VIDEO: ‘The Pitt’ Director Amanda Marsalis On Why Background Actors are So Integral to the HBO Max Series

Director Amanda Marsalis discusses the importance of background actors in all The Pitt episodes, including her Emmy-nominated “6:00 P.M.”

One thing The Pitt episodes all have in common is their showcase of fine acting, including the background performers. Even though she directed the background-heavy honor walk in Episode 8, director Amanda Marsalis says her Emmy-nominated Episode 12 was an emotional experience for a different reason involving these supporting artists.

“They lived with us,” says Marsalis. “Episode 12 is where we say goodbye to all of them. Everyone gets cleared out of the ER. It was emotional for all of us because we wrapped all the background who had been there.”

Marsalis says some of the background actors would hide books in their fake baby bumps or shoes in “medical waste” garbage cans while filming.

“We obviously have our regular cast on the show, and all of them are phenomenal, […] but we also had so many wonderful actors who got to play smaller roles but helped make the show so amazing. Something about filming in Los Angeles. There are a lot of really great actors there, and we got them.”

Dr. Garcia and Santos?

There are many dynamics at play in the medical series, but as a director, Marsalis got to introduce one of the most interesting: the flirtation between Dr. Garcia (Alexandra Metz) and Santos (Isa Briones). Does she view it as a predatory encounter or one with romantic promise? And would we be looking at it differently if it were between a higher-up male and a subordinate female?

“It depends on each other’s personality. If it was some creepy dude creeping, that’s no good. But you could take the male version of a Garcia who’s snappy and fun — it’s about that energy, not necessarily male or female. You could also have a woman who’s creepy, but she’s not.”

Speaking of hookups, why do so many fans of The Pitt want characters to get together? Is it Grey’s Anatomy syndrome?

“One, the show’s just really well-written. As directors, we’re starting ahead. It’s also that you love these characters, but you do not know that much about their lives. I think as an audience, we want you to have what we want, which is sex and love.”

I asked Marsalis some questions about her other episodes before discussing “Episode 12.” Plus, we discussed “the math of directing” and the tsunami of terror that arrives in that last section of the season. Watch our conversation below!