Page 103 - Flaunt 170 - The Phoenix Issue - Kiernan Shipka

WYATT OLEFF Written by Jasmine Rodriguez Photographed by Ricky Alvarez Styled by Natalie Saidi “i kind of try to remember that i’m only sixteen and that i don’t have my driver’s license yet,” Wyatt Oleff, the Chicago-born, LA-raised actor, says. “And well, maybe when this interview comes out, I might. I don’t wanna jinx it so I’m not gonna say anything.” The sound of wood-knocking reverbates over the phone. For a California native, a license holds the key to free- dom and unlocks the 6PM I-405 traffic. Oleff’s milestones are notarized by taking on the roles of Stanley Uris in the killer clown film, It, as young Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy, marking his directorial debut with Writer’s Block, and portraying Stanley Barber in Netflix’s I Am Not Okay With This, a coming-of-age series focusing on the complexities of high school unrequited love, and blossoming superpowers of his friend, Sydney, played by Sophia Lillis. Despite the baby-faced roles Oleff plays, his presence distilled via phone holds intuitive wisdom. Like many teenagers, Oleff’s cinema backdrop is defined by comic book characters, citing Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World as one of his all-time favorites. Amidst the crossfire of horror portrayals he’s played, Oleff paradoxically notes that he was nev- er captivated by the horror genre. Now his psyche has reverted, as he finds himself gravitating towards directing a horror film, stating that the best feeling is creating something that will keep people up at night. “I just want people to not stop thinking about the movie. That’s the kind of movie I want to make,” he shares. What stands out is Oleff’s first selection in his own coming-of-age soundtrack, a sonic juxtaposition to the ‘80s-centric show he’s starring in. He picked the Star Wars “The Force” theme, a sensory loop reminiscent of a hope-filled journey. “I know it sounds weird, but it’s perfect. In my head, right now it’s perfect,” he cracks a laugh. “There’s another song called ‘Last Train Home’ that I think also has a wonderful melody and it doesn’t have any lyrics. I guess, finally ‘Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road’ by Elton John is also another song that deals with growing up,” explains Oleff. Despite his character Stanley Barber not donning the Jedi cloak, Oleff himself shows promise for his commitment to authenticity and range for future roles. At home, Oleff finds a peaceful sanctuary surrounded by friends and the occasional video game. After all, he is just sixteen. He must bask in those what he titles ‘stupid teenager’ activities as much as he can, as it gives him a rooted sense of normalcy. In the Jonathan Entwistle-directed series, Stanley Barber harbors quirks like impromptu dancing, and dons sunglasses that seamlessly match with his bold confidence. “The dancing was actually one of the main highlights from my audition,” he says. “After I did the scene, they said ‘Stanley dances a lot,’ so I did a whole thing where I danced for about a minute. He just ex- udes that overflowing sense of confidence,” says Oleff. Oleff has written quite a number of quips for Let- terboxd, the social media network centered around film theory and opinions, no doubt a testament to his status as a film buff. “If I were to write about IANOWT— obviously five stars. A wonderful little short story, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Definitely an easy watch so I would recommend it to everyone,” he states. has cultivated with his It and IANOWT co-star, Sophia Lillis, onscreen, “It’s gonna be four years knowing her this summer when we filmed the first It. When we did those lines and those scenes, it was like having a normal conversation but with pre- pared lines, of course. Her laughing in that scene is so genuine! We’re just acting like idiots—like ourselves. That’s something so great about the show, it feels authentic,” adds Oleff. With Stanley Barber and director Jonathan Entwistle, Oleff says he was able to find a resurgence of confidence, regardless of any naysayers’ opinions. “Sometimes I feel like I have to be a cha- meleon in different environments, where I have to adapt to how other people are,” he explains, pensively. “The fact of the matter is, Stanley Barber definitely doesn’t care about what anyone says and will do whatever the hell he wants. I definitely learned from that. And if I’m happy, that’s all that really matters.” Left to right: FRENCH DEAL jacket, HOUSE OF HOLLAND shirt, HUDSON JEANS jeans, and CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN shoes. GUCCI dress and shoes and AETEE DESIGNS earrings. Hair & Makeup: Kimberly Bragalone Groomer: Harper He reflects on the same deep-rooted friendship he 97 PHOTOGRAPHER: RICKY ALVAREZ AT EARLY MORNING RIOT. STYLIST: NATALIE SAIDI AT TOMLINSON MANAGEMENT GROUP. HAIR & MAKEUP: KIMBERLY BRAGALONE USING HOURGLASS COSMETICS AND ORIBE HAIRCARE AT EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS. GROOMER: HARPER USING ORIBE HAIRCARE AT EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS.