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Sunny Suljic will talk aboutJonah Hillfor as long as youll let him.
I wasnt, like, fanning over him.
I actually am a huge fan of Jonah.
I mean, I love all his films.
I loveWar Dogs,Superbad,Wolf of Wall Street.
Here, Suljic, sitting in an A24 conference room, pauses to consider.
That sounded, like, super planned out.
But actually, I just know those films, and I know all the scenes that Jonah was in.
I love those films.
Suljic pauses again, determined to get it right.
I think Jonahs such a great actor and that sounds like such an actor response Jonahisa really talented actor.
Suljic really admires Hill, and when he chooses his words so preciously, it shows.
Many of the movies shots linger on Stevies searching face, his furrowed, curious brows.
Jonah is so experienced and hes gone such a long way, he says.
Suljic talked to Vulture about the movie, skateboarding, and this up-and-coming director Jonah Hill, too.
How did you meet Jonah?The co-producer, Mikey Alfred, knew me from skating.
I was actually skating at my local skate park in Los Angeles.
I told Jonah that Ive been in films, because he had no clue who I was.
I went through the casting process and I went in for a couple auditions.
I think it was the screaming scene where Im frustrated with my mom after the skate shop.
Its a blurry memory because I did a lot of improvising there.
I love the way you talk about him.I love Jonah.
I have so much respect for him.
Its not a fake, Im not being fake, Im being really genuine.
I mean, I love Jonah as a person and Ive learned a lot of things from him.
What was your first impression of Stevie?
Stevies trying to find a friend group.
The movie isnt based on skateboarding, but everyone in the skate community is very supportive.
It sounds pretty cheesy, but it is a family.
Its super hard to explain, because Ive been skating for so long.
Its just a very strong feeling and the atmosphere is insane.
Ive watched some of your skating videos on Instagram.
Youre so good in real life, but in the movie youre playing a beginner.
Was it very difficult to act worse at skating then you really are?It was insanely hard.
With acting its a lot of facial expressions and you’re free to dig deep in that moment.
But when I first started skating, I didnt really remember the process of me learning.
I actually started skating transition, like, bowls and stuff.
So, I actually didnt start off with the street, like how to ollie.
Yeah, so about 10 years ago.
It sounds so crazy saying that, 10 years ago.
I mean, Ive been skating all my life.
My mom loved the skating culture, not even really as a sport, just as a lifestyle.
You have to have that drive.
A lot of people cant just fall and instantly get back up.
Your mom was very supporting of you skating, but in the movie Stevies mom is not.
I think that it was something different and she didnt know any of the people.
But me growing up in skating, its a gateway, its a therapy.
You know what I mean?
You release a lot of negative energy and you just forget about everything.
I did, like, one trick.
When did you want to start acting?
I love that movie so much, and I would always re-create some of the scenes.
My moms very supportive and I mean, she really helped me out.
What did you think the first time you saw the movie?I was shocked.
I did not like my performance.
The skating, it didnt look too believable to me, so that like caught me off guard.
But Ilovedthe movie, the way it played out.
I started tearing up at the end.
Not because like, it was so emotional like, Oh, Sunny whatd you do?
But then the first two times were like,Wait, it didnt process, it was insane.
Over this process of filming, really theres like fake people and jealousy kills.
We all skate and its a really nice environment and very supportive.
It just feels like family.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
