This is Us actor Lonnie Chavis is set to star in new film, The Water Man. And, we won’t have to wait long because the new film debuts May 7th! Interested in what this new project is about? Well, here’s a synopsis of the film.
Gunner (Lonnie Chavis) sets out on a quest to save his ill mother (Rosario Dawson) by searching for a mythic figure who possesses the secret to immortality, the Water Man. After enlisting the help of a mysterious local girl, Jo (Miller), they journey together into the remote Wild Horse forest — but the deeper they venture, the stranger and more dangerous the forest becomes. Their only hope for rescue is Gunner’s father (David Oyelowo), who will stop at nothing to find them and in the process will discover who his son really is.
The Water Man is David Oyelowo’s directorial debut. The film will also be executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Films.
In addition to the 13-year-old This Is Us actor, David Oyelowo, Rosario Dawson, Amiah Miller, Alfred Molina and Maria Bello will also star in the film.
Ahead of the film’s premiere at the TIFF Festival last year, Chavis sat down with THR. Here’s a snippet of his interview.
Why was this a film you wanted to be a part of?
I can relate to this film. I feel like if you had a loved one that was ill or sick, you would definitely do anything for them. I mean, Gunner got chased by horses, he went to go find the Water Man who was seven feet tall. I definitely feel I can relate to this and everybody can relate to this.
This was your first feature film, how did it compare to other projects you’ve worked on?
I was very comfortable on the set. Everybody on the set allowed me to be a kid and allowed me to be a professional. The leader of this set [Oyelowo] was wonderful, he was fantastic. It was something out of this world for him to be an actor and also be directing everybody on the set. His patience was unlimited. He would even tell some of us to take a breather and to take a beat.
How was it to work with David Oyelowo and Rosario Dawson?
Me and Ms. Rosario, we were always cracking jokes on set. We always had so much fun on set, especially in the eating scene at the dinner table, we were eating up everything. She was such a professional too, she always made me feel comfortable by saying, “It’s just me, you and your mom, nobody else, just focus on the scene.” It was a very enjoyable set.
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This was David’s first time directing a film, what did you think of his directing style?
Amazing. On the first day I remember he put us all in the circle just for us to pray and said, “We’re going to do this for love, nobody’s going to have a negative attitude. Every day we’re going to come set and we’re going to do our job with love.” It was so beautiful.
To read the remainder of the interview, click here. Make sure to put May 7th on your calendar. You don’ want to miss this one!
