Ravi Cabot-Conyers  “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Star” 

—

Talent (Actor): Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Instagram: @ravicabotconyers)

Photographer: Justin Nunez (Instagram: @justinnunezstudio)

Groomer: Sallie Nicole Ciganovich (Instagram: @hairbysallie_)

Stylist: Justin Nunez (Instagram: @justinnunezstudio)

Shirt & Pants: J Crew (Instagram: @jcrew @jcrewmens)

Custom Belt: Justin Nunez / Marcus Napuri (Instagram: @justinnunezstudio / @marcusplus1)

Shoes: Franco Sarto (Instagram: @francosarto)

Jewelry: Seven Saints (Instagram: @sevensaintslife)

__

___________________________________________________

Ravi Cabot-Conyers is playing the lead-character “Wim” in the new Disney+ series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew which is a coming-of-age story about four children who make a discovery on their home planet, get lost in the galaxy, and go on an adventure to get back home. This show resembles the Amblin films like ET, Goonies, and also Stranger Things retro aesthetic. 

The 13-year-old actor is not new to major projects, as he previously voiced the role of “Antonio Madrigal” in Disney’s animated hit feature film Encanto where he plays the brother of Mirabel Madrigal receiving the pivotal Gift Ceremony in the movie.

Q: Congratulations on a spectacular run of Skeleton Crew and we look forward to seeing you on the big screen in your upcoming film Grassland:

A: Thank you! I’m so grateful to be a working actor, getting to do what I love, and learning more and more with each project. There are parts of this life that feel really surreal — to be honest mostly that feeling comes when I’m answering questions about it — but for the most part I am just happy every time I get to collaborate and be in my element, as they say, and get to explore all these different worlds. 

Q: Where do you find your inspiration?:

A: My friends, my family, castmates, crew. The last two projects I’m able to talk about (Skeleton Crew and Grassland) were at complete opposite ends of the spectrum in so many ways. One had hundreds of people on set and thousands involved in its making, the other probably a hundred total. Both equally excited me in different ways and both had me surrounded by people I found very, very inspiring. From actors, directors, PA’s…everyone. I’m getting more and more into watching interviews with filmmakers, and BTS interviews with actors and directors who interest me. Right now I’m devouring online content with James Mangold and the cast of A Complete Unknown. Oh man, I’m kind of obsessed with each of them right now. And of course whether it’s Jon Favreau or Jude Law or Phil Tippet or Doug Chiang who all worked in different capacities on Skeleton Crew, I always find inspiration with what they have to say about the Star Wars universe which I feel so lucky to be a part of now. 

Q: Since you’ve been working from a very young age, you must have always enjoyed having your picture taken and posing for the camera right?:

A: No! Not at all!! I was never a baby model or anything like that, and I only ever had my first professional “headshot” a few months ago because Disney needed one for our Skeleton Crew press. I have since been doing lots of photoshoots with Justin Nunez, like the one you see here in this editorial. I have always felt a strong connection to a camera when movement is involved. Like, the best pics I’ve ever taken were during content shoots for a series or film. I’m specifically thinking about Matt Sayles and #BlackAF. He’s one of the greatest photographers in capturing an image, but he was also really keyed into what would get a good authentic moment from me both as my character and just as me, Ravi. Looking back at it, he always kept me talking, moving, engaged, jumping, etc. I remember him saying to me afterward, “I figured out I needed to capture you on the off-beat,” and that just shows there’s a musicality to everything in life!  At least for me, music is something that connects me to myself and, at the same time, makes me want to move and get out of my head.

Q: So… Fashion! :

A: Ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to put on clothes that were a little bit interesting, or sparkly or had great stripes or were just something fun to wear. Although, I really do wear pajamas to set and try to get away with wearing them to school, too. But then I have an occasion like a premiere or a press junket and then I get very intentional. What I like at any given time may be random, but there’s always a vision that comes with it. Doing the series #BlackAF I realized what it feels like to wear great clothes by great designers. Michelle Cole, the costumer on that show is someone I know my Mom would call for wardrobe advice long after the show ended. “Hi/Lo” and “part aspirational/part inspirational” is something Michelle is so amazing at creating when she puts together outfits! WWMD (What Would Michelle Do) has been my motto! There was one year I was into feather boutonnières and had a bunch in a variety of colors I would pin on different suit jackets. Before that, it was leggings and tunics. Boots and cool trainers are my thing right now. I usually build a whole outfit around shoes I love. I would love to have more custom pieces like the incredible metal “WIM” belt buckle that Justin Nunez had created for me. 

 Q: Alright, your Top 5 favorite set snacks? 

A: Set Snacks hmm… I would say Olives, Sour Patch Kids, Lays potato chips, Watermelon, and Udon Noodles! 

Q: You’ve stated that you’ve been acting out scenes and studying people for as long as you can remember. How do you keep the pure joy of doing what is essentially the same thing  but on a huge scale and with all the professional pressures that come along with it? 

A: It is something so genuinely fun to me. Acting is truly just unadulterated joy for me, on any scale! By the time I get to set, I’ve already done most of my prep work – which by the way, you have to find the joy in that, too. Even from the audition stage… it’s like, ok, I may never get to play this role again so I’m going to enjoy every moment of it now and dig as deep as I can! But I really am able to put aside a lot of outside noise once the camera is rolling and not “hover” over my performance, which is advice I’ve heard my Mom tell the actors she coaches. But really, it’s easy to be in the zone when you are working with such great people both in front of and behind the camera. When you are doing a scene with someone like Rashida Jones or Ryan Kiera Armstrong or Jude Law or Bruce Dern, you know you have a wonderful partner who you can connect with on a deep level. When you have those kinds of next level talents all around you on set, it just feels like a huge joyful masterclass. The joy we all felt on the set of Skeleton Crew, for example, (cast and crew included), was so real — we all immediately connected through such a fun and charming story! I truly enjoy bringing visions to life. I am deeply grateful to collaborate with such talented creatives whose brilliant hearts and minds have brought these incredible ideas to life. The only true pressure I feel is in wanting to honor their vision to the very, very best of my capacity.

Q: Acting has been a big part of your career so far, but I’ve heard you’re also curious about other aspects of filmmaking, whether it’d be screenwriting, behind-the-scenes roles like Camera Operator, PA, DP, Gaffer, Grip, etc. If you weren’t acting, what else can you see yourself doing? Were there other dreams in your heart? 

A: You are correct, and honestly , if I had 20 clones of myself, I would do it all. Everything about the creative process of filmmaking and all the different roles are so interesting to me. I am actually working on a short film where I am doing almost every job. It’s crazily challenging! I didn’t question Jon Favreau when he challenged me to make a short film so I could see what it’s like to  “wear all the hats”, but now I know that he really wasn’t kidding! I told myself, I can accomplish this, then what else can stop me? I can’t imagine not acting, not directing or producing. Another big dream of mine is working in Animation, which is something I spend a lot of free time doing. I first self-taught myself, then got some reference books, and tried to keep myself on a schedule of making one animated short a week (ok, I kind of fell behind in that, but to be fair, I WAS shooting a series and a movie back to back ) and the next step will be to find a strong teacher or mentor. So animating professionally is definitely a dream in my heart. I own the rights to a children’s book that would make an amazing live action/animated hybrid! If you are reading this, Ron Howard or Brian Grazer, please call me. I know that whatever career I have, storytelling will be a huge part of it. And I would really like to help take care of others somehow, whether I’m working for a cause I believe in, or be a great human for the dog I hope to one day have as a part of my family.

Q: Being part of the Star Wars universe must be a dream come true! While it’s undoubtedly exhilarating, I’m sure it can also feel overwhelming at times. What do you do to stay grounded and maintain balance amidst such an incredible experience, while staying connected to who you’ve always been, as a young kid still growing up?

A: I’m almost embarrassed to say that one of the only times I ever remember feeling overwhelmed was when walking into Trafalgar Square with Jude Law and the rest of our Skeleton Crew cast for a photo call and feeling like, “Oh wow, this is really a HUGE deal!” And then, once everyone was cheering and calling for us, and I started talking to journalists, it felt absolutely incredible and only exhilarating! We filmed for almost 7 months, and I had been cast a good while before that – so I got super close to everyone involved. There were so many people in our Skeleton Crew circle who I truly care about and will carry our shared experience far into the future. And I’m not just talking about actors or the crew, even. There were many people that came into my life as a result of that experience — whether it be through the opportunities it opened up for conversations like this one, or getting to know people who worked around the studio we filmed in (which we would always go to), or getting the chance to meet old friends of my Mom who lived nearby…things like that. Remembering that kind of stuff will keep me grounded. My friends, my school and my family are the greatest! They encourage me, support me and since they don’t all have the same interests as I do, they indirectly open me up to a lot of different things. I’m always going to keep playing basketball, keep making homemade apple pies, keep playing Minecraft and hopefully keep growing up happy, healthy and super grounded.