Alex Beh (Gunner Smith) - I met Alex months before we began to cast Ben Banks. I liked his energy and ‘look’ but I didn’t think about him for Gunner until a bunch of us went back to his place. For some reason it started to crystalize in my mind that he would be good in that role and so I just watched him. There is something about him that’s interesting, “watchable” - then he told us a personal detail about himself that was pretty cool and not what you’d expect from an actor in LA (and so in line with Gunner’s arc) that it struck me as inspired. And so I filed it away in the back of my mind.

As we began the process of gearing up to cast the movie, we tossed around names and ideas and one night I just knew Alex should be Gunner. I called Justin and he got it right away and agreed. I got Alex’s email address and sent him the script. He responded and that was that.

On set Alex was great. He was really funny and always knew where we were in the flow of the story and was a joy to work with.

Alex has a big scene where he pretty much sums up the theme of the movie in ‘Gunner-speak’ and it was a thrill to direct Alex and then sit back and watch him deliver in that moment. It’s one of those scenes that played up could be terrible, not true, but Alex is so understated in his delivery of these lines that when he’s actually up to the point where he’s basically testifying, it’s beautiful. It isn’t forced or corny, it’s just a guy we had put in a ‘stoner’ box and thought we knew, stepping out of that box and showing us a different level. It’s what the movie is all about! It was a great day! One of those times where I just felt so fortunate to be able to be making the movie and working with great people.

There are a lot of moments where Alex went off script and there are a few moments where he’s just silent and you can imagine Gunner’s wheels spinning. I only wish we could have had Alex and Hobert in the same room! That would have been amazing!

I’m grateful to Alex for what he brought to the role and particularly that scene (in the police station). It’s something I won’t ever forget.

-Bryce