The most books and movies that are handed to teenagers are filled with stereotypes.
Jazz is smooth and cool. Jazz is rage. Jazz flows like water. Jazz never seems to begin or end. Jazz isn’t methodical, but jazz isn’t messy either. Jazz is a conversation, a give and take. Jazz is the connection and communication between musicians. Jazz is abandon.
I think as long as I have a creative outlet, I’m happy.
When romance is done well in a movie, its awesome.
Jazz is a constant theme in my life. My father is a jazz pianist, and from an early age I have been surrounded by it.
I can play a bunch of instruments but drums? My brothers a drummer and Ive always been jealous that hes such a good drummer. I always try to play but its always kinda just bashing. I can keep time but no one really wants to hear me play drums.
I’m lucky that I got to start acting when I was so young, and people put me in these movies. A lot of people don’t get to play these parts because they start a little older.
There’s no master plan; I’m just going with what I’m inspired to do and what I get asked to do, and luckily the things I’ve been the most passionate about, I’ve gotten to do. And a lot of times I’ve gone up for movies that I didn’t really care that much about, and I never got that.
I think music is my favorite thing to do, but I go through periods where I think differently.
I have learned a lot from jazz. I compare good acting to jazz music. The more you study and prepare as an actor, the more equipped you are to live in the moment. Just like the gifted musicians in my dad’s quartet, it takes a courageous actor to be free.
A lot of times people come up to me saying ‘oh my god you can see,’ and they think they’re the first person to think of that joke, but they’re probably the 10,000th one to say that joke.
I would not describe myself as an avid jazz fan and I am not a jazz musician myself. However, that is not to say that jazz does not play a vital and important role in my life.
I love James Taylor, Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith and Nine Inch Nails.
I think Paul Weitz is a really amazing director, obviously with tons of acclaim and stuff, but I still think he is underrated. And I think he’s amazing to work with, so I was super lucky.
I’ve been kind of lucky. I’ve always just kind of followed whatever my passion was, and that seems to have led me to better places than if I had followed some career trajectory, which I wouldn’t even know how to start.
I don’t want to play high schoolers anymore. I guess I don’t feel that way. I just want to play characters who are really good.
A lot of times you’ll do a movie, and you’ll be working with adults with families and kids and stuff. There’s a level – you guys aren’t going to be hanging out every second, you know?
I kind of help solve world peace and world hunger. That’s just kind of an average day off for me.