By Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer
Actor Reid Miller was around 13 years old when he first heard about the death of Jadin Bell. The Oregon teenager who died by suicide in 2013 inspired a national conversation about bullying and its effects on LGBTQ youth.
It never occurred to Miller, now 21, that in less than a decade he would get the opportunity to portray Jadin in a feature film. Doing so, he said, was "an honor."
"Joe Bell" is not an easy story, but it's one that many, including Jadin's surviving family, have been committed to telling for years. After Jadin died, his father, Joe Bell, decided to walk across the continental United States spreading awareness about the negative effects of bullying.
Producer Cary Joji Fukunaga stumbled on the story in an article in 2013 and saw in it the possibility for a feature, enlisting the Oscar-winning screenwriting duo behind "Brokeback Mountain," Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry, who died this year, to bring it to life. Not long after, Mark Wahlberg signed on to produce and star as Joe Bell, who is coming to terms with the guilt around not doing enough to support and protect his son.
Naturally, the part of Jadin was pivotal and led to a nationwide casting search. Casting director Avy Kaufman brought Miller, a relatively unknown actor, to the attention of the filmmakers. Not only did the Texas native resemble Jadin, but, according to director Reinaldo Marcus Green, he also had an immediate chemistry with Wahlberg.
"He and Mark connected in a way that felt like real life, and this was with no camera, this is just me watching the two of them do a scene in Mark's room," Green said. "Jadin had a natural strength about him. He was quite joyous on the outside, but he also had experienced a lot of darkness, and Reid was able to embody all of that."
As a big fan of the Transformers movies, Miller said he geeked out a bit during his first meeting with Wahlberg, but they quickly got to work and formed a deep bond. Wahlberg, Miller added, treated him as both an artistic equal and like a son. The unique relationship helped him find the emotional strength and vulnerability necessary for the difficult role. And it proved to be a moving experience for Wahlberg too.
"Every time we read a scene together, I got super emotional," Wahlberg said. "He constantly made me think about my own sons."
Miller never lost sight of the delicacy of the challenge of portraying Jadin either, which came into even clearer focus when he met Jadin's mother, Lola Lathrop, one day on set.
"It's such a sensitive thing. I did my best to portray him as authentically as I could while remembering that it's not necessarily my job to bring him back but to give his family and friends a piece of him back," Miller said. "I feel like we did that."
And he hopes the movie helps to open people's minds about the ongoing issues around bullying and LQBTQ rights.
"We live in a time where equality and acceptance and unity is unfortunately something we still have to fight for, especially with the LGBTQ community," he said. "We've had a lot of laws passed that are very beneficial to the LGBTQ+ community, but there are still so many things and so many fights to be had for equality. And I hope that this movie softens the hearts of those people who maybe don't view them as people."
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More