JLouis Mills – Heartbeat

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) Right now, you’ll only see me in “Heartbeat.” I’m auditioning for things right now.

Q) Please tell us about your character Forester on the show.

A) I play a character named Forester who is a former special-ops soldier who worked in a medical unit. He worked in Iraq and, unfortunately, he watched his whole platoon killed in an IED attack. He’s the only one who survived so he is kind of protective over some of his coworkers. He gets that from the big loss that he had when he was over in Iraq. He doesn’t really talk that much so you understand his point of view by his body language. You understand by the way he is looking at you and mannerisms. When he does talk people listen because they know he is saying something very important.

Q) What is it about the character that drew you to him?

A) When I found out who was already attached to the project it made me really excited. I had my callback with one of our Executive Producers, Amy Brenneman. She was Amy Grant on “Judging Amy” and she is on “The Leftovers” now. She was wearing a straw sunhat so when I walked into the room I really couldn’t see her face. When I walked up to her to shake her hand, she looked right at me and I said, “Oh my gosh! You’re Amy Brenneman!” That didn’t make me nervous, but it was like, “Dude! You’re getting ready to do your thing in front of Amy Brenneman so you’d better bring it!” So, that actually made me bring it more in front of Amy since I was such a fan of hers. Once I had walked out of that, it was that point that I was uber excited that I’d maybe get the chance to work with Amy. As far as Forester, I was really drawn to him because I understood that he wasn’t going to be the total focus of the show or scenes he was in. He was more so going to be a presence. It is kind of challenging in a way to try and figure out how to convey – you have to talk without talking. I can’t just have two or three looks to show anger or strength because there are more than two or three episodes I am in. In order to keep Forester fresh, I have to really be present and really let whoever I am working with affect me. It’s so good that I have the castmates that I do. I am working with eight people who I have no problem being vulnerable with, which means I have no problem really being present and giving myself to them and the scenes. And being able to convey with what I’m trying to say without words was a challenge that peaked my interest.

Q) What kind of research did you do for your role?

A) The show is based on a book and each character is based off of a real person. So, we tried to be as authentic as we can. We have consultants on set and I know every episode that we worked on, before we did something each one of us was asking the medical consultants on set what we can do and what should we do in this situation. As well, each one of us had a chance to hang out with the person they were portraying. I got to hang out with Dr. Maglioto’s real perfusionist.

Q) Was there anything you added to the role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) The role of Forester was originally written for an amputee, but they ended up changing the role when I went in an auditioned for it. That’s a total compliment! I’m really a believer, with all due respect, that less is more. I don’t add anything to Forester. If anything, I take things away. I try to make him a presence, but he is kind of there without interacting with you unless you are in surgery and he has to talk to you or there is about to be an altercation he is trying to diffuse. So, I don’t add to Forester, but I have in a couple of episodes taken away some stuff to really keep the continuity of this character alive.

Q) How will dynamics be shifting throughout the season?

A) You will see a very interesting relationship develop Jessie (Don Hany), Callahan (Jamie Kennedy) and Forester. You will get a better understanding in the upcoming episodes just exactly how Forester fits into all of this. To me, that was definitely something to look forward to because this is the building process. So, I’m looking forward to people watching Forester and his dynamic on the show and the relationship he has with Callahan and Gi Sung (Maya Erskine). You never know. Something may develop between Forester and another employee. You’ll just have to stay tuned and watch!

Q) Is there anyone you didn’t work with that you would like to or would like more scenes with?

A) I do believe in our show and that we will be on telling an active story for multiple seasons. I have always thought that way about the show so there isn’t anybody that I was like, “Wow! I wish I could have worked with them.” I’m excited for the opportunity and the potential to work with all of my castmates. A lot of my work will be seen with Maya and Jamie and I am just a kid in a candy store working with them. Just as a fan, I would really, really like to work with Don Hany and Shelley Conn and Dave Annable, Melissa George and Josh [Leonard]. I’m naming everybody, but there isn’t one person I would want to work with more. I am though looking forward to doing a scene with Shelley Conn!

Q) How does this show separate itself from other medical dramas?

A) One of the biggest differences, for me, is (as I said earlier) that all of our characters is done off of real people. None of us characters were thought of in a writing room somewhere. We’re all doing something from someone that was in the real life of Kathy [Magliato] that affected her in some way. When you are telling a story and there are real people involved, yes we do have respect to the perspective of we’re doing a television show. But at the same time, we also have the same perspective of the person that we’re portraying is watching this show. So, we also have the respect of the real life of that person. Real life isn’t always as glitz and glamor as you can see it on some television shows. When you are telling the story of truth, there are going to be some good times, bad times, fun times and awkward times. So, two of the biggest differences for me is that we’re telling the story of real people and when you live in the realm of truth it is not always going to be TV friendly.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive?

A) I have to thank Kerry Washington because she thought of the whole live tweeting thing for “Scandal.” I definitely thank Ms. Washington for making it what shows do now. I love talking to fans and interacting with them. I am really interested in somehow at least once a week maybe have a Skype Q&A because everything that we do is done in order to tell a story that we want people to see. When people appreciate what you do, the one thing I can’t say enough is that there is no ego or divas with our cast. Everybody is grateful and humble for the place that we are and we are all just as grateful and humble for anyone who has support for our show. So, for me, I absolutely love the interaction. I find myself a couple of hours a day on Facebook and Twitter going through the “Heartbeat” page and seeing the comments that are written about us. I comment or retweet. I think to involve our fans is really our way of letting them know we really, really appreciate them. We appreciate them now and through season seven or eight or however long we go.

Q) What do you think it is about the show that has made it such a fast fan favorite program?

A) Every character on our show there is going to be a fanbase for. We are working off real people so there is going to be a connection to everyday people. So, when those people can not only connect with a character, but with the person telling that story it is absolutely one of the coolest thing! To see someone say, “Oh my Gosh! JLouis Mills retweeted me…” I’m just me! It’s so cool that just the smallest thing like that can be appreciated and it is cool to have the attention of people appreciating you for what you do and you appreciate them. People don’t have to watch our show if they don’t want to and take their time after a long day of work and watch our show and interact with us. That’s something that you want to do so we definitely appreciate everyone who does that. When it comes to me being in a store or walking on the street or social media, it doesn’t matter. I appreciate anyone who tells me how much they like our show! Even if you don’t like our show, I appreciate you too because you just motivated us to want to be better. So, I don’t want to leave anyone out. If you don’t like our show, I appreciate you not as much, but I appreciate you. [laughs]

Q) What have you taken away from your experiences on the show?

A) There is a saying, “There is no ‘I’ in team.” This might be a cheesy story, but it’s the truth: We filmed a great deal of our season with Melissa George being pregnant. I’m talking about six months, seven months, eight months and nine months pregnant. Any woman who has been blessed with the opportunity of being pregnant understands those are some trying months when you get towards the end. Those ending months are pretty trying! There was never a time when Ms. George blew up at anyone, didn’t have a smile on her face or complained. And she was there more than any of us were! So, if I learned anything it’s 1) the show must go on and 2) you will never be bigger than your show or this town. So, if you think you are then you are already crossing yourself out. I also learned that chemistry is powerful! Chemistry means something. Working on this show (and, again, I don’t mean to be cheesy) has kind of even made me a better person as to how to deal with people, how to appreciate, how to be more aware and how to be more understanding of you never know what someone is going through in their personal life. Someone could be dealing with a terminal illness and you just don’t know it. You need to try to treat people with as much respect as you possibly can.