Levi McConaughey knows his parents' pull in Hollywood certainly benefits his newfound acting career, but he still wants to prove himself worthy. In a sit-down interview with People published on Wednesday, September 24 - during which he was joined by his dad, Matthew McConaughey, and his grandmother, Kay McCabe McConaughey - Levi, 17, admitted he's beginning to feel the pressure of being Matthew's son. (The actor, 55, shares Levi, Vida, 15, and Livingston, 12, with wife and model Camila Alves.) "Yeah, it's just starting," Levi told his dad. "And as much as people can say, 'Oh, you got this because of your father or your mother,' they can open the door, but then it's going to be up to me to do my thing once I get in there. That's on me." Levi said, ultimately, "you got to have some chops" to make it in the entertainment industry. Matthew McConaughey's Son Levi, 16, Reportedly Sets Acting Debut "And so, yes, it'd feel like it would be a disservice to them because of how hard they've worked to get to the position that they're at to not take advantage of it, but also put in the work and get after it and do it," Levi added. Matthew responded, "There's a line between entitlement and shame. If you can look it right in the eye and deal with it, and if it works out, you'll see, it's a hell of a roller coaster." Levi currently plays his dad's onscreen son in the film The Lost Bus, which is based on the true story of a school bus driver (Matthew) and teacher (America Ferrera) who saved 22 children during California's 2018 Camp Fire. Matthew's mother, Kay, also appears in the film as his onscreen mom. Livingston McConaughey, Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves McConaughey, Vida McConaughey, and Levi McConaughey. Photo by Rick Kern/FilmMagic When it came to the audition, Matthew decided to pull the family name off Levi's audition tape before submitting it to director Paul Greengrass. The teen nailed the audition, and got the gig on his own merit. "We shot a couple takes, and I was like, 'OK, guy can hold a frame,'" Matthew said of his son. Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves' Rare Quotes About Their 3 Kids As for how he tries to prepare Levi for the business, Matthew insisted he wants to instill a sense of self in his child. "I've tried to give him some tips that I've learned along the way, tried to give him some of those tips earlier than I understood them," Matthew said. "It's hard to keep your feet on the ground to sift out the real stuff from the BS. But over time you've got to get that sixth sense. It's important that he has his own ownership of who he is and becomes. And [acting] will be a part of that if he continues to do it, part of finding his identity, but it can't be his full identity." Matthew said, as a young actor, he struggled with the fame part of the business before realizing all the great things it has provided him and his family. "I was open [to Levi's interest in acting]," he said. "The first 15 years in Hollywood I was like, 'I'd never want my kid to grow up in the business.' And when I hit about 40, right about the time we had Levi, I looked around at how many special people I've met in my life, how much travel and what an awesome, healthy, cool experience that's been for me in my life. I was like, 'Where are you coming up with this idea you don't want any of your kids to do it?' It'd be a privilege if they would be able to."