Niles Fitch

It's planted, right?

Yeah, spoiler alert.

I didn't realize until watching this again, I was like, oh, wow.

And you think it was a direct, like, the correlation between this episode.

On today's episode of That Was Us, we will be discussing season two, episode 10, number three. Randall and Beth are faced with a hard choice when unexpected news impacts their journey fostering Deja. Jack takes Randall on a college tour. Hello, friends.

I was like ruminating on the idea that like these three episodes, there's like this pivot point of pain for all three of the characters, right? Kevin hits rock bottom.

Kate loses the baby. Randall says goodbye to Deja. Yeah. It's like, it's so interesting that like these three siblings find themselves at this like

real inflection point of like things are about to turn in what direction who knows but like maybe it can only go up from here right you know but i just i was like that's so interesting that like they chose this like seemingly you know like innocuous time right like yeah for in the past and in the present, but it's like, oh no, actually, like it's all for a reason. Like it all means something.

These are very, very big monumental chapters sort of coming to a close or to a head for these characters.

Yeah.

Outside, yeah.

Sure. Something, yeah.

I mean, I think it's the, I'm aware that that is the way it's supposed to go, but it doesn't often unfold that way. It's like my, I think I'm predisposed to want to take care of those around me. And especially like being a parent now, it's like, that's where my focus is. Like I need to take care of these little people that are relying on me and then I can focus on myself.

You're not incorrect.

That is not incorrect. That's what I'm saying is like, I feel like I'm at this juncture of my life where that doesn't feel as feasible.

But maybe a couple of years removed, I'll be like, yes. But it does like come to a head because sometimes then you reach that point where you're like, if I don't have a moment to breathe for myself, like I will not be able to fill my cup and therefore be as present as I need to be for my family.

Wait, for real?

Like he's thought about it.

Ugh, every time it just makes you cringe.

Did you not find that heartbreaking?

Yeah. I just was like, oh.

Sure, but I'm gonna find a way in.

A child being asked to like parent the parent.

You understand their dynamic. It's like, oh, this is the way it always is.

But see, we don't know that. I thought about that watching this episode. It was like a little more crushed for him because I thought, wow, what could have been? Again, like with William.

What could have been? What would his life have looked like had he been given the opportunity to go there?

We'll never know.

She needs- And he was like, nah, I'm good. I don't want to talk to her right now.

Yeah, kind of intentionally, right? Like dangerous driving.

That's the end of this trilogy. The first trilogy.

Doing great. How y'all doing today? We're great.

It's so good to see you.

Well, you were 14, 15, right, when you started the show, when you got cast? Yeah.

14 going on 15 and now I'm 23. My goodness. Look at him.

Trying to be, trying to be. Trying to figure it out. It takes a long time. Oh my God. I'm still working on it. I thought it would click. Yeah. Click overnight. No, no, no.

So the program that I did kind of encompassed it all. So it was directing, writing, editing, producing. So just any route that I wanted to take, I learned about. And it was amazing, amazing two and a half years.

Really?

The experience was really good because at the exact same time, I was also applying to colleges too. Yeah. So I got to do a little tour of Howard. And all the students that were helping us on set were super nice. But being able to travel, especially with Milo, man, it was a great experience. My mom got to come. I had some friends from Atlanta pull up, too. Nice. God.

Being able to travel and work is like the two best things you can get.

That was 100% all Niles. Like, you know, not only that, at the time I'm 17. Yeah. So I'm seeing people in college. I'm seeing, you know, I'm seeing what I'm about to become. Yes. So I was bright eyed and, you know, wanting to experience everything that I could in the little time that we had out there. Absolutely. Did you say it was the first time anything had filmed?

Niles, can you walk us through the process of how you got on This Is Us? Like your audition process, what you knew about the show, because we've talked to Logan and Hannah and- the audience is aware that like we did shoot a sort of younger version of the teenage big three.

And then they realized that there wasn't enough of a jump between the young version and what, because your characters had to sort of like live through Jack passing away. And so it just, it wasn't going to work age wise. So you guys had to kind of like jump in very last minute. What was the process like?

Yeah, my process. So I originally auditioned when the show before it even came out. So I believe Dan was in the final meetings, but it was me and like a bunch of kids that were Lonnie McKenzie's Parker age. And I'm 14 at the time. So I'm looking around and I'm like, OK, this probably isn't going to go my way.

So then maybe three months later, out of the blue, I get a call to come in, you know, audition. I audition on a Thursday after school. The next day I'm getting out of class. I get a call saying that I booked it and I need to be ready to do wardrobe the next day because we film Saturday and Sunday. So it happened in less than two days.

And then I'm coming on set and Milo's like, oh, we have a lot in store for you guys. And I'm looking like, you know, to me, this is a one episode thing. And one episode turned into six years of my life.

I had no idea, especially because I hopped on and they said that it was potential to be a guest star.

Like a reoccurring?

I think it was only a guest star at that point. Wow. And, you know, here we are. And then we were reoccurring and then series regulars. Wow. It happened so quick. And I was only in L.A. for six months prior to that.

When you least expect it.

Well, I think Hannah and I's relationship specifically was able to grow when we first started because we both lived in the same area. And I didn't thrive. So my mom was working. So Hannah and I would carpool to work nearly every single day. And then, you know, Logan and I would go surfing and we would hit up Six Flags all together.

So just over time, we truly, you know, built this brother and sister relationship. And even post-filming, they were at my graduation, my birthday party that I had, you know, a couple months back. They took me out to dinner after I graduated.

you know we we've really built a a real bond and i i'm glad to been able to meet them you know we heard about that birthday party we know we were y'all better not ask we know we were just you know i we were like where was that well i just i moved so my address there you go it got lost in the mail yeah yeah yeah yeah it's totally cool it's totally cool

Man, maybe not until two seasons in. Then it was like we go to Six Flags and people are taking pictures, but Luckily, the demographic that would recognize it usually wasn't at a Six Flags. That's true. Sure. OK. Certainly older. Certainly older demographic. Yeah.

I think what was great about me, doing the show was I started acting when I was three. Yeah. So I had been working before the show. So when getting on the show, I think my mindset was, OK, this is a great stepping stone for now giving me a platform for people to be able to see my talent. Right.

So I really tried to utilize that to, you know, when we would have an off season, be working on something else. Yeah. So it's always just building up the resume to be able to show one day, hey, you can trust me with a $10 million, $15 million. $10 million, $15 budget. $15 million budget, not 15. That's the short films that I was going to ask for. That's what I would do. That's right.

He hasn't read those scripts either. I got $15 for you. Since then, since filming the show, since finishing the show, uh, I did, uh, this, uh, movie that did, uh, really well in festivals with Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler called fallout. Okay. Uh, it is comedy on Netflix with Anthony Mackie. Yes.

And I have this, uh, TV show coming out by, uh, Mara Brock and Keely and produced by Regina King called forever. That should come out next, uh, and then I was doing college, so. Yeah. Just trying to stay busy, man. Yeah, yeah, just a little busy, just a little busy. Just a little busy. Gotta stay busy, you know?

Prioritize school.

Ever did, never did. So it was really cool being able to meet her to be able to meet somebody that you've looked up to and then to exceed your expectations on how kind of a person they are. Yeah, it meant a lot.

And she does it all too. She started off, she's directing and acting and producing.

I was in the show, you know, we do have you and Lonnie and your family in the show. But when it came to my age range, I was the only, you know, black person. So I would even experience it when we were, you know, when we'd have an event or, you know, they're going up to Logan or Hannah and, you know, I'm just there.

So being able to then talk about that in the scene with Milo, I felt like was very natural because I was kind of already experiencing that, you know, in my real life. And Milo is someone that I feel like is very he's aware of. Race in this in America, so. It was honestly seamless. And he's such a great person to act with in a scene. So it really, I feel like it worked.

Oh, it was definitely. Very effective.

And, you know, this is something that you'll understand. You know, I lost my father young. You lost your father young.

But some of those conversations that I wish I would have been able to have in college, I wasn't able to have with him.

So in a way, being able to do that on screen with someone that I've known for years and trust, it was healing for me. And I don't even think I understand the implications that it probably has had on my development to be doing a role where You're like a unicorn, but people are pouring into you around you, on set and off set, you know? That's what's up, man.

Yeah.

No, it was really cool. And, you know, Rachel's a fantastic actress. And I believe when we started working together, I think I was 17 and she was 24 going on 25. Oh, yeah.

Let him finish.

So for me, I always felt like, you know, she doesn't even know this, but. she was always so mature and so talented. In a way, I felt like I was always trying to make sure that, you know, I was likable or, you know, I was mature or, you know, when we did do a scene together, that it was everything that she envisioned and then some. So it was really cool then.

I felt like that really portrayed well in the relationship.

But Niles, you have always been so wise beyond your years. You were never a 14 or 15 year old. I mean, you are, I would say your kindness and maybe like innocence, but like the level of talent, I think it speaks to like all three of Logan and Hannah. Like you guys all arrived so fully formed. You knew who these characters were, even though you were thrown in at the last minute. It's wild.

And like you were thrust in this like, crazy situation and you all rose to the occasion in such like a spectacular way to bring that word back around. It's like I have such visceral memories of like I mean shooting the Super Bowl episode us like being out in the cold on that roof together like

I mean, we just like, we lived some really crazy things with each other, but you were always so fully realized. You knew who you were as an actor, as a human. And it's just like, it's so nice to see you now as truly an adult.

Yeah.

But you've always been that.

I'm going to be honest though. And I told this to Sterling. I was faking it till I made it.

Well, we all are to a certain degree. Truly.

Yeah, we all can't wait to work for you, Niles.

My name on Instagram is Niles Fitch. Forever comes out next year on Netflix. Okay.

Exciting.

Yeah, I'll be seeing you guys around.

Aw, thank you, Niles.

No, I'm not doing that.

He said they can see it in forever. Netflix next year.

Yeah, they'll see the gun show. Appreciate you. See, but I was going to do it, and then Sterling was going to do it and completely kill me. I was not.

No, look, he's covering it and it's still there.

So much.

I mean, how great was it to talk to Niles?

And see him.

Yeah, he was 14 and now he's 23. He's a college grad.

A grown man.

I know. That's the only thing he doesn't have going for him.

You'll see what we're talking about. Poor guy.

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Find your push, find your power with Peloton. What are we talking about in this episode?

Yes, he really is.

And it sounds like Niles had a very similar experience visiting Howard. He just, he said that that was mostly Niles and not the character. He was just elated to be there.

He's in the right place.

who was coincidentally applying to colleges himself. So it's like he was living this shared experience with Randall of like, wow, could I go here?

With Peloton.

And I love, of course, that Randall didn't just walk, but he also was talking.

Jack and Rebecca were like, wait, wait, did he just, what did he just say?

Presentation of her science project.

Overachiever from the jungle.

Yeah. I'm going to use them both in our group chat.

More That Was Us after this short break.