Actor Jason Mitchell is recalling the real-life events that occurred on set of Straight Outta Compton.
The film, which began production in 2014 and made its theatrical debut the following year, follows the lives of hip hop group NWA as they rose to fame in the 1980s with their often catchy yet controversial songs. Straight Outta Compton also starred O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Neil Brown Jr., Aldis Hodge, Marlon Yates Jr., R. Marcus Taylor, Carra Patterson, Alexandra Shipp, Paul Giamatti, and many others.
In a recent interview with Vlad TV, Mitchell opened up about a drive-by shooting that took place on-set as he and his castmates tried to enter the location near the Compton Courthouse in Compton, California. During the June 7 discussion, the 36-year-old revealed that as they tried to make their way to the area, they noticed a male victim lying on the ground and police cars surrounding the location. Upon entering, the group was stopped by a police officer that informed them that a shooting — which wasn’t a part of the movie — had taken place and was instructed to “go around.” Mitchell said,
“You know it was crazy because I remember us walking from base camp to set right. They always got like cop cars and s–t taped off or whatever just to make sure that people don’t just come onto the set. So they got a guy out there laid out, cop cars are there and s–t, they like, ‘nah you gotta go around.’ We’re like,’ we’re part of the movie. You know what I mean. You don’t see the getup.’ He’s like,’this isn’t a part of the movie.’ We was like, ‘what the f–k, man?'”
Further into the interview, Mitchell explained the reason why it wasn’t considered a big deal to the crew members of Straight Outta Compton at the time was because of the violent scenes that occurred in the project. But once they were made aware it was an actual shooting, they — alongside the actors on set — were in disbelief.Â
“It was crazy because all of these people who are out watching this happen, it didn’t hit them that this wasn’t part of the movie. So they literally watch this broad daylight killing and it wasn’t until twenty minutes later that everyone was like ‘Oh my god. This is real.’ Which was kind of crazy. I never experienced no sh*t like that before.”
According to TMZ, the real-life shooting that occurred on the set of Straight Outta Compton stemmed from an unidentified male “flashing gang signs at a passing car.” The publication also stated that the film crew weren’t the intended target and despite the man being shot and collapsing “next to the set,” he survived.
Mitchell shared near the end of the conversation that although he didn’t understand the seriousness of gang culture, after that day and traveling in various parts where one of the members of NWA was from, he got the picture.
Straight Outta Compton can be viewed on numerous platforms for a small fee.
