Shia LaBeouf Interview on Cannes Doc About Theater Collective ‘Slauson Rec’

Slauson Rec — first-time filmmaker Leo Lewis O’Neil’s explosive documentary concerning the electrical rise and heartbreaking fall of Shia LaBeouf’s experimental theater collective of the identical title — acquired a comparatively quiet start into the Cannes Movie Pageant, introduced simply seven days earlier than the beginning of the 2025 version. Weeks earlier than the information broke, LaBeouf confirmed in a statement that he was “totally” supporting the movie regardless of the way it captures all of his difficult angles, from gifted hustler and charismatic chief to tortured artist and abusive mentor.

He meant it. LaBeouf is backing it by totally leaning in and touring to France for the doc’s world premiere within the Cannes Classics part Sunday evening, a screening that may mark the primary time he’s seen the completed movie, or any of the footage for that matter. In one other first, he agreed to speak concerning the movie with The Hollywood Reporter in what’s deliberate as the only interview he’ll do concerning Slauson Rec.

He arrived prepared to speak, logging on a couple of minutes early for a scheduled Zoom final Monday from a quiet nook in his expansive L.A. yard. Sporting a full beard and an American Cinematheque hat, a smiling, reflective and unguarded LaBeouf was joined by O’Neil for what turned out to be an hour-long dialog peppered with compliments and affection. “I see Leo and it’s all love,” LaBeouf says. “We love one another deeply.”

O’Neil, who moved from Austin, Texas to Los Angeles, met LaBeouf in 2018 when the actor introduced on Twitter that he was forming a brand new theater faculty at Slauson Recreation Heart. “I’ll be there each Saturday at 9 a.m., constructing shit with whoever reveals up. I’m attempting to alter the world,” he declared within the clip. Greater than 100 individuals arrived that first weekend, and LaBeouf lived as much as his phrase then too, by displaying up for months attempting to form what he thought-about a theater laboratory stuffed with misfits smack in the midst of considered one of L.A.’s more durable neighborhoods.

O’Neil, not an actor however determined to search out his place within the metropolis and the group, picked up a digital camera and requested LaBeouf if he may act as Slauson Rec’s official archivist. He stayed behind the lens for 3 years and, true to the official competition description, what O’Neil recorded “examines the wonderful line between mentorship and manipulation” and finds LaBeouf “pushing individuals to their limits” by way of a combination of powerful love, verbal abuse and bodily confrontation.

Choosing up that digital camera turned out to be a fateful transfer and the outcomes of that documentation — all 145 minutes of it, formed from 800 hours of footage — will likely be unveiled at Cannes with LaBeouf taking a seat in Buñuel Theatre. “When this factor comes out, it isn’t any worse than what’s been mentioned about me beforehand. Perhaps it reifies individuals’s concepts about me. I feel, at coronary heart, I’m an excellent man. Am I fucked up? Sure. Is my course of ugly and disgusting? Sure. Have I achieved horrible shit previously that I’m going to must make amends for the remainder of my life? Sure. Does this film change any of that? No. Does it additionally enable my individuals to get a foot into this fucking business? Sure. So fuel pedal down, inexperienced mild go,” says LaBeouf, whose look within the movie is capped by a redemptive interview that reveals he’s modified his methods.

Thanks for doing this. It’s an fascinating interview with the 2 of you; Shia, you’ve been to Cannes many occasions, and Leo, that is your debut movie and you bought into Cannes. I can solely think about the way you’re feeling in the meanwhile.

O’NEIL I’ve by no means proven a movie earlier than, and I’ve by no means been to a movie competition earlier than so that is going to be insane. I don’t know what it’s going to be like.

Shia, you’ve been for Megalopolis, Honeyboy, Lawless, Wall Road: Cash By no means Sleeps and in 2008 for a competition debut with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Cranium. All of these appearances inform a narrative about the place you have been in your life and profession. This should really feel otherwise. What does Cannes imply to you and the way do you’re feeling about going this yr for this movie?

LABEOUF That’s an enormous ass query there. The one which was fairly impactful for me at Cannes, not less than life trajectory clever, most likely extra impactful than all of these different movies, got here in 2012. I despatched a brief movie known as HowardCantour.com to Cannes that I plagiarized from Dan Clowes. It obtained into this award present factor after which I used to be sort of fucked. I fucked myself as a result of what are you going to say? I wind up at Cannes after which — firestorm. That’s how I discovered myself in efficiency artwork. Had that not occurred, I wouldn’t know Leo, you perceive?

As a result of what occurred from that’s I began to take my creative company again. We’ll get into the entire execs and cons that got here from that, however the execs have been that I began to create with a with those who weren’t essentially on the A-list. I began fucking round with a bunch of individuals from a bunch of various inventive life types. That’s sort of what led to Slauson and forming what was meant to be a lab. That’s why Leo even had a manner in, as a result of he’s not an actor by commerce. He has not one poetic actor strand in his physique, and we needed to uncover that he couldn’t simply maintain a digital camera. Leo needed to get within the center, too. Leo needed to do a bunch of bizarre shit, too. All of us needed to do it. That was the fantastic thing about what we have been doing and why there was a lot belief. In all probability due to that belief is why Leo’s film is in Cannes as a result of it’s uncommon {that a} filmmaker will get this sort of belief with a topic. From 50 topics. Credit score to Leo.

Leo, what’s your response to listening to that?

O’NEIL I don’t take it evenly. That group actually was my household for years. Falling in love [with the group] and dealing by way of that’s by no means one thing I took evenly, and I nonetheless don’t. It’s an enormous honor to have been in a position to make this factor.

LABEOUF Ooh, did you hear his voice proper there, Chris? His voice shifted. I may hear the burden of it in his voice, that it’s substantial.

O’NEIL I’m nervous. All of this, yeah, it’s enormous.

Let’s discuss concerning the film as a result of there could also be individuals who learn this interview unaware of Slauson Rec or the way it impressed a documentary. What’s your pitch or how would you describe this movie in your personal phrases?

O’NEIL I describe it as my expertise by way of this household that I discovered in an artwork neighborhood in South Central L.A. at a time in my life once I was dwelling down the road.

[LaBeouf interrupts to call out to his wife, Mia Goth, who is exfoliating in the couple’s backyard. “She’s happy,” he says.]

LABEOUF Sorry, go once more bro.

O’NEIL It’s exhausting for me to pitch this factor as a result of it’s so private. It’s exhausting for me to say, “Hey, that is my life and why it issues.” However there are common themes in it, and it’s a fancy portrait of not solely Shia however of the group. These are those who have been my greatest mates, collaborators and household.

Shia, individuals could also be stunned by the truth that you’re touring to Cannes for the premiere or that you just’re doing an interview. Why are you speaking to me, and why are you going to Cannes?

LABEOUF There’s a convention of this sort of deep, intimate documentation. My former boss’s spouse [Francis Ford Coppola’s wife Eleanor Coppola] made one of many biggest documentaries of all time with Hearts of Darkness. No love misplaced. I see Leo and it’s all love. He’s not my husband or nothing, however we love one another deeply. There’s no different manner you would have documented some of these things. Werner Herzog made a film known as My Finest Fiend. I advised Leo to look at it. He most likely by no means did, however sick film. All these dudes have been greatest mates. One was a reasonably devoted actor [Klaus Kinski] attempting to experiment with the tactic within the late Nineteen Sixties, Nineteen Seventies Germany, which I’m positive was crazier than my time. And guess who confirmed as much as the premiere? All people.

I’m not going to talk on society and the place we’re, however this isn’t new. It’s not a novel factor that your pal movies you in a course of. Now for me, I do know who I’m and who I used to be in the course of the course of. So yeah, I’m bare and I’m shitting on myself all through many of the movie. It’s a really uncomfortable factor, however then you definately weigh the professionals and cons of all of it and again to that utility chunk, God doesn’t ship mail to the improper tackle. I don’t assume I’m distinctive or particular. I don’t assume I’m the primary in my line of labor or any inventive craft to lose the plot a bit. Leo documented it in a loving manner, however full-blown — I was an animal.

There have been boundaries that ought to have been arrange, and I introduced my instincts in there. Anytime somebody’s instincts swallow one other particular person’s company — unhappiness. There’s obtained to be a proverb like that someplace, however I’m not as well-read as different individuals. This can be a flawed sin; attempting to make one thing occur in a contentious space with a bunch of people that had their very own historical past. It was an egalitarian dream that failed for a bunch of causes. There’s unacceptable shit in there. There’s lovely shit in there. What this received’t be is an absence of accountability. This received’t be me saying, “I did this due to that.” None of that kind of shit.

What will probably be, possibly, is a love letter to artwork. It’s some perception right into a collaborative sport, a deeply instructive look into the distinction between doers and lecturers or coachers and gamers. I do know what I’m not, I’ll let you know that. I do know what I’m not as a result of my perfectionism just isn’t for management. It doesn’t foster wholesome requirements. You wish to do good typically, however you be taught that you just’re not the man.

There’s an electrical energy to these early scenes within the documentary, starting with the video you posted on Twitter to ask individuals to hitch you for this lab experiment, and that buzz continued in these first few weeks as a result of it actually felt such as you had this unimaginable inventive ardour that wanted an outlet. What was behind that?

LABEOUF it now, it was most likely an extension of my deep want to attach with others by way of efficiency artwork, and it feeling insubstantial, most likely.

Leo, as you state within the documentary, you had simply moved from Texas to Los Angeles, “operating from heartbreak.” Describe who you have been whenever you discovered Slauson Rec and what drew you in?

O’NEIL I used to be determined to belong. I used to be determined to be part of one thing. I wasn’t distinctive in that manner. I used to be about as fresh-faced as you could be. I had solely been in L.A. for a few yr. I didn’t know what I used to be doing. I had been overwhelmed up slightly bit, and was in survival mode, stealing meals and shit. When I discovered this place, it opened up the entire world. It was magic to start with, and all of us felt it.

You made what turned out to be a fateful choice to select up a digital camera and doc what was taking place inside Slauson. How did it really feel to ask Shia if you happen to may?

O’NEIL These first couple of weeks I didn’t movie out of respect, however I at all times had my digital camera with me. I needed to be part of this factor so dangerous however I knew that I wasn’t an actor so I needed to discover my place. That meant working up the braveness. I keep in mind the second I requested and my coronary heart [was racing]. I nonetheless keep in mind the e-mail Shia despatched out to the entire group saying I used to be the official archivist. I feel it possibly was the primary official place within the firm. I took a screenshot of the e-mail and keep in mind being so psyched that I used to be part of this factor. I felt like I had lastly discovered one thing.

Shia, what did you see in him and why did you say sure?

LABEOUF Leo’s a really eclectic cat. I may see who was connecting with not simply the category however the neighborhood, who sits the place and who was there first. He all of the makings of anyone you’d wish to play ball with if you happen to have been the one choosing groups. I didn’t know a lot about Leo. He doesn’t put all of it on the desk immediately. A yr in, or one thing like that, we obtained mutual mates. We began kicking it on weekends, going to live shows. We had an entire different factor happening with one other group of mates, like we have been having group remedy. I used to be deep into the [12-step] program on the time and I had this pink cloud.

Dudes come into this system with 9 months [of sobriety] they usually’re able to learn the entire guide to you. I used to be in a kind of locations, and the tentacles of that prolonged into all different aspects of my life. Certainly one of my pal teams was a gaggle of rappers whom Leo know,s and we used to kick it at their home and run these group remedy periods. I don’t understand how productive it was, however they positive have been candy, love and heat. That wasn’t a category, and we didn’t movie it. We simply talked about our emotions out loud as dudes.

As Leo states within the doc, the group began to dwindle as soon as individuals realized they weren’t getting free performing classes from you. Did you get a way that there was a cult of celeb round you or that folks had ulterior motives?

LABEOUF Yeah, yeah, yeah. There have been a number of issues happening. You had some actual heavy hitters to start with, too, guys who got here in that have been actual sharpshooters. A number of the meat eaters that I assumed have been actually particular have been gone within the first three, 4 months, as a result of again to this egalitarian factor, we got here in and it was hippie dippy. I got here in philosophizing about sure issues, meta-modernism, and my head was seeped in an entire bunch of artwork stuff. I’m a avenue child however these have been highfalutin concepts. I used to be down with it, however that egalitarian, hippie-dippy stuff was powerful whenever you put it on the ground.

We have been so targeted on equality that we have been ignoring particular person efforts, and that created an absence of accountability. That’s cool when it’s the YMCA, however whenever you’re attempting to win the Tremendous Bowl, it created pressure and it harm our sustainability. It harm our freedom, it harm our innovation. It destroyed our theater. That’s what I feel. A number of issues destroyed it. One of many heartbreaks for me was that I caved to the lover bullshit for therefore lengthy that it grew to become systematic. By the point I attempted to show the prepare round, I couldn’t management myself. That stemmed from an entire bunch of dysfunctional conduct, which I’m not pleased with however I’m joyful it’s documented. Sure, that’s true. Sure, I seem like a fucking asshole. Sure, my boy obtained into Cannes. I could be each disgusted with myself and joyful as fuck for my man. I could be each issues.

The pandemic proved to be an actual turning level for Slauson Rec, and mounting the drive-thru efficiency is when the cracks deepened. Shia, you mentioned that the stress was in your shoulders so what was that like to hold?

LABEOUF I’ve gotten in bother slightly bit not too long ago for talking on different actors’ processes. I don’t imply to downplay no one. I’m simply speaking about my very own shit. I’ve achieved all this stuff. Leo met me at a time when my belief was skyrocketing as a result of I didn’t assume I used to be operating the present no extra. However that took an entire lot of getting overwhelmed down by the world. It’s not that thrilling of a solution however I used to be simply attempting to slot in the place I may get in and attempting to be helpful even with all of the fucked up stuff that I’ve achieved. I’m a sinner. Sure, little doubt. I actually do determine with the nice thief on the cross, not the fucked up man, not the primary one, the second, the one who will overtly admit it. I’m that man and I’m okay with that. You understand what I’m saying? Perhaps it’s getting too bizarre now. Fuck. However I assume what I’m attempting to say is now occupied with what he’s made and him moving into Cannes, boy, it seems like a mitzvah.

Nonetheless, I can open the door for any of the those who have been on that three-year journey with me at any expense apart from that of my baby. I feel I can nonetheless do my factor. When this factor comes out, it isn’t any worse than what’s been mentioned about me beforehand. Perhaps it reifies individuals’s concepts about me. I feel, at coronary heart, I’m an excellent man. Am I fucked up? Sure. Is my course of ugly and disgusting? Sure. Have I achieved horrible shit previously that I’m going to must make amends for the remainder of my life? Sure. Does this film change any of that? No. Does it additionally enable my individuals to get a foot into this fucking business? Sure. So fuel pedal down, inexperienced mild go.

Leo, you’ve described the group as a household, and which means you have been documenting what was taking place in your loved ones. What that was at occasions was confrontation, typically aggressive, typically abusive, typically tough to expertise and to witness. How did it really feel to be holding the digital camera in these moments?

O’NEIL I used to be already a yr and a half into my function with the corporate so it had change into so innate that it was at all times going to be what it was it doesn’t matter what. I filmed each second, it doesn’t matter what. Due to the extent of comfortability, I felt an actual duty to maintain documenting, I feel partially as a result of what we have been doing felt so particular, necessary and groundbreaking to us. When the moments obtained difficult, I saved filming. Wanting again on it now, there have been sure moments within the movie that I simply can’t consider I captured. I’m stunned I didn’t put the digital camera down and stroll away, or say, “Whoa, man, give me a sec.” However I had a job, a job, and that was my place,e so I saved going.

Shia, you had some intense confrontations with [Slauson Rec members] Sarah, Zeke and Sam. Which one has been hardest to look at or relive?

LABEOUF Properly, see, I haven’t watched any of those. You perceive what I’m saying? I haven’t watched any of this. There’s deep sorrow about what went on. I’m going to look at it for the primary time in Cannes. What I find out about my expertise with these individuals, after all, is battle with 50 individuals. In a theater firm, there’s battle in all places. You bought to know that Sarah got here out of one other theater program that was run by James Franco. When she got here to us, she was already a wounded chook and we have been being very delicate together with her, and that formed so much our firm. We needed to be very cautious about a number of stuff. Virtually so cautious. It’s like having an intimacy coordinator. Certain, everybody’s secure, however fuck, attempt to create one thing inconceivable. That stuff began to have an effect on us. That was most likely the toughest one as a result of this all occurred at the start that occurred to me by way of ego demise.  

We needed to navigate so much however we additionally needed to be true to this neighborhood that we have been in. You’ll be able to’t be the loudest voice within the room since you really feel probably the most wounded. We are able to’t have the wounded lady be the centerpiece of the theater firm we have been constructing in Slauson, California. It’s loopy. Navigating that and the race relations, the stuff with Zeke felt brotherly. The stuff with Cyrus felt brotherly. There have been wrestling contests that went on within the park all day lengthy. It was a madhouse. This wasn’t a bunch of theater youngsters getting collectively to make theater. This was a bunch of youngsters who don’t fuck with theater making theater. It was Lord of the Flies.

It was a devised theater firm that, to me, was a laboratory. It began as a lab. That’s when it felt the healthiest to me as a result of there wasn’t any management. We have been all simply observing issues and experimenting. When it went haywire was once we have been right down to the wire. The world had shut down. We needed to financially maintain ourselves. We had a finite period of time to have the ability to pull one thing off earlier than individuals misplaced full religion in us. We had made this settlement with the Pure Historical past Museum to drag one thing off, and we needed to make one thing. We are able to’t simply naval gaze. We are able to’t simply make shapes. We needed to construct a story, and that was very exhausting to do with 50 individuals. I’m positive it’s properly documented in Leo’s factor, however there was frustration in herding cats.

You need to’ve skilled that sort of pressure earlier than?

LABEOUF There’s an entire bunch of battle and pressure on a movie set. I come from an entire bunch of colleges of that sort of battle, from Oliver Stone to Lars Von Trier to Michael Bay to [Steven] Spielberg. I’ve seen completely different variations and musicality to that pressure, some cuter than others. I wasn’t the deliverer of wholesome requirements as a result of the music I hearken to isn’t cute. It’s not a cute factor to do what I do. I don’t think about it, “Simply hit your mark and inform the reality.” That’s some Spencer Tracey or some Disney Channel shit. It’s simply not my shit, and that’s okay. Folks didn’t present as much as the spot as a result of it was free. We needed to eat an entire bunch of shit. We didn’t have chairs for a very long time. Shit wasn’t cozy. We needed to earn our spot, all of us.

Folks believed within the North Star that I used to be pitching which was that we have been going to must bleed slightly bit. It was going to harm. It’s important to ante up. It’s important to pay the value to be nice. You’ll be able to’t simply present up with out having achieved any push-ups and play for the Raiders. That’s to not absolve myself of not being outfitted to be within the place that I used to be all through the method. It was simply, like, fuck, we ran out of performs. I don’t know if that is within the documentary however we have been in search of administrators and that obtained loopy, too. It obtained insane. It obtained so political. It wasn’t concerning the fact anymore. It wasn’t about easy methods to get right down to the marrow, the capital T fact of fundamentalist theater.

There’s a second within the documentary whenever you say that the way in which that the cruel manner you communicate to individuals within the group is the way in which that you just discuss to your self about your self.

LABEOUF Completely.  You’ve obtained to know that the man within the documentary that Leo has made is a godless man. This can be a man with completely no religious rules in any respect. I’m actually operating the present. It’s the identical sort of factor that typically Coppola displays in Hearts of Darkness and it’s the identical sort of factor you see in My Finest Fiend. I don’t assume it’s distinctive. I do assume it’s present. I wasn’t main with love. None of my creativity was leaning on love and generosity and endurance and the issues that you just get out of parenting or the issues that you just examine within the scripture, none of it. No rules, no guiding line apart from be good. No matter it takes.

Leo, you included a second within the documentary the place one of many members explains Shia’s conduct as, “Harm individuals harm individuals.” Is that the way you considered him and did that assist you to come to phrases together with his conduct?

O’NEIL In fact. Yeah. That assertion may be very true. Yeah, that’s undoubtedly a part of the complicated portrait on this movie. I don’t wish to communicate for Shia, however I consider that to be true about him from what I find out about his life. I do know he’s gone by way of some shit in his life and that impacts how anyone treats others, how they behave and the way they transfer by way of their very own life. It’s a part of the DNA.

Shia, you talked about the ego demise, how does that play into what occurred?

LABEOUF Yeah. I got here up as an actor who was at all times discounted. After I got here in, Haley Osment was popping and I used to be just a few child on Disney Channel. A pair years previous that, I used to be simply another man who was on some insubstantial shit. Even in my profitable movies, I used to be the insubstantial actor. I do not forget that feeling deeply. I keep in mind one time Ryan Gosling got here to set once we have been making Transformers, and I keep in mind feeling so intimidated though he was very beautiful. I keep in mind feeling so insubstantial and this shit is throughout his documentary. That is all of my very own trauma blended into me attempting to get a theater firm to pop off. On the time, my entire id was wrapped up within the high quality of the second.

After we have been operating this firm, I couldn’t get scared within the second, like, what we have been doing was canine shit however take a breath and stroll away. I didn’t have that software in my toolbox. I obtained annoyed once I felt like I used to be talking the language and other people weren’t listening, they couldn’t perceive or they didn’t care. All of these issues felt mute, however I had given my life to the factor. I’m not going to excuse none of it. Don’t print this or we’ll redo the interview if it comes throughout that manner. I’ve to personal all of my shit and I do. I personal all of it. No excuses. The conduct: Abhorrent. No excuses. No clarification. I’m joyful my boy obtained into Cannes.

Within the documentary, you point out the monetary stress of funding the operation your self. How a lot cash did you set in?

LABEOUF Out of pocket, most likely $300,000 in totality, possibly extra. There got here some extent when my enterprise supervisor mentioned, “That is unsustainable.” When COVID kicked off, every little thing obtained very, very bizarre. We tried to do a fundraiser and YG got here and carried out. We have been ecstatic. We thought, “This shits going to go off.” Then the Pure Historical past Museum got here in, and we felt like all of the intellectuals have been fucking with us now. Then with COVID, we tried to get the play going and I nearly had a nervous fucking breakdown attempting to get that off the bottom. It wasn’t enjoyable no extra. We may by no means develop different administrators. The monetary state of affairs grew to become unsustainable. The love was gone in a manner.

Leo, you bought Shia to sit down for an interview that bookends the documentary. It’s a very profound and emotional interview for quite a lot of causes. However as a viewer, I may hear the emotion in your voice …

LABEOUF Oh, boy, the ache. I do not forget that. I do not forget that.

We hear you crying. What was that second like so that you can movie and to expertise? It’s the primary time you’re listening to Shia categorical remorse, apologize and take accountability for what occurred.

O’NEIL I hadn’t seen Shia for 2 years. We hadn’t actually talked. I had a dream of him standing in entrance of a Christmas tree. It was every week earlier than Christmas so I texted him and mentioned, “Hey, can I come and interview you?” He mentioned, “Yep, pull up tomorrow.” I pulled up. Certain sufficient, there was a Christmas tree with decorations. I arrange the digital camera and we had this second. I ready all these questions. By the point I obtained by way of the questions, we have been simply operating off and speaking. Shia is an enormous brother to me, and he was particularly throughout that point. He actually taught me so much. Not seeing him for that lengthy was difficult.

I care about him so much, and I needed him to be properly. Then we began moving into all this shit and it was a private apology to me, I simply broke down. It was the primary time I had heard him principally say, “I’m sorry the dream failed. I’m sorry for what occurred.” I couldn’t maintain it in. I began crying. That was actually necessary for me to place within the movie as a result of the entire movie is seen by way of my eyes. It’s my perspective. I’m holding the digital camera and filming day by day. It’s my diary. To have that second on the finish of the movie was actually necessary to me as a result of I care so much.

Shia, how did it really feel to apologize to him?

LABEOUF I’m in a program. I’ve obtained to personal my aspect and I’ve additionally obtained to make it proper. Me going to Cannes, being a help system, it’s all a part of my course of. It’s a bizarre factor to speak about as a result of there are mechanics to creating amends. It’s not one and achieved. There’s the emotionality to all of it, after all, and there’s a comply with by way of, which is a part of what this interview is for.

Throughout that interview, you say that you just wish to make amends to the group however you weren’t positive how to do this. The place are you in that course of?

LABEOUF Properly, it’s fascinating. Leo’s been a part of a few of them. I’ve achieved a few of them by myself to return again from Louisiana. I simply noticed Ash. We frolicked, we made it proper, walked and talked and had a meal. I do this kind of because it pops up. I nonetheless owe Bojangles consideration in time. You’ll be able to’t do it abruptly. I obtained a 3-year-old, and there’s so much happening in life. I chew off little chunks as they pop up in life and because the universe directs you. However yeah, that’s the purpose. I’ve talked to lots of people since then and I do know that fifty of those motherfuckers needed to go to Cannes. But it surely’s fascinating, my workforce has seen the film they usually tripped. The individuals who love me — [manager John Crosby] and [publicist Melissa Kates] —are scared. What’s the scariest factor? The consensus was how me and [Zeke aka Ezekiel Pacheco] obtained down [in a fight]. So, I known as Zeke. Me and Zeke had made it proper awhile in the past. However I known as him and advised him the film’s popping out. Leo was on the telephone. With the film popping out, it’s going to make individuals really feel an entire bunch of various methods.

When the highlight hits you, it makes you’re feeling an entire bunch of various methods. I obtained to remain open and present with every little thing and everybody in my life. If individuals who felt like we had made it proper pop again up and say, “I don’t really feel proper about that.” I obtained to take care of it. It’s like whack-a-mole. My entire life has a number of that. At a sure level, you get out of a sullen, sunken, emo-boy and also you get pleasure from making it proper. I’m trying ahead to it, canine, because the gophers pop up, I’ll joyously take care of it as greatest I can. And once I can’t, I hand it over and hold it easy. That’s the place I’m at.

You have got some momentum in your profession. You’ve had some motion pictures come out with nice evaluations, together with David Mamet’s Henry Johnson and Salvable. And you bought not too long ago solid in God of the Rodeo. Are you anxious that this documentary may affect the ahead momentum you’ve got in your life and profession?

LABEOUF The roadblocks are the identical. I’ve inventive mates. I’m understanding of garages, dude, that’s is a part of the fantastic thing about what Slauson was. Slauson was an avenue for me to not have to attend for permission. I used to be chasing that at the start occurred. Earlier than crash and burn. There was already a deep intuition within me to self-generate. That’s what these comedians do with their podcasts. That’s a part of what Slauson was for me. I’m discovering individuals to work with now who’re like-minded, who know me, who actually know me, and are open to working with me. Individuals who don’t know me or who came upon about me another manner, aren’t open to working with me. And that’s okay. God doesn’t ship mail to the improper tackle. I deserve all that.

Leo, you’re now a filmmaker with a film in Cannes. Your first film. Since you’ve got an excellent monitor file with visions after seeing the Christmas tree, what do you foresee in your future? The place do you go from right here?

LABEOUF That’s an enormous query, man. Superior.

O’NEIL My largest purpose with this movie is to start out dialog. In no matter manner that occurs to the largest scale attainable and probably the most impactful scale attainable, that’s a win for me. Wherever it finally ends up, wherever it goes, that’s the massive win for me. Folks have been asking me what’s subsequent, and the one reply that I’ve for what’s subsequent is one thing honest. I’ve to fall in love once more.

How do you help your self proper now?

O’NEIL This movie supported me for the 2 years of edit, however it’s time to promote it so I can transfer on and make one thing else.

Who paid for it?

O’NEIL My fantastic government producer, Kevin Knight, paid for it. That is his first movie he’s ever financed. He’s a lifesaver, a magic man.

Shia, what would you wish to see Leo do, or what do you foresee for him?

LABEOUF Oh, I feel he’s the Werner Herzog of my technology. Lots of people have diaries — cool. Lots of people have very nice spirts and are gratifying and may socialize with the multitudes the way in which Herzog can. Leo is that. I don’t assume he’s as conscious of it as I’m, possibly. However I feel wherever that dude factors, it’s massive. That’s what an artist is. He’s obtained a powerful index finger. He’s very particular. And what that idiot factors at is massive. He’s fucking dope.

Shia, the place do you go from right here?

LABEOUF I’m going wherever the wind blows me. I’m a employed gun. I’ll go the place they let me go.

O’NEIL Can I level out one factor? Since Herzog simply obtained introduced up, I’ve an e-mail from Werner Herzog printed and framed on my wall from when Shia gave me his e-mail. I reached out and requested if he may assist me out. [O’Neil out of his chair, takes the frame off the wall and sits back down.] Right here’s what he wrote me: “Leo, I’m definitely the improper particular person as I’ve no affinity in theater in any respect. Shia is an excellent actor, and we met solely as soon as, however I feel he’s too optimistic about any enter I may give to your venture. Finest, Werner.”

LABEOUF Fuck yeah, dude. Superb, wonderful, wonderful.

Interview edited for size and readability.