‘Boys State’ directors found winners in doc cast
The Sundance Festival’s Grand Jury Prize winner, “Boys State” profiles four high school seniors in an annual American Legion exercise in democracy.
Begun in 1935, with separate boys and girls divisions, Texas Boys State invites a thousand boys who in one week build and vote for their candidates in a representative democracy.
It’s enlisted Bill Clinton, Dick Cheney and Samuel Alito.
The inspiration for “Boys State,” directed by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, was a 2017 Washington Post article.
“It was about how they had voted to secede from the union,” Moss said.
“We wanted to know what,” added McBaine, “what they were going to do the following year.”
The next step was to find four boys ahead of time if they wanted to be able to hit the ground running when the intensive week’s activities began.
“We couldn’t cast on the fly when it got started,” McBaine said. “Casting is always a major challenge in verité filmmaking, particularly the characterdriven ones that we make. To experience every moment we needed four in advance.
“Our criteria was: They needed to be different politically. Be from different economic backgrounds. Be ambitious. And have the best possible chance (to be elected).
“So they had to be politically savvy and vulnerable enough to be on camera.”
It was over three months, Moss said, “of going to schools, homes, Legion events. Looking for that needle in a haystack that comes alive on camera.”
“It was hard,” McBaine agreed. “But with each of them there was a moment of recognition: There you are! We’ve been waiting for you.”
Three were found before Boys State began.
Ben Feinstein from San Antonio is disabled. He lost his legs at 3 from meningitis.
“Ben was wonderful in his political sophistication. In the casting interview he said, ‘I know how to make friends and I know how to make enemies.’ How many other 17-year-olds say that! He turned out to be a master strategist,” Moss said.
Robert MacDougall, currently a West Point Cadet, “surprised us almost immediately. He looks like a film star,” McBaine said, “but the surprise came when he started talking. We saw a depth inside him that’s not readily apparent from the outside.”
Steven Garza, the son of an undocumented Mexican immigrant mother, was spotted at Houston’s Boys State orientation.
“A hundred were there and as they talked to each other, Steven was not the loudest but definitely the wisest.
“We had no idea he’d be a formidable political candidate because he’s so quiet. We had no idea he could deliver a speech until the film,” Moss said, adding, “I don’t know if he knew that.”
“You’re looking for that,” McBaine confirmed. “But you’re hoping someone surprises you.”