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so for today, this corner is unofficially called the DJ Battlecat Booth.

Maybe someday it will be the Jason Mitchell Booth.

His new movie,Superfly,out last week, might help with that.

Currently, Mitchell feels like going unrecognized.

Still, he draws people into his radius.

Hes just a delight to be around.

Every topic gets a smile from him, and the same four words: Crazy story about that!

Sometimes, the phrase glosses over things that seem more complex than crazy.

Crazy story about that, says Mitchell.

Hes good in every genre.

When Jason Mitchell is in a movie, that movie is better.

The peoples champ, he jokes, as he digs into a plate of spam and eggs.

If I could have wrote my story, it wouldnt have been as good.

Mitchells not being immodest when he admits hes always had a glow.

For Jason Mitchell, they waived the fee.

Hurricane Katrina happened three months after he graduated.

Mitchells high school closed permanently.

His throne was never usurped.

Hed been singled out again.

Im a short guy, never thought Id be a model, but I looked good!

That was the first time I viewed myself in that light.

I never thought I was ugly, but I didnt think I was TV pretty.

Time started to slip by.

One year, then two.

He did construction, sweated over restaurant grills.

A friend was murdered.

The cops questioned him at work.

Mitchell began to wonder, What am I doing, where is my life at?

Hes like, Thats all you, dog you should do that shit, recalls Mitchell.

He was driving, so he didnt write down the information.

I took it as a sign from God, says Mitchell.

He called, put on his best suit, and auditioned.

First off, youre terrible, the teacher, Jaqueline Fleming, said.

Second off, you have something about you that is so brilliant that this could be your lane.

Jaqs Acting Studio gave Mitchell purpose.

For three hours a day, three days a week, he could be somebody different.

Youre like, I just fuckingdidthis, says Mitchell.

Performing gave him that same jolt.

Hed do a monologue and people were in tears.

Five weeks into school, an agent came to observe.

Some people goofed off.

He took it seriously.

Halfway through, the agent ordered everyone to be quiet.

She pointed at Mitchell and said, This young man right here, his life is about to change.

As Mitchell tells his story, the back of Nicks Coffee Shop feels like watching a one-man band.

The spoons jangle as he slaps the table to make a point.

When his Superfly co-star Trevor Jackson calls, he answers the phone in a Lennon-esque Liverpudlian accent.

Leaning back and flinging his arms around the booth, his giant jewelry clinks against his sweatshirt zipper.

Hes wearing a fist-sized, jewel-encrusted hockey mask necklace, a hat tip toFriday the 13ths summer-camp killer.

I had to get the Jason mask, he grins.

Its kind of a little play on words Im Jason.

Names are talismanic for Mitchell.

Hes like, Hi, Im Jason, Mitchell recalls.

Im like, Youre fucking kidding me, right?

Hes like, No, seriously, my names Jason.

And I was like, Mynames Jason!

It was this instant bond!

It was fate anointing his Hollywood career.

Texas Killing Fieldswasnt much of a launch pad.

I need more moremore.

I was like: This is full circle, says Mitchell.

Not just seeing Jason No.

2 again, but seeing him there on that stretch of Louisiana dirt.

I went on field trips to see those plantations that we would shoot next to, he said.

His grandfathers older brother worked those fields.

How big of a step just one family took on this land is incredible.

People in Wisconsin are watching this?

Straight out ofWisconsin?What?Superflyhas been different.

It was dope to see that motion behind a quote unquote black film, says Mitchell.

His major priority right now is ditching Eazy-E.

When the end credits rolled onKong: Skull Island, Mitchell jumped up and said, Hey guys!

Thanks for watching my movie!

The crowd started to cheer: Eazy-E!

You just watched two and a half hours of me as someone else are you kidding?

Im deeper than just this musician.

(ThatComptonandMudbounddidnt already score him a nomination says more about the Academy than about him.)

Were in perfect balance.)

Theyre like, Seven months?

But though his acting adventure started at a sprint, hes steeled for a marathon.

At this point in my career, its like when you come out the blocks when youre running track.

Im still at that part of the race where my head is down.

Im not going to stop to pat myself on the back.