Leo Lewis O’Neil

Slauson Rec

Slauson Rec examines the fine line between mentorship and manipulation in the pursuit of making art within an experimental theater collective. In 2018, Shia LaBeouf launched a free theater school at the Slauson Rec Center in South Central, Los Angeles. What started as an open, egalitarian workshop quickly evolved into intense daily rehearsals led by Shia, pushing participants to their limits. First-time filmmaker Leo Lewis O'Neil, a participant from day one, documents this complex journey of shifting power dynamics, and the lasting impact on the diverse group over three years.