Levi McConaughey is sharing the pieces of advice his famous father taught him before his debut film.
The 16-year-old son of Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves McConaughey chatted with PEOPLE on Monday, March 10, at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, where Matthew’s latest film, The Rivals of Amziah King, premiered.
Levi gave his first red carpet interview to PEOPLE, discussing his future acting debut in the coming-of-age picture Way of the Warrior Kid. When asked if his renowned father gave him any advice for acting in his debut film, Levi revealed a few things.
Levi tells me, “He provided me with a wealth of advice and mentored me in various ways.” “But I’d say the main thing for acting, and pardon my French, is to have no bullsh*t in your bones, own what you’re doing, and make a choice regardless of whether that ends up being the right one or the wrong one—commit to it and know what you’re saying.”
Matthew also highlighted some of the advice he gave his son, telling PEOPLE, “First of all, you have a natural talent.” Second, how can we be more explicit about where you’re coming from and where you’re going? In my opinion, the most effective acting occurs when the camera captures the actor in motion while they are performing. In other words, the question arises, “Where were you before, and where are you going now, assuming the camera is rolling the entire time?” So you enter the scene, and it does not seem like a new beginning or finish.”
“The other thing is, take risks,” he adds. “Don’t be scared to fool yourself; I’ve done it many times, and it’s far simpler to go big and come back down to reality than to come in under and push it to greater energy later. It’s far simpler to go big, make a fool of yourself, be humiliated, and then pull it back down to earth than it is to start with low energy and say, “Hey, we need some more.”
Levi was accompanied by his parents on the red carpet, who grinned as they posed for photographs. We also spotted Alves McConaughey, joyfully shooting photographs and videos of her baby on the carpet with her phone.
Levi is the oldest of the famous couple’s children. They also have a 14-year-old daughter, Vida, and an 11-year-old boy, Livingston.
Levi will make his acting debut in September, playing a supporting role alongside star Chris Pratt.
On August 30, Matthew was spotted visiting Levi on the film set as his son prepared to begin production. Levi dressed for the part in a red flannel, navy T-shirt, and blue trousers.
In the images, the father and kid stood off-camera and talked to one another. On the sidelines, Matthew donned a blue button-down shirt, a brown trucker hat, brown sunglasses, and a headset around his neck.