This November, Gavin Warren will be seen playing Young Marcus Dollar (Blaine Maye) in the release of Western feature film Long Shadows, and also upcoming, he will be playing Young Steef (Theo Von) in the buddy comedy Busboys, which is written by David Spade and Theo Von. Gavin played John Semander in the true-crime short film The Empty Chair, and in this year’s release of The Unbreakable Boy, Gavin portrayed Logan LeRette, which featured a cast including Jacob Laval, Zachary Levi, Meghann Fahy and Pilot Bunch. Amongst Gavin’s further projects, he played Elliot Waller in Blumhouse feature film Night Swim, Daniel Williams in feature film The Man in the White Van (with Sean Astin also in the cast), filmed for the final series of Fear the Walking Dead as Finch, played Young Rusty (Luke Wilson) in the 2021 release of 12 Mighty Orphans, and he played Young Rick Armstrong in First Man. Recently, Gavin answered our questions about his upcoming projects – Long Shadows and Busboys, portraying Logan LeRette in The Unbreakable Boy and working on the final series of Fear the Walking Dead.
In the upcoming Western feature film Long Shadows, you play Young Marcus Dollar (Blaine Maye); what are you looking forward to for the release in November, and who do you think will enjoy watching it?
I think right now lots of people are liking Westerns, so I think it will do great in theatres. I’m also really looking forward to seeing it on the big screen.
Is there anything you can tell us about Long Shadows and what was it like on set of the film?
The set was so cool! We filmed in Arizona, and the entire studio was Western. it was really fun.
How was it filming as Young Steef (Theo Von) in the upcoming buddy comedy Busboys, which was written by David Spade and Theo Von?
This movie is going to be great! Theo Von and David Spade were so funny to work with. I couldn’t stop laughing on set.
What was it like being part of the short film The Empty Chair as John Semander and telling the true-crime story?
Being part of this was special to me. We’re family friends with the real family that the short film was about. The full story needs to be shared, and they are hoping to turn it into a limited series.
What was Logan LeRette like to portray in this year’s release of The Unbreakable Boy, and how did you prepare for taking on the role?
I had a blast on set with this one. It was also a true story, and we were able to hang out with the real family on set. Logan and I have a lot in common.
What was your experience like working on the film and meeting Jacob Laval, Zachary Levi, Meghann Fahy, and Pilot Bunch?
We all had a great time on set. Zachary, Meghann, and Drew (Powell) would always be jamming out on guitar and singing together during breaks. Pilot, Jacob, and I had a great time goofing around on set.
How did you feel when the film was released earlier this year, and what was the premiere like to attend?
This movie was filmed during COVID and was supposed to be released several years ago, but it was pulled two weeks before the release date because nobody was attending theatres. We were so excited when it finally went to theatres. I think it was delayed by about four years, so reuniting that many years later was really great.
Did you have any favourite scenes in The Unbreakable Boy, and how was it seeing the completed film for the first time?
Well, I loved beating up Pilot. LOL. He was like twice my size, and then I ran and jumped on him and took him down. I love doing my own stunts. I also loved the scene where Pilot and I become friends and I give him a gift. In rehearsal we kept laughing, but once the camera was rolling we locked in, and it was a really great scene.
How would you describe your character Elliot Waller in Night Swim, and what did you enjoy most about filming for the supernatural horror film?
Filming scary movies is one of my favourites. I love the special effects and the drama. Elliot is very intuitive and observant. I really enjoyed filming this one.
Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role of Elliot, and how was it getting into character?
I was so excited to book Night Swim. Booking a Blumhouse film had been a big goal of mine for many years. I did several rounds of auditions and had to show lots of footage of me swimming.
What was it like playing Daniel Williams in The Man in the White Van, and do you have any favourite highlights from your time on set?
This was another great experience. Sean Astin was a great role model for me. He would often help me ahead of time and give me acting tips. He is super funny and nice.
How was it joining the cast of the final series of Fear the Walking Dead as Finch, and what was the show like to work on?
Fear the Walking Dead was lots of fun too. I loved seeing all of the zombies in real life. I had so much fun.
In 2021, you were seen playing Young Rusty (Luke Wilson) in 12 Mighty Orphans, can you tell us about this?
Wow, that was a long time ago! I think I was eight or nine when that filmed. I really like time pieces and liked going back to the 1920s. I had just flown from Texas and landed in Los Angeles for a director’s session when my mom got the call that I booked 12 Mighty Orphans. We literally had to drop off our bags at the hotel and fly back to Texas the next morning. They delayed my director’s session in LA by a few days, so I flew back to LA, did the director’s session, and then back to Texas to complete filming.
What are some of your stand-out memories from filming First Man, in which you played Young Rick Armstrong?
This was another crazy audition experience. I was on hold for this project for about three months. The director, Damien Chazelle, was travelling all over the US to find talent for this movie. My mom got the call that I booked it, and we needed to pack our bags for two months and hop on a plane the next day. I just couldn’t believe it. Many of my scenes got cut due to timing, but the experience was amazing. They actually built a house in a neighbourhood and burned it down and cut the scene – I think you can still find it online.
You’ve also worked on other projects including #FBF, A Hard Problem, NCIS: New Orleans, Daybreak, and Back Roads, can you share more about those experiences?
I’ve always had great experiences on set. I absolutely love being an actor and am grateful for every booking and every opportunity.
How did you get into acting, and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?
I told my mom when I was seven years old that I wanted to be an actor. She entered me in a contest in LA for fun to see how I would do. I had to do improv, commercials, and monologues in front of hundreds of people including agents, managers, and casting directors. I ended up winning the entire thing against all ages. My mom’s phone didn’t stop ringing, and then I started booking jobs quickly.
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?
My favourite films are Interstellar and Gladiator. My favourite TV show is probably Game of Thrones.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I like streaming and gaming, I also have started playing guitar, and I like being active playing any sports or working on flips and tricks.
What are you hoping the next few months bring for you, and do you have any further projects you can tell us about?
Right now I have just been auditioning and I can’t wait to get back on set soon!!!
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