Keith Stanfield talks Short Term 12By Wilson Morales
August 20, 2013
Coming out this week in theaters is the festival favorite ’Short Term 12,’ which written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The film received the Narrative Feature Grand Jury Award at 2013 SXSW Film Festival.
Starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Rami Malek and Keith Stanfield, the film tells the story of Grace (Larson), a twenty-something social worker who has channeled the demons of her own troubled past into a passion for helping at-risk teens. Her newest ward, Jayden (Dever), forces Grace to relive her own difficult upbringing just as she and her boyfriend Mason (Gallagher Jr.) are on the cusp of making a decision that will change their lives.
Blackfilm.com recently caught up with Stanfield, who’s making his film debut as Marcus, one of the kids at the foster-care facility for at-risk teenagers.
How would you describe Marcus?
Keith Stanfield: Marcus is a human being who’s going through a struggle that he’s trying to overcome. He’s going from being lonely and isolated and nowhere to turn and transcending into a person who is alive and understands their potential and can actually move forward. He had been abused all his life. He never had anyone to look up to. He never had a family. This is basically all he knows, this recklessness. There are a lot of people out here from all different backgrounds who feel hopeless and lonely who want to change their lives. Marcus just wants to do right for himself.
Is there anything you did to get into character? Do you know anyone in that situation?
KS: Yes. I researched my family and my friends. I grew up in a single parent home so I can relate to not having that aspect in my life. All my friends don’t have that. We all had to identify with that struggle on one level and with Marcus, he didn’t have either one. He had to raise himself. I looked around at people that I know, friends that I know, and stories that I had heard on situations like that, and just internalized it. It wasn’t my lifestyle necessarily, but I brought it out to the forefront. I just dug deep down inside and make that blossom.
When did you know that you wanted to be an actor?
KS: I didn’t really. Since I was young, I’ve always been the vivacious one that everyone paid attention and expected to do random stuff. I’ve always had a good sense of discernment. I pick up on stuff easily. If someone is doing something cool or trippy, I would just copy it. I used to watch a lot Jim Carrey and Martin (Lawrence) and mimic it, and “Jason’s Lyric.” I would watch those sorts of films and mimic what I saw on screen. I just knew that this was something that I loved to do. I just try to embody things that are outside my element, which to me is everything.
How was working with Destin?
KS: Beautiful. I felt so fortunate and this is my first feature film. It was great to be with a cast that had done this before. I learned just by going through the experience with them. The director Destin is so cool and laid back. His style is to let the artist perform. He doesn’t really approach, he guides and pushes in a way he wants the scene to go; but for the most part, he’s just like, “How do you feel?” and “What do you feel represents the scene?” He would get the camera and what you see is the artist interpretation of what he wrote down on page. He’s such a brilliant writer that it wasn’t that difficult to bring life to the character.
How about working with Brie and the rest of the cast?
KS: Honestly. At the time I was working with them, they probably thought that something was wrong with me because I would isolate myself completely from everybody. I maintained the character I played the whole time I was doing the movie. It was probably difficult to garner a relationship with me until afterwards because I was so focused to embody that character. That was just me at that time. I was always in that mode the whole time so I wouldn’t have to transition much. I was just trying to learn everything I can and soak it up. I wasn’t into the chit chat and all of that. Some people were concerned and were like, “Are you alright?” and I was like, “I’m good.” I was in a zone for that particular time, but afterwards all of us have a great relationship. We’re cool, sit back, have drinks, and have fun.
I read somewhere that you wrote the rap song in the film. How long did it take to write it?
KS: Not long at all. I actually write music. It’s something I do on my free time. When Destin said we needed something for the scene, I just sat down, brainstormed for a few minutes and wrote. I’m so glad people identified with it. I had a 90-year-old lady come up to me and told me how she loved the song. The director wrote a template for it, and I just came in and put a little spin on it. That’s the final product what you see on screen.
What have you learned as an actor while traveling with the cast through the festival circuit?
KS: I learned that it’s a business just like any other business. At first, I had a really difficult time just understanding it. I knew the business but I didn’t know to what degree. One of the reasons I enjoy acting is because of artistic expression and there’s a level of freedom that you don’t get in other areas. As I’m going through this, I see that it’s a business just like any business and it needs to be handled. It’s a double edge sword. I’m learning and moving forward. I had a lot of emotions invested in the beginning, but there’s a lot that comes with it. I had to be mindful of certain things. Not necessarily conscience and all that but just being intelligent about the decisions I make. I’m calculating my steps better and garnering relationships with people. I wasn’t that way when I first came in the industry. I’m more open and understanding to how things work and I have nothing to fear. As long as I’m moving forward, everything will come out cool.
Trailer
Clip #1
