Janet Mock made history last Sunday.
But its even all the more impressive knowing that this is Mocks first time behind the camera.
Then a couple months went by and he was like, Janet youre going to direct.
Credit: Rick Rowell/ABC via Getty Images
And I was just stunned.
It wasnt something I was pursuing.
It wasnt ever something I thought I would do.
I always thought I would write for television and for the screen.
But he was right.
He just has instincts.
I realized being raised on television and film, I kinda had it all in me.
I think he also wanted to show that I wasnt a token.
He gave me a fight scene.
He gave me three ballroom scenes.
He gave me a musical number, which we hadnt done before in the series.
All those things are universal things about love and loss and grief and moving on and choosing life.
Its the same thing with Patty.
Patty is mirroring with Angel they have the same narrative.
They both were told what they needed was to be linked to this man.
They both were being used as dolls.
They both were being lied to and mistreated.
Billy Porter leaves it all on the floor in this episode.
Its a hell of an arc.
How was it working with him?It was like candy.
We were able to play with every tool he had in his toolbox, like every single one.
We dont even let him hum a tune before this episode.
Everyone is waiting like, Are they ever going to use this magical gift he has?
Billy is so easy.
Its so easy to direct him.
The hardest scenes werent the most emotionally intense ones, like in the AIDS ward.
The hardest scene was the friend-tervention scene when he goes to Evangelista.
I think that scene has clutched him an Emmy nomination if there was ever one.
It was such a looming, omnipresent boogeyman for anyone that was queer or trans at that time.
For certain communities today it still is.
Only the love of your life would tell you to cry for me for only one day.
I think that kind of affirmation is what our people need.
They need to hear that life is not over.
There still is complicatedness, like Blanca sitting down at the nail salon and doing Pray Tells nails.
[Laughs]We cant not hear that enough.
I think thats one of the themes of our show.
Ryan tweeted that hes more proud of this episode than almost anything hes ever done.
What does that feel like?
[Laughs] It feels like a coronation!
Like the king is giving me a crown.
It was a gamble for me.
I had never done it before.
I was made to be uncomfortable.
I was always so bad at group projects as a kid.
But with TV, its immediate.
Its a snap of a finger and everyone is feeling it at the same time.
You get this wave of energy and excitement and feeling.
But I think a lot of people were surprised by the deep feeling and heart of our show.
[Theres also] the educational and inspiring piece of it too.
A lot of people have also said, I have to prepare myself to watch these episodes.
As we were talking, you guys just got renewed for season two!
How does that feel?Its wild!
Im glad that FX is keeping it and they believe in the show.
Its exciting that we have more room to play.
I have a notepad full of ideas for season two and pitches Im ready to go!
I know Im gonna direct more episodes in season two so thats exciting.
Youre adapting your bookRedefining Realness do you think film or television?Im writing it now as a feature.
Ryan has his opinions and thinks it should be a mini-series.
Id like to write and also direct it.
Poseairs at 9 p.m.
ET Sunday nights on FX.
