This is an edited reprint of our interview from the 2013 SXSW Film Festival. “Short Term 12” opens in limited release on August 23rd.
Brie Larson, the 23-year-old actress known for roles in “The United States of Tara,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” and “21 Jump Street,” is having a moment. In fact, she was crowned the unofficial “It Girl” of the 2013 SXSW Film Festival by us and many others. Why exactly? She had (count ’em) four films at the festival this week. They include the Sundance hits “The Spectacular Now” and Joseph Gordon Levitt‘s directorial debut, “Don Jon,” her second co-directed short film, “Weighting” and lastly, “Short Term 12,” the movie which won SXSW’s coveted top Grand Jury prize this spring.
Chronicling a 20-something supervising staff member of a foster care facility (Larson) as she navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend, our own A-grade review from SXSW described “Short Term 12” as “a roller coaster of every emotion, managing to be both heartwarming and heartrending.” And about Larson, we wrote, “[she] manages this perfect pitch of tone in her riveting performance as Grace, the center of this story, and the true embodiment of this quandary between work and personal life.”
Playlist contributor Kristin McCracken sat down with Larson and her “Short Term 12” co-star John Gallagher Jr. (you’ll know him from HBO‘s “The Newsroom“), to discuss the powerful film, working together and their various upcoming projects. Larson has a few exciting projects coming up, including a Bollywood musical that will shoot in India, and then working with legendary filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich after that. Oh, and of course we had to ask what she thought about all this “It Girl” status talk. Check out the interviews below.
“There’s a new discovery or secret revealed with every scene and it’s such a testament to what an incredible filmmaker Destin Cretton is. There’s a reason to keep watching.” — Brie Larson talks about “Short Term 12.”
Brie Larson says “tears” are involved with juggling multiple projects and talks about being dubbed an “It Girl.”
John Gallagher Jr. discusses the differences between acting in theater and on screen. Brie Larson talks about smashing a car.