Mr. Nelson,
Did You Kill
People?

When I first read the sides on Backstage, I didn't expect to hear back. I taped the audition in my apartment in a military jacket, holding a toy pistol I'd bought for the audition, and tried not to think about it afterward. Then the call came.

Being directed by acclaimed visionary Shinya Tsukamoto meant watching someone treat every frame like it mattered. He directs with a quiet intensity, few words, total precision. You learn quickly that stillness can carry more weight than any gesture.

Being among Academy Award® winner Geoffrey Rush (Shine, The King's Speech), Rodney Hicks (Broadway's RENT, Come From Away), Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Abbott Elementary), Lily Franky (Shoplifters, Like Father Like Son) was an honor I am still processing. I didn't share scenes with them, but just being on the same set meant the world. The person I keep coming back to is Rodney Hicks. I portray the younger version of Allen Nelson from the ages of 18-23 in flashbacks, as Rodney's older Allen Nelson anchors the film from the ages of 28-59, with his retelling of his time on the battlefield and the war back home in therapy with Dr. Daniels, who is portrayed by Geoffrey Rush. With that said, Rodney and I never shared scenes together, but we had dinners together and met before and after filming. His kind spirit showed in every interaction, and he became a guide for me throughout this project, a big brother. Watching how he carries himself, how generous he is with a younger actor still finding his footing, taught me more than any class could.

What I took away is simple. The work is the work. Show up prepared, stay honest, and trust the people around you. This project reinforced the kind of stories I want to be part of, ones that cross cultures, that sit with difficult truths, that put character before spectacle.