Rashida Jones was a fan of “Black Mirror” Ever since Netflix Anthology series first premiered in the UK almost 14 years ago. After discovering that she had a mutual friend with the creator Charlie Brooker, Jones called him on a whim. “I absolutely muscled myself into Charlie Brooker’s life,” Jones said. “I think he was confused why he engaged me.” They met at Skype – “If it goes with us”, she joked – binding on their “similar feelings” and the two kept in touch. That connection led to Jones and “Parks and Recreation” co -creator Mike Schur Writing Season 3’s opening section, “Nosedive”, which commented on society’s obsession with social ranking.
Now, years later, Jones is a first time acting Emmy-nominated for his performance in “Common People”, the first episode of the Show’s seventh season. She plays a terminally ill teacher, Amanda, who is offered a way to survive an inoperable brain tumor: a company called Rivermind Technologies can replace the tumor with synthetic tissue for free, as long as she pays a monthly subscription fee.
When Amanda and her husband, Mike (Chris O’Dowd) find that the “regular” Tier subscription limits her movements and causes her to release ads in her calls, the couple is sucked into an infinite bike of more expensive subscription levels, including Rivermind Lux, which increases the sensations. “I’m grateful that the people of ‘Black Mirror’ felt that I could face that moment right now in my life,” Jones said.
What does this Emmy nomination mean to you?
It’s big, it’s big. (Laugh) No, I’m kidding. It’s this strange thing, right? If you accept the awards, you must also accept the criticism, and unfortunately I am really good at the latter. But it feels like a nice convergence, a really nice moment in my life as someone who has worked for almost 30 years professionally.
You previously wrote a season 3 episode of “Black mirror.” Made your entrance place in “Black mirror“ the universe leads you to Star in “ordinary people”?
I wonder. I don’t know if they are connected. I think it is because (Charlie and I) are friends and maybe I’m in (the team’s) consciousness. It felt like maybe the right time. Maybe they had seen enough to feel that I could get that part right for them.
In “ordinary people” you play a character, but there are many different shades of her as you are asked to portray. What were your thoughts when you got the script?
I definitely wondered if I could do it. If I do it wrong it can be very, very wrong. I wondered if I could create enough different structures. I’m still the same person, but how much of the same person am I? This would either be really bad or it will work. There was nothing in between.
To keep everything straight, you had a Bible you Worked with? Did you have a whiteboard?
As the window “a beautiful mind”? (Laugh)
Yes.
I read (the script) many, many, many times because I felt I had to have a floating order where she was. I broke it down with ads, like Rivermind Lux, and then by Amanda’s conscious path. The last scene, that’s all. I do an ad, I’m on the Rivermind Lux and for a minute I’m aware. So I start conscious, in pain and exhausted and then on the Rivermind Lux, I make a decision on the end of my life. I don’t play a death scene; I have a chest of drawers through that calm, and then I go into an advertising.
Which scene was the most challenging?
The final scene was challenging in general. Dying is hard to do. Deciding to die is difficult to do. I thought a lot about my own death in that scene. I know it sounds heavy, but hopefully if I do my job correctly, at least one percentage of the time (the stage) feels real to me. There is something wonderful about the fact that she got the architect her own end. There was a lot she had no control over and (her husband) gave her the gift to make that decision.
“Black mirror“ is known for its social comment and this section speaks to the dangers of subscription models, regardless of It is, for example, healthcare or streaming services. Did you Connect to what the section said?
Total. I have had loved ones who have undergone really bad health things and the shock from the bill, the inability to pay that bill and the lack of ethics about human health and the health care system is an obvious part of this allegory. How we create capitalism around everything in our country, including your health, your well -being, your death and your livelihood, it feels so American. Everything is for profit. Money is really an important priority factor culturally now. Everything has a price tag, everything has a premium level and everything has a lux level.
It will be standard later.
Yes. And to make money you make money. There is something extremely eerie and dark and unsustainable about it. I feel that is what this section is about, whether in the health sector, the happiness sector, the retail sector or the political sector – everything – it feels a bit up to take hold. Ownership is really about who can make money from it.
This story first ran down to the Wire Drama issue of Thewrap’s Awards Magazine. Read more from the question here.
