Exclusive: Director Miles Warren & Jalyn Hall talk Onyx Collective’s Bruiser
Now playing on Hulu from Disney’s Onyx Collective following its theatrical run last December is director Miles Warren’s searing feature debut Bruiser, starring Trevante Rhodes as Porter, Shamier Anderson as Malcolm, Shinelle Azoroh as Monica and Jalyn Hall as Darious.
In this film about fathers, families and the effects of toxic masculinity, 14-year-old Darious (Jalyn Hall) explores the boundaries of his manhood through tumultuous interactions with Malcolm (Shamier Anderson), his strict but loving father and Porter (Trevante Rhodes), a charismatic drifter. When Darious learns Porter’s true identity, he is thrust into a conflict between the two men that may rip his family apart and threaten his safety.
“Bruiser” began as a short film, which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, made its international debut at Toronto International Film Festival, and had its domestic premiere at AFI Film Festival.
For Warren, this is a dream come true for the New York native. After graduating from Wesleyan University, he worked on Bruiser as a short with the full intention that it will lead to be a feature length. To be able to make it debut at Toronto and then be picked by Disney’s Onyx Collective, it’s a blessing.
Since his breakout role on The CW series “All American,” where he currently plays the series regular role of “Dillon James,” Jalyn Hall also broke out on the big screen with a groundbreaking performance portraying Civil Rights icon, “Emmet Till” in director Chinonye Chukwu ‘s ‘Till’ opposite Danielle Deadwyler. Hall recently wrapped production on the new Disney+ series, “The Crossover,” which is based on the bestselling Newbery Award-winning novel-in-verse by author, poet and educator Kwame Alexander.
Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with Warren and Hall on their experience working on Bruiser.
