After capturing audience attention as young Ronnie Devoe in BET’s New Edition biopic series, and landing roles on Black Lightning, Atlanta and Queen Sugar, Myles Truitt has landed his first starring feature film role in Kin. Myles plays Eli co-staring alongside James Franco, Dennis Quaid and Zoe Kravitz. The young actor chatted with The Knockturnal about working on the film.
The Knockturnal: You play an interesting character in this film. How would you describe him, as well as his relationships to the other characters?
Myles Truitt: He’s quiet, to himself and independent. He’s a rebel, he’s an outcast. He’s an outcast, but he doesn’t have a connection with his father nor his brother. His mother passed, he’s just in a lot of deep emotions at this point in his life. And he’s just trying to find a connection. His brother comes out of jail, and he figures out some different things with him as well as with his father, like that he’s quote unquote a “replacement child,” and that makes Eli even more sad and emotional. To get things off Eli’s mind he scraps for metal, and while he’s scrapping for metal he finds this futuristic weapon. The whole movie is just about him trying to find a connection from this and trying to find that connection with his brother as well, and his family, and stuff like that.
The Knockturnal: What is the most fun role you’ve had thus far, and what would your dream role be?
Myles Truitt: I would have to say Kin because it was my first ever main role that I played with. It’s my first ever main role first of all and it’s my first ever feature film. That’s even better because I feel that’s a huge stepping stone for my career. Even though I was the only kid on set I really did connect with not only the cast, but the camera operators and the craft team and the directors and the producers and the AD’s and stuff like that. We were all like a big family on set and that’s what I loved about filming Kin. But one of my goals is to film something, I don’t even care if it’s a cameo or something, but I’ve always wanted to film with Will Smith. He’s one of my role models, so I’ve always wanted to work with him.
The Knockturnal: James Franco can be an intense actor to share a scene with. What was it like acting alongside him, as well as Dennis Quaid?
Myles Truitt: I respect his professional acting skills because he’s very professional on set. I had no problems working with him. He was very cool and understanding of where I was coming from as an actor and I learned different things especially from Dennis Quaid. I know he played my father but Dennis was like my best friend on set. We were listening to different music and I was surprised he liked the same music I liked. So it was really cool we connected on that level. We were just best buds on set and learned different things and it was just a humbling experience for me.
The Knockturnal: The weapon that you handle in this film is somewhat of a mystery. How would you describe it?
Myles Truitt: I would describe it as heavy, out of this world, sci fi metal like grainy, mystery type of thing. There are a lot of things going on with this that Eli doesn’t know. It’s really hard to explain, maybe if we have a sequel it’ll explain the weapon a little bit more.
The Knockturnal: What do you think audience members should expect to find in watching this film?
Myles Truitt: In this movie I expect for the audience to find a connection with how Eli and his brother and his father and Milly all connect with each other as a family and that friendship bond. That’s really what I hope people take from this. It’s just a family movie, just about finding different connections.
Even with the weapon itself. The weapon is really a character in this movie. Just really finding a connection.
The Knockturnal: Hollywood has had somewhat of a resurgence of westerns using different environments, including Wind River and Hell or High Water. Would you say that this film fits the western genre pretty well?
Myles Truitt: I think so. Yeah probably especially where it’s filmed.
The Knockturnal: Kin is based off a short film that the Baker brothers made in 2014 called Bag Man. Did you see the film to prepare for this one?
Myles Truitt: Bag Man was really one of the main reasons why I wanted to be a part of this film. I saw Bag Man and instantly when I saw the weapon and even when I saw the character Eli I was like ‘that’s me.’ The way he carried himself and his mannerisms and how he was independent was just all about himself. I felt like I would be able to play him very well because I connected with him and I had a whole bunch of similarities. It was very easy for me to embody that character.
The Knockturnal: What would your advice be to any young actors who want to get involved in the business?
Myles Truitt: Stay in school, be humble, learn from your mistakes, every no gets you closer to a yes, and just stay true to what you want to do in life. My slogan, I have t-shirts out and the slogan is ‘stay true to it.’ My last name is Truitt so it’s a little play on words right there. So just stay true to what you want to do in life. Even if you don’t want to be an actor, if you want to be a doctor or an astronaut or an Uber driver. If you really want to do it, put your mind to it and just stay true to it. You can do it. Don’t let anyone degrade you and tell you what you can and cannot do. So yeah a little word of advice.
Kin hits theaters this Friday
Jake King contributed reporting.