Jada Pinkett Smith
The “HawthoRNe: Season 2” Interview
Words: Kam Williams
The Many Shades of Jada, from TV Nurse to Karate Kid’s Mom
Besides playing the title character on the TNT series HawthoRNe, which is starting its second season, Jada Pinkett Smith executive-produces the show through her production company, 100% Womon. With her husband, Will Smith, she is serving as producer of The Karate Kid, starring their son, Jaden, and also of Fela!, the Broadway musical nominated for 11 Tony Awards.
Jada’s recent film credits include Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, as the voice of Gloria, and director Diane English’s remake of The Women. In the past, she’s teamed up with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle in Reign Over Me, and enjoyed a pivotal role opposite Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx in Michael Mann’s Collateral. However, she perhaps remains best known as the take-charge Niobe of Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions fame.
Here, Jada reflects on the challenge of balancing career and family when each member is a showbiz celebrity in his or her own right.
Kam Williams: Thanks for the time, Jada. It’s nice to have an opportunity to speak with you again.
Jada Pinkett Smith: Oh, thank you!
KW: Well, first of all, let me say congratulations! You’re blossoming on every front. Let’s see, HawthoRNe’s starting its second season, you’re going t be on the cover of the July issue of Essence magazine, your Broadway musical has been nominated for 11 Tonys, and Jaden is starring in The Karate Kid, a picture you and Will produced. How does it feel?
JPS: It feels good. These are the moments that you keep in your back pocket to remember, “All of those were good times!” [Laughs]
KW: I told my readers I’d be interviewing you, and I think they often come up with better questions than I do. So why don’t I start right of with some of them. Lester Chisholm says, “Thank you for the production of Fela,” and asks, “What would you suggest as a lifestyle to keep young entertainers focused?”
JPS: Wow… Whew! Man, that’s a hard one, because part of the challenge of being young is finding what to be focused on. It’s a time of exploration when you have to discover who you’re not, in order to know who you are. I would say being deeply involved in the art world would help keep a young artist on track. Doing what you love, so that your focus is your artistry.
KW: Reverend Florine Thompson and filmmaker Hisani Dubose had the same question: What is the key to balancing motherhood, marriage and such a successful career?
JPS: Staying true to yourself, and being able to prioritize. It’s very important to prioritize. I know, for me, my family comes first. That makes every decision very easy.
KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls Are there any arenas left for you to conquer?
JPS: [LOL] Definitely! And I’m always looking for them. But as I’ve gotten older, and now that my kids are starting to do what they do, I am now really focusing on sharing my knowledge and insights with them to help guide them on their journeys.
KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman observes that you and Will come across as down-to-earth and very family-centric. She wants to know, how you keep your family values intact with the children becoming stars themselves? Do they have chores and an allowance?
JPS: [Laughs] They definitely have chores, and they get an allowance from money they make, believe it or not. I think that critical to keeping them balanced is giving them purpose, and part of giving them purpose is allowing them to do things that they love to do, which is being part of this industry. And as wacky as that might seem, it allows them to contribute to the family, and it allows them to develop their own self-worth. And I feel that when a child has self-worth and purpose, that’s what keeps them grounded.
KW: Cinema Professor Mia Mask asks, do you think the roles for women of color -- black women in particular -- have improved?
JPS: I’d say they’ve improved, but there still aren’t enough. And I’d say that’s the case, not only for African-American women, but for all women in the Hollywood game. It’s just slim pickings, and a very challenging time for us. I think that’s why more of us need to work our way behind the camera in order to create roles that really illuminate who women are. We still have room for growth in that area, without a doubt.
KW: Marcia Evans says that she’s a true fan of yours because she really respects the mature manner in which you approach being a wife and mother. She wants to know whatever happened to your TV sitcom "Good News."
JPS: I never had a show by that name, but I did have one called “M.I.L.F. and Cookies,” that got picked up and was set to air until the network and I had a disagreement at the last minute. They wanted to change the concept a bit in a way I wasn’t in agreement with, so we had to go our separate ways.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
JPS: I’m sure there is, but I really can’t think of one right now.
KW: Larry Greenberg says Richmond, Virginia is a beautiful and unique choice for the setting of Hawthorne. Were you involved in that decision?
JPS: We felt like Richmond was an area that’s growing, but hasn’t really been explored on television at all, in the way that New York, Los Angeles and Chicago have. So, we decided it would make a great location.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
JPS: Yes.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
JPS: I am happy. I have my moments when I’m not, but I am. I’m very happy.
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod?
JPS: Oh, I’m listening to so much right now. I looooove Alicia Keys’ new song, “Unthinkable.” I’m blasting that all over the place, but I’m also listening to Sade’s new album, and I always have my Heavy Metal, Mastodon. [LOL]
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
JPS: I’m reading a book right now by John Dewey called “Art as Experience.”
That has been a very interesting read for me. And I’m also reading one called The Heart of Sufism, which is about a more esoteric approach to Islam.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
JPS: Oh, man, when I look in the mirror, I see about a thousand different Jadas... Yeah…
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
JPS: I don’t really cook much. I’m more of a baker. My favorite things to bake that everybody loves, and I can only keep in the house for about ten minutes, are 7-Up cake and Pineapple Upside-Down cake.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
JPS: Oh, I laugh hard every day. I mean, my husband is Will Smith! [Shrieks] I’m telling you, that’s one of the joys of being married to him. My life is full of laughter. Thank God I have him. My life is full of laughter because of that man.
KW: How do you want to be remembered?
JPS: I don’t know yet. I have no idea.
KW: Well, thanks for another great interview, Jada, and best of luck in all your endeavors.
JPS: Thank you, Kam.
To get a sneak peek at HawthoRNe Season 2 which premieres on TNT on June 22nd at 9 PM, visit:
Interview: Common
Common
The “Just Wright” Interview
Words: Kam Williams
On “Common” Ground
Common, talks about his new movie, Just Wright, a romantic comedy directed by Sanaa Hamri where he stars opposite Queen Latifah.
Common was born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. in Chicago on March 13, 1972 to Lonnie, Sr. a former pro basketball player, and Dr. Mahila Ann Hines, an educator. He started rapping while still in high school, forming a trio called C.D.R. which opened for acts like N.W.A. and Big Daddy Kane. He adopted the alias Common Sense by 1992 which is when he released his first CD, entitled “Can I Borrow a Dollar?” He shortened his name to just Common after a lawsuit by a band claiming to have the exclusive trademark for “Common Sense.”
In 2002, he made his screen debut in Brown Sugar, and a year later he won his first Grammy for “Love of My Life,” a duet he did with Erykah Badu for the same film. Since then, he’s made 7 more CDs, and appeared in such films as Smokin’ Aces, Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, American Gangster, Wanted, Street Kings and Date Night. Here, he talks about his new movie, Just Wright, a romantic comedy directed by Sanaa Hamri where he stars opposite Queen Latifah.
Common: Hey, peace Kam, how are you?
Kam Williams: All is well, thanks. I don’t know whether you remember but the last time we spoke I told you my son was taking saxophone lessons with your saxophonist, Justin Robinson.
C: Definitely, man. I hope he’s doing well.
KW: He’s doing fine, thanks. How does it feel to be playing your first lead role as Scott McKnight in Just Wright?
C: It feels wonderful! This is something I dreamt of and prayed for. It’s a blessing to get this opportunity to play a leading man. I feel like it’s the beginning of a new stage of my career as an actor.
KW: And how was it being directed by Sanaa Hamri and acting opposite Queen Latifah, Paula Patton, Phylicia Rashad and Pam Grier?
C: It was cool! These are beautiful, beautiful women. And it was great having Sanaa at the helm, because she brought a fresh perspective to the project in terms of her vision that made it easy for women to relate to it, given how my character was portrayed as sensitive and a good person. But, by the same token, she was also wise enough to balance that with his chi energy as an NBA player to attract a male audience as well.
KW: When is your new CD, “The Believer” being released?
C: The new studio album is coming out in the Fall, but I have a Greatest Hits album which came out May 25th.
KW: Larry Greenberg says, he would love to hear a musical collaboration by you and Queen Latifah. He wants to know whether there’s any chance of that happening.
C: We already hooked up on a collaboration on that Greatest Hits album, it’s a new song featuring Queen Latifah called “The Next Time.” I think it’s the first of many duets we’ll be doing. The song is soulful and makes you feel good. So, I’m looking forward to doing more music with her, as well as more movies.
KW: Larry says, “You seem to be involved in so many good causes from HIV/AIDS awareness to PETA. Is there any particular cause you want people to get involved in today?”
C: Yeah, my Common Ground Foundation [http://www.commongroundfoundation.org/], because it’s about empowering youth in a holistic way, and about helping to shape our leaders of tomorrow.
KW: Erik Daniels says, “I'm a big fan of Common and one of his songs that I like is Orange Pineapple Juice.” He wants to know, when was the last time you had some?
C: Oh, I had some just the other day, mixed with Ciroc coconut, and it was great!.
KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks, what is the hardest thing you have had to do in your career thus far?
C: I think the hardest thing I’ve had to do was to change my name from Common Sense to Common, not only because I was attached to it since it meant something to me, but because I was just beginning to build some name recognition when I had to deal with a lawsuit over it. That was one of the more traumatizing things I’ve experienced career-wise. It was like, “Man! How can somebody just take my name?” Still, everything ultimately came together in divine time, and the name Common is very appropriate because my music represents everyday people. Common is right.
KW: “Realtor to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan says he saw you shooting hoops in Roxbury Park in L.A. about a year ago. He wants to know if that was in preparation for this role?
C: Yes, I was. But it was so much fun preparing for the role that it wasn’t really work. I was just going out there to get my hoop game back up. Ask Jimmy this question back, “How was my game at that point?”
KW: Will do. Jimmy also wants to know, if you weren't acting or doing music, what would you have become?
C: I believe a teacher. I always feel that I have something to say that will hopefully inspire.
KW: Amina Ross from BrooklyN says she’s your biggest fan. She wants to know, what are your religious beliefs? If I remember correctly, you’re a member of Reverend Wright’s church in Chicago.
C: I’m a Christian. I believe in God, and I’ve been a member of that church, Trinity United Church of Christ since I was 8. I don’t live in Chicago anymore, so I don’t get there regularly. But I believe God exists in us all, so I don’t knock any other religions. I respect anyone with spiritual beliefs in a higher being.
KW: Amina Ross has a follow-up. Did you have to compromise you music to make it?
C: No, never. I’ve stayed true to who I was, as much as I could. There was one moment when a record label tried to get me to make some songs that sounded like Biggie and Nas, who were the hottest guys on the radio at the time, but I knew it would have to come from my soul to be a hit. One of my biggest songs, “The Light,” was just something I wrote because that was they way I really felt about somebody. So, I don’t think I’ve ever compromised myself.
KW: Maceo Torres-Trujillo asks whether your song “I Used to Love H.E.R.” caused a rift between the East Coast and West Coast rap artists?
C: No, but it caused a situation between myself and Ice Cube and the Westside Connection. It started a little beef, but it ended up being resolved, and out of it we both came up with some good raps. They really felt that I was dissing the West Coast, but I love the West Coast. I grew up listening to both East Coast and West Coast.
KW: Professor Mia Mask asks, growing up, who were your role models?
C: I’d say my mother, my Math teacher Mr. Brown, and Muhammad Ali.
KW: Professor Mask also asks, do you think black musical artists are misrepresented in the mainstream media?
C: Yeah, absolutely. Rap artists tend to be stereotyped in one way, as if they all wear chains, curse, flash money and abuse women. It’s unfair not to look at them as individuals with different personalities. That’s what I like about my character Scott in Just Wright. Even though he’s an NBA star, he’s not depicted simplistically as a superficial person, but as a sensitive, complex individual who’s looking for true love and finds it in a beautiful package he didn’t expect.
KW: Dr. Mask was wondering whether there’s a major historical figure you would like to portray?
C: Yes, Barack Obama or Marvin Gaye.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
C: I can’t think of any.
KW: Recent film school grad Ashley Smith wants to know whether you want to play another gangster, because he’d like to offer you the lead role in the movie he’s making, The Big Shibang. He’d like to show you the trailer.
C: Cool, have Ashley send the trailer to my publicist.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
C: Yes, it happens sometimes, maybe before I go onstage, before I shoot a scene, or even when I just reflect on where I am in life.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
C: Yes, very.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
C: Just a few minutes ago, doing a radio interview with Queen Latifah.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
C: I read the Bible everyday.
KW: The Heather Covington question: What music are you listening to?
C: I’m listening to the Just Wright mix tape, Volume Two. The song I love on it is Déjà Vu by Teena Marie.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
C: Some days I see a king. Some days I see a scared little kid.
KW: What is your favorite dish to eat?
C: Tomato sauce, cheese and bread. I love pizza.
KW: The Boris Kodjoe question: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
C: It’s hard to measure them, but I think the biggest accomplishments are when someone comes to me and says that one of my songs or movies changed their life, got them through the death of a friend, or made them want to marry their lady.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?
C: Having my fourth birthday party on a Fun Bus. I was with my mother and remember feeling overwhelmed because there were so many incredible things going on on that party bus.
KW: The Mike Pittman question: Who was your best friend as a child?
C: My mother, and then my boy Marcus Murray.
KW: Uduak Oduok asks if you think African music will be influencing American culture in the coming years.
C: Not only African music but other aspects of African art and culture are already influencing us in many ways. But I think a lot definitely comes through the music and the soul.
KW: Uduak also asks, who is your favorite clothes designer?
C: Paul Smith.
KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
C: Believe in God, believe in yourself, and know that it’s a journey, and you will make it.
KW: Well, thanks again Common, and best of luck with the movie, and I look forward to interviewing you again soon.
C: Oh, thank you so much, Kam. It was great to speak to you again. God bless you and your family.
Tasha Smith
“My Black Is Beautiful” Interview
Words: Kam Williams
Tasha’s Back, and Black and Beautiful as Ever!
Tasha Smith and her identical twin, Sidra, were born on February 28, 1971 in Camden, New Jersey. Being raised by a single-mom in a crime and drug infested neighborhood proved to be almost too much of a hurdle for Tasha to overcome as her life spiraled down a self-destructive path marked by promiscuity, Marijuana and cocaine addiction, chain-smoking and a stint as a stripper.
Fortunately, she eventually embraced Christianity, cleaned up her act and moved to L.A. where she tried her hand at standup comedy before settling on an acting career. The versatile scene-stealer has since appeared in such movies as Couples Retreat, The Longshots, Daddy’s Little Girls and Why Did I Get Married, to name a few.
When not working, Tasha gives back to the community, dividing her time between making motivational speeches and teaching actor’s workshops all across the country. Here, she talks about reprising the role of Angela in Why Did I Get Married Too, as well as her new TV series, My Black Is Beautiful, a reality series premiering this month on BET. (Check local listings)
Kam Williams: Hey Tasha, thanks for the time again.
Tasha Smith: Hey, Kam Williams! [Shrieks] Whassup! How ya doing?
KW: Very well, and you?
TS: I am doing awesome! I was hoping to interview with you when I was in New York for the premiere [of Why Did I Get Married Too].
KW: This is probably better because I’m sure you were mobbed and I would have had to elbow my way just to get a few minutes one-on-one with you.
TS: Hey, you can have as long as you need now. How’s that?
KW: Tremendous, thanks.
TS: So, what’s happening? Hi!
KW: Nothing much, how about you?
TS: I have just been so busy, and I’m so excited. I have been doing soooooo much. Speaking engagements… producing… developing a half-hour sitcom… working on a movie… leading acting workshops all over the world…and hosting My Black Is Beautiful, an empowerment TV show I’m doing on BET for women. Do you hear me, Kam?
KW: Yeah, so what’s the new TV show going to be like?
TS: We’re doing makeovers, giving financial classes, answering questions about black women’s imaging in the media, and much more. It’s so good! We encourage women to become mentors within their communities in order to teach young girls how to thrive in this society. It’s a good thing, so, I’m excited about having the platform and this opportunity because you know me, I love my folk.
KW: Let’s talk a little about Why Did I Get Married Too. You were as phenomenal as you were in the original which led me to name you the best actress of 2007. How was it seeing everybody again?
TS: Thank you. It was fun. Honestly, we are like a family. We really are. The chemistry for the sequel was even better. It almost felt like we were actually on vacation together, organically. I got to tell you, it was like a family reunion. It was like, “Hey, girl!” and we just had us a good time.
KW: You can’t beat shooting in the Bahamas?
TS: To be honest, the Bahamas wasn’t fun. [Whispers] Kam, it was horrible. Not only was the shooting schedule insane, but there were so many bugs on that island that it was nerve-wracking. It was infested with these big moths called “money bats” Imagine if every time you walked outside hundreds of them were all over the place and landing on you. It was so stressful and irritating. I’m not exaggerating. They also had these mosquitoes called “no see ‘ems” because you couldn’t see ‘em. Those things just ate us up. We had welts and bites all over our bodies. Ugh! I could go on and on. And then there were these other bugs like flying cockroaches that made a loud buzzing sound every time we tried to shoot a scene.
KW: Gee, that sounds very different from Couples Retreat, your previous film, which was filmed in Polynesia on Bora Bora, another exotic location.
TS: Let me tell you honey, they should have picked Bora Bora. Bora Bora was a dream! It was truly paradise.
KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks, who do you admire most in your profession and have you sought out that person as a mentor?
TS: Wow! Angela Bassett is a friend of mine and someone who I truly admire tremendously in terms of her work and her choices.
KW: Reverend Florine Thompson asks, how has your life changed as a Christian, and who in the scriptures speaks most to who you are and how you've developed spiritually?
TS: I’d say Paul. I just love how he went from being an unbeliever persecuting Christians to one of the most powerful people in the Bible. And how has my life changed as a Christian? Once you have the light of God within you, you see things within yourself that you did not know existed. Things that were hidden in darkness are now in light. I see myself as able to forgive… to love… I even see talents in myself that I didn’t see before.
KW: Reverend Thompson also asks, how do you express the Christ you serve in the glamorous Hollywood milieu in which you work?
TS: Your atmosphere does not change you, if are rooted and grounded in who you are. I do what I believe the Lord did, and that is walk in love with all mankind, which I don’t see a lot of Christians doing. Christians can be so judgmental, that it can turn off people who are considering converting. It makes me a little embarrassed, to tell you the truth, when I hear Christians criticizing others. I have to fight against being discouraged, because I don’t want to be connected with people who are so intolerant of much of mankind like that. God loves us all. He really does. And I want to walk in love with people.
KW: I know you’re from Camden, New Jersey, and your character Angela even brags about it in the film. Have you heard of the Center for Transformation , an organization that’s doing some tremendous charity work there, including overseeing a greenhouse, community gardens, neighborhood cleanups, a family resource clinic and other projects?
TS: No I haven’t.
KW: Their mission states “we area people called to be a Christian community and to stand on the side of life with all the struggling people of Camden and the world.”
TS: That sounds beautiful.
KW: I can get some information to you about it, if it sounds like a group you’d be interested in working with.
TS: Yeah, that would be great.
KW: I recently met someone from Camden who says he knew you as a child. Eric Lewis, the jazz pianist. I met him backstage after a concert promoting his new album.
TS: Yes, isn’t he talented? I’m so happy for him.
KW: Laz Lyles would like to know what it was like for you to revisit the character Angela.
TS: It was exciting and empowering, because although Tyler always jokes around saying, “Tasha’s just like Angela,” I’m not really. I’m loud and I communicate, but I’d never think of doing half the things Angela does. She’s an over the top character who just lives and speaks honestly without worrying about being politically correct. So, playing her, you get a sense of freedom to do whatever you want and to live vicariously through her.
KW: Laz has a follow up question. What's the most common feedback you get from your acting workshops?
TS: People come to my workshop expecting just to learn about acting, but at the end many say they’ve learned something about life. They leave as better mothers, better wives, better husbands and better siblings.
KW: After watching your acting studio video, Larry Greenberg wants to know whether a white guy can enroll in your acting course.
TS: Tell him “Yes!” and please bring his whole family. I’m giving a $20 discount to anyone who brings along a white person to my class. Tell him I want white people in my classes and to send an email blast to every white person he knows to come and visit me. [Laughs]
KW: Larry also says he loved your work in "Glass House: The Good Mother." He asks, “Is there any chance I could see you in another thriller?”
TS: Wow! Tell him to pray. I want to do another thriller. [Laughs]
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
TS: Hmm… I see a beautiful black woman who has overcome and who is pressing into her future and forgetting about the past.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?
TS: Wow! I remember being 6 or 7 years-old and always begging my sister to act out scenes with me while we were in our bunk beds. I would be like, “Can you be Chaka Khan while I be Diana Ross? And let’s act like we’re at a party at Stevie wonder’s house and looking fabulous.” But she would always just fall asleep.
KW: How’s your twin, Sidra, doing?
TS: She’s great, thanks.
KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who’s you’re favorite clothes designer?
TS: I love Catherine Maladrino, Angela Dean and Nicole Miller. Catherine Maladrino designs that beautiful, high-class red carpet stuff. Nicole Miller makes beautiful dresses you can wear everyday. And when you just want to go and shut it down, you turn to Angela Dean. She made my dress for this premiere, as well as for the opening of Tyler Perry’s studio, that red sequined number.
KW: Beautiful! If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
TS: Wow, I was just telling my boyfriend that I want to be like Solomon, and instead of asking for riches ask for wisdom and creativity.
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
TS: I make a garlic cracked crab that will shut everything down. First, I roast fresh garlic in olive oil. Then, I sauté onions, peppers and basil in Old Bay seasoning with butter, heavy cream, wine and beer until it gets thick. Then, I let the fresh crabs cook in that sauce for about 10 or 15 minutes before roasting them. Woooo! Believe me when I tell you that my garlic cracked crab is soooo good. It’s dynamic!
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
TS: “Understanding Your Potential” by Myles Munroe. That book is really, really, really good, and empowers you to appreciate your full potential, and God as the source of that potential.
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod?
TS: Honey, I’m on Sade’s “Soldier of Love” right now. Loving it, loving it, and loving it! That whole album is just crazy.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
TS: Today. [LOL] You wanna know what happened? While I was filming “My Black Is Beautiful” I had my DNA traced and found out that I’m linked genetically to the Bubi people of Bioko Island. So, I eagerly asked, “Am I descended from kings and queens?” But I was told, “Sorry, your ancestors were definitely not kings and queens, but probably gatherers in the field.” [Laughs more] That was hilarious. I just laughed so hard.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
TS: Thanks for asking. A lot of times people don’t really seem to care about that. How do I sound?
KW: Elated, and you’ve got a boyfriend since we last spoke.
TS: [Shrieks] I got a man, baby! A man! He is so absolutely wonderful. I am so in love. And I’m planning on getting married and having a bay by the end of 2011.
KW: Congratulations! Who’s the lucky guy?
TS: His name is Keith.
KW: Best of luck to you both, Tasha, and thanks for another terrific interview.
TS: Thank you. It’s so good to talk to you.
KW: Same here.
To see a trailer for My Black Is Beautiful, visit here
To see a trailer for Why Did I Get Married Too, click here
Interview: Omari Hardwick, The “Kick-Ass” Interview
Omari Hardwick
The “Kick-Ass” Interview
Words: Kam Williams
Hardwick Has Arrived!
Born in Savannah, Georgia on January 9, 1974, Omari Hardwick was the second of four children blessing the union of Clifford and Joyce Hardwick. The family moved to Decatur where Omari excelled in athletics and established himself as a standout, eventually earning himself a college football scholarship.
Although he had demonstrated a certain flair for the dramatic early in life, it wasn't until his junior year at the University of Georgia that Omari that he began his formal training in acting. While there, he joined the Athens Theater Company and eventually starred in a number of plays including August Wilson’s "Fences."
Soon after graduation, a knee injury cut short his plans for a pro football career. Omari then decided to focus on acting full-time and headed to New York City to hone his skills on the stage before making the move to Los Angeles. After years of perseverance, Omari finally landed a breakout role when Spike Lee cast him as Dante' in Sucker Free City.
Omari's showbiz career has benefitted from a steady rise ever since, with the versatile thespian exhibiting an enviable acting range in such films as Miracle at St. Anna, Next Day Air, The Gridiron Gang, The Guardian and Beauty Shop. And among his upcoming offerings are The A-Team, For Colored Girls, Bolden and I Will Follow. Meanwhile, he’s also appeared on TV shows like CSI: Miami, Crossing Jordan and Saved, and he currently co-stars opposite Dylan McDermott on TNT’s gritty, cop series Dark Blue.
Here, Omari talks about his controversial new movie, Kick-Ass, the adaptation of the Marvel Comics series which opened up in the #1 spot at the box office.
Kam Williams: Hey, Omari, nice to meet you, and thanks for the time.
Omari Hardwick: Same here.
KW: What interested you in doing Kick-Ass, such a controversial film?
OH: It was the controversy itself which interested me. I already was a fan of [director] Matthew Vaughn from his collaborations with Guy Ritchie on Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. I met with him early on in the process and appreciated his creative vision. My interest definitely revolved around how an 11 year-old girl would be a superhero and potentially train my character in the sequel. So, of course, I salivated at the opportunity. It was definitely a bold pick, but I had a lot of fun working with a young genius in [co-star] Chloe Moretz. Plus, she’s from Georgia, I’m from Georgia, so everything lined up.
KW: What was your main challenge in doing this film, the action sequences?
OH: I wouldn’t say it was the physicality, having come to acting from the world of sports. The main challenge was just the scheduling, really, because my TV show, Dark Blue was taking off at the same time, and this was being shot in London for the most part, and then also in Toronto. There was a lot of travel involved and scheduling conflicts, but I had to do it, so I figured a way to get it done.
KW: Were you surprised when the picture was #1 at the box office? I loved it, and said in my review that it’s the best comic book adaptation since The Dark Knight. It’s also the best blockbuster I’ve seen this year so far.
OH: Man, that’s very humbling for me to hear you say that, Kam. I knew that it would do well, but I didn’t expect this kind of initial reaction. It’s definitely the Pulp Fiction of its day, only with kids.
KW: Laz Lyles was wondering whether you had any pre-conceived notions about what Kick-Ass would be like, and if going into a project with ideas about it tends to prepare you or hinder you?
OH: That’s a great question. I’d have to say it’s a little bit of both. For this kind of film, there was enough vagueness in the script that it left me a little baffled about where I’d fit in and what I’d mean to the film. There were some challenges for me in trying to figure out how to play this guy because, honestly, my character was the only one that was quote-unquote “real.” The rest were sort of fantastical. The major challenge was in figuring out, how do I maintain Marcus’ subtlety and realness while supporting the superhero theme of the movie? But of course I jumped in full steam ahead.
KW: Larry Greenberg says that you have an amazing acting range, and he wants to know how you go back and forth from shooting a non-stop action film like this to the TV show and then to making For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide without getting whiplash.
OH: I appreciate the compliment. It’s very humbling to hear someone recognize the range that I have, but the whiplash definitely happens. Travel in between work helps, and maybe getting away after a project’s done.
KW: Laz says, since you’re going to be in A-Team, she'd like to know what you think of this resurgence of Eighties action films and if there any you’d like to see the dust blown off of and remade today?
OH: Like anybody who grew up in the Eighties, I cringe at the thought of these movies being remade, because of the corniness and cheesiness of the originals. I hope that in the 21st Century, they’ll be able to eliminate the cheese factor when they redo them. If I could remake any Eighties project, it would be less an action flick than a character-driven drama with a rich story to tell.
KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks, what are your goals as an actor, and where do you want your career to go?
OH: Just to tell the truth in whatever role I do, and not got lost or swallowed up by the scope when I’m in a blockbuster. And I want to avoid being typecast and any obvious comparisons to other actors.
KW: You don’t want to get pigeonholed.
OH: Right. If I can just be thought of as Omari Hardwick who had a really, really solid career, and whose work is appreciated in its own right, I think that would be a great legacy to leave behind.
KW: Irene has a follow-up. What were the factors and who were the people who made you who are?
OH: My mom and pop, and my four grandparents who I’m blessed to still have. As an African-American male born with a couple of strikes against you because of your skin color, I think it’s very, very important to have some positive role models around, especially male influences. Fortunately, for me, one was never that far away. I could always just turn to the lefty or to the right, and I had positive grandparents, uncles and coaches. So, I was lucky that I didn’t have to search far for my heroes.
KW: Yeah, when I interviewed LeBron James, who was raised by a single mom, he credited his coach for serving as an important male influence in his life. Did you see his movie?
OH: LeBron actually invited me to the premiere to play in a celebrity game. We talked and found out that we have a lot in common. That dude was going on 45 at 14 years of age. He’s a great guy and ridiculously mature.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
OH: I thought of one the other day, but I can’t remember it now. It had to do with exposing yourself as an actor, and then having to go back into the world as myself.
KW: I recently asked Don Cheadle whether there were any parts of his psyche he had not yet explored on camera. And he responded, “If there’s anything I haven’t revealed yet, it’s probably best kept under wraps.”
OH: Wow! I’m not anywhere near Don’s stature, and haven’t put in that much time yet, so I’d say I have a lot more to share and to reveal. But I think Don Cheadle’s definitely onto something. I would guess that there’s a risk of ending up feeling pained and lonely while walking in a world full of people.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
OH: Yeah, I would say my biggest fear, since experiencing a major tragedy in the family, is that I count my days left on this Earth. I now look at life as fleeting, not a marathon.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
OH: Yeah, although I feel weighty and some inner turmoil at times. But overall, I’d say I’m optimistic, if not happy on a daily basis.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
OH: Watching Kick-Ass!
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod?
OH: I’ve been listening to Usher’s new album, and also some Stevie Wonder. But I like everyone from Bjork to Tupac.
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
OH: Salmon with carmelized crushed pecans on top. I like fish a lot, but I’m addicted to apples.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
OH: Someone who’s trying to grow. It’s rare for artists to really stare deeply at themselves in the mirror, literally, because there’s constantly a mirror on you. But figuratively speaking, I’m really into growth, so when I look in the mirror, I see somebody who’s just trying to get better everyday.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?
OH: [LOL] Being laughed at by my big brother and his friends. I was wearing Oshkosh B’gosh overalls while riding a duck tricycle very fast down a hill in Nashville. At the time, my father was in law school at Vanderbilt.
KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who’s your favorite clothes designer?
OH: That’s a good question, Kam. That’s a good question... I think classic Ralph Lauren is my favorite. It’s timeless.
KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?
OH: Krispy Kreme donuts.
KW: The Rudy Lewis question: Who’s at the top of your hero list?
OH: Mother Teresa.
KW: The Laz Alonso question: How can your fans help you?
OH: By staying interested. Their interest alone humbles and flatters me.
KW: What do you want to be remembered for?
OH: For my consistency.
KW: Thanks again, Omari, and I look forward to speaking to you again soon about some of your upcoming projects.
OH: That sounds good, man. Take care of yourself and your family.
Interview: Jill Scott: The “The “Why Did I Get Married Too” Interview”
Jill Scott
The “Why Did I Get Married Too” Interview
Words: Kam Williams
The Lady Waxes Eloquent
Jill Scott was born on April 4, 1972 in The City of Brotherly Love where she was raised by her mother, Joyce, and her maternal grandmother. A naturally-gifted child, Jill was speaking at 8 months and learned to read by the age of 4. She credits her mother for broadening her horizons by taking her to see plays and to museums during her childhood.
After graduating from the Philadelphia High School for Girls, Jill attended Temple University, working two jobs to put herself through college. She majored in English and planned to become a teacher, but dropped out of school after becoming disillusioned with the profession while spending time in the classroom as an assistant.
She started out in showbiz doing poetry readings which is how she was discovered by drummer QuestLove of The Roots in 1999. He invited Jill to join the band in the studio where she collaborated with the group on writing their Grammy-winning hit, “You Got Me.” This led to her being signed by the Hidden Beach label to record her debut album, “Who Is Jill Scott?” This launched Jill’s phenomenally-successful musical career which has netted the sultry singer 3 Grammys thus far.
The talented triple threat has also published a book of poetry and made a phenomenal foray into acting via both the big and small screens. On TV, she’s handled the lead role of Mma. Precious Ramotswe on the Emmy-nominated, Botswana-based, HBO series “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.” Meanwhile, she’s received additional critical acclaim for her work in such movies as Hounddog and Why Did I Get Married?
Here, she talks about returning to reprise the role of Sheila in the sequel to the latter, the latest modern morality play from Tyler Perry.
Kam Williams: Hi Jill, thanks so much for the time.
Jill Scott: My pleasure, thank you.
KW: Congrats on doing a great job in this sequel which I felt improved on the original.
JS: Thank you, I’m really excited about it.
KW: How was it being reunited with everybody?
JS: It was so nice. It really was. It’s just a pleasure to be around people that you like, and that you have a good understanding of. We clicked in the first film, and never really separated after we walked away from each other. We still called each other. “How’re you doing?” “How ya’ been?” “How’s the kids?” “How’s the wife?” And then, here it is a couple of years later, we’re doing another film, and everybody just sank right back into character.
KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman says she just loves your acting, and was wondering whether there are any plans to resume shooting “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.”
JS: I certainly hope so. We’ve been talking to HBO about resuming. The reason why we didn’t continue shooting was because I was pregnant and Mma. Ramotswe was not pregnant! [Chuckles] So, I had to wait until I after had my child, and then once I did, I felt he was too young to travel on a plane for 16 hours. So, that was one of the reasons why we went on hiatus. At this point, we’re looking at scripts, and trying to see how to continue the show because the feedback and excitement has been exceptional.
KW: Bernadette also says she thought your accent on the show was incredible, and almost did not believe it was you speaking. She wants to know how you perfected it.
JS: What’s funny is that I spent about a month and a half learning the wrong accent. I didn’t know it was wrong until after I arrived in Botswana. The Motswana people said, “What are you talking about? That is not a Botswana accent. You sound like you’re from Zimbabwe.” And they are very particular, if you are going to represent their culture. Their dialect is specific, so I had to unlearn everything I had learned, and then learn again.
KW: Why do you refer to the people of Botswana as the Motswana?
JS: You live in Botswana, you speak Setswana, and you are Motswana.
KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls would like to know, how has motherhood changed your views on life and career?
JS: Well, I am making an effort to truly live. I don’t mean to imply by that that I haven’t been alive before but, with my son being here and such a powerful force in my life, he’s given me a freedom to be more. I think that sometimes we can get stuck, and just the fact that he’s here says so much to me about my own existence. I didn’t think I’d be able to have children, and this level of blessing is something I can’t even put my finger on. I don’t even know where to begin to describe the emotion. I feel like I have a lava stick in my spine that’s propelling me forward to do larger things like going on tour with Maxwell, doing stadiums, and leaving my old record label to look for a new one that can support my new effort 100%. I appreciate my old label very much, but it’s time to move forward. So, my son has given me the courage to get out of any box that I’ve been in.
KW: Larry Greenberg thinks your music is beautiful and as smooth as silk. He says, “Philly has produced more than its share of stunningly-talented artists. Do you think that growing up in Philadelphia has tempered your work?”
JS: Yes, this might sound terrible, but there has been segregation in Philadelphia for many years. The Italians live around Italians. The Greeks live around Greeks. Spanish people live around Spanish people, particularly Puerto Rican. And black people live around black people. That makes us culturally thick, because if you want to hear real Puerto Rican music, you go to Little Puerto Rico. If you want to eat real Italian food, you go to Little Italy. Everybody’s welcome in any neighborhood in Philadelphia.
KW: It isn’t like Boston where a black person couldn’t even walk through an Irish or Italian neighborhood when I lived there.
JS: Well, in Philadelphia, you are welcome, and that’s The City of Brotherly Love. I think that makes us culturally thick and sound, so you can experience all kinds of cultural authenticity.
KW: Laz Lyles says she hopes you plan to put out more poetry books. She has the first one and loves it. She wants to know, what's the way you’ve most changed, creatively since your first album?
JS: I think I’ve changed more as a person and, as I change as a person, there is new added creativity. I’ve seen more… I’ve met more people, done more things with dogs, and walked on more beaches since the beginning. The more I see, the more I wanna do; and the more I do, the more I wanna see.
KW: Laz also wanted to wish a happy birthday to you and your son, Jett. I know yours was April 4th. Happy Birthday! When’s his?
JS: Thank you. His is the 20th.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
JS: Is there any question no one ever asks, that I wish someone would? Wow! If there is, I don’t know what it is.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
JS: All the time.
KW: The Zane question: Do you have any regrets?
JS: Yes.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
JS: All the time.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
JS: A woman.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to?
JS: It was something really cool by an artist from DC. I can’t remember his name.
KW: Was it Wale?
JS: Not Wale, his counterpart. A friend of mine played me his album in the car, and I found it really interesting.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?
JS: Wow, that’s another good one. Let me think… It was playing with my dog, Benji. He was my best friend.
KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
JS: You ask good questions! I like that. I would want a clean planet.
KW: Thanks again, Jill, for this opportunity to talk with you, and best of luck with everything.
JS: Thank you so much for the cool interview. Be well.
Interview:Lenny Kravitz: The “Precious”
Let Lenny Rule
Leonard Albert Kravitz was born in New York City on May 26, 1964 to actress Roxie Roker, and Sy Kravitz, a news producer at NBC-TV. An only child, Lenny was raised on the Upper East Side of Manhattan until the family moved to Los Angeles when his late mother landed the role of Helen on the television sitcom “The Jeffersons.”
He developed a love of music at an early age, playing both drums and guitar by the time he was 5. After dropping out of Beverly Hills High School at the age of 15, Lenny straightened his hair and donned blue contact lenses to create a new persona, Romeo Blue. But he only hit it big after going natural and back to his real name and irises for the release of his debut album, “Let Love Rule.” A 4-time Grammy-winner, Lenny’s hits include “Let Love Rule,” “Fly Away” and “American Woman,” to name a few.
He and his ex-wife, Cosby kid Lisa Bonet, have one daughter, Zoe, an aspiring actress whose next flick, Twelve, will be released in the Fall. Here, Lenny talks about making his acting debut in Precious, where he played John, an empathetic nurse who befriends the beleaguered title character.
Kam Williams: Hey, Lenny, thanks for the time. What interested you in playing John?
Lenny Kravitz: Well, first of all, I thought it was a great story. Then the fact that Lee’s a great director and I’m a fan of his movies. He makes dynamic films. And the script was great. I also liked Nurse John, who was really the only positive male character in the film, concerning Precious. Even though it’s only a short visit they have together, she sort of starts to come alive at that point.
KW: Did you enjoy making the film?
LK: It was a great experience. Obviously it was my first film, but you never know when you read a script, what it’s going to be like, even if you know who’s been cast. And I can say that it’s the same for making music videos or doing other projects.
KW: What did you think of the finished product?
LK: It came out so amazing! It was far more than I had imagined.
KW: How was it working with such a talented cast, Mo’Nique, Gabby Sidibe, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Sherri Shepherd, etcetera?
LK: Well, my scenes were primarily with Gabby and the young girls, so I really didn’t see anybody else. But working with Gabby, I realized immediately that she was amazingly talented. I could tell just by the way she’d get into the role. We’d be sitting around talking and laughing, but when Lee would say, “Okay, it’s time to get ready to shoot the scene,” she would transform at the snap of a finger as soon as Lee said, “Action!” She’d suddenly be in agony, or crying or in some deep, emotional state.” And I’d be thinking, “Wow! This girl is really incredible.” You never know where you’re going to find a great actor. Just yesterday, I was watching an interview with Martin Scorcese concerning Raging Bull, which is one of my favorite films, and he was talking about how he’d worked with a lot of guys who weren’t quote-unquote “actors,” like Joe Pesce and Frank Vincent. Scorcese was very smart in the way that he cast, because you don’t know where you’re going to find the right person who can carry a role and summon that emotion you’re looking for.
KW: Would you describe Lee as a hands-on director?
LK: Extremely! And I enjoyed that, because when I’m making my music, I’m writing it, I’m producing it, I’m playing all the instruments, I’m performing. It’s my own world where I do what I feel, and nobody tells me anything. So, I found it a really refreshing change of pace to suddenly be completely directed. It was a type of collaboration that I don’t normally have. He told me how to walk, how to do this, how to do that. Yet, at the same time, he’ll give you room to breathe, once he’s established what he wants from you. For instance, take the scene in the hospital where I’m initially sitting with Precious, smacking my lips while I’m eating that fruit salad, and her girlfriends are all talking trash. That whole scene was improvised. At first, we followed our dialogue, but we weren’t feeling it. Lee came into the room, and ripped those pages out of the script. He said, “This is what I want. I need for you to take me from A to B to C, but just make it up. Now, just go!” We did, and he loved it. But then the 7 of us had to remember what we’d just made up in order to repeat it 4 or 5 more times from different camera angles. For me, it was a lot of fun. It still was like making music, the way I interpreted it. It’s all rhythm, it’s all musical, so it was intense, but really great working with Lee.
KW: Laz Lyles noticed that you’re slated to make a movie with Ash Baron-Cohen [cousin of Sacha] called Novella.
LK: I don’t know what’s going on with that, actually. But the next film I’ll be doing is another one with Lee called Selma, in which I’ll be playing Andrew Young.
KW:: Laz wants to know if you intend to pursue more acting roles, or if you’ll just be playing it by ear?
LK: I’m playing it by ear although, although it’s a good time for me to pursue acting, I suppose since I’m enjoying having another medium in which to express myself. I’ve been getting a great response to my work. I’m sure great scripts are hard to find, but I’m definitely open, and waiting to see what comes my way.
KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks, what musical heights do you still want to reach? What motivates the music you create and governs it development?
LK: What motivates it is life. Life is everything. Life influences my music and brings it forth. Life is always changing, so I’m always hearing new music. It’s the way I document my life. I feel like my best work is in front of me. I’m in the studio now, and I’m having an amazing time making this new album. It’s something I can’t help.
KW: The new album is called “Negrophilia.” Is there some sort of theme running through all the songs?
LK: It’s not written as a concept album, and the whole album isn’t finished yet, but I’m sure there will be some kind of thread, because it just works out that way. I liked the title and what the word means. I was living in Paris last year, where there’s a great appreciation of many different aspects of African culture and of black culture. The music… the art… whatever… And I kind of went with that.
KW: This wasn’t your first time living in Paris, though.
LK: No, I went to Paris in 1989 when the Americans didn’t quite know what to do with me at first. Now, all those years later, it’s kind of the same story. Not the same scenario, but kind of the same story.
KW: Larry Greenberg says, he would love to love to see a movie about Romeo Blue. Is there any chance of that happening?
LK: Hmmm… That’s interesting, you know. I haven’t thought about that, but it’s interesting, because it was a different persona, a different person, as far as I’m concerned. I haven’t thought about making a music film, but if I did, that would be a very interesting idea.
KW: Romeo Blue was an important phase you went through in getting you back to yourself.
LK: Yes, I was being somebody else. It was a part of me. I had an emotional attachment to this character, but it wasn’t me. I didn’t know whether being this half-black, half-white guy named Lenny Kravitz could work. That may sound really strange, but in essence, that’s how I felt. But then I woke up one day, and realized Romeo Blue wasn’t me. It was a part of me, but it wasn’t me. At that point, I accepted myself, my name and my background for who I am, and then everything began to flow.
KW: Do you ever feel pressure to identify yourself as black or white, or Jewish or Christian?
LK: No, my mother always told me to embrace both sides of my background. And she also taught me one very useful thing when I was going to first grade. She said, “You’re Bahamian and African-American on one side, and Russian-Jewish on the other. You’re no more one than the other, and it’s beautiful that you have all this. It makes your life all the more rich. But society will see you only as black.” I can’t remember how I felt at the time that she told me that, but later on in life I was like, “Wow!” because that’s exactly how it was. They don’t care that you’re mixed. They see you as one color.
KW: And although you understood that the world saw you that way, you didn’t allow yourself to be pigeonholed and marginalized.
LK: I’ve lived my life dealing with everybody. And that’s how it’s always been for me.
KW: Tommy Russell asks, do you think Obama will end up having a very successful Presidency like Reagan, bad at the beginning, revered by the end, or will he lack enough of an economic rebound to earn a second term?
LK: I think it’s too early to say, but I certainly hope that he will win re-election. Beyond his having made history as the first African-American president, I hope that he gets re-elected for what he does while in office, not for his skin color. I certainly believe he has the capacity.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
LK: Very! Extremely!
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
LK: Yes, but I’m working on canceling that out completely.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
LK: Last night.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
LK: It’s a book that my mom had called “Black Poets.”
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What’s the last song you listened to?
LK: One of mine I’m working on called “Love Casino.”
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
LK: Oh, wow… Wow! Honestly, today, I saw my mother.
KW: I know you’re related to Al Roker. We grew up in the same neighborhood and went to the same grammar school.
LK: Oh, you grew up in St. Albans? I used to go there almost every weekend. In fact, after I was born at St. John’s hospital in Bed-Stuy, I went straight to my godmother’s house in St. Albans. Yeah man, I know St. Albans real well.
KW: What’s your favorite dish to cook?
LK: I have a lot of them I guess right now it’s lamb chops. I been eating a little meat lately.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?
LK: Me being in my grandmother’s yard in Brooklyn. I must have been about 3. I had this red balloon. I let go of it, and it went up into the sky and just kept going and going. I completely flipped out, because I didn’t understand why.
KW: Thanks again for the interview, Lenny, and best of luck with the new album and the acting career.
LK: Thank you.
Interview:Don Cheadle - The ”Brooklyn’s Finest”
Don Cheadle
The ”Brooklyn’s Finest” Interview
Words: Kam Williams
Down with Don
Donald Cheadle might be the best actor around yet to win an Oscar. His only Academy Award nomination came in 2005 for his powerful performance as Paul Rusesbagina in Hotel Rwanda.
But he’s been delivering an abundance of critically-acclaimed work both before and since in such films as Devil in a Blue Dress, Boogie Nights, Rosewood, Ocean’s Eleven, Crash, Traffic, Swordfish, Talk to Me, Mission to Mars, Traitor, Rush Hour 2, Bulworth and Reign over Me.
In this spirited tete-a-tete, Don talks about his latest outing as NYPD Detective Tango Butler in Brooklyn’s Finest, a gritty cop saga directed by Antoine Fuqua and co-starring Wesley Snipes, Richard Gere, Ellen Barkin and Ethan Hawke.
Kam Williams: Hi, Don, thanks for the time.
Don Cheadle: Thank you.
KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks, how did you prepare for this role as an undercover detective?
DC: I spent some time with several police officers who are actually doing the same type of work in Brooklyn.
KW: Citing the maxim ”Great actors do not act, they show their true selves to the camera,” Irene asks whether there are any parts of your psyche you have not yet explored on camera?
DC: After making 40-something films, if there’s anything I haven’t revealed yet, it’s probably best kept under wraps.
KW: Laz Lyles was wondering whether the energy on the set of Brooklyn’s Finest was similar to working with the large ensemble of talented actors in Ocean's Eleven?
DC: No, this was a very different experience.
KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman says she appreciates all your humanitarian efforts as much as she does your acting. And she suspects that your choice of charities has been influenced by the locations where you’ve shot movies, given all you’ve done for Darfur and Rwanda. So, she was hoping you might interested in supporting her charity in East New York, Brooklyn which is dedicated to early educational opportunities for young African-American males under the age of 5.
DC: There are only 24 hours in the day, but I’d love to get involved, my schedule permitting.
KW: Nick Antoine wants to know if there’s any truth to the rumor that you’re planning to do a Miles Davis bio-pic.
DC: Yep, I’m working on it now.
KW: Is it true that you’ve done standup comedy?
DC: Yes, but not anymore.
KW: Is it true that you play the saxophone?
DC: Yes, but I’m playing the trumpet now?
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod?
DC: Miles Davis.
KW: I know who you’re favorite trumpeter is. How about saxophonist?
DC: Coltrane.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
KW: “Realtor to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan’s question: Where in L.A. do you live?
DC: I’d rather not say.
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
DC: Whatever my kids want to eat.
KW: What are you’re favorite foods to eat?
DC: Comfort foods… macaroni and cheese, and meat loaf.
KW: The Mike Pittman question: Who was your best friend as a child?
DC: My siblings and my cousins.
KW: The Uduak Oduak question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?
DC: Boss.
KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
DC: Don’t.
KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
DC: That the world would take the issue of global warming seriously.
KW: Thanks again for the interview, Don, and best of luck with the film.
DC: Thank you.
See a trailer for Brooklyn’s Finest,
Interview: Mariah Carey - The “Precious”
Mariah Carey - The “Precious” Interview
Words: Kam Williams
Mariah Makes It Happen
Forget the JFK assassination, I can actually remember where I was the first time I heard that beautiful voice so many moons ago. I was sitting on a hilltop, high above a sprawling dairy farm, having a picnic with a friend who played “Make It Happen” for me on a big boom box which echoed down into the valley below. Of course, I was blown away and I’ve been a fan of Mariah Carey’s ever since. That unforgettable introduction flashed through my memory and flooded my thoughts while preparing to conduct this interview.
Mariah was born in Huntington, Long Island on March 27, 1970 to Patricia Hickey, an Irish-American opera singer, and Alfred Roy Carey, an engineer of Afro-Venezuelan descent. Her parents separated when she was just 3 years-old, which was also around the time that Mariah took to singing like a fish to water.
She got the nickname Mirage during high school, because she skipped so many classes to hone her craft at local recording studios. After graduation, she moved to Manhattan where she bounced around between jobs, supporting herself as a beautician and a waitress until her big break arrived when Columbia Records’ executive Tommy Mottola heard her demo tape. Mottola soon signed Mariah, thus launching a storybook career which has netted the silver-throated songbird 5 Grammys and 18 #1 hit singles over the years.
During our tete-a-tete, I couldn’t help but notice the enchanting, musical lilt to Mariah’s voice, as if she can’t help but always be musical. I asked her many of my stock questions, learning that the last book she read was a delightful tale she and her co-stars Gabby Sidibe and Paula Patton shared aloud with kids during a visit to an inner-city grammar school. She also told me that her favorite meal to cook was a linguini dish that her late father liked to make, and that she’s listening to a lot of different hip-hop nowadays.
But far more significant than any of the factual answers she gave was the overall sense I got of Mariah, the person. She came across as a grounded, sincere, vulnerable and deeply spiritual soul truly interested in having a quality conversation, not as a vain diva who expected to be placed on a pedestal. When I focused narrowly on her vocal talents during our conversation, she gently reminded me that she is not merely a singer, but equally proud of her work as a songwriter who composes virtually all of her own tunes.
As for her private life, in 2008, Mariah married Nick Cannon, star of such movies as Drumline and Roll Bounce. Here, she discusses her new movie, Precious, Lee Daniel’s tour de force where she is very impressive as a NYC social worker investigating a serious case of child abuse.
Kam Williams: Thanks for the time, Mariah, I’m honored to be speaking with you.
Mariah Carey: No, thank you.
KW: I loved the film. You did such a great job.
MC: Thank you.
KW: What interested you in Precious?
MC: Well, I’ve been a film of Sapphire’s and “Push” which I’m sure you know is her novel that inspired Precious. I read the book a really long time ago. A friend gave it to me, and I read it twice in a row. It was tough but it was also so incredibly inspiring and amazing.
KW: This wasn’t your first time collaborating with Lee Daniels.
MC: He and I had just worked together on a film called Tennessee, which didn’t get the right shine, but I don’t think it was the right project for either of us. He wasn’t directing, only producing it. So, I couldn’t listen to him as a director, The thing is, I ordinarily can’t help but listen to Lee, except he couldn’t really fully direct me in this case, because he was the director. I don’t think the country thing was necessarily either one of our bags, if that make sense.
KW: Yeah. I understand Lee was lucky to get the rights to Precious, because Sapphire didn’t care if it was ever adapted to the screen.
MC: Before he got “Push,” she had basically turned everybody down. When he got it, I was so excited for him because we had become really good friends, not thinking, “Oh, I’m going to be in this movie.” Do you know what I mean?
KW: Yep. How did you end up playing Mrs. Weiss, then?
MC: He said, “Look, I’m going to make you under and over, your hair and whatever, and you’re just going to have to deal with it. I’m going to put you under fluorescent lighting. That overhead lighting was not my friend, and neither was the hair. Someone who normally does my makeup described it as a Maria Carey nightmare. But in the end, it turned out to be a great gift Lee gave me to be able to go that far away from who I really am.
KW: How did you get along with Gabby [Sidibe], who played Precious, and the rest of the cast?
MC: Working with that talented young lady, and then to add Mo’nique who is such a powerhouse in the film was incredible. I really have to thank Lee for giving me this opportunity.
KW: Speaking of powerful, talk a little about the revealing scene you share with Mo’Nique towards the end of the picture.
MC: That scene is really the culmination of everything that’s transpired before in the movie. It’s when we come to learn how long the abuse has been going on. My character’s not really that likable, but I had to stay strong as an actor, because she does bring all the abuse to the surface.
KW: We’re you at all affected emotionally while shooting that scene?
MC: Yes, we connected on a very deep level. We were crying between takes. It was very emotional.
KW: Well, thanks again for the time, Mariah, and best of luck with your movie and new album.
MC: Thank you, Kam.
KW: I really appreciate it.
MC: Likewise, take care.
Interview: Morgan Freeman - The “Invictus” Interview
Morgan Freeman - The “Invictus” Interview
Words: Kam Williams
Morgan on Mandela, Mirrors, Mississippi and More
He started acting at the age of 9, exhibiting promise as a lead character in a school play. Although he had won a statewide drama competition, upon graduating from high school, he opted to enlist in the Air Force rather than accept a college scholarship to pursue his true passion.
After being honorably discharged from the military in the late Fifties, Freeman decided it was time to take his shot at showbiz. But he struggled for years, first finding work as a dancer, then on the stage in a variety of modest company productions. Eventually, he made his way to Broadway where he debuted in Hello Dolly in 1968, which led to his landing a steady gig as Easy Reader on the children’s TV series “The Electric Company.”
He subsequently appeared on such soap operas as “Another World” and “Ryan’s Hope” before finally landing his breakout role opposite Robert Redford in Brubaker in 1980. Hollywood soon took note, enabling the capable thespian to blossom into the universally-admired, consummate actor we’ve all enjoyed over the years.
A cursory glance at Mr. Freeman’s resume’ reveals a plethora of memorable hit movies, including Lean on Me, Glory, Unforgiven, Amistad, Deep Impact, Bruce Almighty, Batman Begins, Gone Baby Gone, The Bucket List and The Dark Knight, to name a few. He delivered Oscar-nominated performances, in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy and The Shawshank Redemption before finally winning that elusive Academy Award in 2005 for Million Dollar Baby, which also earned Best Picture and Best Director honors for Clint Eastwood.
He reunited with Eastwood to make his latest picture, Invictus, an uplifting, historical saga based on actual events which unfolded in South Africa shortly after the fall of the apartheid regime. Freeman, who still makes his home in Mississippi, spoke with me recently about his life, career and the challenge of portraying Nelson Mandela.
Kam Williams: Mr. Freeman, thanks so much for the time. I’m honored to be speaking with you.
Morgan Freeman: Well, thank you.
KW: First, let me say congratulations on winning the National Board of Review’s Best Actor Award for Invictus.
MF: Thank you very much.
KW: Was making this movie a labor of love? I heard that it was something that you’d wanted to do for a long time.
MF: Well, it wasn’t necessarily this project, but I felt destined to do something about Mandela. I don’t know whether you know that in 1992, when he published his autobiography, he was asked who he would want to play him, if the book ever became a movie. And he named me. So, I was sort of the chosen one, as it were. Therefore, I expected that eventually I would play him, but we always thought it would be in a movie version of “Long Walk to Freedom.” It didn’t turn out that way, however.
KW: But you obviously also liked Invictus.
MF: My partner and I thought that this story was ideal. This one, we felt was perfect to go with.
KW: Are you referring to your partner in Madidi restaurants and Ground Zero blues club?
MF: No, to my producing partner, Lori McCreary.
KW: Jim Cryan, a reader with in-laws in Mississippi, says he’s enjoyed eating at Madidi down in Clarksdale. He says it’s very upscale, so he was wondering whether when you cook for yourself you make any down home Southern dishes like barbecued bologna sandwiches.
MF: I don’t cook. I’m a partner in the restaurant, but it isn’t because I like to cook.
KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman wanted to know whether you ever met Mandela.
MF: Yes, I’ve met him on a number of occasions, and have even been able to spend some time with him.
KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks, how would you characterize your relationship with Clint Eastwood, as a friend, mentor or fellow artist?
MF: I think it’s as friend and fellow artist. Yeah, fellow artist, first.
KW: Reverend Florine Thompson asks, who or what has been your greatest source of encouragement and inspiration?
MF: Sidney Poitier, his whole life and career.
KW: She also wants to know, how important is spirituality in your life?
MF: Very important. Very important, indeed, although I’m not what you would call “officially” spiritual.
KW: Aspiring actor Tommy Russell asks, did you ever want to give up as an actor?
MF: Oh, yeah. Many times… many times…
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
MF: [Laughs] No, I’ve been asked everything that you can imagine.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
MF: Afraid? Yes, I get afraid, because I’m an adventurer. I like to live on the edge. Afraid means you have an adrenaline rush.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
MF: Happiness is relative. I’m content.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
MF: Well, I’ve been with Clint and [co-star] Matt Damon the last couple of days, and we’ve laughed a lot.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
MF: Oh, gosh… I’m sorry. I can’t remember what the last book was offhand.
KW: Maybe it’ll pop into your head before we finish.
MF: Yeah.
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to?
MF: An eclectic mix of people. Right now, I have a mix on my disc player of Norah Jones, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Al Green.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?
MF: My earliest childhood memory… I think my earliest childhood memory is of getting up one morning and putting my own shoes on. I put ‘em on the wrong feet.
KW: That’s funny, because my earliest childhood memory is being taught by my mother to tie my shoes while we sat under a tree in a park.
MF: Do you remember how old you were?
KW: Either 3 or 4.
MF: That seems to be about the same age that I was.
KW: The Mike Pittman question: Who was your best friend as a child?
MF: I had a lot of best friends as a child. My first one’s name was Sonny Man. [Chuckles] Then there was Bobo and Walter, up until I was a teenager.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
MF: When I look in the mirror, what do I see? I see me. What does that mean? Do you have any idea?
KW: No, because I don’t know how to interpret the answers to that question.
MF: I meant, can you interpret the question? What did you have in mind there?
KW: It’s a question I use often, and I leave it to each person to interpret the meaning.
MF: Do you ever get any interesting answers to that?
KW: Yeah.
MF: Really?
KW: Sure, they can be very revealing! Ludacris said, “an entrepre-Negro,” Gladys Knight said, “A child of God,” Faizon Love responded, “The light! The reflection of the light,” Mo’Nique said, “I see somebody that’s full of life,” and LeBron James answered, “A great father, a great friend, a loyal person and someone who’s always trying to make a difference.” I like offbeat questions that people aren’t always asked which cause them to pause and become a little more introspective, like: Are you happy?
MF: I see happiness and sadness as two sides of the same coin. And if you’re somewhere in the middle of that, you’re going to float both ways from time to time, but you never know what your ambient temperature might be.
KW: The Flex Alexander question: How do you get through the tough times?
MF: I have this amazing belief in myself, and the idea proven to me time and time again that if you just keep going, stay on your feet, and keep moving, things will work out.
KW: Wesley Derbyshire asks, how is it that you always manage to evoke power, deep emotion, and true conviction onscreen, and in such a serene fashion?
MF: In my mind, acting is believing. That’s the way I learned it, and how I still think of it. So, in order to be true to any character, you have to believe that you are that character, and that you have his belief system working for you. That way, when you’re reciting your lines, you’ll be saying them from a place of conviction.
KW: Laz Lyles asks, did you have to sacrifice a modicum of reverence for Mandela as an actor to bring out the full palette of complexity and humanity of a person as universally esteemed as Mandela? She says she heard Clint Eastwood mention some of the ways in which Mandela was flawed. So she’d like to know what it was like for you as an actor to get into the psyche of a person who is viewed as so selfless and spiritual, and to discover that he’s also flawed.
MF: Well, I had already read so much about Mandela that I knew a long time ago that not only is he a human who is flawed, but that there are certain personal failings as a man for which he cannot forgive himself. For despite all of his political triumphs, he feels unfulfilled in terms of his family.
KW: Carmela Reimers asks, how hard was it to get Mandela’s accent down?
MF: Very hard. In fact, that was the most challenging part of the whole role. It wasn’t impossible, but if I were to say any part of the role was hard, it would have to be that.
KW: Uduak Oduok asks, how did you like shooting on location in South Africa, and how do you think Africa will be influence America, culturally, in the coming years?
MF: I really enjoyed being in South Africa. It is really an amazing place. We spent about 6 weeks in Cape Town and 2 weeks in Joburg [Johannesburg]. I still find it a very exciting country. As old as it really is, right now it seems on the verge of leaping into the 21st Century. Culturally, I don’t think Africa is going to have any more effect on America than it already has, which has been considerable. But I believe South Africa will have an enormous influence on the rest of that continent. I certainly hope so.
KW: Larry Greenberg was wondering whether, despite your many accolades and accomplishments, there are any projects you still feel you must take on?
MF: Yes, I must get a few more historical dramas made about the black experience in America.
KW: The Boris Kodjoe question: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
MF: Working as an actor… Yep.
KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
MF: For anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps? I’ve laid down a lot of footsteps and tracks in different directions, so it would depend on which way they want to go. In general, I would say, “Gird your loins, and go where you want to go! Do what you want to do.”
KW: The Laz Alonso question: How can your fans help you?
MF: By just remaining fans, and by letting me know if I mess up.
KW: Have you remembered the last book you read yet?
MF: No, I’ve been concentrating on what you’ve been asking. Let me think… One of the last ones was Whiskey Gulf by Clyde Ford, a friend of mine up in the Washington area.
KW: Have you been doing a lot more voiceover work lately? It seems like I’m always hearing you on TV and radio ads.
MF: No, sometimes I think I hear my voice, too, but it’s not my voice. So, you have to be a little careful there.
KW: Yeah, Richie Havens said the same thing. That there’s a guy impersonating him who has done a bunch of commercials.
MF: Right. If a good model sounds alike, some people go for it.
KW: Thanks again, Mr. Freeman. I really appreciate the time, and I’ve admired your career and enjoyed all your work.
MF: Thanks so much, that’s very kind of you.
To see a trailer for Invictus,
Interview: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Endgame
Chewing the Fat with Golden Globe-Nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, Endgame
Words: Kam Williams
Chiwetel Ejiofor was born in London on July 10, 1977 to Nigerian immigrants, Arinze, a doctor, and Obiajulu Ejiofor, a pharmacist. By the age of 13, he was already appearing in numerous school and National Youth Theatre productions, and he subsequently attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, as well as Dulwich College.
In 1996, the versatile stage thespian caught the attention of Stephen Spielberg who cast him in Amistad. Chiwetel returned to the stage before making another big splash onscreen in the critically-acclaimed thriller Dirty Pretty Things. He went on to co-star in Love Actually, Slow Burn, She Hate Me and Melinda and Melinda. His more recent film credits include 2012, American Gangster, Talk to Me, Kinky Boots, Four Brothers Inside Man, Redbelt and Children of Men.
Here, he talks about his life, his career, and his powerful performance in Endgame, for which he just landed a Golden Globe nomination.
Kam Williams: Hi Chewitel, thanks for the time. What brings you to New York?
Chiwetel Ejiofor: I’m just finishing up shooting Salt.
KW: Let me start by congratulating you on the Golden Globe nomination for Endgame.
CE: Thank you very much.
KW: What interested you in the film?
CE: There were a number of things that excited me, starting with the historical context of what was happening in South Africa at the time. I remember being very affected by what was going on there towards the end of Apartheid. And the subject is still very pertinent, politically, to what’s happening around the world today, in terms of negotiating peace talks. I had always been interested in this period of change in South Africa, generally, for a variety of reasons. And I specifically became fascinated by Endgame’s taking you behind the curtain, and telling the story of the behind the scenes machinations between Thabo Mbeki and the Afrikaner government. That was incredibly eye-opening, and a story that I hadn’t heard before. And Mbeki himself is such an interesting character. He played an instrumental role in changing the direction of the country, in putting the ANC [African National Congress] in a position to effectively govern.
KW: How did you like working with Pete Travis as a director? I loved his super-realistic docudrama Omagh about a terrorist bombing in a town in Northern Ireland.
CE: Great! He’s a very engaging guy to work with. He has an amazing b.s. detector. His style is very different from anything I’ve ever done before. He really pushes for authenticity. He’s very keen to get to the essence and the truth of the matter.
KW: Three of your films have made my Top 10 Lists: Dirty Pretty Things (2002), Love Actually (2003) and Kinky Boots (2005). What is it about your acting style that enables you to help elevate a project to be among the best?
CE: I don’t know. When I read a script, I try to get right down to what I feel is the heart of it. In a sense, it doesn’t matter what the subject is, and it doesn’t have to be universal, as long as the story has something meaningful to say. Conversely, I’ve often had the fortune to work on projects with a small theme I find very interesting enough to pursue and to be passionate about in the context of the story, then it may turn out there’s a universality about my character which still resonates with many people as well.
KW: Aspiring actor, Tommy Russell asks: Did your success as an actor build on itself, or has it been one thing here, one thing there and then boom you were suddenly getting good, consistent work?
CE: That’s a good question. I started working as an actor, semi-professionally, when I was 16, and got my first professional gig at 19. I guess I’ve kind of worked pretty consistently since then. I started off doing plays as a theater actor. But I never thought of it in terms of it leading anywhere. I was just trying to be the best actor that I could be in the context of what I was doing.
KW: Laz Lyles asks, if you have one genre that you have a special affinity for?
CE: Well, I do like sci-fi. When I was a kid, I was always sort of locked into sci-fi stories. So, sci-fi has always had a special place in my heart.
KW: Is that what drew you to do 2012?
CE: I suppose so. I found a role in the movie, and was excited about the spectacle of the visual style envisioned for it by director Roland Emmerich.
KW: Speaking of directors, documentary filmmaker Hisani DuBose asks: How did you become an insider who constantly works?
CE: I’ve always enjoyed doing a huge variety of roles, which I think helps, instead of settling for the things I might be most comfortable with.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
CE: The very last book was a John Coltrane biography by Lewis Porter.
http://www.amazon.com
KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod?
CE: My music tastes are often 20 years behind.
KW: Me to, I was listening to Annie Lennox’s Diva this morning.
CE: That’s a great album! I’m constantly discovering things. Like Bobby Bland. Right now I suppose I’m into the Eighties, which turned out to be a great musical period.
KW: The Laz Alonso question: How can your fans help you?
CE: [Laughs] I don’t know. By just continuing to enjoy the movies. I feel that audiences are very sophisticated, and part of my challenge is to keep them engaged because they are so complex.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
CE: I’m slightly obsessed with making sure everything matches at the moment, because I’m working on this movie, and there’s been a bit of a gap in the shooting. So, I’m constantly looking to see whether I look the same as I did earlier, whether I’ve put on or lost any weight. So, right now the mirror is movie-related.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
CE: Interesting, I was just thinking about that today, because reporters tend to launch on what seems to be the clearest, most stark aspects of someone’s life in terms of an interview. And in my case, a lot of people ask me about my father’s passing when I was young, which I’m never comfortable with. I invariably move around that subject.
KW: Would you like to share a little about your father’s life in celebration instead?
CE: My father, Arinze Ejiofor , was a musician and a doctor. Nobody’s ever asked me about that combination and what growing up in that environment was like.
KW: So, what was it like?
CE: [Laughs] It was great! It was great! We had a very solid, practical scientific upbringing. Yet because he was a fairly famous guitarist in Nigeria, we also had a palpable sense of a creative and cultural synthesis. Working in this industry, I do feel that science and creativity turned out to be a very useful combination for me.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
CE: Yeah, I think fear is a very healthy motivator.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
CE: Yes! Everyone has their days, but overall I’m very happy.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
CE: Yesterday I had a couple of good chuckles. There’s always something ridiculous happening on the set, especially when people get so tired because of the long days. We were doing a shot in a very cramped space, feeling very cooped up. If you’re there for 10 hours, a kind of gallows humor develops. A certain hysterical humor as well. I don’t know if it was a good laugh in the sense of reckless abandon and joy, but it certainly brought tears to our eyes.
KW: Who were you shooting the scene with?
CE: I was with Angelina Jolie and a camera crew in a very cramped space.
KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest memory?
CE: It’s from Christmas, of 1982, I think. Maybe because I was smaller, or maybe because it used to snow more back then, but all I remember is watching from the window of the first house I ever lived in as the snow seemed to completely swallow our car, a Honda Accord. It was parked outside the house in front of a very large tree.
KW: The Mike Pittman question: Who was your best friend as a child?
CE: We moved when I was 8, but I’ve been very fortunate to have made a number of close friends I’ve known ever since. They’re still my closest friends.
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
CE: My favorite thing to cook is anything that comes out okay. I’m very fond of certain pastas and sauces that I can just about cook from scratch. So those are what I like to cook, as well as roasted potatoes and chicken. Anything that tastes alright.
KW: Which is your favorite of all your movies?
CE: I like all of them, and for different reasons. I know that sounds trite, but I do. But I have to say that when I was shooting one of the films that you liked, Dirty Pretty Things, I did have an amazing time. That was my first time playing a film lead, and my first exposure to a director [Stephen Frears] who paid attention in such incredible detail, and my first experience doing a project of that scale.
KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
CE: That global poverty would end. That people would be able to eat. It’s the worst shame in the world that people go hungry.
KW: Uduak Oduok asks, how do you see Africa as affecting American culture?
CE: I think Africa will have a crisper impact on Europe, as it has traditionally, and then that will filter into the American cultural psyche, in the way that India has. Look at how Slumdog Millionaire had to come out of England, even though it was ultimately well-received in America.
KW: Uduak also asks, who is your favorite clothes designer?
CE: Good question. I’m not really a clothes horse, but I’ve really enjoyed wearing a lot of Dunhill lately. Their suits are quite chic and elegant without being button-down conservative.
KW: Tommy Russell has a couple of political questions. Do you think America should adopt the Copenhagen Accords on global warming?
CE: I can’t answer that. I don’t know enough about it. I’m aware that it’s a green issue and that Obama was over there trying to broker a deal. My instinct is that it should pass, but I haven’t paid close enough attention to all the specific details to comment. I’m in favor of anything that promotes greener solutions.
KW: Let’s see if you can answer Tommy’s other one: Do you think the healthcare bill will pass and prove to be one of the best pieces of legislation in a generation? Or will this cornerstone of Obama's domestic agenda prove to be his Achilles heel, on par with the Vietnam War for LBJ?
CE: As much as everyone wants sweeping changes, the truth is that the healthcare bill and the concessions that have been made simply reflect how government and politics work. It seems that there’s only so much you can change with the system as it is, if you don’t have the requisite number of senators’ and congressmen’ votes.
KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
CE: I think the crucial thing about being an actor is to be doing it. I believe people instinctively know that about writing, yet people get confused about that when it comes to acting. The only way to be an actor is to find ways to work as an actor, even if that means doing a one-man show by a river.
KW: How do you want to be remembered?
CE: I don’t know. I’m not going to think about that. I’ll have to get back to you in a few decades.
KW: Thanks again, Chiwetel, best of luck at the Golden Globes, and I look forward to speaking with you again down the line.
CE: Great, thank you.
To order a copy of Endgame on DVD, visit: amazon.com
Interview: Ludacris - The Gamer
The bfm interview with Ludacris - The Gamer
By Kam Williams
Luda, by Word of Mouf
Christopher Brian Bridges was born on September 11, 1977 in Champaign, Illinois where he began rapping at the age of 9 and formed his first musical group a few years later. While in his teens, his family moved to Atlanta where he attended Banneker High School before majoring in music management at Georgia State University.
He later worked at a local radio station as DJ Chris Lova Lova until adopting the alias Ludacris to perform on Timbaland’s track “Phat Rabbit.” He subsequently launched his own career in 2000 with the release of the album “Back for the First time,” following that up a year later with “Word of Mouf,” and the rest is history.
The six-time Grammy-winner is not only a hip-hop icon, but also an entrepreneur, philanthropist, restaurateur, pitchman, columnist, and of course a gifted actor. He parlayed appearances on the NBC drama “Law and Order SVU” into major motion pictures roles in such hits as the Academy Award Best Picture-winning Crash and the critically-acclaimed Hustle & Flow.
As partners with Chef Chris Yeo in Straits Restaurant, Ludacris offers Thai/Singaporean cuisine in the heart of downtown Atlanta. Plus, he has a couple of online ventures: WeMix.com, a social networking site aimed at showcasing and developing artists, and Myghetto.com, which serves as a MySpace for the hood.
Keenly aware of the less fortunate, Luda established the Ludacris Foundation which is already in its seventh year of operation. Thus far, the non-profit organization has donated over a million dollars to organizations that assist underprivileged children. The Foundation’s aim is to help kids help themselves by using music and the arts to inspire them to develop goals and then work to achieve them.
Here, Ludacris discusses all of the above, as well as his new film Gamer, a sci-fi adventure co-starring Gerard Butler, Kyra Sedgwick, Terry Crews and Amber Valletta.
Ludacris: What up, Kam? Kam Williams: Hey, Luda, thanks so much for the time.
L: No doubt, man.
KW: So, what interested you in Gamer?
L:Man, in picking movies, I always look at all the elements before making a choice, from reading the script to seeing who else is in it to who produced it to who’s directing. The opportunity to work with Gerard Butler was definitely a plus. I’ve been a fan of his especially because of the movie 300. And I also wanted to work with the guys who wrote and were directing it, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor.
KW: Yeah, they made Crank which was quite impressive, a non-stop, adrenaline-fueled, roller coaster ride.
L: Exactly. I made my decision based on that. In addition, I loved the role they had for me, because I never want to be typecast. I love playing all sorts of different roles.
KW: How would you describe your character, Humanz Brother?
L: I play the leader of a resistance group that’s totally against putting computer chips in human beings’ brains because I think that’ll lead to the taking over of mankind, period. So, I’m all about trying to get rid of this technology, so we can live peacefully.
KW: Do you think a scenario like this has a chance of becoming a reality someday?
L: Man, you never know. The possibilities are definitely limitless when it comes to technology like this. We all embrace technology, but sometimes you have to be careful.
KW: How’d you get along with the other members of the cast?
L: I loved working with this cast, especially with Gerard Butler. That’s how I study and try to become a better actor. He’s extremely serious and focused.
KW: How do you divide your time between making music and making movies?
L: It’s hard, man, but you just gotta focus on one thing at a time. I give whichever I’m doing 100% of my attention.
KW: Is there any truth to the rumor that comedian Katt Williams is your cousin?
L: [Laughs] No, but that is my homey, though. Katt Williams is one thug. That’s like my brother.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
L: Man, over the past ten years, I believe I’ve been asked every question you could possibly ask. So, off the top of my head I can’t think of anything that hasn’t been asked.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
L: I’m sure we’re all fearful of something. I’m afraid of God. You have to be fearful of Him.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?
L: [Chuckles] I am definitely happy, man. Of course, I wouldn’t say I’m always happy. I don’t think anyone is. But for the most part, I’m living out my dream. I’m doing what I have to do. My family’s taken care of. I’m financially straight. So, damn right, I’m extremely happy.
KW: The Laz Alonso question: How can your fans help you?
L: Hey man, my fans already help me by supporting the things I do, and just by understanding my changing and continued growth. So, the true fans are already helping me out there.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
L: I’m actually reading a book right now, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”
KW: The Dale Carnegie classic. Music maven Heather Covington asks: What music are you listening to right now?
L: A lot of different music. I have a Battle of the Sexes album coming out soon, so I have to listen to all these unreleased tracks so that we make sure we pick from the best of them to give to the true fans who support us.
KW: What’s the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome in life?
L: All the people who told me I couldn’t make it, and individuals who were trying to step in the way of my becoming who I am.
KW: The Rudy Lewis question: Who’s at the top of your hero list?
L: Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Mr. Barack Obama.
KW: How did you feel a year ago when President Obama said he was listening to you on his iPod?
L: I really appreciated that.
KW: Have you spoken to him since he became President?
L: That’s confidential information.
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
L: Tacos. That’s about the only thing I know how to cook.
KW: The Flex Alexander question: How do you get through the tough times?
L: By realizing that I’m extremely blessed and extremely fortunate and that it can’t be that damn bad.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
L: I see a multifaceted Negro, an entrepre-Negro.
KW: One of your biggest fans, Hajar from Queens asks: Is it true you like big women? She says she hopes so.
L: I don’t discriminate: big, small, skinny, tall, short, it doesn’t matter.
KW: Hajar also wants to know when your next album is coming out.
L: It should be out towards the end of the year. If not, it’s coming out on Valentine’s Day of 2010.
KW: Leon Marquis wants to know if it’s true that you’re going to star in The Richard Pryor Story.
L: I wouldn’t say that it’s untrue, but nothing is confirmed yet.
KW: Lester Chisholm asks, how can hip-hop artists assist young and old transcend obstacles on whatever path they are on?
L: By embracing the new, by not being stubborn, and by being open to new artists.
KW: Loony Larry Greenberg asks: What do you think of the Amish?
L: [LOL] Oh man, like I said, I don’t discriminate. I love ‘em. I respect everybody’s faith and culture.
KW: How do you want to be remembered?
L: As a multifaceted individual and as an entrepre-Negro.
KW: Film director Hisani Dubose was really blown away by your acting skills. She wonders whether you’ve been studying your craft?
L: I always study my craft. I’m passionate about what I do, so you have to study.
KW: Tony Noel asks, what images and roles do you see for yourself in the future?
L: As far as movies are concerned, I would have to say a diversity. But only time will tell.
KW: Marcia Evans asks whether you’re still involved with AIDS awareness?
L: Yes, we’re still doing things through the Ludacris Foundation.
KW: She was also wondering how you’re enjoying your joint venture as co-owner of Straits Restaurant?
L: I’m loving it, man. Coincidentally, we have a private dinner there tonight as we speak. We’re coming up on our two-year anniversary, so I’m feeling good.
KW: Marcia asks whether you’ve mended fences with Oprah?
L: Oprah called me when my dad passed, and offered her condolences, so I would say we are on good terms.
KW: Hey, brother, let me say I’m sorry about you losing your father.
L: Thank you, man.
KW: Marcia points out that you were doing charity work in South Africa. Are you planning to do anything musically over there?
L: Yeah, when I was there we did a couple of things with some African artists. And we’re still looking into trying to build a label over there and putting out some music. So, I’m definitely involved somewhat.
KW: Thanks again for the interview, Luda, and best of luck with Gamer and your many other ventures.
L: I greatly appreciate it, my friend. Thank you very much.
The bfm interview with Carmen Ejogo
By Cassam Looch
Sam Mendes’ latest film follows his familiar themes of family and identity across America. This time he returns to the modern take on the subject that we first saw in American Beauty, taking the central characters of Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) on the road as they look for a home before their first child is born. Away We Go is a funny and charming tale which is arguably the filmmaker’s most personal film to date.
The emotional core to the story is provided by the relationship between Verona and her sister Grace (Carmen Ejogo), and we caught up with the British actress to talk about the film and her experiences of living and working in the US.
bfm: I guess the first thing to say is that one would never guess you were British based on the accent in the film, it’s very convincing.
Carmen Ejogo: Well good, I hope it was, that is what I’m paid for! [Laughs]. Actually the accent was funny for this one, and I love doing accents. They help with feeling further away from myself and really getting into a character, so I’m actually appreciative when I do that. Normally I get into the character by myself, figure out what they are about… but for Away We Go I really had to take a lot of cues from Maya’s character as we were playing sisters so it depended somewhat on how Maya was sounding. I had to be conscious of what she was doing but not really mimic it as we had different lives up to the point we meet Grace and Verona. It’s a strange process because in American movies I normally play ‘black’ characters (being half black) and normally there is a black American sound in the voice but Maya sounds completely like an L.A girl or something so I just had to pick up her rhythm and sounds. It was the same thing with the look of Grace, as the younger sister would look up her older sibling so I could imagine Grace going to the wardrobe and getting out her ‘Maya’ dress. The outfit that would make her look like her big sister… again that’s quite a different process to what you would normally go through.
bfm: Well that relationship comes across really well, and it’s obviously crucial to the film. Did you spend much time with each other before hand?
Carmen Ejogo: Not that much actually, but what Sam (Mendes) gave us was a lot of rehearsal time, which was a real gift. Not all directors do that but they should. We’d sit and really get to know the script, and that was the time when we figured out the back story and discover what each person was going to do with their character. Then there these other strange real life truths we shared like having a parent that had passed away when we were young so again that was relevant to who these two girls were in the film. Those kind of details meant we could go into the scenes knowing that we could share the emotional moments when needed.
bfm: And forming the back story; was that something that was required?
Carmen Ejogo: Well we were encouraged to do it. I think one of the writers, Dave Eggers, had some similar experiences with a sibling. I suggested that my character was perhaps more of a daddy’s girl as Grace was the one who had a problem with men as a grown up and that would be because no one could live up to her father. Those sort of ideas were always welcomed... if they were any good of course. It was good to know that but we were of course very respectful to the script. It wasn’t tampered with… I’ve worked with actors who have had things changed or producers and studios that have shifted things but Sam had a complete vision for the film and that of the writers which he took on board. And I think that’s when you get a good movie…
bfm: The film itself is a journey around America. As someone who is now living and working there do you find the differences that the characters face going from place to place?
Carmen Ejogo: Yes absolutely. I live in New York I don’t even go to LA. My husband and I are kind of anti the whole LA ‘thing’ besides which we have kids now so we’re somewhat stuck in New York. But when I used to tour with my band many years back that was my time to kind of drift around and experience the country and that’s when you see how enormous the place is culturally. I arrived in New York and made my home there in early 2001 as I was expecting my first child in October that year, so that probably wasn’t the best time to try and set up home and a family.
bfm: Did you have any second thoughts at that time?
Carmen Ejogo: We did, Canada was an option. It wasn’t just about September 11th either; I mean it was also the early days of the whole Bush era so it was exactly the wrong time. I think that’s partly what appealed to me about the material in this film having gone through a lot of the same experiences in terms of trying to set up a home.
bfm: The film was shot last summer, before the election of Obama, how have things changed since then?
Carmen Ejogo: I think we are all still kind of giddy about it. It was such a horrible time going through the previous eight years but now we actually have to start being realistic about the task ahead. He’s now got to deliver… my big fear is that he’ll end up being like a Tony Blair type figure where there is all the hype coming into it but it ends up being too centralist and wishy-washy. I hope that’s not where we go, if nothing else I really hope he manages to implement the long standing Democratic dream of social healthcare across America. If he achieves nothing else but that then I will be happy.
bfm: Sounds like you are planning a long stay in America then?
Carmen Ejogo: I guess so. Every time I come back here I do get kind of nostalgic but I wonder if that’s thinking about something that doesn’t exist anymore. I mean I haven’t lived in the UK for nearly 10 years and the times I’m looking back at are from even earlier when I was a child so that certainly doesn’t exist anymore! I still like the idea of my kids getting more of my sense of humour but they’re settled in school now so I don’t think that will happen. My husband’s work means we could be anywhere, and I know now that an American ‘movie’ career might not be necessarily what I want anymore.
bfm: Is that what you wanted when you were younger then?
Carmen Ejogo: I grew up watching far too much American TV and far too many American movies, so theatre was never my passion quite frankly. There just wasn’t really that much work here at that time, I don’t know how it’s changed but I suspect that there still isn’t that much more within the British film industry. I also thought that because of the way I look that the most interesting work would come from the US but to be honest they still didn’t know what to do with someone like me. They have more of an idea now because things have changed Lucy Liu wasn’t a star back then, Jessica Alba hadn’t broken through… all these faces that aren’t ‘white’ are now acceptable as movie stars. I think post-Obama I think there will be more roles opening up and more stories to be told. Away We Go for example where we have an interracial couple but that’s not what the film is about.
bfm: That’s what is so interesting about the film, like you say it’s a film about the mixed race couple and it deals with that but it doesn’t become an ‘issue’ movie.
Carmen Ejogo: Exactly. It exists but it’s only an issue if the audience chooses to make an issue out of it. I think that for an American audience maybe it will, although that is changing, but here I think it will just be about the film. I remember when I was growing up on our street you really were living next door to people from all over the world.
bfm: We always imagine that New York is like that as well…
Carmen Ejogo: I don’t think it actually is as interwoven as people make it out to be. I mean you’ll hear all the stories about people getting in a cab and meeting someone from Afghanistan or Senegal or somewhere, but when they actually go home or to their hotel do they actually interact with anyone from somewhere else? People end up going to different corners for their real lives so the working relationship during in the day is one thing. I find London to be really diverse like that…
bfm: Which part of London was that?
Carmen Ejogo: [Laughs]… yeah, that was Chelsea. But it was a council estate in Chelsea! That’s the great thing because of the way London has developed since the Blitz you get all sorts of buildings going up next to one another.
Interview: Flex Alexander The “Soulaughable” Interview
Flex Alexander The “Soulaughable” Interview
By Kam Williams
Flex Time
Born Marc Alexander Knox in the Bronx on April 15, 1970, Flex Alexander got his start in showbiz as a dancer, earning his nickname because of his dizzying display of acrobat skills out on the floor. After being discovered by Spinderella, he toured with Salt-n-Pepa, Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah before turning his attention to standup comedy.
Flex added acting to his repertoire, making his big screen debut in 1992 opposite Latifah and Tupac in the crime drama Juice, following that up with support roles in such full-length flicks as She’s All That, Snakes on a Plane and The Hills Have Eyes II. Meanwhile, he found steady work on television, starring in several short-lived series, “Homeboys in Outer Space,” “Total Security” and “Where I Live,” and playing Michael Jackson in “Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story.”
He also appeared on such sitcoms as “Sister, Sister,” “Moesha,” “The Parkers” and “Girlfriends” before finally getting a hit show of his own, “One-on-One,” which enjoyed a five-year run from 2001 to 2006. The versatile performer has four NAACP Image Award nominations on his resume, along with a couple of BET Comedy Award nominations.
Here, he talks about hosting the second season of SOULAUGHABLE, a clean comedy showcase shot in Savannah featuring a rotating lineup of today’s hottest family-friendly comedians, including Mike Washington, Willie Brown, Sean Sarvis, Small Fire, Meshelle, Cleto Rodriguez, and Ms. V.
Kam Williams: Hi Flex, thanks for the time. When we last spoke you were still doing One-on-One. What originally interested you in shooting a clean comedy showcase like Soulaughable?
Flex Alexander: For one, my family. And secondly, I had done something like this before and taken it on the road a number of years ago, so, I knew that it could work. It was a no brainer.
KW: When you do standup, do you ordinarily work clean? FA: Oh yeah, the last time I did Def Jam was in ’93. I’ve been clean ever since then.
KW: What about the other comedians appearing on Soulaughable? Are they clean just for the show?
FA: No, the majority of them work clean constantly. We stress that, because we don’t want someone to be shocked if they later go to see one of our performers at a club. It just taints everything we’re trying to do. But on the other hand, we can’t absolutely control what people do outside of Soulaughable.
KW: Bill Cosby certainly built an incredible career around strictly clean routines. FA: There’s no reason why we can’t have that again. Things are cyclical, and I think it’s time for that sort of family fare again now.
KW: Which is your favorite medium: TV, film or standup? FA: I don’t have any one favorite. There’s something about each of them that I love. The best way I can put it is that I love the consistency of television, the truth and the creativity of film, and the freedom of standup.
KW: I know you’re also a great dancer. Do you sing, too? FA: No, you don’t want to hear me singing. Not even karaoke.
KW: When you played Michael Jackson in his bio-pic, did you do all your own dancing?
FA: Yeah, that was my background, so I was excited to do that. The dancing wasn’t hard. The challenging part of the role was in being believable and not a caricature.
KW: Well, you certainly succeeded, since you landed an NAACP Image award nomination for the performance. How did Michael feel about your portrayal of him? FA: From what I heard from people close to him, he saw it and said I did a great job.
KW: How do you feel about his passing?
FA: I’m still devastated. I really am. He was the greatest entertainer ever, in my opinion, and he supplied the soundtrack to my life and to many of our lives. So, the world has suffered a great loss. I think his heart was truly too big for this world to comprehend and really treasure.
KW: I have never been able to master the moonwalk. What’s the secret to it?
FA: It’s rhythm, and you have to be patient with it. Some people will just get up on their toes and start going. You just have to stay solid, keep sliding backwards, and stay fluid.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
FA: That’s a good one there. Yeah, how do you get through the tough times, the times when people you thought were your friends turn against you, and when people you thought supported you, no longer do?
KW: So, how do you get through those tough times? FA: With prayer, and by staying close to my family, and by realizing that they’re what’s important.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
FA: Wow! You know what? Sometimes you do get afraid of failing. Even as much as I have worked, you still sometimes question your confidence. You’re afraid of not being on top of your game, and you wonder what people are going to say. I’m not afraid of too much else.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy? FA: I’m happy. Yes, I am happy.
KW: The Laz Alonso question: How can your fans help you? FA: By just keep praying for me. That’s the best thing they can do. I don’t take that lightly, as I’ve really learned how to pray. Not that playing around pray, but that type of prayer, like where the old mothers put your name in a hat and burn it as an offering. That type of sacrifice can truly lift you up.
KW: Teri Emerson asks, when was the last time you had a good laugh?
FA: Yesterday, with my kids. [Chuckles] My son was break dancing and my daughter was singing and running around. To watch them just cracked me up.
KW: How old are your children, Imani and Elijah, now? FA: She just turned eight, and my son is five. They make me laugh every day.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see? FA: Someone who perseveres through all obstacles.
KW: And what would you say has been the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome? FA: Surviving a household that was drug-filled, with drug addiction and the selling of dope… seeing friends die… having a gun put to my head… making it through all that and God still saw fit for me to be here.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read? FA: Sidney Poitier’s autobiography. But I read my Bible every day.
KW: What is your favorite meal to cook? FA: I’d say breakfast: French toast, eggs, and turkey bacon.
KW: How do you want to be remembered? FA: I tend to shy away from that question, because I still have things to do. God willing, you’ll be able to ask me that question again at 80.
KW: The Rudy Lewis question: Who’s at the top of your hero list? FA: My late grandmother, Christola Williams.
KW: “Realtor to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan was wondering, where in L.A. you live? FA: I live out by Magic Mountain.
KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps? FA: Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do it, because I was told that all my life.
KW: Thanks again, Flex, and best of luck with Soulaughable and all your endeavors. FA: Thank you.
To see ventriloquist Willie Brown backstage at Soulaughable, click, here
Interview: On the QT with Quentin Tarantino
bfm interview: On the QT with Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Interview by Kam Williams
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 27, 1963 to an Italian father and a mother of Irish and Cherokee extraction, Quentin Jerome Tarantino took a most unorthodox approach to showbiz. He dropped out of high school at 15 to pursue moviemaking but it would take some time to realize that dream. The closest he got to Hollywood for years was a minimum-wage gig as a clerk at a video rental store in L.A. where he became known for making recommendations to appreciative customers. He finally began his meteoric rise in 1992 with the release of Reservoir Dogs, following-up that impressive directorial debut a couple of years later with Pulp Fiction, the seven-time Academy Award-nominee for which he won an Oscar in the Best Original Screenplay category. Since then, his storybook career has included such critically-acclaimed films as Jackie Brown, Kill Bill 1 & 2, and a couple of collaborations with Robert Rodriguez, Sin City and Grindhouse. Here, Quentin talks about his new film, Inglourious Basterds, which is based upon a screenplay he started writing over a decade ago. The World War II action flick stars Brad Pitt as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army who leads a squad of Jewish soldiers on a mission behind enemy lines in France to go hunting for Nazis.
Kam Williams: Hi Quentin, thanks for the time. I really appreciate it.
Quentin Tarantino: Oh, it’s my pleasure, I was psyched to do this especially after I read some of the comments you made after reading the script. It was a real phantasmagorical collection of references.
KW: That was an interesting experience. This is my first time reading a script instead of seeing the movie before conducting an interview.
QT: Oh, that’s cool.
KW: How does it feel to have finished Inglourious Basterds, finally, given that you’ve been working on it for over a decade?
QT: It’s a little surreal, to tell you the truth, after having the project in my mind for such a long time. I had scenes written for it but for years it was always just kind of out there. And at one point I even considered putting it aside, thinking maybe I’d grown out of it or moved past it. But then I realized that I’d invested too much into it, and that even if I never made the movie, I at least had to finish writing it just so I could get this mountain out of the way. One thing that’s different though is that opposed to thinking about it as this long-gestating piece that was written over years and years, the truth is I only came up with a lot of the characters and the first two chapters of the final script way back when. Otherwise, it has a whole different storyline. What kept preventing me from making the movie earlier was that it was just too big and too involved, almost like a mini-series. And just before I turned it into a mini-series, I decided to take one more crack at trying to make it as a movie. That’s when I came up with a new storyline about the premiere of a German propaganda film which I completed about a year ago in just seven months. As a matter of fact, on the cover page of your copy of the original script you can see that I literally put the pen down on July 2nd, 2008. So, the final draft was a weird combination of this long-gestating project and something I had never worked at with more intense momentum.
KW: Since Brad Pitt’s character, Aldo, is from Tennessee and part-Cherokee, like yourself, I was wondering whether he was modeled on you?
QT: He’s definitely modeled after me. I probably would’ve wanted to play the character, if I had finished writing the script way back when, in the Nineties. But now, I don’t want to act at all.
KW: While reading the script, some of the films it reminded me of in different spots included The Train, Von Ryan’s Express, The Guns of Navarone, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Black Book, Zabriskie Point, The Wizard of Oz, The Big Lebowski and Defiance.
QT: That’s a neat collection, although I never saw Defiance. I’d be interested in hearing how you connect the dots.
KW: Defiance is included because of the theme of Jews fighting back. Why did you decide to have this all-Jewish unit led by a gentile from the South?
QT: That’s an interesting question. Basically, Aldo’s this character I’ve had in my mind for a very, very long time. So, in a way he came before the Basterds. Furthermore, it’s kind of a two-way proposition, because Aldo had been fighting racism in the South before the war. And if he survives the war, he’s going to continue fighting the Klan in the Fifties, with his own version of the Basterds in the Tennessee Hills. Also, the fact that he’s part Native American is significant, because what he’s doing against the Nazi’s is similar to the Apache resistance, the ambushing of soldiers, desecrating their bodies and leaving them there for other Germans to find. Aldo’s idea is to find Jewish soldiers because he should be able to motivate them more easily because they are essentially warriors in a holy war against an enemy that’s trying to wipe their race off the face of the Earth.
KW: You have a black character named Marcel [played by Jacky Ido] who works as the projectionist in a movie theater. I’d have guessed that all the blacks in occupied France had been carted off to Concentration camps by the Nazis.
QT: No they weren’t. The relationship between black people and Nazi Germany was very interesting. Part of the reason is that there were so few blacks in Europe that there wasn’t a “Black Problem” per se, the way there was a “Jewish Problem.” So, black people weren’t rounded up in Nazi occupied France. You’d have to keep a low profile, to be sure, but having said that, you’d still enjoy more freedoms there than on the streets of Chicago at the same time period. And far more freedoms than in a state like Alabama. For instance, you could walk into a restaurant in Paris and sit down and order something. The odd irony in all this is that while there’s no mistaking where Hitler was coming from as far as blacks were concerned, after all, he made that very clear in Mein Kampf, the average German soldier did not feel the same way about black people. In fact, they were absolutely appalled whenever they witnessed the racism exhibited by white American soldiers towards their fellow black soldiers. They couldn’t fathom it, because they believed the hype about America being the land of the free and the home of the brave. It’s equally unfathomable that we went to Europe to fight racial oppression with a segregated army. A wonderful paper could be written about all this, and maybe I’ll do that one of these days.
KW: Do you make a cameo appearance in this film, like you have in a lot of your movies? QT: Not really. I think you can hear my voice a little bit in one of the propaganda movies. [Chuckles]
KW: Why did you spell “Basterds” with an “E” in the title? QT: I wasn’t trying to be coy or anything, but it was just an artistic stroke.
KW: How did you feel when the picture was so well received at Cannes, where you got an 11-minute ovation?
QT: Yeah, we got the standing ovation of the Festival. That was really exciting and a lot of fun kind of dropping it on the world there. And I felt a sense of satisfaction because we had worked hard to get the picture finished in time for Cannes.
KW: Laz Lyles is curious about why you chose a lot of relatively unknown actors for this picture?
QT: Since I was casting country-appropriate, every actor had to be from the place they were representing, and they had to be able to speak the appropriate language as well. In other words, it wasn’t enough that you could speak German, you had to be German. Oddly enough, in Germany, this is considered an all-star cast.
KW: Laz also asks, how did director Eli Roth get involved with the project as an actor?
QT: Eli’s a really good friend of mine, and I’ve always known that he’s a really fun performer on screen. Plus, he looks like his character, the Bear Jew, and he does an impeccable Boston accent.
KW: Nick Antoine says you’re already one of the greatest directors of all time, so where do you go from here? What's the next mountain for you to climb?
QT: Oh, that’s a really good question. I don’t really know. Usually, when I finish making a movie, I have to pause to contemplate life a little, and then I see where to go. It’s not like I’m shopping for scripts. I generally have to start from scratch every time. However, I could go with Kill BiIl 3. Or I could do a prequel to this movie, because I have half of it written. It’s actually a story about the Basterds with a bunch of black troops. The truth is that I don’t really know what’s next, but I really like being in that square one position.
KW: How about making another homage to either martial arts or blaxploitation flicks?
QT: Well, I gotta say that I do hear a bit off a calling to do another crime picture. Maybe one set in the Seventies. All these other people are doing it, and to me, they never get it right. Like American Gangster. Were there any black people at all involved making that movie?
KW: Nick also asks, what is your opinion of the direction the film industry seems to be headed?
QT: I don’t want to sound like one of those guys who’s always bemoaning the business today and thinking about how much better it was before. But as my movie gets ready to go out into the marketplace, I feel very lucky that I’m still a commercial director and that my movies still play mainstream and open in 3,000 theaters, because my movies always seem so different from everything else playing in the multiplexes. As long as there’s a place for people like me and Michael Mann to exhibit our work, then I’m all for it.
KW: Finally, Nick asks, how would you say the internet has influence film?
QT: What the internet has done is destroy film criticism. I would never have guessed ten years ago that the profession of film criticism would be going the way of the dodo bird.
KW: Who’s your favorite film critic? Let me guess: the late Pauline Kael. QT: For sure. She’s just about my favorite writer.
KW: And who’s your favorite director, Howard Hawks? QT: I love Howard Hawks, but I would probably go with Sergio Leone.
KW: Keith Kremer asks, if you met someone unfamiliar with your work who wanted to watch just one of your movies, which one would you suggest?
QT: That’s an interesting question… Umm… I would probably cater to that person’s personality. So, if they seemed like more of a Kill Bill person, I’d show them, Kill Bill. If I wanted someone to get to know me though, I would have to start with Reservoir Dogs.
KW: Bi-continental attorney Bernadette Beekman told me that she was in Cannes for the release of Reservoir Dogs, and she was wondering, what was the best time you ever had at the festival?
QT: Well, I’ve had a lot of good times in Cannes, but when I won the Palme d’Or for Pulp Fiction would have to be the best.
KW: Director Hisani Dubose wanted to know what you shoot on now. She points out that you shot part of Pulp Fiction on High 8. She’s curious about whether you’re still using film or if you’ve gone to High Definition video
QT: I’ve never used High Definition video, never, ever, ever, ever, ever. And I never will. I can’t stand that crap.
KW: Larry Greenberg says you started out at 15 and have been immersed in the industry, in one way or another, your whole life. He asks, do you think a person coming to the industry later in life still has a chance for success at acting or directing?
QT: It can be difficult to get into directing at a later age. However, look at Courtney Hunt, the woman who won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance last year for Frozen River [at the age of 43]. So, if you can raise the money on your own, you can direct a movie at any age. As far as acting is concerned, it’s advisable to get started when you’re younger, but there are plenty of actors who started their careers in their late thirties or early forties.
KW: Jackie Schatz asks, how do you think of Hitler? QT: In a word, despicable!
KW: Marcia Evans asks, will you ever settle down and have a family?
QT: I’ve thought about that. Look, I went through baby fever, for sure, about five or six years ago, but I kind of got over it. Up until now, I’ve wanted my movies to be the most important thing in my life. I haven’t wanted to let anything distract me from that. And I think I still feel the same way right now.
KW: Marcia may be a bit presumptuous here, but she says she knows you have a foot fetish. And she asks if there’s another part of the anatomy that you have a fetish about?
QT: I appreciate the female foot, but I’ve never said that I have a foot fetish. But I am a lower track guy. I like legs… I like booties… [Laughs] Let’s just say, I have a black male sexuality.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would? QT: No, there isn’t one that’s just been hanging out there, that I say to myself, why don’t they ask this?
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?
QT: [Hesitates] Very rarely would I use the word “afraid.” I feel trepidation. I get nervous, particularly when I’m about to shoot a big cinematic sequence that absolutely has got to work or else why bother. Going into those scenes, I have trepidation, because it’s mine to mess up.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy? QT: Oh, I’m very happy.
KW: Teri Emerson would like to know, when was the last time you had a good laugh? QT: Oh, I laugh all the time. I’m an easy laugher. You can find me on any set, because I’m always laughing.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read? QT: I’m a cinemaphile, so I read a lot of cinema books. The last one I read was a biography about the director Dorothy Arzner.
KW: What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome? QT: Poverty, to a great degree. I was very poor at the age of 16 and 17.
KW: Working in the video store.
QT: No, those were the good days. But even then, while working at the video store for five years, I was a high school dropout making minimum wage. And that’s what I existed on for what seemed like forever. We would dream about one day getting a raise to the wonderful world of $8 an hour. So, to overcome that minimum-wage kid white underclass to actually be responsible for millions of dollars when it comes to making a movie was a very big deal.
KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
QT: If you want to be a filmmaker, you have to love it. If you love cinema as much as I do, and not many people do, and if you are focused and actually have something to offer, you will get somewhere with it. And when it comes to being a writer, just write. Writing is actually the easiest thing to get started at. But don’t write what you think people want to read. Find your voice and write about what’s in your heart.
KW: What’s your favorite dish to cook?
QT: That’s a good question, actually. I’d have to say barbecuing a steak. It’s one dish I do it really well, and it’s very satisfying. I can make other things, but I don’t like to cook just for myself. Barbecuing a steak is always good.
KW: Well, thanks again for the interview Quentin. Best of luck with Inglourious Basterds and I look forward to speaking with you again down the line.
QT: Hey, I look forward to it Kam. This was a really great conversation.
Interview: Billy Paul
bfm interview: Billy Paul, Am I Black Enough For You
Legendry singer Billy Paul is world renowned for his classic hits and smooth voice, but we get to see a whole new side to him in the candid and no-holds barred documentary Am I Black Enough For You? The film follows Paul around the world as he reveals in brutal honesty the highs and lows of his career, and he was just as candid when Cassam Looch spoke to him for bfm.
How important is the city of Philadelphia and what is the ‘Philly sound’?
It’s very important to me. I was born here and so many great and influential artists come from here as well. It’s a city of its own and has its own sound. I think what makes it different is the drama; you know how they say everyone marches to their own beat? Well I think Philly has its own beat as well, and it’s distinctive. It sounds easy, but it’s hard to play.
Would you say that playing in Philly is your favourite venue?
I try to feel comfortable wherever I play. I do get a lot of respect there so it is special. The reaction internationally is great as well, so even in Paris or Brazil we have great audiences. Songs like Mrs Jones are huge everywhere so I do perform a lot overseas.
Why have you decided to make a film like this at this point in your career?
Well I’m not getting any younger and I wanted to express some things that might have been hidden. I wanted to release my heart and tell people about my highs and lows and I think you get that from this documentary.
Was it difficult to make in terms of covering the good times as well as the bad times?
No it wasn’t difficult to make, we were followed all over the world by this film crew from Europe and I got to be very good friends with the filmmakers. I would say things and do things as if the camera wasn’t even there. They approached me about doing this film, and they are real fans. Am I Black Enough For You is very popular in Sweden and these guys really knew their music. They were serious about it, they flew over and followed me and it got real personal and I trusted them. It’s very important like the relationship I have with my wife is based on trust. I wish everyone could have that level in their lives.
We learn in the film that War of the Gods is your favourite song, what is it that is so powerful about those particular lyrics?
It’s very spiritual, and it tells people about war. Me and Marvin Gaye were tight and he did What’s Goin’ On, I said to him I have to do my version and I went for it. Things that had happened in my life had affected me, and I wanted to tell the world how important it was, how important people were and most importantly how important God was. If anything the song is even more important and relevant today. A lot of my songs have had that effect. Am I Black Enough is now one of the most requested songs by white people.
You talk movingly about your family and their struggles many years ago with the Ku Klux Klan and racism in general. How do you feel about America now?
There are still pockets now. But all those years, marching with Martin Luther King and Jesse Jackson means we have a black president now for ALL the people of America. I feel good about it, but Obama would not have been in the Whitehouse had all the young black AND white people voted for him so I think in some small way we all helped.
Are you still touring and do you still get the same buzz from performing on stage?
More so than ever, because I am now at peace with myself, I think this movie has done a lot for me because it’s helped me get rid of a lot of demons. We’ve also got some recorded material coming up which should be out soon.
Finally, in the film you mention your boxing days. Why did you give that up?
Yeah we had a gym and all my friends from my neighbourhood were boxers, even during my army days I boxed as well as singing. Actually I still go to the gym; both me and my wife have trainers. Miles Davis would always say “come to the gym, I’m gonna beat your ass”, then one time I got hit too hard and I said “no I’m going to sing!”... That made my mind up.
Am I Black Enough For You is released on July 3, 2009.
Night at the Museum 2 Press Conference
Night at the Museum 2 Press Conference
In attendance: Ben Stiller, Ricky Gervais, Hank Azaria
We caught up with the stars of Night at the Museum 2, just before the UK premiere and got a lot more than we bargained for from three of the funniest men in Hollywood today…
Q: There’s a very lovely line, a very sweet line in the film which goes, “Happiness is doing what you love with people that you love” and I just wondered if the three of you would endorse that and if so why did you still go ahead and make this movie?
Ben Stiller: Yeah, definitely. I think that’s sort of the idea behind the movie. We sort of had to figure out a way to start the second movie because everything was so happy at the end of the first movie; we had to find some sort of problem to begin the next one with. And the idea that Larry becomes successful and all of the problems that come with success and drawing away from his actual true happiness.
Ricky Gervais: I did it for the money.
BS: Me too, but success doesn’t mean happiness.
Hank Azaria: If you asked me, did I fall in love with Ben and Ricky, then the answer’s yes, I did fall in love with them in the course of shooting.
Q: Ricky, I wondered if you asked Karl Pilkington his insights into the possibility of a museum coming to life overnight, because the surreal premise would rather suit him.
RG: Oh no, he’d say “bit weird isn’t it”. That’d be it. We did an audio book recently about the English for St. George’s Day. Karl was annoyed that St. George is a saint because he said that if St. George killed a dragon today he’d have PETA on at him, everyone would be going, why did you kill that one. And I said, well the dragon was metaphorical. And he went, “what?” I said it wasn’t a real dragon. And he said, “What you don’t believe in dragons but you believe in dinosaurs?” I said, “well yeah, because of fossil evidence.” So it wouldn’t phase him, it wouldn’t phase him at all.
Q: Hank, I was wondering how many voices you actually read through before settling on the one you actually went with and The Thinker as well, when it was written was it not as stupid as we imagined?
HA: The Thinker was definitely written to be stupid. The Thinker and Abraham Lincoln, I just did temporary versions of them on the set just so they had something to animate to and they ended up using them. We tried a bunch of different things. Abraham Lincoln was hard because you had to be reverential but also make him funny. And the dignified ones weren’t funny and the funny ones were too silly. I got kind of addicted to recording Abraham Lincoln; I never wanted him to stop. I still wanted him to keep going and they’d say, no, you’re cut off, that’s enough, it works.
BS: It’s just a silly sort of voice for a bad guy.
RG: I did a Reading accent. I’ve nailed it.
HA: It is very convincing.
Q: How do you feel about Night at the Museum 3 if all goes well with this? Do you see it as something that can go further or may stop here because it doesn’t get any bigger than the Smithsonian?
BS: I don’t know. The second one, we had to figure out a reason why the movie would happen and I think we figured that out. The third one, the idea of doing a third would be great; I think it would be really fun. It would just be having to figure out something that would sustain itself. I think that there are a few ideas floating around if indeed people want to see a third one. The idea of working with these guys would be great. I don’t think it could get any bigger; it’d have to be different.
RG: Just a normal museum where nothing comes to life. It’d just be about the admin. Just naturalise it a bit more.
BS: More realistic.
RG: Yeah.
BS: That’d be great.
Q: Ricky do you come back to Reading much and do you ever discuss old haunts with the Reading contingent in Hollywood? Kate Winslet?
RG: Winslet, no, I think she was born on the other side of the tracks. I go back to Reading for funerals. More and more recently. I go back twice a year to see folks dotted around Thatcham and Wokingham, but only for family really.
Q: Where did you used to go out there?
RG: I didn’t after dark obviously. It was like I Am Legend. We’re actually in the middle of pre-production for a film set in Reading. Obviously we’re not going to film it in Reading – too dangerous. We’re filming it in Hampstead. It’s true. I had good times growing up, I enjoyed Reading, I thought it was great and I got out when I was 18. I’ve got fond memories of Reading.
Q: What do you think of waxworks and being immortalised as a waxwork? Do you think that’d be quite creepy or would you be quite happy to have one.
RG: Er. Yeah, I’ve been asked a couple of times to do things like that, one was chocolate and I just couldn’t be bothered to sit there for three hours. If they can do it from a photo then they’re welcome.
BS: Wait, they wanted to do one of chocolate?
RG: Yeah.
BS: Like a full-size chocolate sculpture?
RG: Yeah, chocolate wax. You could go round licking me. Again. That’s the point really, that’s the point of waxworks. Oh look it looks like so and so. Yeah it does, yeah.
BS: They are a little creepy, but it would be kind of cool.
RG: The best ones I’ve seen are in this film. The first time I walked round, it was much much better that the ones you see...the eyes – you gave yourself the creeps looking at them. They’re amazing.
BS: There’s one of Hank. Before Hank came on the movie, because when you see him for the first time he’s frozen and they made one of Hank and all these guys. And you hadn’t come on the movie and I was filming a scene where I had just discovered a frozen you. And I emailed you a picture because it was the creepiest thing. It was like, there’s my friend Hank except he’s got glassy eyes and he’s wax but was perfect. And you were bald. Because they just have the hat on you and you could take the hat off and I still have it. It’s creepy but I guess it’s an honour too.
HA: I was creeped out by the image of me in wax, it’s really scary. It feels like you could talk to it or something. I tried.
Q: Ben you got the chance to share a scene with George Foreman. Did you observe his ability to take direction?
BS: He took direction. He was great. I was a little in awe because it was George Foreman and it was one of those cool things that we had the idea: wouldn’t it be cool to do an infomercial and then, how about doing an infomercial with George Foreman and then it happened. And then all of a sudden he was there.
Q: Was he nervous at all?
BS: No, he was great. He was so nice and so positive and so...big.
RG: He’s amazing isn’t he? He was still fighting till recently wasn’t he? When he was 54 or something? And he’s got such dignity as well because if it wasn’t for Muhammad Ali, he would have been the greatest fighter who ever lived.
Night at the Museum 2 is out across the UK on May 20th, and will also be at imax screens: www.bfi.org.uk/imax
bfm Interview: Louis Buckley
Louis Buckley (LB): Civilization of the Nile Valley has been of great interest to me for the last eight years. Growing up in the UK, we are not taught about African or Caribbean history as such. I was not even taught about much of it at home, so as I got older I gained an explorers streak within me, I wanted to discover different parts of the world and our history and culture. Reading a lot of African and American scholars, I heard a lot about the pan African view of Egypt and through following up the research it’s clear that Egypt was an African civilization. So that made me curious as how did it go from being that to how it is today? I’ve been to Egypt and there’s an Arab culture. I want to try and help people to have a greater understanding of human culture and human history. Crucially to understand the world’s history that includes Africa as its foundation.
BFM: How did you make the documentary film?
LB: I made it with a small team; I went over to Sudan for ten days. I was given an opportunity from a friend to accompany her on this holiday and I agreed as long as I was able to film. I was only able to film for seven or eight days which were just archives of footage filming the Nile and the pyramids. The reason why I decided to tell the story of the Nile valley from Sudan rather than Egypt is because Sudan today is still a dark brown culture and there are twice as much pyramid’s there than there are in Egypt. I filmed as many of the pyramid sites I could go to, like the ancient temple sites, holy religious sites and interviewed a few scholars and archaeologist who were out there.
BFM: What is the purpose of this documentary film?
LB: I’ve made a different kind of documentary, it’s not one that's been done before. Often when films have been made about ancient Egypt or Sudan you’ll find that Europeans have done a film about it from their point of view only. Or, you’ll find an African American one that's completely done their study and it conveys only their point of view. These two are often far apart and what I wanted to do was to try and bring them closer together.
BFM: Who is your target audience?
LB: Everyone from eight to 80, people who are interested in African history as a whole. This documentary film is for people who are interested in gaining a greater understanding of the different rise and falls of civilization and cultures.
BFM: How have you distributed this documentary?
LB: It’s available online but over the next couple of weeks I am looking into how is best to distribute it. I would like to get the film out there into the mainstream and on the television.
BFM: What advice would you give an up and coming director?
LB: Simply if you have an idea, you’ve got to put the energy behind the idea and start doing it. Sometimes people like to wait till they get money to start doing things but often it’s your idea, energy and enthusiasm and passion that gets it together at the right time. There’s a famous saying the beliefa thing can be done, is the first thing that you need to make it possible.
BFM: Do you have any ideas for a feature film?
LB: Lots, I want to get involved in writing some, but at the moment I want to do more historical documentaries. Early African migration and different parts of the world is interesting, I want to try and make a more rounded understanding of how we see ourselves as humans today.
BFM: What are your influences and aims when making such a documentary? Are you trying to change the mainstream ideology of black people’s history?
LB: I wanted to create more of a real understanding of that period based on the evidence and facts of what we got. Rather than what we have today is a cultural imperialism of history. From my research Egypt, Sudan- the Nile valley was black civilisation and black culture and I want everyone to understand that.
Louis Buckley’s documentary, The African Legacy of the Nile Valley was shown at the bfm Film Club on Sunday, April 5, 2009. Click here to buy the documentary.
An interivew with Mark Tonderai, Hush
An interview with Mark Tonderai, Hush
By Cassam Looch Published: Wednesday, 18 March, 2009
We caught up with Mark Tonderai to talk about his latest film Hush, a startling debut which mixes suspense and horror to tremendous effect. Not only did he write the small-budget UK feature but also took on directing duties following years in front of the camera. The film follows a young couple on a fateful night driving along a busy motorway. Suddenly one of them sees something in the back of a truck they are following and their nightmarish journey begins…
It matters of course that people like it, and if they don’t again same thing but for me the important thing is that did I deliver what I set out to do? So is it thrilling, is it suspenseful? You can’t control what people like or dislike, that’s just opinions which I’m fine with… but if someone says I didn’t think it had suspense I’d take issue with that.
I’m a big fan of (Alfred) Hitchcock and certain scenes lend themselves in Hush to that style. There’s one when the main character is trapped in a situation with someone who is trying to kill him, but both of them can’t do anything about it. That was directly influenced by the scene in North by Northwest in the lift, in our film our Magoffin turns out to be real so we turn it up a notch. There’s a quote which says “you should play the audience like a piano” you go one way then the other, and that’s why I think the film works. There are only five reels in the film, and for most of them we let the audience think they are one step ahead of the protagonist but in the fifth one they realize they aren’t. In all the audiences I’ve been in there is clapping at the end I think out of sheer relief and as a release of tension because I actually don’t think it’s scary at all but you’re left wondering constantly what’s going to happen next. Hitchcock used to treat his audiences with a lot of respect and had intelligent scripts and that’s what we tried to do with Hush.
You have to give credit to the people watching the film, you’re in a fantastical situation but you have to stick to some of the ground rules. So mobile phones don’t just lose power for no reason, you have to keep it realistic. It’s interesting that some people have said it compares to Strangers which came out last year as I was signed (by the same agents) on the basis that in both films you never quite know the motivations behind the what the ‘bad guys’ are up to.
The scenes on the motorway were really difficult to film; I mean we didn’t get the permission to film on the M6 which is what we wanted. So we ended up doing it on a small stretch of road in Gloucester, but most if it is actually greenscreen. It was too expensive to have rain the way we wanted to use so we had to improvise. Everything ion the car is in a studio, so it cuts from there to location and then back to studio. We had to rock the car to make it look like it was on location throughout, we even shot one of the lines/cutaways in a service station and I had a small hand sprinkler to spray as the rain!
One thing I do get upset about when I hear people say a film is ‘crap’ just out of hand. Not necessarily one of my films but any film, because it take a tremendous amount of effort to do even a small scene. I’m not saying it as if it’s so impossible because I enjoy it but coordinating and bringing it altogether is such a huge task. I think more critics should at least think about that side of things, when I meet filmmaker (even those who didn’t like the film) it’s a proper conversation about the film. I think there should be some sort of exam that critics should take… (laughs)
I come from an acting background but at the moment it’s really tough to get black roles, and I’m mixed-race so it’s even more difficult. I also didn’t like the roles I was getting; I wanted to make films that people want to see and that I want to make. The point is you’re not passive; it took me ages to learn how to write a screenplay and then ages on how to sell it. After Hush as my first film which I put all my soul into, and you have to put a lot of yourself into otherwise it isn’t real.
Hush is released in the UK on March 13th
An interivew with Sylvester Williams
An interview with Sylvester Williams: On Life After Mick
By Larry Jaffee Published: Wednesday, 4 February , 2009
Upon reaching Sylvester Williams on the telephone to congratulate him on his debut feature film, Jingle Blues Jingle Bells, the first Christmas movie to feature a black British cast, I tell him besides publishing the Walford Gazette that I am also currently managing a New
York jazz musician, and that Sylvester's character Mick McFarlane played a mean saxophone on EastEnders for about six years (from 1996-2002 in the U.K episodes).
"Those were the days," he quips, adding that he's embarrassed that after all these years he wasn't aware of the Walford Gazette.
I also mention that Mick is still fairly fresh in American fans' memories since we're at least five years behind the
current BBC One storylines.
When asked what he missed most about EastEnders, Williams half-seriously jokes, "the money." Williams admits that when he left EastEnders — which was a mutual decision — things didn't work out for him regarding new acting opportunities as easily as he had hoped. That's why he launched two years ago Ebonywood
Productions to concentrate on making his own feature films, the first being Jingle Blues Jingle Bells, which he wrote, produced and directed.
It was preceded by Simple, a short film he made and starred in 2002 that landed Williams a best actor award from bfm (Black Filmmaker) magazine. Simple was co-produced with Troy Titus-Adams (EastEnders' Nina, who also played Mick's one-time girlfriend).
The 10-minute short film is about a writer who gets writer's block. Stuck at his computer with a deadline to meet, Wesley is accused by Pamela (Titus-Adams) of being a two-timing cheat. He says he is not — she says he is. But the answer is really . . . Simple.
Titus-Adams told the Walford Gazette four years ago in an interview that she was also disappointed how EastEnders didn't better develop storylines for minority characters, and lamented that her relationship with Mick could have been better developed.
Although Williams was a first-time feature film director with Jingle Blues, he has much experience directing fringe theatre productions.
"I've been in the game for 32 years," says Williams, who caught the acting bug as a child in Anna Scher's troupe.
In fact, he used Scher's theatre/agency as a model for his own drama school/talent agency called Characters, which he launched in 2001 and trains young actors in East London.
Jingle Blues, Jingle Bells was shot in the East End over 24 days in September 2007. He raised £40,000 from family and friends for the production. The film is currently available on DVD through the U.K., and is working on U.S. distribution.
Williams chuckles over the irony that he had to trek to America to go to the Hollywood Black Film Festival
this past June to find a British DVD distributor, Jetstar, for the U.K. market.
Distribution through cinemas remains a harder nut to crack. But he expects a future Ebonywood production to go that route. The company's next film, for which he's finished a first draft of the script and hopes to put into production in 2009, will be a love story/comedy about a music producer and targets 19-to-32-year-olds, featuring "sweet soul music."
He bristles over the images of how black people have been depicted in British film, especially males virtually always carrying knives and guns. "I like a big action picture as much as the next guy, but..." says Williams, who can't fathom how there can be such a dearth of family-oriented films for blacks in Britain. So in that sense, Jingle Blues, Jingle Bells represents "a milestone," of which he's proud.
He agrees with many of the black actors with whom the Walford Gazette has interviewed over the years that EastEnders often falls into tokenism, and that the plots didn't fully explore the possibilities.
"I always suggested that my character, Mick should own the cafe. They'd say, 'great idea,' and then it would
never go anywhere."
"Why couldn't they tell a variety of stories from different perspectives? Why do they always have to look for 'a black story.' Why couldn't the same story apply to Grant, Barry or Mick? My colour could do the rest."
In the U.S., Williams says he's impressed how blacks now regularly play judges and doctors, which is not the case
in Britain. "Sammy Davis, Jr. once said on [the U.K. talk show] Parkinson that in Americ black actors had 'opportunity without equality, while in England it's equality without opportunity'.That's still a good description."
Star of the British film Clubbed, Colin Salmon sat down with bfm to talk about the movie and his career.
I play Louis in Clubbed and he is a big guy, a tough guy. An honest guy, actually, something of a father figure to the others he works with. I think he has that in the boxing ring when he is training with the other guys and even when he walking around the night club in the evenings. He runs the door so i guess he is something of a business man, you can’t be a hot-head. I mean it is a multi-million pound business and he is something of a CEO, an urban CEO. I’ve never thought of that before but that’s how he conducts himself.
I disagree with people who say the Eighties weren’t a great time for music. We had the remains of the late-70’s and we had two-tone as well. It was fundamentally a British music it was about Black and White. Ultimately if you take it to its logical conclusion you have The Specials and Jerry Dammers producing music with the power to change things. Of course it was a very dark time as well, but we did well. I was in the Czech Republic and they were playing tunes from the time that were instrumental in their revolution .I think people just need to stop making generalisations, just because it wasn’t on Radio One, doesn’t mean it wasn’t important.
I did recognise the Eighties we portrayed in the film. I remember the time well and it felt very real what we were filming. People sort of stood outside a club and for the sake of fashion dressing up in not very much. For me it was music like The Specials and before that the punk era with bands like Echo and the Bunnymen and Cocteau twins in the mix as well.
The character was based on someone Geoff (writer Geoff Thomson) knew. He was based on him, but also i added what i knew from my time on the door and these are charming men. I loved the idea of the film and even the nobility of Louis’s action. You’ll be amazed what goes on in that working class environment... the idea of honour amongst men shouldn’t be underestimated. The film has played really well even outside of the UK. The dignity of Louis and even the actions of the other characters translates really well.
Amica Anselm caught up with comedian and actor, Tameka Empson, host of the 2008 bfm Short Film Awards
BFM: What are you working on at the moment and can we look forward to seeing more of your work in 2009?
TE: Well I’m on TV now; there is an programme on BBC2 called Beautiful People, written by Simon Doonan. Earlier on, this year I did my own show with Kat called The Kat and Tameka Show. For me this show was a good opportunity because I put a lot of my ideas upon the stage. I have formed a character called Ms. Aphrodite that I played in the show, The Big Life and everyone liked her.
BFM: You have featured in many comedies, some in the theatre others on the television. Would you ever like to act in less comical roles?
TE: Yes I have actually, but a lot of people know me as a comedian as well as a comic actress, in a way I want to do straight acting but I’m working with what I know.
BFM: How do you see yourself, as an actress or a comedian?
TE: I think I’m a comic actress, the highlights of my career was when I was nominated for an Olivier Award for the character Ms. Aphrodite which I felt very proud of, not many people are nominated for comedy. Also, when I was nominated for best supporting actress in Big Life was amazing. I like that I can devise my role, like in Three Non-Blondes, it’s close to my heart.
BFM: What do you feel is the best and most important thing about the BFM Short Film Awards?
TE: BFI have a captive audience, you can approach people in the industry. It’s a network where not many people can get into, but via bfm and via the Short Film Awards it all is made possible. It’s nice that it shows films and documentaries from around the world and you get to see their take on life. BFM is like a mini show case, it’s also good for those who are included in the film because they get feedback it’s just a shame there is only one winner. With me, everyone’s a winner, baby! But to win an award in that first position means you have ticked the box for everyone who has seen it.
BFM: How do you feel about hosting the awards again?
TE: I love hosting the show because it’s me not a character and I am involved, I’m always one for people to have their say, you can’t just come and pick up your award without saying anything, I tell them they need to fix up, there are many who forget about the people behind the scenes.
BFM: What else do you think could be done for independent filmmakers, to gain more recognition?
TE: If you believe in something enough you have to do it, you’re always learning. You’re not going to get it right first time and if you do, fantastic. That’s what BFI is about, they’re here to offer those opportunities; you need to be clear of your weakness and what you want help with. That’s why when I ask anybody if they have anything they want to say, they should have a speech and fix up. It’s important that its clear from the get go and you don’t have people wondering what’s all that about? It’s not only about the actors and writers; the cinematographer has to be good as well.
BFM: What do you think other people in your position could do, in order to help?
TE: Give advice and be honest, I think if we’re approached and the script is right, they should lend a hand. If we’re financially stable we could invest and share the nightmares and headaches. It’s about approaching what you want and what you don’t want. It’s all about networking.
Secret Life of Bees - Interviews
With the London Film Festival recently finishing we were lucky enough to catch up with director Gina Prince-Bythewood and producer Lauren Shuler Donner to talk about the highly anticipated film based on the bestselling novel.
Lauren Shuler Donner
BFM:What felt right about doing a film version of the Novel at this moment in time?
Lauren Shuler Donner: It’s interesting; overall it has been about seven years of trying to get the film made. Initially i was developing it at Searchlight (Fox) who were the right studio but we couldn’t agree on a deal so it went to another studio with a different writer and director. Eventually though I found Gina who is such an excellent writer and director that i knew we were going in the perfect direction with her on board. I had attached Dakota Fanning on the project about three years ago for the role of Lily but at that time she was a little bit too young... but now all the pieces were in place to make the film. The timing was perfect.
BFM: Was it always your intention then to have a female writer/director on the film?
Lauren Shuler Donner: No it wasn’t. We initially had a male director on the film which I think would have worked out fine in terms of the film because I would have been a female influence on the production. Also the cast being predominantly female meant that it would always have that perspective, but having worked with Gina I knew we had the right person... male or female it didn’t matter.
BFM: Tell us a little about how you found the right cast for the film.
Lauren Shuler Donner: We had Dakota on board from an early stage. Alicia Keys had expressed an interest very early on from when she had read the book, so I kept that in mind. Gina and i had both really wanted Queen Latifah for the role of August and we were lucky enough to get her and find she wanted to play the more maternal figure in the film. We then looked for Sophie Okonedo for the role of May because if that was played wrong it could have been cheesy... but she is such a good actress that it never comes across that way. Finally we had Jennifer Hudson who also expressed an interest in the book and film.
BFM: Paul Bettany rounds out the cast. His character is very complex, we know he has done some terrible things (as Lily’s father) but he’s not painted as a complete monster. Is that the same in the book?
Lauren Shuler Donner: He’s completely vile in the book. I mean he is wounded... we added a few touches in the film to get some of that across, I think by the end you understand him more even if you don’t sympathise with him.
BFM: The film is set in the 60’s, how do you think a modern audience will relate to the film and some of the themes within it?
Lauren Shuler Donner: It’s a lesson to be learned. I think that it’s pretty astounding that not much more than 40 years ago black people couldn’t eat in certain restaurants or sit on buses and not vote. I think that we should be reminded so that it never happens again. There are many of us rooting for Barack Obama for President and yet there are others who don’t want to vote for him purely because he is black... so there is still some racism evident today. There are also other themes in the film such as family and love.
Gina Prince-Bythewood
BFM: What drew you to making this film in the first place?
Gina Prince-Bythewood: I loved the book, I was really drawn to Lily’s journey throughout, i mirrored my own life in terms of some of the experiences. The manuscript was sent to before the book was out 7 years ago, but I never got round to reading it as I was burned out after making back to back films. Then 2 years ago an actor friend of mine said she was going to audition for the film and i got incredibly jealous as I thought ‘this is supposed to be my movie!’ I went home that night and read it and felt so disappointed that I had missed out. Then fate or who knows what happened and the project was starting all over again and I got the call to be involved.
BFM: When you first read it, did you get the feeling it was cinematic in anyway?
Gina Prince-Bythewood: Yeah, i don’t know if that’s because I am a director but I could smell the honey i could see everything in my head, it felt like a movie. I got the same feeling when I saw the actors we had cast, it’s important to get that right... and the rest of the film. 40 years ago people were being murdered for being black and trying to vote and here we are with Barack Obama. One of the great things about this being a film is that people are coming out of watching it saying that it has inspired them to go out and vote.
BFM: And was that your intention with the film?
Gina Prince-Bythewood: It’s just circumstances I guess. I mean when I started writing the film Barack wasn’t even on the scene, but when were filming he had that big win in Carolina and we thought this is actually happening.
BFM: Well the audience even here were very moved by the whole film. Were you expecting that from the audience?
Gina Prince-Bythewood: That a film can do that is amazing to me, as a filmmaker and to hear a collective group laugh or cry off of something you do is the reason we do what we do. I keep on hearing that people are a lot more reserved here so I shouldn’t be too alarmed if it’s a different reaction. I’m excited to be here with the film, i mean i was talking with Sophie and I am curious to see how it plays over here. The issue with some viewers is that it’s too fantastical and it doesn’t reflect life in a realistic manner. They expected the black characters to be running around in shacks without jobs or money... and that’s frustrating. Because life went on, people had jobs and money... it might have been more difficult with more problems but it did happen.
Interview: CASSAM LOOCH
The Secret life of Bees is release on December 5th nationwide. Bfm will be running the full interviews with Lauren Shuler Donner and Gina Prince-Bythewood closer to the film’s release. In the meantime check out the fantastic trailer below and footage from the Red Carpet at the UK premiere.
click image for premiere footage
Paulette Randall Interview
This is the fifth August Wilson play that Paulette Randall has directed for the Tricycle. Previously she has directed The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Gem of the Ocean and King Hedley II. August Wilson died of liver cancer in 2005. He was 60-years-old. To honour his remarkable achievements, the Virginia Theatre in New York renamed itself, the August Wilson theatre just weeks after he died.
This is one of many August Wilson plays that you have directed; what kind of research did you have to do represent the African-American experience through August Wilson’s eyes?
I’m lucky as I did meet August for The Piano Lesson. He was incredible, open and one of the most incredible storytellers, apart from my mom. He was warm, and had a magnificent brain. I thought to myself ‘I love this man’. I’d get a huge hug whenever we met and talk about family, what makes us laugh – things that bring you close to someone – so you can work together. However this play is set in 1997, Gem of the Ocean is set in 1904 so the research is different for each. The research is through photographs and things that have been written. But for Radio Golf, the designer and I went to Pittsburgh to the Hill district to see what it’s actually like. It’s exciting because the heart has been ripped out of the Hill district, so going helped me in working with the actors and informs the play more.
Which of the five plays have you enjoyed working on the most?
The one I’m working on at the time because you discover things about yourself and I keep growing and I hope the cast feel they are growing and learning things, too. You do learn about yourself and this play reminds me of the value of family, you need to be reminded sometimes and, the value of our history, understand what love is and understand the need for revolution. It’s reminded me about important fundamental things and gives you a sense of pride in who you are.
Of your vast experience in directing, what knowledge did you draw upon to direct the August Wilson plays?
Remind myself that I’m a storyteller and that there’s a huge responsibility that people understand the story and they are going on an emotional journey not intellectual exercise. I had to go back to base and his work demands that.
Tell me about your time at Talawa Theatre Company – what were your biggest achievements there as artistic director?
In the short space of time, we managed to produce five shows. It was a great achievement. I left because I felt I couldn’t do what I needed to under the circumstances. So I did what I do and looked after number one. It wasn’t Talawa. I had issues with the board – that’s the bottom line – we saw things differently.
You’re also a TV producer, how different is working on TV productions is it to working on stage productions?
One of the things it crosses over on is the writers – I work closely with writers.
What’s your next project?
It’s a production called Up against the Wall which is a co-production with Felix Cross and will be shown at the Octagon in Bolton. It’s a piece of fun about a 70s funk tribute band. We open at the beginning of February.
Back to Radio Golf, why should readers come and see it?
I think it’s a fantastic piece of writing and it goes to the heart of who we are as black people – very painful in parts and funny but it’s a fundamental play we all need to see. You will still get so much from the play even if you’re not black, or African-American as it cuts to the core of humanity.
Radio Golf is showing at the Tricycle Theatre until 1 November.
Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR
www.tricycle.co.uk Box office: 020 7328 1000
Tyrese Gibson Interview
After releasing his first album, ‘Tyrese’, Gibson has made the transition into movies, securing roles in Baby Boy (2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Flight of the Phoenix (2004), Four Brothers (2005), Annapolis (2006), Waist Deep (2006), Transformers (2007) and his latest, Death Race. His other albums include ‘2000 Watts’, ‘I Wanna Go There’ and ‘Alter Ego’. He has now put his music career on hold to concentrate on acting and is currently shooting Transformers 2… and he will shortly be seen in the new violent action-thriller ‘Death Race’.
Q. Is it true you’re stopping with the music to concentrate on the acting?
God blessed me with several talents, but it’s hard work, man, harder than you’ll ever know! So I’ve had to shut a few things down; I was starting to get overwhelmed. For me it is family first and then, right now, it’s acting. That’s a priority. At the start, music was the drive, and music is still my first love, but it’s something I need to a take a break from. I’ve had 14 years in the music business, I’ve touched every stage, been all over the world, and now it’s time to concentrate on these movies, and we’ll see what happens. Acting’s been a real unexpected blessing; films like Transformers and Death Race are seen around the world. I want to be associated with films like that, that’s what interests me.
Q. As a car lover, Death Race must have been a dream job?
You’re not wrong. For me, all the elements were there: hot cars, hot girls, big action, heavy, dark performances. It’s a nice formula.
Q. Do you like playing a badass? Or do you want some more dramatic roles?
In real-life, I can be a badass if I want to! I think everyone has that line that we don’t want no-one to cross. In the film, Jason Statham’s character crossed several lines that my character reacts to. Not in real life! Jason’s a good guy, but in the movie! My character, Machine Gun Joe is crazy. I loved Death Race, I liked the violence; I thought it was as exactly as it should be.
Q. Do you think some people will criticise the violence?
Hey man, listen, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the Governor of California and he’s done some of the most violent movies out there! It’s just a figment of people’s imaginations: no one died, we’re all still here, all the people that appeared to get killed are at home chilling with their families. It’s just acting. And I love action films. Although, saying that, I love good sci-fi and thrillers, too. There really is no limit to the number of films I want to be associated with. If you look at my films, I can go heavy, I can go light, I can do jokes, I can jump into Transformers and chase robots. There is no limit. And I want to really spread myself out there in the universe.
Q. Are there any type films you’ve not done that you want to?
Animation, I want do some voiceover. Plus, not being in the studio any more with the singing, I kind of miss that; I want to be in the studio doing something. They’re also films that families can see.
Q. How involved are you, personally, with your multimedia company, Headquarter Entertainment?
It’s my multimedia empire, man; film, TV, music, and we also have about seven technologies that we’re developing, mobile technologies, I have two patents that are registered. With the music, I will do another album myself, but like I said, I want to concentrate on acting for the next four or five years.
Death Race is released in the UK on September 26th, and will be reviewed
Jada Pinkett Smith
Common
Tasha Smith
“My Black Is Beautiful” Interview
Omari Hardwick
KW: What was your main challenge in doing this film, the action sequences?
Let Lenny Rule 
Mariah Carey - The “Precious” Interview
Morgan Freeman - The “Invictus” Interview
Chewing the Fat with Golden Globe-Nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, Endgame
bfm interview: On the QT with Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
KW: How does it feel to have finished Inglourious Basterds, finally, given that you’ve been working on it for over a decade?
QT: No they weren’t. The relationship between black people and Nazi Germany was very interesting. Part of the reason is that there were so few blacks in Europe that there wasn’t a “Black Problem” per se, the way there was a “Jewish Problem.” So, black people weren’t rounded up in Nazi occupied France. You’d have to keep a low profile, to be sure, but having said that, you’d still enjoy more freedoms there than on the streets of Chicago at the same time period. And far more freedoms than in a state like Alabama. For instance, you could walk into a restaurant in Paris and sit down and order something. The odd irony in all this is that while there’s no mistaking where Hitler was coming from as far as blacks were concerned, after all, he made that very clear in Mein Kampf, the average German soldier did not feel the same way about black people. In fact, they were absolutely appalled whenever they witnessed the racism exhibited by white American soldiers towards their fellow black soldiers. They couldn’t fathom it, because they believed the hype about America being the land of the free and the home of the brave. It’s equally unfathomable that we went to Europe to fight racial oppression with a segregated army. A wonderful paper could be written about all this, and maybe I’ll do that one of these days. 
Night at the Museum 2 Press Conference
An interview with Sylvester Williams: On Life After Mick
It was preceded by Simple, a short film he made and starred in 2002 that landed Williams a best actor award from bfm (Black Filmmaker) magazine. Simple was co-produced with Troy Titus-Adams (EastEnders' Nina, who also played Mick's one-time girlfriend).
Amica Anselm caught up with comedian and actor, Tameka Empson, host of the 2008 bfm Short Film Awards 
