Currently in theaters from Focus Features is director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s The Mustang, which had its World Premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Executive produced by Robert Redford from a script co-written by Clermont-Tonnerre, Mona Fastvold (“The Sleepwalker”), and Brock Norman Brock (“Bronson”), the film stars Matthias Schoenaerts, Connie Britton, Bruce Dern, Jason Mitchell, Gideon Adlon and Josh Stewart.
Roman (Matthias Schoenaerts), a convict in a rural Nevada prison who struggles to escape his violent past, is required to participate in an “outdoor maintenance” program as part of his state-mandated social rehabilitation. Spotted by a no-nonsense veteran trainer (Bruce Dern) and helped by an outgoing fellow inmate and trick rider (Jason Mitchell), Roman is accepted into the selective wild horse training section of the program, where he finds his own humanity in gentling an especially unbreakable mustang.
For Jason Mitchell, who broke out playing rapper Easy-E in Straight Outta Compton and has been seen in Mudbound, Kong: Skull Island, Detroit, and Showtime’s The Chi, he got to get over one of his fears with this film and that was riding horses.
Blackfilm.com recently caught up with him as he spoke about his experience on the film.
What attracted you to the film?
Jason Mitchell: Well, I’ve been terrified of horses my entire life. II had a bad experience when I was 15 years old and I went home with special skills from movies. In King Kong, we got to fly helicopters. in Mudbound, we got to drive a tank, but I had never really overcome a fear; so when I read the script for Mustang for the first time, I realized that I would have my work cut for myself. But also, I had to step up and overcome my fears. No one cantata that from me. That’s what attracted me to the film.
How would you describe your character?
Jason Mitchell: Henry is a special case. Even in prison, he’s obviously telling himself that he has to be happy and that he has to have a good impression in the world around him. That’s what you see. You see this really good trick rider and this really good trainer and a great smile with a real dark past and a dark cloud floating over his head.
Did you do any research regarding the environment?
Jason Mitchell: It was interesting because a lot of the guys who had been in the program I had worked with. It was pretty accessible to have someone there who had done 15-20 years, telling me different things about prison, different things about horses, and the program affected their life. I had all that on hand, which was really good and at the same time I had some wranglers and cowboys around me who wants me to hit the mark.
How was working with Matthias Schoenaerts?
Jason Mitchell: That guy is special. He’s someone who I feel takes the craft serious. We really bonded when it came to that. We both really loved this. He was that guy who would knock on my hotel room at 2am and would want to go over certain ideas he had regarding our scenes. He and I always did that. We had all our meals together. We have a love for each other.
How do you coordinate what films you will do next?
Jason Mitchell: We don’t have the power to say what movies are going to be made, but we definitely have the power to diversify and that’s what I liked to do the most. I’d like to show many different faces of Jason Mitchell. I’m sure people weren’t expecting me to be in a horse film. They just didn’t see that coming. As long as I can keep it random. I’ve been blessed to have some really big projects and some really great projects coming down my way.
What should we expect from your character in The Chi season 2?
Jason Mitchell: On April 7th, a bomb will go off. It’s going to be great. Brandon is a guy who can’t catch a break but he always finds a way and he always find a way to wiggle through it. You’re going to see a whole lot of growing up in this kid. It talks a lot about fatherhood this season. You will see a lot of that.
What’s more comfortable to do, films or TV?
Jason Mitchell: I’m pretty comfortable in both realms, it’s just a little bit different. TV is more about the writer, director and how good you can listen. When you do films, you have a lot more time. You have more leeway. You have a lot more playing room. It’s not so much about the writer and things like that. It’s a different beast but I’m comfortable in both areas.
What did you learn from Laure?
Jason Mitchell: You know she was also an actor. She taught me how to dig a little deeper and how to not worry about things on the surface and create a backstory. Where do I see Henry in five years and all things she made me think as an actor. Even though he’s in prison, he generally seems happy. He’s found peace within himself and all that came from Laure.
What’s next?
Jason Mitchell: I’m going to be doing this film Unstoppable about this kid named Anthony Robles who went to Arizona State and ended up being a championship wrestler there but was born with one leg. I get to play that guy.
What’s good reason for folks to come out and see Mustang?
Jason Mitchell: This film and story is so human, so beautiful but also so mysterious. it’s something that you won’t be able to see hands on unless of course you go prison and be part of the program; which I don’t hope for anybody. Matthias Schoenaerts did a great job. Bruce Dern did a great job and so did Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (writer/director).
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