Nickel Boys is set in Jim Crow-era Florida. It follows two black teenagers, Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), who are forced to endure the brutal conditions at Nickel Academy, which is a reform school for boys. While Turner teaches survival through cynicism, Elwood clings to his belief in justice despite the horrors that surround them. Their friendship offers a glimmer of hope amid a backdrop of systemic racism and violence.
The performances of Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson bring something special to the table. Without your chemistry, Nickel Boys It doesn't work as well as it does. This is Herisse and Wilson's first major feature film role, but it certainly won't be their last. Nickel Boys is now playing in New York theaters and opens in Los Angeles on December 20. The film also stars Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Daveed Diggs.
TelaRant interviewed Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson about Nickel Boyswhich is based on a book inspired by a true story. They discussed what it was like filming with a unique point-of-view style and their reactions to watching the completed film for the first time. Herisse and Wilson also talked about the formation of their chemistry, which comes across beautifully on screen.
Ethan Herisse is very happy that Nickel Boys was filmed POV style
“I know after watching it for the first time, I kind of punched it. Like, yeah, it worked.”
ScreenRant: The POV footage really makes this film feel personal to viewers. Can you talk about the challenges of filming in this style?
Brandon Wilson: I remember we were pushed into it like day one. We didn't know, I mean, we knew it was going to be POV, but we really didn't, any of us, we talked about it, we overly considered what it would be like, or what this process would be like, even the first day we started.
I remember the first scene we did together. I think Ethan was sitting on the grass, or not Ethan, well, Ethan was, but also the cameraman was there, and I was looking at the camera, and so we did both sides of it. I think right after we did that scene, we were like, oh, okay, we need to explore these scenes more together before we look into the lens so we can do it more honestly and bring the lens more to life, because that's different.
Ethan Herisse: To be honest, I'm really glad we did this, because more and more we're hearing from audiences how they're really being drawn into scenes and moments, and are able to really engage with the characters. And I'm glad that's the result, because when we're doing this, you have no idea what it's going to look like. You trust RaMell, you trust everyone who is putting so much love and hard work into what we're doing.
But at the end of the day, you have no idea. So I know after watching it for the first time, I kind of raised my fist. Like, yeah, it worked. Like, that was really immersive and an all-encompassing experience. And then to hear that other members of the public have felt that way too, and it's affecting them, and in that way, and in a lot of ways, it's been really, really cool.
ScreenRant: Brandon, what was your reaction when you first watched it?
Brandon Wilson: I wasn't pumping my fists after seeing this movie.
Ethan Herisse: It actually came after hours of thought. Hours of reflection, followed by a punch.
Brandon Wilson: Like Ethan was saying, you have no idea what this is going to be like. I have never seen a film where you, as an audience member, look directly into the eyes of the person on the screen. And the first time it was a little disorienting, but also, by the end, I felt so surprised by how vulnerable I felt, and kind of tired too.
I saw it completely alone, which was cool, because then I just wanted to be silent. So I sat there for a while and then it grew. I was like, Oh, that's a good movie. But also all the feelings that were still unexplored, and it's very different the second time I saw it. It was a much more direct emotional effect. And I also managed to live more in the world. And then punch, yes.
Chemistry came naturally for Brandon Wilson and Ethan Herisse on Nickel Boys
“As we worked together, our friendship also grew.”
ScreenRant: This movie doesn't really work without the believable chemistry between the two of you. Can you talk about forming this?
Brandon Wilson: Chemistry forms on its own. We did a chemistry reading in Los Angeles and it was the first time we met. And it felt kind of natural and like there was an ease. And RaMell and they talk about it, they're like, they're watching us, we're in the same room, and they're on Zoom, and they're watching us, and they're asking each other if we've known each other how long we've been friends. So I think it felt good and natural and immediate.
Ethan Herisse: And after that, we were able to spend time together and film in New Orleans. We bought food together, Waffle House. We watched movies. We just got to spend time getting to know each other as people. You're watching Elwood and Turner's friendship progress and grow on screen. And as we worked together, our friendship also grew. So it's a cool opportunity.
More about Nickel Boys (2024)
Elwood Curtis' college dream crumbles on the side of a two-lane Florida highway. Bearing the brunt of an innocent misstep, he is condemned to the underworld of Nickel Academy, a brutal reformatory sunk deep in the Jim Crow South. He finds another pupil, Turner who has seen it all. The two black teenagers form an alliance: Turner offering fundamental tips for survival, Elwood clinging to his optimistic worldview. Against the backdrop of the growing Civil Rights Movement, Elwood and Turner's existence seems worlds away from the polished oratory of the Rev. Martin Luther King. Despite Nickel's brutality, Elwood struggles to maintain his humanity, awakening new vision for Turner.
Check out our others Nickel Boys interviews here:
Source: Screen Rant Plus