Latest news with #Awakenings
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Deliciously at odds': Zachary Quinto on embodying the brilliant yet flawed Dr. Oliver Wolf in ‘Brilliant Minds'
Although there's no shortage of medical dramas on the air, Brilliant Minds sets itself apart by taking its inspiration from Oliver Sacks, the famed neurologist whose groundbreaking work was previously dramatized in the film Awakenings. Zachary Quinto jumped at the opportunity to play a version of Sacks, who is "an endlessly fascinating and influential presence in both the world of medicine and literature." That, combined with the creative team behind the show, created "an alchemy to the whole package that felt undeniable to me." Quinto plays Dr. Oliver Wolf, a socially awkward yet exceptional neurologist who utilizes unconventional techniques to treat his patients. Although Robin Williams got the opportunity to work closely with Sacks during the production of Awakenings, Quinto was unable to do the same, since Sacks died in 2015. Yet as Quinto tells Gold Derby, "there's a really unique aspect of this experience," which is that while this is inspired by a real person, "we're also creating a character who is fictional, and exists in a different time and in a different environment than the one in which the real life Oliver Sacks lived and worked. So it was kind of the best of both worlds for me as an actor, because I certainly was able to dive into copious amounts of his writing," as well as "endless interviews with him," while still making it his own. More from GoldDerby Ryan Gosling's 'Star Wars: Starfighter': Everything to know as Mia Goth takes on the Mikey Madison role Olivia Williams was more than happy to be 'the wise old bird' on the 'Dune: Prophecy' set 'Forever' star Lovie Simone on traveling back to a 'nostalgic' time for Netflix's teenage romance show Dr. Oliver Wolf is, as Quinto describes him, "an often misunderstood but incredibly well-meaning person. I don't think he always has the capacity to articulate or communicate as smoothly as maybe he would like to. There's something really special about embodying that. I really found that endearing and appealing about the character. At his core, he is an incredibly brilliant, dedicated, empathetic, and driven doctor, and his main thrust and motivation is really caring for his patients as fully and as generously as he can. There was something about the blending of those two qualities that was deliciously at odds. Those aren't two qualities that necessarily go hand-in-hand, and I love that about him. He's clumsy sometimes. He doesn't suffer fools. He's not interested in listening to differing perspectives. He believes what he believes," which is "every patient he treats deserves respect and dignity, and to be seen." Brendan Meadows/NBC Part of Quinto's job is making sense of the medical lingo his character rattles off as if it's second nature. Unlike other medical dramas, "You're not dramatizing gunshot wounds or heart attacks. It's all neurological cases, so it really is about delving into the mind." So, the question is, "How do I make this dialogue accessible and interesting, and humanize it and invite audiences into it?" It helps that the scripts by creator Michael Grassi and his team feature the input of on-staff medical consultants. "We all have to portray characters for whom this language is everyday jargon, and it's something that we have to be able to pass off as believable, even if the audience isn't meant to know exactly what it means because we're in the process of explaining it to them. We have to come from a place where the characters know exactly what these words mean, and that is always an interesting challenge, but it's a challenge that I really relish." Added into that are the various medical ailments that Dr. Wolf and his team of interns have to deal with week-to-week. "I can't tell you how many times I thought, 'Well, this can't be real,'" says Quinto of the scripts he received. "But then we get directed to the chapter of An Anthropologist on Mars or The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat," both books written by Sacks which served as inspiration for the series, "where he chronicled the real life parallel case." All of the cases and conditions dramatized in the show were taken from real life, some of which were treated by Dr. Sacks, and some of which "are adjacent to, or inspired by, those cases. I often felt really challenged in the many, many ways in which our brains and our minds can go astray, and the impacts of that which these patients experience." Among the most surprising patient arcs portrayed in the first season is that of a comatose John Doe who is given the ability to communicate thanks to a revolutionary brain computer. In the show's seventh episode, "The Man From Grozny," we learn that he came to American from Chechnya to flee oppression for being gay, and having told his story, he makes a surprising request for the remainder of his care. "To me, that storyline and the way that it resolved, which was not at all how I expected it to resolve when it was introduced to me as a multi-episode arc, was, I think, the most impactful personally for me," Quinto reveals, as well as "the most impactful in a lot of ways for the audience as the season unfolded." Quinto earned an Emmy nomination in 2013 for American Horror Story: Asylum, and since then has worked mostly in film and theater with occasional stints on television. As Brilliant Minds heads into its second season, he's found a renewed appreciation for "that kind of serialized storytelling that I've been away from for a long time, and I'm actually really grateful to be back to" for the first time since Heroes. "To now be involved in an ongoing series playing the same character who's going through a number of different circumstances and situations is something that I really welcome, and it's been really fulfilling for me creatively." SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'Say Nothing' star Anthony Boyle on playing IRA activist Brendan Hughes: We 'get to the humanity as opposed to the mythology' The Making of 'The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day': PBS variety special 'comes from the heart' From 'Hot Rod' to 'Eastbound' to 'Gemstones,' Danny McBride breaks down his most righteous roles: 'It's been an absolute blast' Click here to read the full article.
Metropolis Japan
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
COLOURS presents KASIA
Melodic techno queen KASIA is set to make her long-awaited Japan debut. Known for captivating crowds at Afterlife, Tomorrowland, ULTRA Miami, and Awakenings, the acclaimed DJ and producer finally lands in Tokyo. Her sound blends emotional depth, cinematic builds, and a strong visual aesthetic, creating unforgettable dance floor experiences worldwide. She will bring her unique energy to Japan's largest venue, ZEROTOKYO. Rooted in melodic techno, KASIA's performances are celebrated for their beauty, drama, and immersive power. Don't miss this rare chance to witness one of the most influential artists in the global techno scene live in Tokyo. ZEROTOKYO 1-29-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku ￥3,300 - 4,000
