SQUIDPURO Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese recently interviewed Jay Will, star of the new film Rob Peace, directed and adapted by Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor. In the conversation, Will shared insights about working with Ejiofor, receiving his mother’s support, and more. The film is currently showing exclusively in theaters.
Rob Peace, directed, adapted by, and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), tells the compelling true story of a brilliant young man (Jay Will) grappling with his father’s troubled past while striving for his own future. Raised by his dedicated mother (Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige, Mudbound), Rob sacrifices everything to attempt to free his incarcerated father (Ejiofor). The film also features Camila Cabello and is based on the New York Times bestseller by Jeff Hobbs.
Tyler Treese: You deliver a truly remarkable performance. Given that this film is based on a true story, does the real-life tragedy behind it influence your approach or help you connect more deeply with the material as an actor?
Jay Will: Man, that’s a great question. For me, I always honor my upbringing and how my mother raised me, and I honor my father and how he raised me. I understand that there is a specific protocol, there’s order in a lot of things. For me, in this case, applying that knowledge, I feel like the order was to speak with his family, first. Specifically his mom, and asked if I can get the blessing of doing the role. So I went to New Jersey, spoke to the family, and they sure gave me the blessing. But did feel the responsibility of bringing justice to his life since for generations his father dealt with mad injustice.
So I felt like I had an opportunity to bring a more positive light to his life and awareness to it. So, just the preliminary process for me, I had to go deal with the family and go talk to the family and make sure that I got their respect and I got their blessing. But once that happened, then the artistic stuff came. I can’t skip that first step for me only because it was a real person.
Jay Will: Exactly, if I were playing a fictional character like someone from Marvel, I wouldn’t be reaching out to Zeus for approval! But in this case, it was meaningful to connect with the real family behind the story. I found them through Facebook, reached out, and they welcomed me, which was a significant part of the process.
Regarding working with Chiwetel Ejiofor, who both directed and acted in the film, it was a unique experience. He plays my father, and the dynamic between us, especially with his character’s prolonged imprisonment, really tested our on-screen relationship. The film explores how this situation strains their bond and raises doubts, even for the son, about the father’s innocence. This prolonged injustice naturally leads to questions and internal conflict, making our portrayal of this relationship all the more intense and real.
Jay Will: Those doubts are indeed a natural part of the story, and I appreciate your kind words about our performances. Working with Chiwetel Ejiofor as a scene partner was a profound experience. One thing that stood out was his incredible ability to immerse himself in the role.
I know it might sound unusual, but I actually learned how to cry on command through this project. Chiwetel’s commitment to his role was so intense that it really pushed me to elevate my own performance. During our jail scenes, for instance, you have to fully believe you’re in a real situation. The authenticity of the environment, the real phones, and the gravity of the circumstances all contributed to making it feel genuine.
When I looked into Chiwetel’s eyes, the seriousness of the scene hit me hard. His dedication was so palpable that it snapped me out of any sense of detachment or pretense. It was like, one moment we were joking around, and the next, we were deep in the emotional weight of the scene. His ability to stay in character and bring such truth to the moment was startling, and it pushed me to dig deeper and fully commit to the seriousness of the role. Chiwetel’s performance helped me become a better actor by showing me how far you can go to make a scene real.
Jay Will: Absolutely, Chiwetel Ejiofor is one of the great actors of our time, and having him as both a director and a mentor was invaluable. Growing up, he was one of my idols, someone I looked up to even before I was certain about pursuing acting. Working with him felt like a dream come true. He wasn’t just a director; he became a coach and mentor, guiding me through the nuances of performance. He taught me about the subtleties of conveying truth in acting, like the significance of where you look and how small details impact the story. It was like getting advice from someone who’s not just a favorite actor but also a mentor at the highest level.
As for Mary J. Blige, having her as an on-screen mom was fantastic. Her experience as a musician brings a unique emotional depth to her acting. Just as a singer pours emotion into their vocals, she translates that emotional intensity into her acting. For me, as someone relatively new to the professional world, observing how she brings that emotional authenticity to her role was incredibly inspiring. I approached it with humility, knowing there’s so much I can learn from seasoned professionals like her.
And with legends like Sylvester Stallone, it’s the same attitude. I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible talents, and I make it a point to soak up as much knowledge as I can. Sly’s been amazing, offering insights and tips that have helped me grow as an actor. Keeping that student mindset allows me to respect and learn from those with more experience. It’s a blessing to be in this position, and I want to absorb every bit of wisdom from those who’ve paved the way before me. Shout out to Sylvester Stallone—he’s not only a great actor but a dedicated mentor and an all-around incredible person.
