Anthony M. Hemingway’s BTS Vision in Forever Ep. 7
How a funhouse mirror activation at LA’s Grand Central Market became impromptu pool party.
Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. She has 6 years of experience writing in various fields, such as finance, education, and lifestyle.
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Anthony M. Hemingway, the Emmy-nominated director known for shaping episodes of The Wire and Homeland, is giving fans an insider view of his craft on Netflix’s Forever. Created by Mara Brock Akil and starring Regina King, Forever weaves rich narratives around love, identity and mental health. In a detailed Instagram post under his handle @shinybootz (https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ6w9ICxvpw/), Hemingway breaks down how a FaceTime exchange in Episode 7 evolved from script page to vibrant LA tableau.
Intention, Discovery And Interpretation
“Directing is all about intention, discovery, and interpretation—seeing the story beneath the script and finding unexpected ways to bring it to life,” Hemingway writes, captioning photos of the set. He identifies the emotional core of every sequence, then scouts practical ways to underscore it. For Episode 7, the script required Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.) to video-call Keisha with a playful photo. Hemingway decided the shot should be more than a backlit head—it should carry local texture and character.
Crafting The Wish You Were Here Moment
The resulting “Wish You Were Here” image features the iconic Crenshaw sign painted by street artist Noah Umes. “It looks effortless, but it took a lot of thought to get right,” Hemingway notes, explaining that subtle framing decisions can transform a selfie into story. By reframing the mural through Cooper’s phone camera, he paid homage to South LA landmarks while hinting at Justin’s longing and nostalgia.
Scouting Grand Central Market For A Pool Party Vibe
Finding a pool party location on a tight schedule and budget proved impossible. Yet Hemingway remained committed to vibrant visuals that wouldn’t undercut other plot beats. While scouting a different scene at downtown’s Grand Central Market, he stumbled on a pop-up funhouse mirror activation. Its bright, kaleidoscopic walls spoke poolside fun and photo-booth nostalgia. “BOOM! It screamed pool party vibes,” he recalls, adding that fizzy Jarritos sodas boosted the colorful feel. The makeshift backdrop now serves as Keisha’s party locale—an inventive solution that “says everything in one shot.”
Sibling Shadowing: Aisha Hinds On Set
Hemingway’s sister, actor and budding director Aisha Hinds, was on hand to observe every decision. Hinds, recognized for roles in Watchmen and When They See Us, is fresh off helming her debut on ABC’s 9-1-1. During the shoot, she collaborated with Mara Brock Akil’s Story 27 team and Regina King’s Royal Ties production banner, gaining hands-on experience in balancing pace and performance. “We had… FUN!” Hemingway writes, cheering her on. His mentorship underscores a broader commitment to fostering talent and diverse perspectives in television.
Hemingway regularly uses Instagram to share directorial milestones. Last year, he celebrated being tapped to direct the pilot of CBS’s Boston Blue alongside Jerry Bruckheimer TV and Donnie Wahlberg, calling it “a family reunion” with showrunners Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis. On another post, he teased his work on Hulu’s All’s Fair, noting the series arrives in fall 2025. These glimpses reveal a director at home in both network crime procedurals and streaming drama, always foregrounding diversity and nuanced storytelling.
“Sometimes the best vision is the one you didn’t plan,” Hemingway quotes in his post, a mantra he’s lived since assisting on Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight. A Northwestern University alumnus, he honed his voice directing HBO staples like The Wire and Treme, before earning a Directors Guild of America nomination for his WWII feature Red Tails. His Emmy nod for Homeland and pilots such as Blue Bloods further cement his versatile expertise.
Audience response to Episode 7 was swift, with social media buzzing over the heartfelt moment. Fans praised the mix of humor, heartbreak and local flavor, sparking a campaign for Season 2 renewal. Hemingway’s Instagram stories captured this enthusiasm—reposting fan art, sharing DMs and celebrating viewer passion as proof that audience engagement drives storytelling. When Netflix officially announced a second season, he thanked fans for “watching, rewatching, screaming at your screens, laughing, crying, reminiscing and telling everybody and they mama to do the same.”
By turning constraints into creative catalysts, Hemingway demonstrates how thoughtfulness and adaptability drive memorable television. A mural, a mirror maze and a soda can become narrative tools—proof that smart directing turns limitations into storytelling strengths. This resourceful creativity—tagged #LALoveLetter on Instagram—underscores why Hemingway remains one of TV’s most imaginative directors. As Forever heads into its next chapter, audiences can look forward to more inventive scenes that capture the spirit of LA, one unexpected shot at a time.
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