A Documentary About Shia LaBeouf’s Acting School Allegedly Shows His Physical Violence

Leo Lewis O’Neil’s documentary “Slauson Rec” chronicles the rise and fall of a free acting school Shia LaBeouf started at the Slauson Recreation Center in Los Angeles in 2018. O’Neil spoke for the first time to Vanity Fair about the project, which was pulled together from 800 hours of footage and reportedly includes scenes of LaBeouf’s physical violence towards members of the experimental theater collective.

LaBeouf announced the theater collective to the public on Twitter in a September 2018 video post: “You don’t have to be an actor; you don’t have to ever have thought about being an actor. You do, however, have to have a story that you’re willing to share. All I ask of you is that you show up for one hour and stay for one hour. If you don’t like it, leave; if you do like it, I’ll be there next Saturday. I’ll be there every Saturday at 9:00 a.m., building shit with whoever shows up. I’m trying to change the world.”

O’Neil showed up to LaBeouf’s first class with a video camera and told Vanity Fair the actor asked if he would film everything that took place at Slauson. O’Neil did just that over the next few years until the school was disbanded in November 2020 amid the COVID pandemic. Per Vanity Fair: “O’Neil captured multiple instances of LaBeouf initiating physical altercations, several of which made the final cut of his movie.”

LaBeouf was sued by singer FKA Twigs for sexual battery, assault and emotional distress a month after the school was disbanded. Given the footage in his documentary, O’Neil said he sent LaBeouf a trailer for the project seeking his sign-off on it. The director told Vanity Fair that LaBeouf gave his full blessing for the movie to be made without any editorializing on his behalf; thus, scenes of alleged physical violence remain in the final cut.

“He’s basically just being like, ‘You do what you need to do,’” O’Neil said. “It shows a lot that he is willing to have this be out in the world and not try to stop it. He had every reason and possibility to stop it. … He’s one of the most vulnerable artists I’ve ever seen.”

LaBeouf gave the following statement to Vanity Fair: “I gave Leo this camera and encouraged him to share his vision and his personal experience without edit. I am aware of the doc and fully support the release of the film. While my teaching methods may be unconventional for some, I am proud of the incredible accomplishments that these kids achieved. Together we turned a drama class into an acting company. I wish only good things for Leo and everyone who was part of The Slauson Rec Company.”

Acting school led to this...........

[quote]The Slauson Rec Company.”

Take the Slauson cutoff; cut off your Slauson............

He needs to be locked up before he kills someone.

No pic of Zeke?

This used to happen everyday at the Jayne Mansfield School of Fine Acting & Modeling Academy School.

[quote] This used to happen everyday at the Jayne Mansfield School of Fine Acting & Modeling Academy School.

Or the Copacabana School of Dramatic Art, perhaps?

He is a sad, angry, mentally ill little boy. He has been abused in every single way you can think of, and then some. It's a wonder he has not hurt himself or others or been placed in a mental home or a jail. And where does a man like this get attention- from Hollywood of course. As an actor he can hide and claim his actions , including being nude all the time, are for the art of acting. But he can't really act? Come on - all he does is act like he can really act- like he's a better actor for being so open and free with his art. His crazy nature is always on display- and people foolishly buy into it.

He would be perfect in a new version of " The Snake Pit".

Yeah. And KanyeKKK built a school for kids. And some parents sent their children to it. Why is any of this legal. It doesn't matter if Shia's school was free. It's unethical that let untrained "teachers" who are mentally ill to boot to run fun schools.

He should be shunned, or at the very least stoned.

cray gonna cray

I still have naughty dreams about this guy. Not sure what it is about him.

He peaked about 8 years ago, for sexiness. That's also when he went permanently nuts.

And yet I was the one who got cancelled for my acting class?

Shia has been cancelled several times, R14.

Two interesting comments on Reddit.

[quote]He’s mentally ill and should not be in a position of power or in any professional environment. He’s an unstable threat and does not deserve the privilege of celebrity and everything that comes with working at the highest level in his profession. I have first hand experience with him. It’s not pretty.

[quote]I've stumbled upon him at dinner in Culver and he was with (what we deduced to be) his [italic]bible study group[/italic] acting like a fucking insane person. People of all ages, other actors, etc. all just allowing this man to wander screaming across the dining area.

What is it with bipolar folk and converting to a super conservative religion? Sinéad O'Connor was another one who went all in on that nonsense. Is it just rebellion, or something more?

Isn't he a Jesus-freak nowadays?

I was bracing for future anti-gay statements by him now that he's a born-again Christian.

Was he abused as a kid?

I like his average nude body.

no one complains about his looks, but some might suspect he is grubby.

He has that “sweaty nethers” look…

Apparently, he is a changed man now.

Apparently it's the talk of Cannes.

Obligatory "he looks like shit now."

I would rather go to the Royal Tampa Academy of Dramatic Tricks.

I don't see a problem.

I knew the Walgreens security guard he attacked. The guard was a teddy bear - a totally ncie guy. Only a little piece of human excrement would attack him.

To think that back when he was a black woman on The Cosby Show we never knew this sad future lay in store.

When he did Fury with Brad Pitt, he had to be taken aside by Pitt and told to shower he smelled so awful.

[Quote] When he did Fury with Brad Pitt, he had to be taken aside by Pitt and told to shower he smelled so awful.

And coming from Brad Pitt that really says something

Mark my words. This will end him.

'Cuz when I think of everything Los Angeles needs, tops on the list is a "free acting school" founded by Shia LaBeouf. Keep changing the world, bro.

OP you seem super invested in this. Why?

R16 A LOT of it has to do with recovery from substance abuse.

Can't believe I used to be "married" to that.

Y'know, I can respect that he at least tries to be dedicated to his idea of art. He might be way too intense and unhinged and self-defeating but I'll take that over James Franco who just expects to half-ass everything and coast by.

He literally abuses people r35

Not saying I agree with what he does, R36. Franco abuses people too, of course.

I think Shia is iconic, he’s always crashing out but somehow bounces back to do another ridiculous thing no matter what.

He would still look if he’d just shave.

[quote] I think Shia is iconic

Do you know what this word means? I don’t think you do.

Maybe Disney can start reboot shows based on the child actors it's fucked up.

Have 29 yo Grandma, Jamie Lynn Spears, back in high school, trying to graduate before her daughter does, competing for the same boys, sharing cases of pink eye.

#maternalrivalry

Bible study? Isn't he Jewish?

R40 you have autism

Jews read the Bible. Ever heard of the Old Testament? That's their Bible.

Tinymeat rage.

Jews call the Old Testament the Torah not the Bible. I also think of Christianity when I hear Bible.