The documentary titled “Slauson Rec,” produced by Leo Lewis O’Neil, follows the journey of a free acting school that Shia LaBeouf founded at the Slauson Recreation Center in Los Angeles in 2018. For the first time, O’Neil shared insights about this project with Vanity Fair. The documentary is compiled from approximately 800 hours of footage and features scenes reportedly depicting LaBeouf’s physical altercations with members of an experimental theater group.
In September 2018, LaBeouf made a public announcement about his theater collective on Twitter via a video post. He said, “You don’t need to be an actor, or even have considered acting before. What you do need is a story that you’re ready to share. All I ask of you is that you commit one hour of your time and stay for the same duration. If this isn’t your cup of tea, feel free to leave. If you find it interesting, I’ll be there next Saturday. Every Saturday at 9:00 a.m., I will be there, working on projects with whoever shows up. My goal is to make a difference in the world.
O’Neil attended LaBeouf’s initial class, bringing a video camera along and informing Vanity Fair that the actor wanted him to record all events at Slauson. For years afterward, O’Neil complied with this request until the school was shut down in November 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Vanity Fair, O’Neil recorded numerous instances of LaBeouf starting fights, some of which ended up in his final film.
A scene in the completed documentary depicts LaBeouf appearing to physically confront a drama student named Zeke. The footage captures LaBeouf slamming his fist on a portable table and shouting at Zeke: “I don’t care what you say to me… You have more than I ever had. What’s the problem with your attitude? I’m giving you everything I have, so stop testing me.
According to Vanity Fair, “LaBeouf first walks off, then returns and pushes Zeke towards a wall. He then tightly holds Zeke while whispering menacingly in his ear. Eventually, bystanders intervene, and LaBeouf gets into his car, speeds away. Later on FaceTime, Zeke says, ‘That was messed up.’ He adds, ‘People let him get away with it.’ Zeke shows scratches and bruises across his body, saying, ‘What kind of mentor does that?’
A month following the closure of the school, singer FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit against actor Shia LaBeouf accusing him of sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress. In reference to footage used in his documentary, director O’Neil stated that he had shown LaBeouf a trailer for the project and requested his approval. According to O’Neil, LaBeouf agreed to the film’s production without any personal edits from him; as such, scenes depicting alleged physical violence are included in the final version of the movie.
O’Neil stated that he was essentially saying, ‘Feel free to do as you see fit,’ which speaks volumes about his willingness to let this project be shared publicly. Given his ability and opportunity to halt it, this shows his extraordinary generosity. He is one of the most exposed artists I have encountered.
Shia LaBeouf told Vanity Fair: “I handed over this camera to Leonardo and urged him to express his unique vision and personal experiences without interference. I’m informed about the documentary and endorse its release. Though my methods might be unusual for some, I’m proud of the remarkable feats these children achieved. With their help, we transformed a drama class into an acting troupe. I hope nothing but the best for Leo and everyone associated with The Slauson Rec Company.
In my perspective as a movie reviewer, when I was queried about Shia LaBeouf’s leadership of the acting collective being abusive, Brian O’Neil didn’t shy away from the term. However, he didn’t entirely confirm it either. Instead, he acknowledged its possibility, adding that the word can be a quick trigger for many. To put it simply, yes, it was messed up. The phrase “hurt people hurt people” rings true in this case; LaBeouf, as someone deeply wounded, inflicted pain on others.
According to O’Neil, LaBeouf has been sent a screening link to view the full documentary.
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2025-04-02 00:46