The Vampire Diaries’ Paul Wesley Stepping Behind the Camera to Direct Episode 5.18

Steve Barton   |  

Feb 8, 2014

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Following in the footsteps of his fellow CW star Jensen Ackles, who has directed a few “Supernatural” episodes, Paul Wesley is about to make his directorial debut on “The Vampire Diaries,” becoming the series’ first actor to helm an episode.

Per Buzzfeed, Wesley will direct Episode 18 of Season 5, airing later this year, and he said the hour is “both nostalgic and suspenseful,” adding, “It feels like our world, but something is a bit askew. It feels uneasy. And I respond to that.”

Wesley took his time before making this leap. “I had expressed my interest to [executive producer] Julie Plec and the studio early on. They responded positively but also made it clear I had to earn the position if they were to grant it to me. I spent a year shadowing directors, attending meetings, prepping, sitting in the editing room, etc. Even though I have been working in TV for years, it ended up being such a blessing because I learned invaluable information. They finally granted me an episode, which was met with a great deal of excitement and nervousness on my part.”

And don’t worry about not seeing him in front of the camera in the episode. “It’s not Stefan-light, but it’s also not Stefan-heavy,” Wesley said of his character’s screen time. “I’d say it is somewhere in the middle. A good friend of mine recently directed a film he also starred in, and I was on set the whole time, so I got to see firsthand what that experience looked like.”

Look for more on Ep. 5.18 as soon as the network releases a synopsis, which shouldn’t be long since we’ll already be up to Ep. 5.14 when the show returns on February 27th.

“The Vampire Diaries” Episode 5.14 – “No Exit” (airs 2/27/14, 8-9pm):
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS — As Damon’s (Ian Somerhalder) behavior escalates from destructive to deadly, Stefan (Paul Wesley) begins to regret their last conversation and decides to track Damon down and intervene. For reasons of her own, Elena (Nina Dobrev) volunteers to come along.

Dr. Wes (guest star Rick Cosnett) enlists the Travelers to set a trap that will once again test Damon’s friendship with Enzo (guest star Michael Malarkey).

After a heart-to-heart talk with Nadia (guest star Olga Fonda), Matt (Zach Roerig) enlists Caroline (Candice Accola) and Tyler’s (Michael Trevino) help to protect Elena, leading to a violent confrontation. Later, when Stefan tries to comfort a dejected Caroline, their conversation leads to a horrifying realization.

Michael Allowitz directed the episode written by Brian Young.

For more info visit “The Vampire Diaries” on CWTV.com, “like” “The Vampire Diaries” on Facebook, and follow “The Vampire Diaries” on Twitter.

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