Spoilers ahead forCriminal Minds: Evolutionseason 2, episode 8, “North Star.”
Zach Gilfordmakes his directorial debut with the newest episode ofCriminal Minds: Evolution.
My least favorite part of my job is between action and cut, theMidnight MassandFriday Night Lightsalum says.
Zach Gilford on ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’.Michael Yarish /Paramount+
I love everything else about it.
Everyone’s going to figure me out.
I’m a fraud.
Felicity Huffman and Joe Mantegna in the Zach Gilford-directed episode of ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’.Michael Yarish /Paramount+
Directing for the self-described control freak, though, was different.
I’m really proud of the episode that I made.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: North Star marks your first time in the directors chair.
A.J. Cook and Adam Rodriguez in the Zach Gilford-directed episode of ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’.Michael Yarish /Paramount+
Howd the opportunity present itself?
ZACH GILFORD:I actually lucked out because last season, I only had a one-year contract.
We want to bring you back.
I said, Great!
When they were negotiating my contract, I said, Can I direct an episode?
So it worked out.
It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
But they’re very supportive of the cast directing.
Half the episodes were directed by cast this season.
It was so much fun.
What were some of the challenges, if any, of making that transition?
I think the challenge was just not knowing what I was doing.
And this is what I do with most things: I just work my ass off.
I prepped so much.
I would go in on Saturdays to walk through sets and verify I knew what I wanted to do.
And you just got to be able to roll with it.
The episode is Voit-less, and weve only got a few more to go before the finale.
What does the rest of the season hold for him?
I just keep manipulating the BAU.
This season was so fun because last season, I barely interacted with any of the cast at all.
I had a few scenes with Joe towards the end, but this season my whole character’s M.O.
is just to f— with them.
So lots of improvisation then?
They gave me a pretty long leash to add some stuff in.
[Cook], and she’s one of my favorite people to mess with.
So I would call her Jenny instead of JJ.
My favorite one was when I called her FBI Barbie.
I dont know if it made the cut, but well see.
I dont think people were expecting him to be so funny and likable.
Have there been talks of you returning next season?
Would you want to?
I’d love to if they want me.
I love the character.
He’s been a lot of fun to play.
I think there’s a lot more there.
Story-wise, I have no idea what they will do, but that’s not my job.
But more than that, it is the best set I’ve ever been on.
It’s always funny, though, when I get recognized for some random other thing.
But it’s always nice to get to hear that someone enjoyed something you did.
So I give a shot to be very graceful and thankful whenever someone does call me out.
I only recently discovered that you starred in aTaylor Swift music video.
Youve spoken about referring to her as Ms.
Swift because you werent sure of her name at the time
Well, it wasnt that I didnt know.
[Laughs]Im really bad with names, so I was second guessing myself.
But I know I couldnt get it wrong.
Now I know her name is Taylor Swift.
If I ever see her, I’ll say, Hi, Taylor.
Actually, I probably would say Ms.
Swift, but anyway.
Is your daughter a Swiftie?
What kind of music plays in the Gilford household?
My daughters 6 12.
Shes very into Billie Eilish.
When she was 4, she started to be like, Whats this song about?
and some of them, Im like, uh…
Maybe wait a few more years to explain Lunch.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
New episodes ofCriminal Minds: Evolutiondrop Thursdays on Paramount+.
