Shia LaBeouf says he is "proud" of his now-defunct acting company Slauson Rec despite controversial documentary showcasing his alleged misconduct

Actor and filmmaker Shia LaBeouf shared his thoughts about Slauson Rec, a documentary by Leo Lewis O’Neil, at Cannes. For context, this documentary is about LaBeouf’s venture of running a theater company in 2018 in Los Angeles.

According to IndieWire, the movie revolves around the company as run by an “unstable” man. Leo Lewis O’Neil was one of the members of the company. Meanwhile, sharing a statement with Vanity Fair in April 2025, the filmmaker said:

“I gave Leo this camera and encouraged him to share his vision and his personal experience without edit. I am aware of the doc and fully support the release of the film.”

He went on:

“While my teaching methods may be unconventional for some, I am proud of the incredible accomplishments that these kids achieved. Together we turned a drama class into an acting company. I wish only good things for Leo and everyone who was part of The Slauson Rec Company.”

According to Variety, Slauson Rec was a late addition to the Cannes lineup, but it received a two-minute standing ovation. Before the screening, Shia LaBeouf briefly spoke with festival director Thierry Frémaux and expressed appreciation for O’Neil being open to working with him.

In the film’s opening scenes, Shia LaBeouf appeared in an interview, where he reflected on how he had come to accept the ways his life had gone off track and acknowledged that his past behavior had negatively impacted people around him.

Leo Lewis O’Neil opens up about his experiences at Shia LaBeouf’s acting classes

Speaking to Vanity Fair in April 2025, Leo Lewis O’Neil reflected on his experiences at Shia LaBeouf’s acting company. He recalled that he wasn’t the only one searching for a sense of belonging. Everyone who stayed in the program seemed to be craving a close-knit group.

He compared it to a group of outsiders who found a place together. He also shared that what worried him most wasn’t people’s actions, but the fear of losing the special energy they had built. On days when Shia LaBeouf wasn’t around for class, the atmosphere felt off.

According to O’Neil, LaBeouf brought a unique presence to Slauson and was seen as the driving force behind it all. He noted:

“For somebody like Shia who keys in on a very specific thing and goes really, really hard at it, that thing became Slauson. That became his whole life. I mean, for all of us it did. We were there every day, and that pressure really just built and built and built, until you had these moments of explosiveness.”

O’Neil felt it was his responsibility to document every detail and moment, even when it wasn’t easy. He took that role seriously throughout the entire process. By the time things were fully underway, he realized he had created something bold and unusual.

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After spending a year and a half filming daily, everyone had grown used to the camera. Despite the challenges, he believed the outcome had to be meaningful.

Over time, Shia LaBeouf became like an older brother to him, and the rest of the group became his closest friends. Together, they showed up every day with the shared goal of creating something special.

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