How are people who are young and look like Oscar [Grant] portrayed in the media? You gotta think about that. And somebody given a badge and a gun and told to go police in those communities, all of a sudden they got to protect and serve and talk to people they never even spent time with [and] they might have formed opinions about.

I think it's just easier for people to put you in a box or a lane because you look similar. I think that's unfair for anybody in any situation.

As I grow and get older, mature a bit, and work on my big boy voice a little bit, I definitely want to direct.

For me, with me, making a film is always about humanity.

I haven't been down to Navy Pier in such a long time. I know that's probably the touristy thing to do, but it just reminds me so much of 2000 when I was here shooting ["Hardball"].

For me the movie [Fruitvale Station ] wasn't about that. The movie's about [Oscar Grant] life. And what happens on the platform is a very short part of the film. It's from Oscar's perspective. From the perspectives of the relationships that he's involved with.

That's one of the fun parts of becoming an actor: You can become whoever you want to be.