Ellar Coltrane Reflects on Career After ‘Boyhood’

Ellar Coltrane, known for his role in Richard Linklater’s film “Boyhood,” has distanced himself from the Hollywood spotlight. Now 31, Coltrane portrayed Mason Evans Jr. in the film, which chronicles a boy’s upbringing in Texas. Filmed over 12 years, the movie debuted when Coltrane was 18. It received critical acclaim, yet Coltrane admits he’s no longer deeply involved in filmmaking, living “in the middle of nowhere.”

Coltrane shared with Variety that he has participated in a few short films. One such project is “El Fantasma,” shot in Mexico City, where he played Lee Harvey Oswald. Another short film, “So, Who Was It This Time?” was filmed in El Paso, where Coltrane is now connected with the local independent film community. He finds the energy there inspiring and reminiscent of Austin two decades ago.

While he took part in the indie film “Shoplifters of the World Unite,” Coltrane expressed that the entertainment industry no longer captivates him. He spoke at the “Boyhood” 12-Year Reunion Q&A at Austin Film Society’s AFS Cinema, revealing the changes in his life. Nowadays, he does manual labor, volunteers as a firefighter, and is pursuing an EMT license. Returning to Austin brought back memories of working on set and collaborating with filmmakers.

Coltrane emphasized his passion for engaging with directors on personal projects. He thrives when collaborating on creative expressions, acknowledging his limitations on large-scale productions. Despite not having formal acting training, he learned through collaboration with Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke.

Reflecting on life as a former child actor, Coltrane feels he managed well. He avoided some challenges often faced by his peers, such as early fame. Patricia Arquette, who played his on-screen mother, won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role.