby’s mother, Buck’s Love Life, More

9-1 star Aisha Hinds Completely about the challenge of making his first appearance director on the show 8 of the show – but being in control behind the camera definitely came with his own concerns.

“I was nervous to film it all,” Hinds, 49, was told only Weekly US with laughter. “Just because I didn’t have a meter. I had no sense of what I didn’t know, because I had never done it before. So even though everyone was very supportive and encouraging in telling me, ‘You know more than you think, I didn’t know exactly how those things would highlight and where to apply what I know would be best used in service.”

Hinds climbed to the director’s chair for the first time for Chapter 11 of Term 8, entitled “The Holy Mother of God,” broadcast on Thursday, March 20.Peter Krause) A disengaged mother, Ann (Lesley Ann Warren), on the series, detailing the turbulent relationship of the pair and the past.

Although the story line is a hefty one for any first -time director to undertake, Hinds said the preparation process was very useful in giving her some confidence and “much needed encouragement.

“I shaded a couple of different people to see their access points and how they go to a story,” he explained. “And all of them drove home the concept that you just let that story be a compass. That’s what that kind of helped me put the things I knew in their place and the things that scared me.

Advice from a few mentors and friends of directors – including Showrunner Tim Minear – Useful, but Hinds noted that there were still days in the process where he found himself “stumped.” Many of the chapter’s scenes were shot in mega-church, for example, and called for many extras.

“The Church was one of the things that frightened me because there were 400 extras! And so there are so many moving parts,” he added. “You know all these extras, you have big cranes, you have four cameras going at the same time. You have a choir. You have your lead actress, Leslie Ann Warren, who gives us her amazing soul on that stage.

Challenges aside, the scenes between Bobby and his mother were some of Hinds’ favorites to shoot.

“The whole story line (O) Bobby’s mother came back to his life through the church quite intense for me,” he said Us. “As someone who is infused in my own personal faith and my own faith walk, it was kind of one of those things that I really enjoyed peeling layers back and saw his own doubt and some of the resentment that had accumulated and the trauma he felt around was disconnected from his family.”

He continued, “And so I loved to unpack that story in real time as they got this intense reunion that turned out to be real, truly gentle and beautiful and vulnerable to everyone. There was a certain level of transparency, you know, they all had to be prepared to test them and say some high things aloud that they might not have said in the years and the fact that they might not have said in the years that, considered in those years, are considered in those years and years,

Bobby, of course, was not the only person who worked through his affairs during the “holy mother of God.” After eight seasons of fan speculation, Buck (Oliver Stark) finally faced the question of He has romantic feelings over his best friend Eddie (Ryan Guzman). The subject was brought up by Ex Tommy Buck (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), who returns for a single night post-hollt romp, and was asked again later by Buck’s sister, Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Buck denied the charges, although Tommy or Maddie looked completely convinced.

Hinds, for her part, knew that the subject would be a milestone for the show and “of course” felt the pressure to do justice to her – for viewers and for her good friends, Stark, 33, and Guzman, 37.

“It’s well recorded that I have a very close relationship with Oliver off -screen and even with Ryan. And this is what our fans have wanted to hear out loud and unpack, do you know?

Every joke aside, hinds were delighted that the 9-1 The writing team was able to “hear, listen and talk” to part of Buck’s story that “a lot of People are invested in. “

“It’s a healthy thing for Buck to have the opportunity to share his truth and share where EA is going on,” he said. “And for Tommy to express his thoughts and what he thinks may be happening or not, and to Maddie that the ship is to say loudly what many people have wanted to say or think. And so he addresses the conversation. “

Hinds noted that the actors actually took the mantle “and treated the situation with” vulnerability and validity and beautiful honesty, “and she looks forward to seeing where the story goes next.

“There is so much further to explore with Buck and his heart and his loved life,” he told Us. “And I hope we can do that in a way that really honors it and the journey it has been on since season 1.” in the seasons to come.

In terms of the world-class performances donated by the cast, Hinds was quick to give their fellow castors all the credit for their talent, but it was very appreciative for their support and dedication to ensuring that they present the best possible chapter.

“I think we share a very deep connection among us as characters, and off camera as fellows and friends. There is deep friendship and deep trust among us. They were really supportive and rooted for me and wanted the best for this chapter, so many or more than I did,” he explained. “So they all seemed to want to do their best and beyond. Whether it’s for me or that just serving the stories and their characters, I’m grateful.”

For Hinds, it was just a treat to watch her costars from a new perspective.

“As we went through the process, I was so happy and so grateful to watch them work from the other side of the camera and really kind of luxury in some of the choices they make,” he told us, “and watch how they kind of building these performances a week to a week. … it’s really different when you can watch after taking behind the monitor.”

New Episodes of Air 8 9-1-1 on ABC Thursday at 8 pm ET.