courtesy of producers Carl Rumbaugh, Gregory Thomas, and Meteora Entertainment
_Runt_ is Cameron Boyce’s final film completed before he passed, and will be debuted at the Mammoth Film Festival on February 29th. The film brings attention to the violence that many kids can resort to when subjected to bullying, or misguidance. The role of “Cal,” portrayed by Cameron is certainly a more mature, and darker side of him from what we’ve seen in his previous Disney roles, and led to the inspiration for Cameron’s social media campaign, Wielding Peace. This campaign showcases celebrities, victims of gun violence, and people from around the world wielding a symbol of peace as if it were a gun.
The film and Cameron’s campaign go hand-in-hand in order to bring attention to ending violence, and continue the conversation about how young people can head down the wrong path . The Cameron Boyce Foundation also draws attention to gun violence along with an emphasis on ending epilepsy and SUDEP. Additionally, this foundation addresses the global water crisis. You can read more about [The Cameron Boyce Foundation online](https://thecameronboycefoundation.org/) and check out Cameron’s [Wielding Peace Campaign on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wieldingpeace/?hl=en).
By addressing such topics as bullying, and misguided youth, and the result of that, the film teaches its audience a lesson through its main character, Cal; a lesson where violence will only worsen a situation. Cameron took this role very seriously and completely transformed himself into the character. He dedicated time to alienate those around him in an effort to truly feel loneliness in order to give his best performance.
Through the partnership between The Cameron Boyce Foundation’s Wielding Peace, and the producers of RUNT, the objective is to bring forth focus on how youth can take the wrong turn, and what steps can be taken to guide them to make better choices. Victor and Libby Boyce proclaim that this message parallels the issue of gun violence and stresses the importance of helping troubled people find peaceful outlets.
I got the chance to talk with the producers, Carl Rumbaugh and Gregory Thomas, and Victor and Libby Boyce, Cameron’s parents. I also got to gain some insight on the film from one of the actresses, [Nicole Elizabeth Berger](https://nicoleberger.com/), who plays the role of Cecily. Additionally, Kasey Kitchen, the spokesperson for The Cameron Boyce Foundation and _Runt_ brings together both Cameron’s campaign and the film.
**You created this film with Cameron. How was the experience working together and what is your favorite memory from filming?**
Producers: Working with Cameron was really interesting. All we really knew was his work from Disney’s Descendent films. When we first Skyped with him, we remember being really impressed with his take on the character Cal. He was eager to dive into this complex, dark character. On set, Cameron was very method. He tended to keep his distance from the cast and crew to maintain the isolation that his character Cal was experiencing. We had a long chase scene on the high school campus between Cameron (as Cal), Nicole Berger (as Cecily), and Aramis Knight (the antagonist, Vic). It was an intense, emotional, and violent sequence. To see these three actors come together and bring it to life was very impressive. They handled it with maturity, professionalism, and great execution.
Nicole Elizabeth Berger: From the first time I read the script, I knew that this film was going to be a dark story about the challenges faced by teenagers. I knew Cameron as a Disney-star. I had watched his many movies and TV shows and thought I knew who he was. I learned so much about him as we worked together. He immersed himself in Runt and set an example for me and others of the need to be "in-character" throughout filming. He is an incredibly talented actor -- charismatic and genuine. Other than shooting basketballs occasionally on the court near filming, Cameron was always focused on the film. He embraced me from the first time I met him. He made me feel like we had worked together before, even though this was the first time. My favorite memory from the film was a scene in which we both fell off a bicycle together. He made me feel at ease, and this scene showed, for the first time, the emotional connection that had developed between us.
**Cameron’s role of Cal was very mature compared to much of the work he did for Disney. How did he prepare for the performance and did he enjoy it?**
Victor and Libby Boyce: The role of Cal was a great departure from anything Cameron ever did with Disney or any other projects he worked on. After “Gamers Guide” ended, Cameron was determined to stretch his skillset and show the world that he did indeed have real acting chops. He took the role of Cal VERY seriously, so much so that it was a shock to me, \[Libby Boyce\], and I how much he immersed himself into the character. The character of Cal lived a tough life, had no role models and had a difficult relationship with his mother. Cameron on the other hand has a very close relationship with his family, so he found it hard to flip the switch on and off set, so for the few months that Cameron worked on Runt, he remained in character. It was tough at home to see Cameron so quiet and dark, but it was very convincing. It was so convincing that it upset me, because I was so used to Cameron being sweet and attentive to me, but as Cal, he barely made eye contact with me.
We are very proud that Cameron finally got to explore a mature theme with his acting, especially playing a role that hit on so many of the things that Cameron felt strongly about such as the importance of guidance, love, role modeling, kindness, etc. Cameron was also very proud of his performance which is unusual, because he was a perfectionist and was very hard on himself when it came to things that were important to him.
**What was the initial inspiration or topic that made you want to create this movie?**
Producers: When we read the script, written by William Coakley (who is also our director), we were moved by these very complex and grounded characters. With all of the struggles that kids are growing up with today, this script felt like it was an accurate representation of what kids deal with on a daily basis. This felt like a story that needed to be told.
**How will the film advocate Cameron’s Wielding Peace campaign?**
Kasey Kitchen (Spokesperson for The Cameron Boyce Foundation and RUNT): The producers have partnered with The Cameron Boyce Foundation’s Wielding Peace campaign, by using the film’s platform to spread awareness for a common message. RUNT depicts the effects of youth who are bullied, misguided, and oftentimes feel alone, and the result of what happens when there’s nowhere to turn. Cameron was in part inspired by his role when he created Wielding Peace, which he did in an effort to encourage others to make different decisions… He wanted youth to choose peace over violence through creative outlets or hobbies that allowed them to better express themselves. By joining forces, we are able to shine a brighter light on a cause that collectively implores us to look to a more peaceful alternative.
**The Cameron Boyce Foundation also promotes peace and brings attention to gun violence. Are there any plans on how the foundation will use the film to become more popular and conversed about?**
Victor and Libby Boyce: In the film, the character of Cal is constantly faced with tough decisions. Some are based on logic, some are based on emotion, all are circumstantial. The conversation that we would like to spark is the choice between negativity and positivity. Choosing the “right” thing is not always a consideration for someone with little to no guidance regarding right and wrong. We hope to bring attention to the need for more opportunities for young people to experience positivity and to learn that they can change their life’s circumstances. We hope to tie the underlying messaging of Runt to Cameron’s signature project “Wielding Peace”, which is a social media campaign inspiring young people to wield peace as opposed to violence and negativity.
**There are many kids who don’t have the proper guidance to handle many situations life throws at us. What would be the best advice to give them?**
Producers: It is most important to recognize that kids can easily feel very isolated and embarrassed about their emotions; whether they’re being bullied or having trouble at home with their families, they need to know they’re not alone. They need to know that they can reach out to mentors, teachers, friends, and family with the confidence to communicate what they are feeling instead of thinking they must keep it bottled up inside.
Nicole Elizabeth Berger: So many kids in our society are living with fractured families -- either through divorce, incarceration, or death of a parent. These kids feel alone and reach out to the one remaining parent or other adults, such as teachers, guidance counsellors, mentors, or relatives. They try to use these adults as surrogates for their parents, but often the stand-in adults are unable or unwilling to fill the shoes of a parent, making kids feel isolated and lost, frequently leading to bad decisions on the part of the kids. My best advice is to find a mentor -- an adult who is committed to your success and happiness. Find someone who understands how you are feeling and can back you up with love and support.
Victor and Libby Boyce: I think the best start for any young person that needs help is to get involved with a local youth center. There are many options such as the Boys and Girls club of America, the YMCA and YWCA. In some cities there are excellent youth programs that are free. Places like this offer a safe haven for at risk (or any kid) and allows them to participate in art, music, sports and many other things that are vital for emotional growth. I would also implore them to be kind because kindness comes back to you. Finally, I would encourage them to respect themselves and love themselves for who they are. Never be concerned with what others think about them. This is a powerful rebuke to being bullied.
**What was the biggest challenge in making this film? Or a hard choice you had to make?**
Producers: We had 25 days to shoot this film, which was shot mostly at Verdugo Hills high school in Los Angeles, CA. We shot in the month of July and our average temperature was 100 degrees every day. We had an aggressive shoot schedule and had to make our days worth every minute, so we didn’t have a lot of time for additional takes and trouble shooting. Everyone had to be on their toes, and it took a professional cast and crew to ensure that we were being as efficient with our time as possible.
Nicole Elizabeth Berger: This film provided me with an opportunity to be in a leading role in a feature-length film along with Cameron Boyce. Our characters -- Cal and Cecily -- grew as we became closer friends and emotionally involved through the film. My biggest challenge was a dramatic sexual assault scene that defined Cecily's character in the film. I knew that my character and Cal's depended on how I dealt with the assault. There was total silence on set during the filming of this scene. I had worked extensively on this scene before filming began with my acting mentor, Susan Batson. She guided me through the acting challenges of living through a sexual assault. The lessons learned apply equally no matter a person's age. However, the implications were even more grave considering that Cecily is a teenager.
**Do you believe that the message of this film is not shown as much as it should in the entertainment industry?**
Producers: These coming-of-age stories are important to tell and definitely are being told. I think it’s important to keep giving voice to this narrative, because kids all have their own unique experiences, and while they’re all relatable, they are all different. _Runt_ is another perspective, another voice to this same story.
Victor and Libby Boyce: This film is very important when you consider the climate that we are living in today. There certainly is no shortage of movies that fall into traditional genres…horror, romcom, drama, action etc, but this film is more of social commentary. It’s obviously not the first of its type but it’s timely and well done. I would hope in the near future, there would be more films that are thought provoking and that provide alternative points of view for young people to be inspired by.
**Did anything inspire the way the film was shot on camera?**
Producers: Our director, Bill Coakely, and our Director of Photography, John Connor, wanted to have a monotone, almost black and white feel that would highlight Cal’s feeling of isolation and lower-middle class background.
**Getting into the film, right in the beginning I noticed the irony in the english class scene. They discuss the main character of _The Catcher in the Rye,_ Holden. Is that of importance in regards to the lesson of Runt?**
Producers: Drawing the comparisons between the two protagonists of _Runt_ and _The Catcher in the Rye_, it’s easy to see how isolation greatly affected Cal and Holden. Just as Holden is found isolating himself from his peers and the world around him, so too does Cal alienate himself as he struggles to fit in with the expectations of those around him. This interrelatedness of the two characters exemplifies how across the span of decades, kids have struggled to connect with themselves and with others. Finding a belief and trust in yourself and being confident enough to reach out to others when you need it can help break down this isolation and create supportive relationships.
**The name of the film, Runt, is also the name of Cal’s dog. In what way is the dog a motif or symbol in the film?**
Producers: Cal’s mission is to take care of Runt. If he has this dog, he has some sense of control over his own life, some sense of purpose. Just as a runt in a litter is normally seen as small, weak, or unwanted, so too is Cal underestimated by the world around him. However, he is able to overcome this stereotype and break out of this.
Nicole Elizabeth Berger: Cal displayed immense love and affection for his dog, Runt. His dog meant the world to him and was clearly his best (and at times) his only friend. Until Cecily came into Cal's life, his only love came from Runt. However, Runt also symbolized, in a disparaging way, someone of small stature or presence. Runt was sick, giving Cal someone to care for. In the bullying of Cal that took place throughout the film, Cal was treated horribly without respect. He was treated like a runt.
**What would you say is the main cause of Cal’s internal conflict? What causes a resort to violence in the film?**
Producers: We think peer pressure, misinformation, frustration and feeling isolated all builds up to lead to the perfect storm where he takes matters into his own hands and resorts to violence…
**Can you explain Cecily’s character and her importance to Cal’s decisions?**
Nicole Elizabeth Berger: Cecily was a kind and supportive friend, who gave Cal a reason to keep living. Her wisdom and kind words guided Cal to make better decisions. But for Cecily, Cal almost certainly would have done things that would have destroyed his life and opportunities to change direction. While he needs to face up to the implications of his actions, he ended up limiting the damage. Cecily was a bright light in a dark world. Their relationship became an innocent love story; Cecily gave Cal hope for the future.
**What can we take away from the end of the movie at the scene of the homecoming dance?**
Nicole Elizabeth Berger: Cal had made many bad choices and knew there were consequences to his bad actions, but they could have been much worse. Cecily's kindness and thoughtful actions gave Cal a path forward. As they entered the school for the dance, they knew that this might be the last time before Cal had to deal with the impact of his actions earlier in the day.
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