Nia Long

“The Single Moms Club” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Nia Expounds on Everything from Movies to Motherhood

 

Stunningly-attractive leading lady Nia Long returned to the big screen last fall in the highly-anticipated sequel The Best Man Holiday where she reunited with original cast mates Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut and Harold Perrineau. Early last year, she joined the all-star cast of Showtime’s “House of Lies” alongside Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell.

 

Nia made her film debut in Boyz n The Hood, a poignant picture portraying social problems in inner-city Los Angeles. She subsequently starred in Friday opposite Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, as well as Love Jones, which won the prestigious Audience Award at Sundance. Nia’s notable film roles also include Soul Food, Alfie, The Best Man, Are We There Yet?, Big Momma’s House 1 and 2, Stigmata, The Broken Hearts Club and Made In America.

 

Nia’s portrayal of Officer Sasha Monroe on the hit crime drama “Third Watch” netted her a couple of NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Drama series. Her other TV accomplishments include “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Boston Legal,” “Judging Amy,” and “Big Shots.”

 

In addition to her film and television work, Nia’s passion lies in serving her community. With her family roots firmly planted in Trinidad, Long’s long term goals are to connect women in the US to those of the island and to mentor young girls to regain their self-esteem.

 

Additionally, she lends her support to Black Girls Rock, an organization that promotes the arts for young women of color and encourages dialogue on the ways women of color are portrayed in the media. And in 2012, she was named an official surrogate to the Barack Obama reelection campaign.

 

Nia loves to cook fresh, farmer’s market meals with a twist of her Trinidadian heritage. When she’s not juggling between her career and motherhood, she enjoys staying active by doing Pilates, boxing, hiking, and horseback riding.

 

She also takes pleasure in traveling and experiencing different cultures throughout the world. One of her favorite locations to visit is Jamaica, a place she calls her second home where she can reflect and refuel.

 

Here, Nia talks about co-starring as May in The Single Moms Club opposite her son Massai, as well as Amy Smart, Zulay Henao, Tyler Perry, Terry Crews, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Cocoa Brown.

 

 

Kam Williams: Hi Nia, thanks so much for the time.

Nia Long: Of course, Kam. How are you?

 

KW: Great! And you?

NL: I’m good!

 

KW: What interested you in The Single Moms Club?

NL: The title alone. I think it’s a world we haven’t explored on film. And I feel that single mommies don’t get enough praise and accolades. I’ve had first-hand experience. My mother was a single mom. As far as I’m concerned, mommies, in general, rule the world. And single mothers just take it to a whole other level. 

 

KW: Congratulations on the latest Essence Magazine cover!

NL: Oh, thank you!

 

KW: I don’t how many that makes. I’ve lost count. Besides this one, which of your Essence covers is your favorite? The August 2012 issue with your sons?

NL: Honestly, it’s so hard, because each Essence cover represents a different special moment in my life. So, I can’t really judge them. It’s hard to judge yourself, too. But I do love the one with my boys. That was probably the closest one to me myself. This one is about keeping it sexy in my 40s, so I’m not mad about that either.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: How was it having your son, Massai, play your son, and what acting advice did you give him?

NL: I actually sent him to my acting coach, Betty Bridges.

 

KW: Todd’s mom. [Todd Bridges of the TV show Different Strokes]

NL: Yes. She worked with him for several days. And then, my own mom recorded him on her iPhone. It was one of those situations where I didn’t want to be a part of process, because I felt it was important for him to go through the process and earn it. So, we sent the video over to Tyler. When we didn’t hear back after a couple of days, I was like, “Omigosh! What if he doesn’t get this job? How am I going to break the news to him?“ Fortunately, Tyler thought he was great and he did get the job. At the end of the day, I was really happy with the outcome of the scenes. Working opposite him was such a gift, and something I’ll have on film forever. I don’t know whether a star was born, but I’m sure it was an experience that can only help benefit his development as a young man.      

 

KW: Director Rel Dowdell says: In the movie there's a poignant scene where your character, May, has the chance to say disparaging things about her son's father to her son, but doesn't. Did that scene have any special resonance with you, since your real-life son was playing your son?

NL: Well, my son’s dad is committed, and involved, and amazing. We’re actually really good friends. But I think it’s dangerous to speak negatively to the child about your ex or the absent parent, because, believe it or not, they learn very quickly who the other parent is. And it’s important that they develop their own attitudes and opinions about that other parent based on their experiences, not based on what someone has said about them. Fortunately, there’s mostly more positive than negative. When there isn’t, that’s just the way life happens. You just don’t want your child to ever feel like they have less of an opportunity to succeed based on the circumstances in which they were born. I try to be optimistic about everything. There are no victims in my home.   

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: What would you say is the overall message of The Single Moms Club?

NL: Try to find fellowship… And try to find sisterhood… And try to find that village that can help you support your journey and your kids and your experiences. Never lose a sense of yourself throughout the process, and still pursue your dreams as a mom. Listen, when all is said and done, don’t be afraid to get out there and date, and have a little bit of fun. We’re still women… we’re still feminine… and we still have needs.

 

KW: Patricia says: You have been in the entertainment industry for decades. I’ve followed your career since Boyz n the Hood. What is the secret to your longevity?

NL: Probably my last name. [Chuckles] No, I feel it’s that I don’t ever give up on myself, and I’d rather run a marathon than a sprint. Personally, I think I’m a slow learner who’s getting better every year, every moment, every project. I’ve met so many amazing people along the way. And there’s no gimmick with me. What you see is what you get. The journey might be longer, but it’s definitely been sweeter. I can look at myself in the mirror every night knowing I’ve never ever pretended to be someone I know I’m not for the sake of this industry. I believe that it’s important to live by your truth in order to be able to sleep peacefully when you rest your head at night. I’ve gone off and taken breaks, not necessarily by choice, but life has a way of giving you breaks, even when you don’t want them, especially in this industry. So, I’ve had a chance to raise my children and to be a mom, and to come back to do more in film and television. I really cannot complain.  

 

KW: Editor Lisa Loving asks: What is the most surprising thing you’d like people to know about you?

NL: That I’m really, really silly and slightly clumsy. I had to re-teach myself how to walk in high heels after the birth of Kez. [Chuckles]

 

KW: Environmental activist Grace Sinden asks: Do you have a dream role you would like to play?

NL: I would love a good drama, maybe a period piece.

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

NL: I’ve never really thought about that. I think classic films are classic for a reason. It’s always sketchy to redo one, especially if you’re trying to make it contemporary. That’s really just not the way to go. [LOL]

 

KW: Eddie Cibrian, who played your love interest in The Best Man Holiday, is also in The Single Moms Club. Did it feel weird that your characters weren’t romantically-linked this time around?

NL: No, I never actually saw him on set, because we didn’t have any scenes together. But it was sort of funny seeing him in the film. I was like, “Omigosh! I totally forgot!”

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

NL: I know this sounds shallow, but a good pair of new shoes really gets me going.

 

KW: What do you want that you don’t have yet?

NL: That question’s so loaded! [Laughs] I’d say more choices, more options, more opportunities that force me to grow as an artist and challenge me to grow in a way that I haven’t as of yet. 

 

KW: Congratulations on the success of The Best Man Holiday and on the announcement that another sequel is in the works.

NL: Thank you.

 

KW: But will we ever get to see a Love Jones sequel?

NL: I have no idea. There have been a lot of rumors, and some bad versions of scripts. I don’t know what’s going to happen. All I do know is that unless it’s right, we won’t do it.

 

KW: What does Love Jones’ write/director Theodore Witcher have to say?

NL: I haven’t seen or spoken to Ted in a long time? He’s a smart man, though.

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

NL: Definitely a cat.

 

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question:How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?

NL: [Breathes deeply, sighs and reflects] That was a big heartbreak, and I wasn’t that young either. I would say that I learned that the heartbreak wasn’t as much about me as the fact that he wasn’t right with himself. I see where his life has taken him, and realize that the handwriting was on the wall. There were things that I had blamed myself for, but it was really more about his choices, his needs and his journey as a person. His desire for too much of everything made it a challenging relationship.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

NL: I would love to have the ability to see inside everyone’s heart before I heard them speak or even saw their faces. 

 

KW: You’ll be playing a lawyer on The Divide, a dramatic TV series debuting this summer. Have you started shooting the first season yet?

NL: We have been shooting in cold Toronto. We only have one more episode to go. I’ve been working with Tony Goldwyn, Richard LaGravenese and an amazing group of actors. I play a strong, successful mom.

 

KW: What’s the show about?

NL: All of us have moments in our lives when we have to choose between what we know is right and what we feel obligated to do. I think that’s the theme of the show. What is your divide? What are the things you struggle with?     

 

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?

NL: At home, it’s all about my babies and no makeup. On the red carpet, it’s: Am I standing up straight? 

 

KW: We’re out of time, Nia, and I still have a million more questions for you from fans. 

NL: I’m so sorry. We can do another one soon, Kam.

 

KW: Thanks Nia.

NL: Take care.  

 

To see a trailer for The Single Moms Club, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQNOvfixtpo

Rebecca Da Costa

“The Bag Man” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

From the Runway to the Red Carpet!

Born in Recife, Brazil, supermodel-turned-actress Rebecca Da Costa studied at the Rui Barbosa School where she pursued her love of theater by writing, directing and starring in a number of plays. At the age of 14, Rebecca was discovered during a model search, and she debuted at Milan Fashion Week a couple of years later en route to gracing runways all over the world for Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Escada and Hugo Boss, to name a few.

The statuesque beauty also became the face of campaigns for Chopard, Swarovski, Nokia and L'Oreal. However, a visit to Los Angeles prompted a permanent move to the States, where Rebecca decided to focus on her true passion, acting.

Her first lead role was in an indie film titled L.A. I Hate You, and her credits came to include a stint on HBO's "Entourage" as well as starring roles in Free Runner, Mine Games and 7 Below alongside Val Kilmer and Ving Rhames. More recently, she wrapped shooting the horror flick Breaking at the Edge with Milo Ventimiglia and Andie MacDowell in which she stars as a bi-polar, pregnant woman in fear for her unborn child's life.

Rebecca currently resides in Los Angeles where, in addition to her modeling and acting career, she devotes her time to such philanthropic efforts as Kids with Autism and Common Ground HIV. To relax, she enjoys dancing, cooking healthy, Brazilian dishes and regularly practicing Transcendental Meditation in order to maintain a healthy mind and body.

As a planetary citizen who has lived on several different continents, Rebecca is fluent in many languages, with Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and English among them. Here, the versatile thespian talks about staring as the femme fatale in the neo-noir thriller The Bag Man opposite Robert De Niro and John Cusack.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Rebecca, thanks for the interview.

Rebecca Da Costa: No problem, Kam.

 

KW: What interested you in The Bag Man?

RDC: When I went to audition for the film, they didn’t give me the whole script, but I liked my character Rivka’s dry sense of humor. She seemed so witty in the scenes I read. It seemed like a big challenge, and that was one of the first things that caught my attention.

 

KW: Were all the big names already attached to the picture at that point?

RDC: When I first got the phone call that I’d booked the job, I didn’t know that John [Cusack] and [Robert] De Niro were attached. But when they gave me the news, I was like “Oh my God!” It was too much for me. And Sticky Fingers, Crispin Glover and Dominic Purcell later joined the cast.    

 

KW: How was it working opposite Cusack and a legend like De Niro?

RDC: It was a mind-blowing experience because I grew up watching those guys. To act opposite them was surreal. But at the same time, you naturally forget who they are after a few days since you’re so focused on getting each scene right. You couldn’t concentrate if you let yourself think, “That’s Robert De Niro.” Still, he was amazing to watch. It was the best acting class I ever had.  

 

KW: I know you like writing and directing. What sort of project might interest you in that regard?  

RDC: I’d like to direct children’s movies in ten years or so, because I love everything connected to their universe. But that’s a long-range plan because, right now, I’m just focusing on my acting career.

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

RDC: I’d love to do a musical, because I love singing and dancing.  

 

KW: You’ve taken a very circuitous route from Brazil to Hollywood. You were discovered in you mid-teens, and moved to Milan as a model, right? 

RDC: Yes, I lived in Europe for seven years, in Italy… France… Germany… Austria… Everywhere! Then I moved to New York to work as a model, but I also started taking acting classes. Right after that I moved to L.A. and my career really started to take off. 

 

KW: Are you tempted to move back to Brazil? It’s hot right now, between the World Cup and the next Summer Olympics.  

RDC: I love my country, and I go back to visit my family four or five times a year, even though it’s a very long trip. I’ll definitely be going back for the World Cup, because I’m a very big soccer fan. And I hope to attend the Olympics, too. In my dream world, I’d like to live in both New York and Brazil.

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

RDC: That’s such a good question. Let me think… I can’t think of one right now.

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

RDC: I do this fish dish in the oven with vegetables and brown rice that’s very easy and very healthy and very nice. It only takes about a half-hour to make. I also like to cook and to eat black beans, rice and meat, a traditional Brazilian dish. It’s very similar to a Cuban and Mexican food. That’s what Brazilians have for lunch every single day. It may sound boring, but it’s really, really delicious. [Chuckles] 

 

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

RDC: I will go with Dolce & Gabbana because it just dresses my body-type  beautifully.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

RDC: That my career was going so well that I could live on a desert island. That way, I could shoot a movie, and then hide on my private island. [Giggles] I love my privacy so much that I closed my Facebook account for years. I just reopened it a few months ago at the suggestion of my publicist. But I prefer to be private and even unavailable at times. I’d rather not even turn on my computer sometimes. The world we live in right now, everybody can know where you are in a second.     

 

KW: Why an island?

RDC: I love the beach and the ocean! I’m very spiritual, and that’s where I feel very connected to a higher power. 

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

RDC: Oh, wow! It depends. Today, when I look in the mirror, I see somebody who’s very tired because, for the past few days I’ve just been so busy. From the minute I wake up until the minute I go to sleep, I have so many things to do. But it varies. Sometimes, I look in the mirror and I feel sad. Other times, I feel proud, because I was a very active child with so many dreams that I’m living now. But when I’m down or having doubts, I look in the mirror and ask myself, “What would 10 year-old Rebecca do, if she were facing this trouble?” That really helps me.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

RDC: Oh God, that’s so deep. I can remember playing with classmates at a school playground at around 4 years of age.   

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

RDC: My best career decision was to move to L.A. I went there to visit a friend, and decided to move there. I remember praying about it to get some guidance. I’m not religious but, as I mentioned before, I am very spiritual. I like to pray to God for guidance. I think it helps me. I remember very clearly being back in Manhattan three days later when I got the phone call that somebody was interested in renting my apartment. I felt so happy as I strolled through Central Park listening to music because I knew I was now free to move. And, from there, everything started happening in my life.    

 

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question:How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?

RDC: It impacted me very much. I think it might have been what made me turn to acting. My first big heartbreak was with my father. As the oldest daughter, I was very attached to him. Unfortunately, my mother divorced him, and he wasn’t a part of my life anymore, by his choice, of course. That influenced who I am today, including the roles I choose.   

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

RDC: I love watching Brazilian soap operas. [LOL]

 

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend the time? 

RDC: Funny you should ask, because just the other day I dreamed that the world was collapsing, and the first thing that came to my mind was: Where’s my mother? I would take a plane to be close to my family.  

 

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the runway or on the red carpet?

RDC: On the red carpet, you’re pretty much posing playing a role and answering very generic questions. But in real life, I’m very open and anybody who takes the time to get to know me is going to see that I’m very easygoing, and that I’m a homebody who loves cooking, and relaxing with family and friends. Perhaps people might not sense that from seeing me on the red carpet.  

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

RDC: To be invisible. [Laughs]

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

RDC: I think you really need to ask yourself if it’s really what you want for your life. And if you decide it’s what you want to do, then focus on it and go for it with 100% of your power. Believe me, I’ve been very lucky, but I still face obstacles every day. I’m acting in English which is not my first language. So, it’s hard. But you have to have that conviction in your heart that this was what you were born to do, and just keep going. Don’t stop!

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity? I know you’re already doing great work with Kids with Autism and Common Ground HIV.

RDC: The HIV cause is very close to my heart, first of all because I had a cousin with AIDS who passed away a few years ago. Also, I think it’s so unfair that people who are HIV+ are still stigmatized. Come on! We need to support them. And I want to get more involved with children’s charities that touch me.

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

RDC: I like that question. More than anything, I want to be remembered as a good person who had a great deal of dignity, and also as an actress who was really hard working and who believed in her dreams.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Rebecca, and best of luck with the film.

RDC: Thanks Kam, this has been an entertaining interview, because it allowed me to show a side of myself that I don’t think people have seen before. 

 

To see a trailer for The Bag Man, visit:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKBLfwVEKP8

Regina Hall & Kevin Hart
The “About Last Night” Interview
with Kam Williams

Regina Hall began her acting career in the late 1990's while simultaneously earning a master's degree from New York University. With numerous film and television credits to her name, Regina has since emerged as one of Hollywood’s most sought after comedic actresses.

Last fall, she was seen reprising her role in the sequel The Best Man Holiday, alongside Terrence Howard, Taye Diggs, and Sanaa Lathan, which opened #1 at the box office. In June, she will again star opposite Terrence J, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson and Michael Ealy in the sequel Think Like a Man Too.

The versatile thespian additional credits include Scary Movie (and three of its sequels), Paid in Full, Malibu’s Most Wanted, First Sunday, Law Abiding Citizen, Death at a Funeral, Love & Basketball and Disappearing Acts. Her television credits include the role of Deputy D.A. Evelyn Prince on “Law & Order: LA” and Coretta Lipp on “Ally McBeal.”

Something Kevin Hart is an expert at is selling shoes. And if there’s one thing Kevin can do even better than selling shoes, it’s comedy. He began his first career sizing men and women for footwear, when a chance, electrifying performance on amateur night at a Philadelphia comedy club changed his life forever. He soon quit that job as a shoe salesman and began performing full-time at such venues as The Boston Comedy Club, Caroline’s on Broadway, Stand Up NY, the Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

However, it was a memorable appearance at the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival that led to roles in Paper Soldiers, Scary Movie 3 and Along Came Polly, which starred Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston. Kevin has worked nonstop ever since, and 2013 was no exception, including Grudge Match, opposite Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro, and Let Me Explain, a stand-up comedy film chronicling the best of his world concert tour of the same name.

This year, he’s already had a #1 hit movie in Ride Along, which has grossed over $100 million and counting. And among his earlier film credits are Little Fockers, Death at a Funeral, Fool’s Gold and The 40 Year-Old Virgin.

Here, Kevin and Regina discuss their new film, About Last Night, a remake of the classic romantic comedy released back in 1986.

 

Kam Williams: Hi, Kevin and Regina, thanks for the interview. I’m grateful for the opportunity to speak with you.

Regina Hall: Hi, there, Kam. We appreciate it, too.

Kevin Hart: How you doing, man?

 

Kam: Great! Kevin, how does it feel to be back in Philly?

Kevin: Oh, it’s always good, Kam. It’s my hometown. Home is always good.

 

Kam: What interested you two in About Last Night?

Kevin: What interested you, baby?

Regina: Well, I loved the script. I’m always thrilled whenever I see a good script. And of course, when I then heard that Kevin was going to be my co-star… that sealed the deal. Need I say anything more? How about you, Kev?

Kevin: Like you, the script, first of all. I also liked that this was a different type of role for me, and that the original movie was so amazing!

Regina: A classic!

 

Kam: What factors played a role in doing a remake?

Kevin: The fact that we’d be following in its footsteps was huge. But we also wanted to follow more closely the lines of the original play it was based on, “Sexual Perversity in Chicago.” We modernized it and made this version a little edgier to fit audiences of this generation. So, all the pieces of the puzzle were there, it was just a question of putting them together.

Regina: Yeah, it was already there on the page. We just adapted it in a way to make it fresh, contemporary, sexy and fun. We also kinda followed the journey of two couples as opposed to one, so you get to see us explore the dynamics in the friendships between the men and the women, as well as in the couples’ relationships. It ended up feeling great!

   

Kam: Was it hard juggling egos on the set?

Kevin: Not at all. It was basically just four good people.

Regina: Four friends, really.

Kevin: There weren’t any jerks. Everybody came with the same agenda which was to make a great film. And when you all have your eyes on the prize, in this case to turn in a quality product and to turn in a complete product, at the end of the day, you can’t ask for a better support group than what we had.  

 

Kam: Who’s in your target audience?

Regina: Everybody!

Kevin: This is a universal film, with the exception of certain younger age groups, since this is an adult film.

Regina: Yeah, it’s R-rated. But it’s for singles… couples…

Kevin: It’s a movie that so many people are going to be able to relate to.

 

Kam: Kevin, you’re already on a roll with Ride Along breaking records for a January opening.

Kevin: Thank you!

Regina: #1 for three weeks in a row!

Kam: With About Last Night opening you’re competing against yourself.  

Kevin: Hey, that’s a good thing, especially since this is a different look for me. People walking out of this movie are going to know that I have levels, that I’m serious about my acting career, and that I’m willing to challenge myself. This product is a great representation of that.   

 

Kam: Does this picture have a message?

Kevin: Yeah, it actually does. The movie shows that couples weather their crises differently, and that each is going to solve their problems in the unique way they see fit to. But when you’re in love, love makes you do crazy things, and can take you down a whirlwind of a road. These are two couples that experience that, and we show how men talk to men and how women talk to women about their problems, and how it all comes full circle.   

Regina: Mmm-hmm!

 

Kam: Regina, what’s up next for you?

Regina: I’ll be joining this gentleman again in June for the release of Think Like a Man Too.  

Kevin: After that I’ll be in a movie called Wedding Ringers.

Regina: Which is hilarious, by the way. I’ve seen a few excerpts. It’s another hit.

 

Kam: Is it a little like Wedding Crashers?

Kevin: No, it’s more like a modern version of Hitch.

 

Kam: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

Kevin: Yeah, how tall are you?

 

Kam: Okay, how tall are you?

Kevin: I’m a good 6’6” on a Friday.

Regina: No, he’s 6’5”. [Chuckles]

 

Kam: How about you, Regina? Is there any question no one ever asks you?

Regina: People are obsessed with my bra size. Would you say I’m a 34D or a 34F?

Kevin: I’d say F. [Laughs]

 

Kam: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

Kevin: You know what? The most exciting thing in the world to me is that I’m doing what I love to do, and that I’m successful doing it. Pursuing my dream and executing it is exciting to me.

Regina: I’m just excited about life. Life is really good right now with my family and friends, and being able to work with people I respect.

 

Kam: I’ve asked Kevin this before. Regina, what is your favorite dish to cook?

Regina: That’s a hard question, because I’m a really good cook.

Kevin: You make a mean hot dog.

Regina: I do dice a nice hot dog. I also make great lamb chops. And I make really good yams. There isn’t much I can’t get into that kitchen and do.

Kevin: She also makes a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Regina: Thanks. You’ve got to have just the right balance of peanut butter and jelly.

Kevin: And that jelly’s coming from scratch!

Regina: That’s true.  

Kevin: Kam, have you ever had jelly from scratch?

Kam: No, I havent.

Kevin: Then you got to get to Regina’s house.

 

Kam: Invite me, and I’m there! The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

Regina: Swimming into my mama.

Kevin: Mine was touching a dead mouse by accident.

 

Kam: Well, thank you both for the spirited tete-a-tete!

Regina: Thank you, Kam.

Kevin: Thanks, man.

 

To see a trailer for About Last Night, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QEfDr1OE8Q      

Dinesh Sharma

“The Global Obama” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Sharma on Obama!

Dr. Dinesh Sharma is a cultural psychologist, marketing consultant and an acclaimed author with a doctorate from Harvard University. He is an Associate Research Professor (Honorary) at the Institute for Global Cultural Studies, SUNY-Binghamton; a senior fellow at Institute for International and Cross-Cultural Research, NYC; and a columnist for Asia Times Online, Al Jazeera English and The Global Intelligence, among other syndicated publications.

His recent articles and opinions have appeared in the Wall Street Journal Online, Wonkette.com, Free Lance-Star, Far Eastern Economic Review, Middle East Times, Middle East Online, Epoch Times, Biotech Law Review, Health Affairs, Media Monitors, DC Chronicles, Fredricksburg.com, MyCentralJersey.com, International Psychology Bulletin, and other journals. Dr. Sharma has been profiled domestically and internationally including in L'Echo, DeStandaard, Luxembourg Wort, 352 Lux Magazine, The Eastern Eye, Asian Affairs, Cincinnati Herald and The Skanner, to name a few.

On TV, Dinesh’s work has been favorably reviewed on Politics Tonight (WGN News), Urban Update (WHDH Boston), City Line WABC Boston, KITV Hawaii, Bay Sunday San Francisco, and many other shows. On Radio, he has been featured on Conversations on the Coast in San Francisco, Reality Check FM-4 Vienna, South African Broadcast Corporation (SABC) and numerous other talk shows. 

Furthermore, he has been a consultant in the healthcare industry for major pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device clients for about a decade. He is the author of “Barack Obama in Hawaii and Indonesia: The Making of a Global President,” which was rated as among the Top 10 Books of Black History for 2012 by the American Library Association, Book List Online. Here, he talks about the follow-up book, "The Global Obama."

Kam Williams: Hi Dinesh, thanks for the interview.

Dinesh Sharma: Any time. It’s very nice of you to conduct this interview. You reviewed my earlier book and the new book, “The Global Obama.” So, I really appreciate it. 

KW: What interested you in writing another book about Obama?

DS: Well, first, Barack H. Obama is a landmark presidential figure as the first black, multiracial, multicultural president from Hawaii and the Pacific. In the first book, Barack Obama in Hawaii and Indonesia, as you know, I documented, with ethnographic interviews, the childhood and adolescence of this history-making president. The idea was to show that the childhood of a historical leader speaks to the historical times and, in turn, shapes the future in some important ways. When I lectured around the world for the first book, I realized that he was more popular abroad than at home. I had known that from some of the early surveys by the Pew Research Center and The Economist. But when I toured throughout Europe, Asia and Africa, this was really brought home to me. So I wanted to do a book on that trend and try to explore some of the reasons for this finding. Given that no author has an expertise in all areas of the world, I decided to make this an edited book, with help from friends who span the globe. In the new book, we have covered five continents and more than twenty countries.   

KW: Was it a harder sell, since the President’s bloom has fallen off the rose, at least domestically?

DS: It wasn’t a hard sell with the publishers or the reviewers. Most reviewers got the purpose of the project right away and supported it. In fact, the book is part of a series that is headed by James MacGregor Burns, who wrote the classic book on leadership and coined the term “transformational leadership,” Georgia Sorensen, who worked in the Carter administration, and Ron Riggio, a professor of leadership at Claremont McKenna College. Given that Obama is a relevant historical figure despite the negative polling trends domestically, he has many more admirers than detractors at home and abroad. In fact, the publisher wanted us to focus on his leadership style within a cross-cultural context, which is the theme of the new book.

KW: How do you explain his enduring popularity overseas?

DS: I think it has partly to do with his international biography and global moorings in almost all continents--Africa, Asia, Europe and the US, of course.  Professor Ali A. Mazrui calls him “the child of three continents.” But if you include his Irish or European ancestry from his mother’s side of the family, he may be called “the man of four continents” or the global president, a symbol of the changing times.

KW: What were you most surprised to learn about him in the course of your preparing this book? 

DS: When I prepared the manuscript, the sheer enormity of the challenges the U.S. faces abroad were mind-boggling. It became clear to me that the job of managing all of these conflicts simultaneously is, indeed, very difficult, especially, if the U.S. wants to remain the global leader in the 21st Century. That’s why China does not necessarily want to be in the position of a global superpower. The other BRIC countries, Russia, India and Brazil, are not anywhere near being global superpowers. Countries around the world expect the U.S. to deliver, be engaged, and respond to their needs.  Presidential leadership is a really tough job, does come not easily. “To those much is given, much is expected,” to paraphrase President Kennedy.  

KW: What has been your most special moment in your visits to the White House?

DS: Hard to say, but I think watching the President in the East Room when he hosts some of the sports teams, stars from the NBA, WNBA, and NFL, after they have won a championship. Obama is a sports aficionado! You can really observe that when he’s around athletes. He gets a kick out of it.  His inner-jock self comes out and his language becomes very jocular.        

KW: What’s it like to be a member of the press corps accompanying President Obama on a trip? 

DS: Very interesting. As an immigrant from India who lived in Chicago for many years, or even as a graduate student at Harvard in psychology and human development, I didn’t think or imagine that one day I would be covering the first black president at the White House.

KW: You traveled to various places where Obama grew up while researching your first book about Obama. Where did you think the seed of his presidential destiny was planted?

DS: Hawaii. His parents met there and he attended one of the elite preparatory schools on the island, Punahou Academy. Hawaii was the last state to join the Union in 1959 after the attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II. Obama’s father arrived there as an exchange student in 1959 and Barack was born two years after Hawaii became part of the U.S. It shaped not only his inner-most self, his destiny, but also his vision of America as reflected in his saying, “There is no Red America or Blue America, only the United States of America.” As the first majority-minority state, you could say that Hawaii shaped Obama’s identity indelibly. They both grew up together, in parallel, and are now leading America towards being a blended nation, demographically. 

KW: What will be the focus of your next book about Obama?

DS: Not clear yet, but something to do with American identity, politics and culture in the era of globalization, similar to what I have been writing about lately.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

DS: No one has asked ever said to me, “You’re not African-American, so why are you so obsessed with Obama? Why is Obama your muse?” Or, “Aren’t you tired of Obama yet? You know his polling numbers are falling.”

KW: Would you mind saying something controversial that would get this interview tweeted?

DS: President Obama will be an even bigger statesman in his post-presidency, while working for Africa’s development.

KW: What is your secret wish?

DS: To smoke a cigar with the President on the roof of the White House But, alas, he does not smoke anymore.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

DS: “The Future” by Al Gore, “A Singular Woman” by Jenny Scott, “Legal Orientalism” by Teemu Ruskola, and I just started reading “The Great Soul” by Joseph Lelyveld.  

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

DS: Fish Curry.

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

DS: To attend Harvard, and recently the decision to write two books on President Obama, in that order. Hopefully, more to come!

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

DS: There is no limit to what one can do!

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

DS: That both my children will be well-educated, well-read and well-travelled.

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 

DS: Dogged determination – consistency and persistence in performance.  It’s not just enough to have good ideas, one has to deliver.

KW: The Michael Ealy question: If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be?

DS: There are so many – I would like to have met Freud, Jung, Gandhi, Nehru, Lincoln, Churchill, Martin Luther King, Mandela, Claude Levi-Strauss, Dali, Margret Mead, Camus, Foucault, Sri Aurobindo, Krishnamurti, other Indian Philosophers. And the list goes on. As you can see, I think intellectuals are historical figures, too, because they can change the world with the power of their ideas.   

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to write about a president?

DS: Always follow your path, or the road less travelled.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Dinesh, and best of luck with the book.

DS:  Thanks very much, Kam.

 

To order a copy of The Global Obama, visit: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1848726260/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20

 

To order a copy of Barack Obama in Hawai'i and Indonesia, visit:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0313385335/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20

Alice Walker

The “Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Alice in Walkerland!

Alice Walker has been defined as one of the key international writers of the 20th Century. She made history as the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction as well as the National Book Award in 1983 for her novel The Color Purple — one of the few literary books to capture the popular imagination and leave a permanent imprint. The award-winning novel served as the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film and was adapted for the stage, opening at New York City’s Broadway Theatre in 2005, and capturing a Tony Award for best leading actress in a musical in 2006.

An internationally celebrated author, poet and activist, Alice’s books include seven novels, four collections of short stories, four children’s books, and volumes of essays and poetry. She has written many other best sellers, too, among them, Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992), which detailed the devastating effects of female genital mutilation and led to the 1993 documentary Warrior Marks, a collaboration with the British-Indian filmmaker Pratibha Parmar, with Walker as executive producer.

In 2001, Alice was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame and, in 2006, she was honored as one of the inaugural inductees into the California Hall of Fame. In 2007, her archives were opened to the public at Emory University.

In 2010, she presented the keynote address at The 11th Annual Steve Biko Lecture at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and was awarded the Lennon/Ono Grant for Peace, in Reykjavik, Iceland. Alice donated the financial award to an orphanage for the children of AIDS victims in Kenya.

She has served as a jurist for two sessions of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine, and writes a regular blog on her website: www.alicewalkersgardens.com. Here, she talks about her career and about the documentary “Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth” which premieres on PBS on Friday, February 7th at 9 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings)  

 

Kam Williams: Hi Alice. I’m so honored to have this opportunity to interview you.

Alice Walker: Oh, I’m so glad to be talking with you, too, Kam.

 

KW: The only time I came close to meeting you before now was back in the Eighties one summer, when I was invited to a party out in the Hamptons that you were rumored to be attending. 

AW: Oh, I did have a few friends near there, one in Montauk, another on Fire Island. But oh, that was a long time ago. 

 

KW: I’ll be mixing in my questions with some from readers. Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: how do you feel about having the biopic coming out about you?

AW: Well, it’s very interesting because I almost never do anything for Black History Month, because I feel it’s just another way to separate us. It’s amusing to me that it would be coming out as a Black History presentation on PBS. But on the level of the film, I like it. And I love the producer [Shaheen Haq] and the filmmaker [Pratibha Parmar]. I think they were incredibly devoted. They did it on a hope and a prayer, and at one point had to rely on crowd-sourcing because of the huge expenses.

 

KW: I learned so much about you from the film. For instance, I was surprised to hear that Howard Zinn had been a professor of yours in college.

AW: He was already teaching at Spelman when I arrived as a freshperson. Then, I took his class the following year, because I had gone to the Soviet Union and wanted to learn more about Russia, and I think he was the only person in all of Atlanta who knew anything about Russian literature, which I loved. He was teaching Russian literature, the language, and some of the politics. We became really good friend when I took his class, but then he was fired.  

 

KW: For doing more than just teaching.

AW: He helped us desegregate Atlanta. That was moving because he took a lot of abuse for that. He and Staughton Lynd, a fellow professor who was also from the North, stood with us. They were certainly behind us. In fact, they often stood in front of us. This had a huge impact on me. But one of the reasons I was very careful about speaking about the relationship I had with him and Staughton was because, in a racist society, if you acknowledge a deep love for and a deep debt owed to white teachers, they tend to discredit your own parents and your own community. And I was very unhappy about that because I come from somewhere and from specific black people in the South, including my parents, who built our first school, and rebuilt it after it was burned to the ground. And they used to bake pies and cakes to raise money to keep it going. So, I learned to struggle from a very early way in a way that was truly indigenous to the South. You have to keep at it! [Chuckles] 

 

KW: The film also left me with an appreciation of your deep connection to nature. I have that, too. I go for a walk in the woods every day. It’s very spiritual to me.

AW: The forest is the first cathedral. I felt that from the time I was a child. I credit my mother with that. I used to think it came from her Native-American side. Whichever it was, she instinctively connected with nature, and taught me that. Church just could not hold my spirit. It was a beautiful, little church, too. As sweet as could be. It was at a bend in the road, with a big, oak tree sheltering it. Still, I wandered right out the window, mentally and emotionally, got into the trees, and never left.      

 

KW: Kate Newell says: I'm more than awestruck about this opportunity to ask you a question. How did you feel about the screen adaptation of The Color Purple? 

AW: I was worried about the film at first, because I’d never had a movie made of any of my work on a big scale like that. There had only been a couple of small, student efforts before that. The Color Purple was so overwhelming that I actually brought a magic wand to New York City for the premiere, and pointed it at the screen in the hope that movie didn’t embarrass all of us. Lo and behold, it turned out to be a beautiful picture. The audience was so into it, gracious and emotional, laughing when they should be laughing, crying when they should be crying. I got to feel it as a living work of art, as something useful. My interest in creating anything is that it be useful. People can love the beauty of it, but they should also use it to grow, to deepen.    

 

KW: What was it like dealing with the blowback for the next several years coming from critics who said The Color Purple was anti-black men?

AW: It actually lasted for a decade. How could you imagine that people could be mad at you for so long? I felt a great deal of weariness. But because it wasn’t the first time that I had been heavily criticized, I learned that you just keep going and turn to other things. Which I did. I went on to write “The Temple of My Familiar” which may be my favorite of my novels, because it was a miraculous gift that I had no idea how I got it. I had a dream one night that I went down into a non-existent sub-basement of my little house in Brooklyn. There was a trap door and I went down further and found these indigenous South American people speaking Spanish and making all these incredible things. I didn’t speak a word of Spanish but I sensed that I was being guided to a new focus. And to make a long story short, I ended up going to Mexico, I learned one word, “leche,” which means milk, and I started writing this novel. So, the blowback, in a way, faced me in a new direction which was very interesting.     

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What did you think of the stage version of The Color Purple? 

AW: I so loved working with the musicians. It was just wonderful! It was great and I felt like it was such a tonic for people to see it.

 

KW: Dinesh Sharma says: In my new book, "The Global Obama," Professor Ali Mazrui refers to the President as a "great man of history."  Professor Henry Louis Gates of Harvard agrees. You have written several essays about Barack Obama. How do you feel about his presidency thus far? 

AW: I’m very disappointed in Obama. I was very much in support of him in the beginning, but I cannot support war. I cannot support droning. I cannot support capitulating to the banks. I cannot support his caving in to Netanyahu [Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu]. There’s a long list of this administration’s initiatives that I find unsupportable. I think many black people support him because they’re so happy to have handsome black man in the White House. But it doesn’t make me happy if that handsome black man in the White House is betraying all of our traditional values of peace, peoplehood, caring about strangers, feeding the hungry, and not bombing children. I’m very disappointed. More than disappointed, I think I’ve actually returned to a kind of realism about how the world works. That’s helpful. Because in a way, no matter who’s in charge of the corporation that the United States is, the direction in which it is taken seems to be inexorable. So, you just get the job of being the front man for four or eight years. Now, most people realize that’s what you are.      

 

KW: Talking about being a good or bad president is like talking about being a good or bad rapist. 

AW: [LOL] That’s a very good thought.

 

KW: I think the black community sort of got checkmated in terms of its own agenda. And very vocal folks who try to hold Obama accountable are having their blackness questioned or their blackness revoked, like Tavis Smiley.  

AW: That’s okay. It’s better to have your blackness taken away than to stand there and lie about who you actually are. That’s the trap. In fact, Cynthia McKinney just sent me a piece by somebody about how, for the first time in history, black people are supporting the wars, the military strikes on Syria, and other awful things, as if they woke up and became entirely different people. It’s totally distressing! Look at the NDAA [The National Defense Authorization Act], look at the Patriot Act, look at the NSA, and the ruthless droning of civilians. I pretty much lost it when they droned the grandmother who was teaching her grandchildren how to pick okra. It seems to me the ones who are the real threat are the ones who are in power.

 

KW: Film director Rel Dowdell asks: Did Danny Glover fully personify the character Mister in The Color Purple?

AW: No. I love Danny, and he did a good job, but no. Mister is a small man. Danny is huge! And that matters, because what I was showing was how even a small man can be a terrorist in the home because of all the patriarchal weight that he brings to any situation. That would’ve been very powerful. In a way, making Mister so big undercut that message because we’re kind of afraid of big people anyway, because they take up so much room. I felt that at times there wasn’t enough subtlety in his abuse of Celie and her sister, Nettie, because what I’ve discovered and observed is that often it’s the subtle oppression that deeply wounds the soul. The parting for instance, which is so horrendous, where Nettie leaves, and is forced out by Mister. In the novel, that’s handled with a lot of restraint. Filmed with that restraint it would’ve been just as powerful, even with a little Mister, just by virtue of his being a man and having patriarchy as his backup.  

 

KW: Are you interested in writing your own screenplay?

AW: At this point, no, because I have gone back to writing poetry, which I absolutely love. And I write on my blog, which I enjoy. And life being what it is, every once in a while I’ll have a book which will have developed without my actually having paid that much attention to that part of it. I’m really only interested in each day’s gift.  

 

KW: I was struck by something you said in Beauty in Truth: “The pain we inflict on children is the pain we later endure as a society.”

AW: Boy, is that scary, when you consider what we’re doing to children all over the planet. They’re the ones who are truly being terrorized by all the madness adults are perpetrating. 

 

KW: Generational warfare. In the U.S., we even have it here between the prison industrial complex and the indentured servitude of the young via college loans they can never repay.

AW: They’re supposed to be slaves. And those that aren’t just slaves, can become drug addicts. And the drug addicts that are caught get put into the prison system to make a profit for the people who own the prisons. It’s all worked out. 

 

KW: Novelist and short story writer Suzan Greenberg was wondering whether you had any idea that your short story "Everyday Use" would be so widely anthologized?   

AW: I did not, and I’m puzzled that it is, because it’s not the story that I would’ve picked to be anthologized so widely. I think it’s chosen partly because it reinforces some people’s notions of the Deep South, Southerners and black people. That story has its own power, but it also permits a kind of distance, as if it happened in the far past. I think that’s why people use it opposed to more gritty stories like “Advancing Luna“ or “Laurel,” which come out of the struggle in the South in the Sixties but are very modern in terms of their sense of white and black people grappling with issues of interracial rape and interracial love. I think it’s hard for people to read those stories as dispassionately.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: You have been a successful authoress for decades. Only about a dozen female laureates have won the literature Nobel Prize since its inception. Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin had to adopt the pseudonym George Sand to become a French novelist and memoirist. Historically, it has been difficult for women to thrive in the literary world and the word “writeress” has been excluded or erased from some dictionaries. How can we break the glass ceiling as authoresses and have our voices heard more?

AW: You can start by not tacking that “ess” onto the end of everything, because you’re either a poet or you’re not, and either a writer or not. You don’t have to accept someone else’s idea that you need to have a tail that shows that you’re wearing a dress. [LOL] You are what you are. If you’re an actor, you’re an actor. You don’t have to be an actress. As far as a glass ceiling, I feel that all you can do is give it your absolute best with whatever gifts the universe has given you. And if you make it in some way that other people can recognize, that’s fine. But even if you don’t quote-unquote make it, you’re fine, if you’ve given it your whole heart and soul. You’re totally in sync with your purpose and with the universe. And that’s fine.  

 

KW: Patricia also says, you learned to read at a very young age. You were in the first grade when you were four years-old. Illiteracy is still an ongoing issue around the world. Do you think that exposing a child as early as possible to education can be a determinant in decreasing the level of illiteracy on a global scale?

AW: I know from having had a child, and from having been a child myself, that children will copy you. So, the best way to get them to read, is to read. The best way to get them to do anything is to do it yourself, and they will absolutely copy you. That way, you don’t have to worry about what’s supposedly age appropriate, a child will pick something up when the child is ready.    

 

KW: It was heartbreaking in Beauty in Truth to hear you talk about being estranged from your daughter. It was very touching.

AW: Hmmm… I like hearing that it was moving, and provocative in a way, because these things do happen to us. The very thing you think will never happen to you, happens! And then you get to see, oh, that’s because life is alive! [LOL]

 

KW: Toni Banks says: Thanks for “Meridian.” It’s my favorite work of yours. She asks, was the novel biographical fiction?

AW: Not really. There was a young woman in SNCC [the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee] whose name was Ruby Doris [Smith-Robinson].  She was someone I didn’t really know, but I heard about how she was having such a really hard time with the men in the organization. That was one of my early introductions to patriarchal behavior which undermines progress. If the men are going to try to keep the women down, everybody’s going to be stuck back there somewhere. So, she was a person I was thinking about, and I also wanted to write about the sort of spiritual and inspirational work that a lot of people in the movement were doing.   

 

KW: Reverend Florine Thompson says: Thank you for making the color purple the sacred. If there was no color purple, what other color might you drape yourself in?

AW: Well, I don’t really drape myself in purple, although people have sent me some of everything in purple. So, I get purple shawls and coats and hats and bathrobes and boots… You could pick any color, although purple is kind of rare. The point about the color purple is just that to really see a color is so remarkable! Anything that you can see that is beautiful is a gift. Blue… green… black… yellow… All these colors are amazing.

 

KW: Reverend Thompson also asks: What's the most important thing you've found in your mother's garden?

AW: Patience, because what gardening teaches us is that if you plant things, they’ll come up. But you have to be willing to wait for them to bear fruit because things are seasonal.  

 

KW: Finally, Rev Thompson asks: What advice might you offer young adolescent females searching for positive self-identity?

AW: Love yourself. Just love yourself. In fact, the love of the self cures every kind of problem you have with yourself. For instance, if someone calls you nappy-headed, it rolls right off your body, if you love nappy hair.

Or if someone calls you buck-toothed or too black, that won’t be a problem if you love being buck-toothed or black. If you love it, then so what. The development of self-love cures many of the ills that people suffer from.

 

KW: Thanks again Alice, it’s been a privilege.

AW: Thank you, Kam

To see at trailer for Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth, visit

Taboo

The “Jamesy Boy” Interview

with Kam Williams

The Taboo to Pursue!

Born in L.A. on July 14, 1975, Jimmy “Taboo” Gomez began dreaming about show business at an early age. The versatile fourple threat is a multilingual rapper, singer, dancer and emcee who got his big break in 1995 when approached by will.i.am to form the Black Eyed Peas.

Among the popular hip-hop group’s hits are the Grammy-winning “I Gotta Feeling,” “Let’s Get It Started,” “Boom Boom Pow” and “My Humps,” to name a few. Besides music, Taboo is also the designer of his own line of footwear, Taboo Deltah, and has added acting to his bag of tricks.

Here, he talks about his latest outing as Guillermo in Jamesy Boy, a fact-based tale of redemption co-starring Ving Rhames, James Woods and Spencer Lofranco. Although he wants to make more movies in the future, he is currently focused on his own solo album releasing later in the year, as well as on an upcoming tour with the Black Eyed Peas.

Kam Williams: Hi Taboo, thanks for another interview.

Taboo: Thank you.

KW: Like last time, I’ll be mixing in my questions, with some from my readers. How did you get interested you in acting?

T: Well, I had actually been taking acting classes prior to joining the Black Eyed Peas in ‘96. In fact, I originally thought it was going to be my introduction to the entertainment world, because Black Eyed Peas was more of a local, L.A. underground band. I kept up with the acting classes as a safety net, until we took off a couple of years later, after the release of our first album. Once we started touring, I had to put acting on hold, although I still wanted to act. Fast-forward to 2005, when I made my feature film debut playing a character named Ramirez in Dirty, with Cuba Gooding, Jr., Clifton Collins, Wyclef [Jean] and a couple other people. Then I did a movie called Cosmic Radio and, after that, one called Streetfighter. And now, Jamesy Boy.

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Shirley Sherrod

The “Martin Luther King Awards Dinner” Interview
with Kam Williams

           
Shirley Sherrod is best known as the African-American government official fired in 2010 by the Obama administration for allegedly making racist remarks about a white farmer. However, a right-wing blogger had edited a video of her remarks to create that false impression.

 

Shortly after being dismissed as the Georgia USDA State Director of Rural Development she was cleared by the administration, and President Obama apologized to her. Nevertheless, she decided to not return, opting instead to write a book her autobiography, “The Courage to Hope: How I Stood Up to the Politics of Fear.”

When Shirley was 17, her father was killed by a white man in Georgia but no charges were ever lodged. A cross was burned in their yard shortly thereafter. The death of her father fostered her lifelong commitment to fight for the civil rights of poor and minority farmers.

She is currently a leader of the Southwest Georgia Project, an organization she helped start years ago. The organization works primarily with female farmers, trying to get more women involved in agriculture, and also marketing vegetables to local school systems.

In 2011, under the leadership of Shirley and her husband, Charles, New Communities, an agricultural cooperative modeled after the Israeli Kibbutz concept, bought a large farm in Georgia. They are establishing an agricultural training center there, as well as a program bringing local blacks and whites together in partnership to promote racial healing.

 

In a famous quote from Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago notes that, "Who steals my purse, steals trash… But he that filches from me my good name… makes me poor indeed.” Here, Shirley talks about the tarnishing and restoration of her reputation, and also about delivering the keynote speech at the 26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Dinner in Glen Burnie, MD on Friday, January 17. [Tickets may be purchased by phone at 410-760-4115 or at www.mlkmd.org.]

 

 

Kam Williams: Hi Ms. Sherrod. I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.

Shirley Sherrod: Thank you, Kam.

 

KW: You’re delivering the keynote speech at the annual dinner in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. What did Dr. King mean to you?

SS: Well, Dr. King has long been my hero. I didn’t get to work with him much, but my husband did in the early years. Dr. King gave his life, really, to the struggle for everyone. And he believed in non-violence. That’s what I’ve tried to do in terms of my life and my work, following the teachings of God.

 

KW: In your biography, you talk about how your father was murdered by a white man when you were 17. How did that tragedy shape you?

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Benedict Cumberbatch
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” Interview
with Kam Williams

Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born in London on July 19, 1976 to a couple of accomplished actors in their own right, Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton. A chip off the old block, Benedict followed in his parents’ footsteps after studying theater at the University of Manchester and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

The versatile thespian’s impressive list of credits includes outings as Stephen Hawking in Hawking, as William Pitt in Amazing Grace, and as Vincent Van Gogh in Van Gogh: Painted with Words. He also appeared in Atonement, The Other Boleyn Girl, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the Hobbit and War Horse.

This year alone, he’s starred in The Fifth Estate, 12 Years a Slave, August: Osage County, Star Trek into Darkness and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. And on television, he reprised his title role in the PBS Masterpiece series Sherlock Holmes.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that busy Benedict was just named Artist of the Year by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. In addition, he was on the cover of Time Magazine in October and was ranked #1 by Empire Magazine on its 2013 list of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars.

Here, he talks about life, career and his latest film, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, where he does double-duty as the voice of both Smaug and the Necromancer.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Benedict, I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.

Benedict Cumberbatch: That’s alright, Kam. I appreciate your taking the time.

 

KW: I loved both of your performances in this film.

BC: Thank you.

 

KW: I told my readers I’d be interviewing you, so I’ll be mixing their questions in with my own.  

BC: Sure.

 

KW: Documentary filmmaker Kevin Williams says: Congratulations on being the "It" actor of 2013. How does it feel to be one of the hottest actors out there? 

BC: It’s fantastic! I’m very wary though, wanting to build a career based on longevity. My eyes on the prize is doing this for the next forty-odd years, I guess, judging by McKellen’s [Hobbit co-star Sir Ian McKellen] standards. He’s a man in his early seventies still giving extraordinary, sensational, entertaining, inventive and energized performances. So, I’m thrilled that it’s been such a great couple of years for me, but I’ve been working professionally for over a decade now. Yes, I’m trying to enjoy this moment, but at the same time, I’m sort of focused on my long-term goal of carving out a career that’s for life, rather than being a flash in the pan. And I think the projects I’ve been picking have given me a good grounding for that.

 

KW: No doubt!

BC: I know Kevin’s question is very benign. Honestly, it’s very satisfying, and I’m very, very happy about how successful the last few years have been. It‘s a lovely reward for the hard work and faith put into me very early in my career. It’s great for the people who supported me early on to see the success I’m enjoying now. It feels like there’s a lot of goodwill behind the support from them. This is an odd profession, and sometimes people get jealous, but I haven’t really experienced any of that. Everyone’s been really happy for me, which is really, really great.    

 

KW: Kate Newell says: I feel a lot of pressure to be freakishly astute, since you’re so brilliant, especially as Sherlock Holmes. Your characters are always the smartest person in the room. Would you ever take a part that's all about brawn?

BC: Hell yeah! I absolutely would, Kate. Over the summer, I did a short film called Little Favour which I think you can still find on iTunes. In it, I play a character called Wallace who’s smart but he’s not the smartest. He gets taken over by circumstances and there’s quite a bit of brawn going on in that. And there was both brawn and brain in Khan. [The character he played in Star Trek into Darkness] But, yeah, I love the idea of playing something stupid or romantic. I’m not the smartest man in the room. I listen, and I learn, and I observe, but I’m always playing characters with intellects profoundly superior to mine. That’s great fun, even though it’s as much a fantasy for me as for the people watching me. [Chuckles] Sherlock’s extraordinarily intelligent; I’m lazy and ignorant by comparison. I like mixing it up, and I’d love to do some more brawn, so I’m all up for that, Kate.

 

KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls was wondering whether you like the “motion capture” style of acting you employed in The Hobbit? Does playing Smaug and the Necromancer give you more freedom and artistic license, or less?

BC: It’s really thrilling! We started both characterizations with motion capture physical work in the theater space they call the volume, where all your motions are picked up on these sensors from the reflectors on this weird, rather embarrassing gray jumpsuit you wear. I loved it! The first time I stepped off the volume I felt like a complete knob. Everyone fussed over me, offering me coffee or juice. They treated me like a colleague who’d just arrived at the office, ignoring the fact that I was wearing a gray onesy with dots on it, had my face painted like an aborigine, and had a headset on with a camera in front of my eyes. Once I got over feeling so self-conscious, thanks to their treating me normally, I had so much fun. I felt like a kid. It’s really freeing. You have no marks to worry about, and very few technical restrictions, especially for something that’s so bound in technology. You don’t have to worry about your hair, makeup, continuity, or even other actors. There’s no one you’re affecting other than your own performance. If you get a line wrong, you go straight back and start again. So, you really can use your imagination and do whatever you want. It’s really kind of like playing, and being a kid again. It’s wonderful! And they gave me this great tool in the final session, a device which lowers your voice by a couple of octaves, which means you can color it, tone it, and pitch it with more detail. That was great fun to play with.

 

KW: How familiar were you with The Hobbit before signing on to do the trilogy?

BC: My dad read it to me originally when I was young. So, it was the first imaginary landscape I ever had in my head from the written word. It gave me a passion for reading, thanks to my dad’s performance of the book. My memory of his performance was a jumping off point for my portrayals. Even the cerebral characters I play seem to have physical quirks. They’re all “physically inhabited,” for lack off a better expression. For instance, Sherlock Holmes has very particular physical gestures which are drawn out in such detail. Conan Doyle [Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle] is amazing in the way he has Watson describe Sherlock’s posture, mood swings, his hand gestures, and so forth in the novels.  

 

KW: Who would have ever guessed that someone was going to come along and eclipse Basil Rathbone in the role?

BC: Oh, thanks, but I wouldn’t go that far. I don’t think anyone’s going to eclipse Basil or Jeremy Brett, for that matter. I get away with it because it’s a modern era version. I think the criticism might be harder, if we were set in the Victorian era. What I think is beautiful about ours is that it’s done with such love and reverence for the original stories. So, it’s new, but like an old friend at the same time.  

 

KW: True. I was very impressed with how richly you developed your role as Stephen Hawking, despite his being confined to a wheelchair and having very limited mobility.

BC: Thanks. That was a very physical performance, about a man besieged by neuromuscular disease in his early twenties. Even in cerebral roles that are seemingly intelligent and nothing else, I think it’s so important to wrap your characterization in a physical form as well.

 

KW: Kevin also says: You were outstanding playing Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate and really brought him to life for the audience. 

BC: I really appreciate the compliment, Kevin.

 

KW: How did you prepare to play a person who is very much alive and in the public eye?

BC: It was tricky. There’s a huge amount of footage of Julian online, but he’s usually in presentation or defending mode, talking about his cause, or the revelations which Wikileaks have brought about. There’s none of Assange relaxing or in private mode. There’s none of the personality I tried to give him behind closed doors. That made it very hard. And obviously he didn’t want me to have access to him in preparing for the role, because he felt the film was going to be damaging to his cause. I think it’s been anything but, but there you go. So, I had to imagine myself into certain aspects of his character for our version of events. That involved extrapolating based on clues in his biography, his public persona, photographs, and other accounts of him by people who encountered him during that extraordinary period from 2007 to 2010 that we charted in the film. So, it involved a lot of research but, sadly, no contact with the man himself.      

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: I thought you were great in The Fifth Estate. What is your assessment of Julian Assange?

BC: That would be difficult for me, because I genuinely don’t know him well. To authenticate an opinion, I really would have to meet him. I know that might sound perverse because I played him but, honestly, I don’t think it would be fair for me to judge the man. I realize that makes me a bit of a hypocrite because I was portraying him a certain way, but we were always open to the fact that this was an interpretation, not any kind of exact evidence of who the man was. So, my assessment of him is a professional one, really, of what he’s managed to achieve, and the idea that he came up with, which set the world alight and continues to inspire others like Snowden [NSA leaker Edward Snowden], about the secret goings-on that are done in our name with our tax dollars on behalf of big business or politics. He launched the revolutionary idea that citizens can start to claim back a paradigm for questioning power structures and those in authority through an anonymous, whistle-blowing website. That’s a very powerful social tool. He came up with the idea. He came up with the algorithms to protect sources. It’s begun a fascinating revolution in how we deal with data and revelations and structures. From that point of view, he has my utmost admiration, even though I’m yet to meet the guy. I understand from those who adore him, he has a great sense of humor which rarely gets an airing because he’s dealing with such serious issues. I know he’s a man of fierce determination, and now living under the strain of house arrest in the Ecuadorean embassy as a “political exile,” as he calls himself. I’d love to meet Julian, and time permitting, and his will permitting, I’m sure it will happen at some point. Even though he’s been very critical of the film, he’s been very polite about me and my work, and I feel the same way about him. I am also full of admiration for Chelsea Manning [formerly PFC Bradley Manning]. Regardless of which side of the argument you’re on, he stood up for something he felt wasn’t right. That was an extraordinarily brave thing to do, and I think he was unfairly punished for it. It’s a really big deal what he did, and he did it for the betterment of all us, including the soldiers on the ground, as well as the civilians caught up in those conflicts.

 

KW: Patricia also says: I enjoyed your work in 12 Years a Slave. What does Solomon Northup’s story mean to you?

BC: It means a great deal to me, because even though it’s from an earlier time, let’s face it; it’s not about a very distant past. There are still huge inequalities. There’s still nearly the same amount of slavery, if not more, in the world today, as there was at the height of the slave trade. As for Solomon, a free man with a family who was dragged away from his domestic environment and had his freedom taken away from him, that terrifying story of his barbaric treatment is a universal one which is a warning to all of us. The story serves as a metaphor for the fear of having your family taken away, and for being abused in such a horrific way. I lost it a lot of times watching that film, particularly when seeing the grace of the man when he finally makes it back home aged, changed, forever brutalized, and yet he apologizes to his family for his long absence. That was such a profoundly moving moment capturing the triumph of dignity over the disgraceful behavior of those involved in the slave trade.    

 

KW: Patricia would like to know what movie projects your company, SunnyMarch, has in the works.

BC: Well, Patricia, we’re very busy at the moment, but we’re working on it. We’re sort of amalgamating material and options right now. I’m very excited about all the offers and interest and support pouring in through crowd-funding, and about having a lovely gap coming up when I’ll finally be able to sit down with books and scripts and talk to my partners about how we take the company forward. That’s a long winded way of saying, we don’t know yet, but we’re working on it. You’ll know about it, when it happens. We’d like to go in a lot of different directions.  

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

BC: That’s a good question, Harriet. Boy, something with Bogie in it! I’d love to do a noir. The Big Sleep. Or Casblanca! Why not? You can’t remake Casablanca. Maybe The Great Escape. I think Steve McQueen is so cool. But a classic film is a classic film, and perhaps the fantasy of being those characters should be left alone. You’re treading on very thin ice.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

BC: The middle of the series of five Patrick Melrose novels by Edward St. Aubyn.

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

BC: A really lovely, super fruit and chicken salad.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

BC: The same person I saw the last time I looked, only a lit bit older, and a little bit wiser, too, hopefully.

 

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

BC: I have to say Spencer Hart, because they’ve been so supportive of me. They’ve got a Rat Pack, Old World, sort of Hollywood glamour about them but with an English twist. You just can’t get smarter than a Spencer Hart suit in London. Having said that, I’ve very much enjoyed the Alexander MacQueen which I’ve worn in the past, and Dolce & Gabbana which I wore last night. They’re better known. I think if I’m going to give a shout out to anyone, I think it should be to Spencer Hart.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

BC: Falling off a swing and cracking my head at about 4 or 5 in my grands’ [grandparents’] garden in Brighton. I can recall seeing the horizon tip, and then feeling this thudding pain in the back of my head. Wait, I have even earlier memories of clouds whisking by while sitting in the pushchair on the roof of my parents’ flat. I loved it! I just loved staring at the clouds and dreaming away. 

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Benedict, and best of luck with all your endeavors.

BC: Bless you, Kam. Bye now.

To see a trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, visit

Kasi Lemmons
The “Black Nativity” Interview
with Kam Williams

A proven talent as an actress, writer and director, Kasi Lemmons continues to tantalize creatively with her thought provoking body of work. Her work as an actress includes roles in Silence of the Lambs opposite Jodie Foster, and Spike Lee’s School Daze, as well as Hard Target, Fear of a Black Hat, Candyman and Vampire’s Kiss.

Kasi’s magical directorial debut, Eve’s Bayou, was the highest-grossing independent film of 1997. The film won the Independent Spirit Award for ‘Best First Feature’ and received seven NAACP Image Award nominations, including Best Picture.

Her sophomore offering, The Caveman’s Valentine, opened the 2002 Sundance Film Festival to audience and critical acclaim. And, in 2008, she received an NAACP Image Award for directing Talk to Me.

Her guest teaching and speaking credits include Yale University, MIT, UCLA, USC, the Los Angeles Film School and the University of Pristina Film School in Kosovo. Currently, Kasi is an associate arts professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Here, she talks about her adaptation of the Langston Hughes musical Black Nativity, which stars Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Tyrese, and her husband, Vondie Curtis-Hall.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Kasi, thanks for the interview.

Kasi Lemmons: No problem.

 

KW: What a powerful film! I don’t remember ever seeing a musical that had the audience weeping after the first song.

KL: Yeah, well, that’s Jennifer Hudson. She’s incredible.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How daunting a task is it to adapt a Langston Hughes stage classic to the screen?

KL: It was very daunting. One of my foolish qualities is to jump boldly, and then think about it later. It was daunting, but I also felt honored, and took the opportunity very seriously. I wanted to pay homage to someone who was such an important literary figure in my life. I think Langston Hughes would be proud of the picture, yet it’s a contemporary story about a family living in Harlem. I named the lead character Langston, put a little bit of poetry in there, and some Langston Hughes quotes, and, of course, his stage play, Black Nativity.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: Some directors make faithful adaptations; others feel free to take license with the source material. Which approach did you employ here?

KL: Black Nativity certainly lends itself to reinterpretation. It was kind of designed to be infused with the creativity of whoever is putting it on, and every performance is a little bit different. So, this is definitely my version of Black Nativity. It has its own story, which is a family story. Hughes’ Black Nativity informs it, and is contained within it.

 

KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks: What did it take to contemporize Langston Hughes Black Nativity?

KL: Just imagination. In my case, I decided to make it a contemporary story very relevant to today’s audience. 

 

KW: Rel Dowdell says: The film is very poignant.  Were there any emotional
moments on set where tears just flowed after you yelled, "Cut!"

KL: Yeah, quite a few actually, especially when it had to do with the music and people were singing, and also the big scene at the end. We were all crying. Absolutely!

 

KW: Two of your cast members, your husband, Vondie, and Forest Whitaker arealso directors. Did that ever pose a problem on the set?

KL: No, they both came as actors, and were very able to the actor-director process. They came to play, and that’s what we did. However, I did occasionally ask each of them for their advice as fellow filmmakers, because their opinions mattered to me. 

 

KW: I was very impressed with how moving the songs were and how their lyrics enhanced the storyline.  

KL: Yeah, the songs are very much a part of the story, and not separate

 

KW: In a movie with so many stars, I was surprised that you took a big chance by casting an unknown, Jacob Latimore, in such a pivotal role. How did you come to cast him as Langston?

KL: I knew that there was a good chance that I would end up with a newcomer in that role. I love working with young artists. Jacob was the first kid that I auditioned. After he walked out, I turned to my husband and said, “I think that’s the kid. I don’t know if I have to look any further. He’s the one!” He’s a real star.

 

KW: You live in Harlem and, so I’m sure you’re aware that it has been undergoing a lot of change lately. Why did you set the film there? 

KL: It is gentrifying very fast, and I feel proud to have photographed it where it is right now. I’m interested in the history of Harlem and in modern Harlem. It’s a very interesting place.

 

KW: Did you encounter any racism growing up in Newton, a suburb of Boston? I always ask that of any black person who’s lived in Boston, because it was the most racist city I’ve ever lived in, shockingly so.

KL: Oh, sure, I encountered it when I was growing up, and it has kind of made me who I am, although I came to love Boston. It’s a complicated city. Some of the smartest people in the world are in Boston. How many institutions of higher learning are in that one area? It’s a pool of intelligence. It’s a great town. You can encounter racism anywhere. I have a lot of nostalgic feelings about Boston. It was a cool place to grow up. 

 

KW: What message do you think people will take away from?

KL: I think the movie has a very clear message. It’s about a family in crisis facing some of the very familiar struggles we face in our communities. It’s really about love, redemption, forgiveness, faith and family, the things that have gotten us through so many hard times, and that continue to get us through them. When times are hard, we need each other. That’s what the movie’s about. And I you’ll leave the theater inspired and ready to enjoy your family.     

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

KL: I see Kasi. [Chuckles] I don’t over-think my existence. I see me. I’m a very imperfect person, like most of us are. I’m also a very busy person. I have a family. I have a career. I’m a professor at NYU. I have a full life for which I feel grateful every day. 

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

KL: Standing on the back porch of my home in St. Louis watching the petals fall from a rosebush at about the age of 2.

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

KL: Gumbo. I make a really mean gumbo around the holiday season. I have it down pretty good now.

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

KL: Reading a novel with a glass of wine. I love to read voraciously. I always have. And I love to lose myself in a good book.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

KL: I’m reading a lot of books at once. Some of the books lying around my bed right now are a biography of Bob Marley, “The Keep” by Jennifer Egan, “The History of Love,” “The Black Count,” and “Miss Ann in Harlem.” It’s a wonderful book about the white women of the Harlem Renaissance.

 

KW: Are you going to bless us with your next film sooner?

KL: I would like to. Honestly, I do spend most of my time between films trying to get the next one made.

 

KW: Do you think the fact that this has been a banner year for black films will make it easier for African-American directors to find funding?

KL: Yes, because the films are performing, and Hollywood is all about the money.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

KL: That my family would be happy, and safe and well.

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

KL: I haven’t written a novel. [Chuckles] I am overdue for that. I’ve been wanting to write one for a very long time.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

KL: I’d probably be a musician.

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

KL: I like Kanye, Jay-Z, R&B, classical, jazz and all kinds of music, but I’d say soulful World Music is my favorite.

 

KW: Harriet also asks: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to do?

KL: If I like a film, I usually appreciate the way it was made the first time. But my cousin would very much like me to redo The Wiz one day.

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

KL: Perseverance is what I tell my students. It’s important that you keep your dream alive, because you’re going to encounter a lot of obstacles, and no one is going to dream big for you. You have to have the fortitude and the resilience to stick with your own dreams. That can be hard.

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

KL: As someone who tried to be great. I don’t know if one ever gets to greatness, but I’ve put in a good effort, and will continue to do so. 

 

KW: Well, you’ve achieved greatness in my book, Kasi, and best of luck with the film.

KL: Thanks, Kam.

To see a trailer for Black Nativity, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfhupIQ1JnE

Naomie Harris
The “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” Interview
with Kam Williams

As a critically acclaimed actress in film, television, and theatre, Naomie Harris is making more of a name for herself with each of her successive, luminous performances. Last year, she starred as Bond girl ‘Eve’ opposite Daniel Craig in the 007 feature Skyfall.

She also appeared in Danny Boyle's production of Frankenstein at The National Theater in London alongside Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch. In the The First Grader, she played 'Jane,' a first-grade teacher in Kenya who fought for the right of an 84 year-old man to be educated, even if it meant learning in a classroom with six-year-olds.

The London-born actress enjoyed her first major breakthrough performance in 2002 in Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later, and she went on to receive further critical acclaim for her role as 'Tia Dalma' in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Her other major film credits include Miami Vice, Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story; Street Kings; and Sex & Drugs & Rock and Roll.

After earning a degree in social and political science with honors from Cambridge University, Naomie trained at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Here, she talks about her latest outing as ‘Winnie Mandela’ opposite Idris Elba in Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom.

Kam Williams: Hi Naomie, I’m honored to have another opportunity to speak with you.

Naomie Harris: Oh, no, my pleasure, Kam. 

 

KW: What interested you in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom?

NH: I’d made a film produced by Anant Singh and David Thompson and directed by Justin Chadwick called The First Grader. And while promoting that movie in Toronto, they asked me whether I wanted to do Mandela. I said, “Yeah!” because I really wanted to work with the same team again and also because I wanted to be part of a film honoring Nelson Mandela’s life.    

 

KW: What did you know about Winnie Mandela when you accepted the role?

NH: I actually had no idea who Winnie Mandela was. Obviously, I knew she was Nelson Mandela’s wife, but I thought the role was basically going to revolve around her supporting him. I had no idea that she was a political activist in her own right, and that she was integral to the anti-Apartheid movement.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: What did it mean to you to portray Winnie Mandela and what is your vision of her?

NH: Since, as I said, I was unfamiliar with Winnie Mandela, for me, this project was really more about a celebration of Nelson Mandela. And he, for me, represents this incredible iconic figure. But in terms of who I discovered Winnie to be once I did all my research, which was pretty intense and fairly in depth, I found her to be the most complex character I’ve ever played. She’s almost seven different characters in one. She’s done some controversial things that are very difficult to justify. She’s also a woman of immense compassion. And she’s a person of the people. In South Africa, she’s known as Mother Africa, and is loved and admired by many for having helped hundreds of thousands of people. So, she’s complex, and very hard to define in a brief space of time.    

 

KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks: What kind of research did you do in creating the role?

NH: I read Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom,” I watched documentaries about the Apartheid era, I interviewed people who knew Winnie, I read biographies about her, and even got to sit down with her and ask her questions about her life.

 

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: Did you spend any time with Winnie’s daughters Zenani and Zindzi Mandela in preparation for the film?

NH: Yes, I had an opportunity to go out to dinner with both Zenani and Zindzi.

 

KW: Obama biographer Dinesh Sharma asks: Did you actually shoot on location in the prisons in Joburg, Robben Island and Pretoria?

NH: No, we had an extraordinary set designer. When you watch the movie, it looks like we shot on Robben Island and those other places. But it was all replicated in studio. However, we did shoot in South Africa, in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and in the actual courthouse where the trial took place. So, there are some historical moments which were filmed on location in the same places where they originally happened.    

 

KW: Kate Newell asks: What was the most surprising thing you learned about Winnie that you didn't know going into the film?

NH: Learning how integral she was to the anti-Apartheid movement, and that Nelson Mandela might not have become the Nelson Mandela we know today without her. Also, learning about the contributions of so many women who sacrificed their lives was very educational for me.

 

KW: Patricia also asks: What do you want audiences to remember most about the movie?

NH: I hope that they remember this extraordinary period in history that should never, ever be repeated. And I hope that they take away from the film that freedom was hard won. I want people to remember to cherish their freedom. In terms of Winnie, it’s not my place to judge her and some of the actions that she’s taken. What I wanted to do was show with as much compassion as possible a comprehensive and detailed portrayal of how she started out in life, why she made the choices she made, and who she ultimately became. I hope to bring some understanding to the woman.  

 

KW: Kevin Williams asks: Did you have any reservations about playing Winnie? Many actresses might have declined the role given her tarnished image. 

NH: No, it’s not like I always want to play saints. The sinners are actually much more interesting to play, because they’re more complex. And as an actor, that’s what you’re always looking for, complexity and layers.  

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

NH: Wow! If I could sing, I would do the remake of West Side Story or The Sound of Music, because I’m obsessed with musicals. But unfortunately, I can’t sing or dance, so I don’t see that happening anytime soon. [Chuckles] 

 

KW: Harriet also asks: Was it a blessing or a bane to be cast as a Bond girl?

NH: Definitely a blessing. Definitely! I’m very proud of my role as Eve, and really enjoyed the experience. And it’s been a great boost for my career. So, 100% a blessing.

 

KW: Rel Dowdell asks: Do you find that opportunities are opening up in Hollywood for actors and actresses of color from outside of America?

NH: Yeah, I find that America has always embraced international talent. That’s why so many people from all around the world have come to Hollywood to make films. It’s a big melting pot, and I’m very grateful for that. If I’d stayed in England, I doubt if I’d enjoyed the kind of career that I’ve had. 

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

Last time we spoke, you were reading, “How to Leave Twitter.”

NH: I recently began reading the Steve Jobs biography, but I haven’t finished it. It’s still sitting by my bedside.

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

NH: Now that’s interesting! I just got off a plane, and on the flight I watched 20 Feet from Stardom which featured a fantastic collection of songs from the Sixties and Seventies. 

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

NH: That’s really interesting as well. A challenge. Playing a completely different role, something that makes me almost feel scared. That’s exciting for me. 

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

NH: Saying “Yes” to doing 28 Days Later, although there’s no way I would have ever turned it down. That role, for me, was really the catalyst for everything.

 

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend the time? 

NH: Nothing dramatic, eating with my family and my closest friends because that is my favorite thing to do.

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

NH: I never ever thought about becoming famous. I just wanted to become an actress and make great movies and to play roles that challenged me. So, I never made that sort of commitment to myself.

 

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question:How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?

NH: My first big heartbreak? Gosh, I only dated him for about three weeks and ended up being heartbroken for a year. It was awful! That taught me that the heart is quite fragile, and to look after and cherish it, and to not give it to just anybody.

 

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?

NH: At home, I like comfy clothes, so I ‘m pretty casual in the way that I dress. But on the red carpet, I like to glam it up and really push the boundaries in terms of fashion.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

NH: [Whispers] Wow! That’s really interesting. Any superpower? That would be amazing. [In normal voice] I would like to have the power to heal the sick.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

NH: I’d definitely be a novelist. I like the idea of creating an imaginary world with imaginary characters, which is somewhat similar to what I do as an actress. 

 

KW: The Pastor Alex Kendrick question: What do you wish other people would note about you?

NH: Nothing. I like the idea of being mysterious and people not knowing too much about me. I think it’s nicer if they focus on the characters I play as opposed to on me as a person.

 

KW: Pastor Alex also asks: What motivates you at this stage of your career?

NH: Playing inspirational characters who really have a voice and something meaningful to say.

 

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

NH: I’m always afraid! There’s a great book called, “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway,” which is how I feel is the best way to live. We all feel afraid of so many things, but when you do them, you realize they’re a lot less scary than you thought. 

 

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

NH: Happiness isn’t a constant state. One has moments of happiness throughout the day, but we’re meant to experience anger, joy, sadness, pain, excitement, a full range of emotions. 

 

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

NH: I have a good laugh everyday. And just before this interview, I was laughing while dancing to imaginary music.

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

NH: Dark chocolate. I know sugar isn’t good for you, but every now and then I succumb and have a bit.

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

NH: As somebody who lived life to the fullest.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Naomie, and congratulations on your tremendous performance, one not to be forgotten during the upcoming awards season.

NH: I really appreciate that, Kam. Nice to speak to you again. Take care.  

 

To see a trailer for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, visit

Ann Coulter
The “Never Trust a Liberal over 3” Interview

 

If You Like Ann Coulter, You Can Keep Ann Coulter, Period!

Ann Coulter is the author of nine New York Times bestsellers — Demonic: How the Liberal Mob is Endangering America (June 2011); Guilty: Liberal “Victims” and Their Assault on America (January 2009); If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans (October, 2007); Godless: The Church of Liberalism (June 2006); How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must) (October, 2004); Treason: Liberal Treachery From the Cold War to the War on Terrorism (June 2003); Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right (June 2002); and High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton (August 1998).

She is also the legal affairs correspondent for Human Events and writes a popular syndicated column for Universal Press Syndicate. She has both been a frequent guest on such TV programs as The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Hannity, The O’Reilly Factor, The Glenn Beck Show and HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, and been profiled in publications like TV Guide, the Guardian (UK), the New York Observer, National Journal, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle magazine.

She was the April 25, 2005 cover story of Time magazine and in 2001 was named one of the Top 100 Public Intellectuals by federal judge Richard Posner. A Connecticut native, Coulter graduated with honors from Cornell University School of Arts & Sciences and received her J.D. from University of Michigan Law School, where she was an editor of the Michigan Law Review.

Ms. Coulter clerked for the Honorable Pasco Bowman II of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and was an attorney in the Department of Justice Honors Program for outstanding law school graduates. After practicing law in private practice in New York City, she worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she handled crime and immigration issues for Senator Spencer Abraham of Michigan. From there, she became a litigator with the Center for Individual Rights in Washington, D.C., a public interest law firm dedicated to the defense of individual rights with particular emphasis on freedom of speech, civil rights, and the free exercise of religion.

Here, she talks about her new book, Never Trust a Liberal over 3.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Ann, thanks for another opportunity to interview with you. Guess I made that short list of reporters you’re willing to give a second shot.

Ann Coulter: Thanks for having me, Kam!

 

KW: What inspired you to write Never Trust a Liberal over 3?

AC: Two things: First, I wanted to write a fun book, not exclusively about politics, to lure conservatives back into the arena. Second, you win an argument with liberals, they wait a week and then go right back to saying the same thing. Instead of writing the same columns over and over again, I thought I’d just include a bunch of my favorites over the last decade, proving, for example:

The August 6 PDB [Presidential Daily Briefing], titled “Bin Laden Determined to Attack!” was as informative as a memo titled “Waitress Determined to Succeed in Hollywood!” If Bush had followed every lead in that memo, there would have been bomb-sniffing dogs outside the federal courthouse on 9/11.

Valerie Plame was not an undercover agent and her husband, Joe Wilson, was a boob.

Waterboarding as practiced in Guantanamo was never considered a “war crime.” MSNBC commentators who said so were apparently reading “Little Women” rather than military histories as children.

 Amanda Knox was guilty.

 Troy Davis was guilty.

 Liberals tell amazing lies about guns and everything else.

 

KW: Besides liberals, whom you refer to as “porn surfers,” “liars” and “welfare suppliers,” you make incendiary remarks about everything from Muslims to illegal aliens to gays to African-Americans. You really know how to burn a bridge.

 

AC: That was just to rhyme!  (But thank you!) I don’t think I have an unkind word for any of them. Oh wait, except Muslims. I’ve been cross with them since 9/11 2001. I can't remember why but it was something bad.

 

KW: What do you think about the Obamacare roll-out?

AC:  The roll-out has gone much better than I ever dreamed it would. Six people in America signed up on day one? Beat that, free market capitalism!

 

KW: What do you think of program itself? Have you read the whole law?

AC: I’ve read more of it than Nancy Pelosi has. It’s a disaster. Harvard graduates just cannot shake the idea that they know better than everyone else what’s best for us and that they’re capable of running a mammoth, unwieldy government program providing each one of us with the precise health insurance we need, at a good price, with no waste or fraud. Trust them, they worked it all out on paper their junior year.

 

KW: Do you think it’s important that the President promised, “If you like your health insurance, you can keep your insurance,” or is it no different from President Bush saying, “Read my lips: no new taxes,” and then reneging on that guarantee after getting elected. 

 

AC:  Big difference! Bush was making a promise about future behavior, Obama knew what he was saying was a lie when he said it, but he had to say it or the law wouldn’t have passed, even on a strict party-line vote, without both houses of Congress ever voting on the same bill. The Obamacare bill was written. The mandates for all insurance to cover whatever HHS Secretary/gender-feminist Kathleen Sebelius considered important was in that bill. Other insurance plans were made illegal in the bill Obama was touting at the very moment he was claiming it would allow you to keep insurance you liked. But he had to lie in order to get the bill passed. By contrast, Bush made a promise about his future behavior and then broke it. For that to be the same as what Obama did, Bush would have had to campaigned for a specific bill that raised taxes by assuring Americans the bill would not raise taxes.

 

KW: I told my readers I’d be interviewing again, and a lot of them sent in questions.

AC:  Excellent!

 

KW: Documentary filmmaker Kevin Williams asks: Why do you think so many liberals, even outside of New York City and Los Angeles are so unaware of their own bias, if not prejudice, against conservatives and in particular female and black conservatives?

AC:  They’re in the liberal cocoon. Liberals could live their whole lives never having to hear an actual conservative opinion other than the idiotic arguments written for conservative characters on Aaron Sorkin’s little teleplays. As I wrote in my book, Slander, conservatives couldn’t block out liberal opinion if they wanted to, short of going into a coma, in which case they’re not going to be much help fighting Democrats. We’re bombarded with liberal propaganda 24/7, from the early morning shows, Hollywood movies, documentaries and sitcoms, all major newspapers, fashion magazines, the sports pages, public schools, college professors and administrators, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.  Unless liberals specifically seek out Ann Coulter books and columns, which I highly recommend, or tune into Fox News or conservative talk radio, they have no idea what conservatives are thinking. As the saying goes, a fish doesn’t know what water is. Speaking of the sports pages, I have a solution to the furor over the “Washington Redskins” name!  They should rename themselves the “Maryland Redskins.” I’m a problem-solver, and you’re welcome.

 

KW: Yale grad Tommy Russell asks: Do you think liberals and conservatives fit so neatly into the prescribed categories you and other conservative pundits assign to them?

AC: What do you mean by “liberals” and “conservatives”?  I believe you are assigning them to precise categories! I’ll explain why you do that.  It’s impossible to talk without labels. “Dog” is a label, but that doesn’t mean it’s meaningless, nor does it mean there’s no difference in a Shih Tzu and a Doberman.

 

KW: Tommy also asks: Do you think the Republican Party is in the midst of a meltdown and permanent recession of significance in national politics now that Tea Party candidates are as energized as ever to push their radical agenda forward after the failed budget standoff and to push out the remaining moderately conservative members of Congress; and core libertarian values of freedom of choice, that could apply to such issues as the legalization of pot, clash with party identity politics and therefore are not supported at large and are visible contradictions for voters who might support a more harmonious party platform?

AC:  I discuss this in my new book – it’s not exactly the “Tea Party” per se, but again that is a useful label and I get your point. I speak at a lot of Tea Parties, know a lot of them, and I think I am one. The vast majority of Tea Partiers want to win. We didn’t ask our candidates to mull about rape and abortion on the campaign trail. We want them talking about repealing Obamacare, protecting our second amendment rights and locking up the rapists, not giving them the vote, as Democrats would like to do. But there is an element on the right often mistaken for Tea Partiers, whom I would describe more as dilettantes for whom politics is a matter of acquiring a sense of belonging -- usually a liberal trait. They choose candidates not based on who is the best candidate for the race, but to, say, announce to the world something about themselves: “I am pure! I will not compromise my principles and vote for a pale pastel Republican!” That’s great, a Democrat won because you wouldn’t vote unless Christine O’Donnell was on the ballot. Of course, they’re not the only ones causing problems for the GOP. As I also describe in the book, we have the greedy consultants and ego-driven candidates who run for office just to get a TV show or increase their speaking fees. And we have the “establishment Republicans”-- again, an imperfect label -- pushing widely unpopular ideas on our candidates, such as amnesty.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How does naming, blaming and shaming clear the air for a dialogue that leads to reconciliation, so government can work again as the people who elected their representatives can rightly expect?

AC:  I love that Harriet Pakula-Teweles has asked me a question about naming. Naturally, I do none of these things. I cut through the nonsense with the blinding light of truth. But you do make an important point that I think a lot of people don’t understand. What I and other commentators do is attempt to move the public opinion. We try to change minds. That is absolutely NOT what a candidate is supposed to do.  Leave the jaw-dropping statements to us. Take gun laws. I suspect it would have been madness for a Republican candidate to have supported concealed carry permits in, say, 1990. The public hadn’t been persuaded yet. After John Lott’s important book, More Guns, Less Crime, came out, public opinion changed dramatically. Now a majority of people support concealed carry laws. Public intellectuals move opinion, public officials try to reflect it.

 

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: Should women have suffrage in Presidential elections?

AC: Would that they did not!  Sadly, Larry, that ship has sailed. The most we can hope for is strong marriages. Married women vote Republican; single women vote Democratic. That’s why liberals promote policies to break up families. Every social malady is a victory for the left. A couple gets divorced and liberals say, “Yay! Another Democratic voter!” A child is born out of wedlock and liberals say, “Yay! Another Democratic voter!” A person gets addicted to drugs and liberals say, “Yay! Another Democratic voter!”

 

KW: Kate Newell says: I wonder what created your initial distrust of liberals? I think we are mostly quite nice, intelligent people!

AC:  I’m sure you are Kate, but in kindergarten a liberal told me I was “greedy” for wanting to keep my own lunch, stole it from me and then promised I could keep my lunch box if I liked it -- period! -- but stole that too, and then she enlisted half the class to steal money from the other half, by assuring them lifetime jobs and cushy pensions. By the way, most people in the Tea Party are nice, but that hasn’t stopped liberals from hating them.

 

KW: Jeff Cohen asks: Is it really necessary to capitalize on the over the top villainizing of liberals? Doesn't that kind of behavior harm constructive dialogue

AC: Au contraire! It is the very essence of constructive dialogue!

 

KW: Keith Kremer says: With the government fractured among Democrats, moderate Republicans and the Tea Party, it appears that compromise is a foreign concept and there is little hope that anything will get done. With that said, aren’t you part of the problem with your hard line stances and abhorrence of the other side?

AC: No.  I am the solution.

 

KW: Keith’s also wondering: Who’s the last Democrat for which you’ve cast your vote?

AC: In a high school mock election, I voted for Joe Lieberman for Senate from Connecticut.

 

KW: Gil Cretney asks: Do you really believe the hate message you make your living delivering?

AC: Be honest, do you really believe that question?

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman says: I see you've maintained your license to practice law in New York and that your registration is due to be renewed this year. Do you ever find yourself scrambling to maintain the number of required CLE credits due to your heavy book tour, speaking engagements and the like?  

AC: No.

 

KW: Bernadette has a follow-up: Would you recommend that young women go to law school today, given the economy and the practice of law in general and the current lack of advancement opportunities for women?

AC: Noooooooooooooo! We have way too many lawyers, the price for them has plummeted and you will have a miserable and unsatisfying life. Unless you get into Harvard Law. You could be in a yurt on the Mongolian Plateau and they’ll say, “Oh you must be smart. You went to Harvard Law.”

 

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

AC: Not at the moment -- this interview is taking way too long. [Chuckles]

 

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

AC: After hearing Gil’s question about “Do you really believe it?”

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

AC: Watching Rachel Maddow smirkingly launch one of her soon-to-be-disproved-conspiracy theories, for example, the census worker in Kentucky who was killed by an anti-government nut -- it was suicide; the Minnesota bridge collapsed because of Republican budget cuts -- it was structural problems having nothing to do with maintenance; gun rights supporters were holding a rally to celebrate Timothy McVeigh -- which also happened to be the anniversary of the Battle of Concord and Lexington; and so forth.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

AC: Last week: Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Charles Dickens’s The Boardinghouse, a real snooze. This week, in anticipation of the de Blasio mayoralty, I just started re-reading Tom Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities.  Before the book tour began, I was half-way through Fuller Torrey’s new book, American Psychosis: How the Federal Government Destroyed the Mental Illness Treatment System, which is fantastic. For decades now, Torrey has been warning America what would happen if the dangerously mentally ill were deinstitutionalized, and it’s all come true.  Today, the only place we can put mental patients is on MSNBC.

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

AC: I can't remember the name of the song but it was from Michelle Obama's rap CD about getting in shape and eating right. [Chuckles] 

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

AC: Mango colada. No, vodka tonic. Wait, make that a Martini.

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

AC:  The prospect of finishing this interview. [Laughs]

 

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

AC: Herve Leger.

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

AC: Agreeing to this interview. It’s been a life-changing experience. [Chuckles]

 

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend the time? 

AC: Waiting in line for my Obamacare doctor. [Laughs]

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

AC:  A beagle because then I could live in a classic six on Park Ave just for being cute.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

AC:  Nixon’s wage and price controls. I exclaimed to my entire kindergarten class: HE DID WHAT? 

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

AC: I never wanted to be famous and the only part I like is that it means people are reading my books and listening to me on TV and radio.  Also, I’ve met some nice people I otherwise might not have.  Other than that, I’d rather not be.

 

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question:How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?

AC: I’ll let you know.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

AC:  The USA.

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 

AC: A servant problem.  [LOL]  My real answer is hard work.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

AC:  Professional baseball player.  

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

AC:  Don’t try to imitate anyone. The next William F. Buckley wasn’t a bow-tied Yalie from Greenwich, Connecticut, it was Rush Limbaugh. The next Rush Limbaugh wasn’t a pioneering talk radio host from the heartland, it was Matt Drudge. The next Matt Drudge won’t be a brilliant Internet scourge, it will be… who knows?  

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

AC: For my books.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Ann, and best of luck with the book.

AC: Thank you, Kam.

 

To purchase a copy of Never Trust a Liberal Over 3, visit

Jeremy Lin
The “Linsanity” Interview
with Kam Williams

Oh, the Linsanity!

Jeremy Lin was born in Los Angeles, California on August 23, 1988 to Taiwanese immigrant parents. Encouraged by his father, he developed a love of basketball at an early age.

Raised in a Christian family, Jeremy’s faith guided and supported him as he chased his hoop dream of playing basketball in the NBA. Known for his relentless work off court and on, the young phenom led his Palo Alto high school team to a state title against nationally-ranked Mater Dei, an overwhelming favorite.

Despite his All-State level play, however, no Division 1 college recruited Jeremy. So, he enrolled at Harvard University, which does not offer athletic scholarships.

Undrafted by the NBA out of college, he nevertheless impressed scouts in the summer league going up against the No. 1 draft pick. He was eventually signed—but later cut—by the Golden State Warriors.

A brief stint in Houston ended unceremoniously on Christmas Day, 2011. Jeremy was subsequently picked up by the New York Knicks. In early 2012, on the verge of being cut again, he rose to prominence as a starter, unlikely team leader and improbable NBA sensation.

“Linsanity” was born! He’s been the Houston Rockets’ starting point guard since landing a three-year, $25 million deal. Whether facing racial taunts as a child, or being underestimated on the court, Jeremy Lin consistently points to his faith as his means of dealing with both disappointment and success.

Here, he talks about Linsanity, the new documentary chronicling both his commitment to Christ and his meteoric rise to superstardom.

Read the rest of this story »

Keke Palmer
The “Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story” Interview
with Kam Williams

Krazy about Keke!

Born in Harvey, Illinois on August 26, 1993, Lauren Keyana
Parker has been wowing audiences since the tender age of 9. Keke
first received great acclaim when she starred as the title character in
the sleeper hit Akeelah and the Bee, opposite actor Laurence Fishburne
and Angela Bassett.

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Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
The “The African Americans” Interview
with Kam Williams

Gates Unlocked!

Born in Keyser, West Virginia on September 16, 1950, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African-American Research at Harvard University. He is the author of 16 books, has made 12 documentaries, and is the editor-in-chief of The Root, a daily online magazine.

In 1981, he was a member of the first class awarded “genius grants” by the MacArthur Foundation, and in 1998, he became the first African-American scholar to be awarded the National Humanities Medal. He was named to Time’s 25 Most Influential Americans list in 1997, to Ebony’s Power 150 list in 2009, and to Ebony’s Power 100 list in 2010 and 2012.

Here he talks about his new PBS series, The African Americans, and its companion book of the same name. The show is set to premiere on Tuesday, October 22nd at 8 pm ET/PT. (Check local listings)

Read the rest of this story »

Ja Rule

The “I’m in Love with a Church Girl” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Giving Ja a Holla!

            Born in Hollis, Queens on February 29, 1976, Jeffrey “Ja Rule” Atkins began rapping professionally while still in his teens, although he really made a big splash in 1999 with the release of “Venni Vetti Vecci.” That solo album went platinum on the strength of the single “Holla Holla,” thereby kickstarting an enviable musical career which has produced a half-dozen more studio lps while netting the popular hip-hop artist four Grammy nominations and counting.

            He also collaborated on hit songs with everybody from J-Lo (“I’m Real”) to Christina Milian (“Between Me and You”) to Ashanti (“Always on Time”) to R. Kelly (“Wonderful”). Meanwhile, he expanded his repertoire to include acting, appearing in such films as The Fast and the Furious, Scary Movie 3, Assault on Precinct 13 and Shall we Dance, to name a few.

            No stranger to controversy, Ja also became embroiled in some famous feuds, most notably, with rival rapper 50 Cent. He was recently released from prison after spending a couple of years behind bars for tax evasion and gun possession.

            Here, Ja talks about his new film, I’m in Love with a Church Girl, a faith-based tale of redemption chronicling the real-life reformation of drug dealer-turned-pastor Galley Molina. 

             

 

Kam Williams: Hey Ja, thanks for the interview.

Ja Rule: What’s happening, killer?

 

KW: I appreciate the opportunity.

JR: Me too, Kam. Thanks for having me.

 

KW: I’m originally from your neck of the woods, St. Albans.

JR: [Laughs] No doubt, no doubt! Queens in the building!

 

KW: I told my readers I’d be interviewing you, and they sent in a lot of questions. Reverend Florine Thompson, who is also from Queens, asks: What interested you in I’m in Love with a Church Girl?

JR: First of all, I just enjoyed reading the script. Second, I also liked a lot of the parallels between me and the character Miles Montego. Those similarities convinced me that I would like to be a part of the project.

 

KW: Florine would also like to know whether making this film has influenced your spiritual relationship with your Higher Power?

JR: Absolutely! I’ve always been a spiritual person who believed in a Higher Power. So, I’ve always had my 1-on-1 with God, even if I wasn’t much of a religious person. But I would definitely have to say that this movie brought me even a little closer to God.

 

KW: Lester Chisholm asks: Has the experience of working with Pastor Molina on this production enhanced your life?

JR: Definitely! The movie is Galley’s life story. Galley Molina’s a great inspiration and role model for a lot of young kids out there.

 

KW: Documentary director Kevin Williams asks: How did you prepare for the role?

JR: One of the things I did was I went to church with Galley to study him, because I thought I’d be doing more preaching in the film.

 

KW: Was it weird playing him with him right there on the set?

JR: No, that’s part of the beauty of doing a true story, having the person that the picture’s about there. I felt fortunate to be able to get his advice about how to approach the character and his input about how this or that scene should play out. So, it was great to have Galley there. 

 

KW: What was it like working with this cast, Adrienne Bailon, Stephen Baldwin, Vincent Pastore, etcetera?

JR: Adrienne and I have known each other for a long time. Me and Stephen, too! And Vincent and I worked on two films together prior to this one. So, it was great just being around everybody again and spending time together on the set! 

 

KW: What message do you think people will take away from the film?

JR: This is really an inspirational film which is all about connecting with people who aren’t that much into church, although it’s for church people, too. That’s the beauty of the film.  

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: Do you think if gangsta rappers really fell in love with ‘Church Girls’ they might stop saying horrible and abusive things about females in their songs?

JR: [LOL] Maybe… maybe… She may be onto something. [Laughs some more]

 

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: Do you thing that reggae is at the root of what is happening today in EDM [Electronic Dance Music] and trip-hop?

JR: Trip-hop? I don’t know if I ever heard of trip-hop. [Asks his friends if they know what it is.] I’m in a room of hip-hop heads, and nobody ever heard of it. But EDM, absolutely!

 

KW: Marsha Evans says she’s a resident of Kew Gardens, and a friend of Reverend Run. She says congrats on your daughter’s starting at Hampton.

JR: Aw, thank you!

 

KW: She says she’s run into Alan Hevesi [former NYS Comptroller] a few times at the local foreign film theater and that he smiled when she mentioned your name. She’d like to know whether you’ve applied any of the financial advice you received from him while in prison? 

JR: [Chuckles] Heavy D, that’s my boy. Alan Hevesi and I forged a great relationship while in prison. I’m glad he’s home now. He’s an older man, so he belongs home, not behind bars. But I definitely benefitted from his knowledge. I used to pick his brain a lot while we watched the New York Knicks on TV.

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

JR: No, I think I’ve been asked everything under the sun.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

JR: My reflection. [LOL] No, that’s a tough question. I see a man that’s in the process of growth, going from one end to another.

 

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

JR: A minute ago. I have one everyday, Kam.

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

JR: Chocolate lava cake.

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

JR: I’m a breakfast type of guy. Don’t get me wrong. I can cook, I’m kinda nice on the burner, but I enjoy making breakfast. I do it all… Scrambled eggs… French toast… Pancakes… Breakfast is my thing.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

JR: Hellbound on His Trail by Hampton Sides.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0307387437/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

JR: Oh man, we were just playing something in there, but I can’t recall what it was.

 

KW: What’s up for you next, musically?

JR: Actually, I just dropped two new records called “Fresh Out da Pen” and “Everything.” They’re available on iTunes.

 

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

JR: That’s a difficult question. It’s tough to say, because I like a lot of them.

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

JR: I’m an adrenaline guy. I like to do stuff that gets my blood pumping, like roller coasters or jumping out of planes. I’m into all that crazy stuff.

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

JR: The best decision I ever made, period, was to get into the music business.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

JR: It’d be a toss-up between world peace and ending poverty.

 

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend the time? 

JR: With my family.

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

JR: A lion.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

JR: Hmm… Playing with this very noisy popper toy when I was about 4. It looked like a lawnmower, was round at the bottom, and had little balls in it that would go “Pow! Pow! Pow!” We lived in a tiny apartment, so as you can imagine, there was no escaping the popper. [LOL] My mother had to hide it from me.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

JR: Invincibility.

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 

JR: Selfishness. To be the best at what you do in any field, and to accomplish the goals you set for yourself, you have to be somewhat selfish.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

JR: I’d probably be an athlete, either basketball, football or boxing. I was good at those sports.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity?

JR: My own, the L.I.F.E. Foundation.

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

JR: Walk carefully! Tread light!

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

JR: As an artist who was really passionate about his work. And as an inspiration. I do what I do to inspire people.

 

KW: Can you give me a Ja Rule question, I can ask other people I interview?

JR: Yeah, here’s a good one: If you had to spend all of your money in a month, how would do it? [Chuckles]

 

KW: That’s a great one. Thanks, Ja, and best of luck with the film.

JR: Sure, Kam, thanks a lot. 

To see a trailer for I’m in Love with a Church Girl, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEmqu0zNkT8     

Bill Hader

The “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Don’t Mess with Bill!

Actor, writer, comedian, producer and repertory player Bill Hader recently finished his eighth and final season on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 7, 1978, he was heralded by New York magazine as “SNL’s new secret weapon” when he first joined its ensemble cast.

Known for his uncanny impersonations and a biting sarcasm delivered with an eviscerating deftness, Bill received Emmy nominations in 2012 and 2013 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on the show. He won an Emmy Award in 2009 for his work as a producer on Comedy Central’s “South Park.”

On the big screen, he enjoyed a full slate of film work in the summer of 2007 that included Knocked Up and Superbad. The very next year, he found great success as Jason Segel’s compassionate step-brother in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He also delivered memorable performances in Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder. In 2009, He appeared in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Adventureland.

Last year, he co-starred Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black 3, which grossed over $624 million worldwide. He’s also voiced several animated characters in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Turbo, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Doogal, and Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil.

Bill lives in Los Angeles with his wife, filmmaker Maggie Carey, and their two daughters. Here, he talks about his latest outing reprising the lead role of Flint Lockwood in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Bill. I’m honored to have this opportunity to talk with you.

Bill Hader: Oh, thanks, Kam.

 

KW: I loved Cloudy 2. How was it being Flint Lockwood again?

BH: A lot of fun. I don’t feel like the first one ever ended. Because the filmmaking process is so long, you kind of go right into the second one.

There was probably a year or so lag time for me, but it’s really cool. I love it.  

 

KW: I got a lot of questions for you from fans, so why don’t I jump right into them. Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How different is the preparation for an animated versus a live-action role?

BH: I would say the biggest difference is that you’re just in a studio by yourself when you’re making an animated movie. You don’t have anybody to play off of. 

 

KW: Marian Greenberg asks: Do you think it will be possible to teach the foodimals to befriend instead of fight humanoids so they can all live happily ever after in peace?

BH: Marian, you’ll get your answer when you see the film. 

 

KW: Marian also says she thinks that, if there is a Cloudy 3, Flint should save the world by changing takers into givers. Do you agree?

BH: I can’t say, because I don’t exactly understand what she means.

 

KW: Kate Newell says: Bill Hader is a god in our household. SNL is the only show we watch together. She’s wondering how many takes you needed to do Stefon without totally cracking up.

BH: Aww, thanks, Kate. Well, on SNL you only get one take. And it always happened. And I was never once able to keep a straight face.  

 

KW: Let me ask you about leaving SNL. Are you feeling any regrets or any pangs of emotion, especially right now since the new season is about to kick off?

KW: Not really. I’m not sad, just excited to watch the show and see what the new people are doing. I already watched some of it online and it’s really good.

 

KW: Alison Kruse What advice do you have for a novice improv student?

I just tried out for my school's improv group and didn't get in this time around.

BH: Oh, don’t worry, that’s totally fine, Alison. You’re on your way with the first step, which is dealing with failure. You’re going to have to deal with failure constantly. The best thing to do is to get out in front of an audience as much as you can, and learn from the experience. Steve Martin wrote a book called “Born Standing Up,” which is really great. He talks about how he kept a notebook on his act about what did and didn’t work. It’s a process. It’s not like you get up on stage and you’re immediately a genius. It takes a long time. So, don’t be discouraged.  

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1416553657/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: Kim Lister asks: How did you come up with the character Mr. Hollywood for the James Franco roast? It was hilarious! 

BH: Oh, that was created with my Stefon writing partner John Mulaney. I wanted to do a character that could talk about various things. And I asked what if I came out as the embodiment of Hollywood? That attitude is something I like to do. And then, yeah, John and I wrote it.  

 

KW: Kim also asks: Who was your favorite sketch character to play on SNL?

BH: I love playing Herb Welch, the old reporter who hits people in the face with the microphone.

 

KW: Amy Lister and Patricia Turnier ask: Do you have any advice for an aspiring comedienne who’d like to make it onto SNL? 

BH: I’d offer them the same advice I just gave Alison.

 

KW: Marcy Held asks: What was it like growing up in Oklahoma? Who were some of your early influences? What did you watch when you were a kid?

BH: Growing up in Oklahoma, there wasn’t much to do. Play sports, do a lot of drugs, or read and watch movies, which is what I did. When I was a kid, Monte Python was big. And early Woody Allen movies. 

 

KW: Marcy would also like to know whetheryou always wanted to be a performer?

BH: No, I was into writing and directing. I was a bit of a reluctant actor. I would always ask friends to shoot or direct their movies, but then they’d want me to be in them.

 

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: What's it like writing for South Park? Is Cartman a jerk off-camera?

BH: Oh, yeah, yes he is. [Chuckles] No, I’m basically helping those guys out with their ideas, but I don’t actually sit down and write any stuff with them. The way I contribute is basically by just sitting in a room pitching ideas to Trey [Parker, South Park co-creator and voice of Cartman] and he runs off and writes it. It’s a great process that’s a lot of fun and that I learn a tremendous amount from.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman says. You’ve done a lot of voice work in animated films. Not just Cloudy 1 and 2, but Turbo, Monsters University, Doogal, Ice Age 3 and Hoodwinked 2. She asks: When you are doing animation, do you want your character to resemble you physically?

BH: Not necessarily. You know, they have a video camera on you in the studio while you’re performing. And in the case of Flint Lockwood, I see a lot of me in him, like how I talk with my hands. So, sometimes they do it, but I never request it.  

 

KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks: Do you feel any special joy in bringing a children's book to the screen, especially being a father?

BH: Yes, I do. I loved that book growing up. It’s almost like a little poem or fable. And I love being a part of bringing it to the big screen.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0689306474/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: A fan of the franchise asks: Do the watermelophants represent the increase in childhood obesity in America?

BH: I have no idea.

 

KW: Here’s another question: Do the mosquitoasts leave their stingers in and cause the spread of malaria? I’m amazed that anyone’s thinking that way about the film.  

BH: [Chuckles] Yeah, I agree. And I don’t think the writers of the movie intended that deep an analysis. 

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

BH: “Black Swan Green,” a novel by David Mitchell.  

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812974018/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

BH: I can’t. I can’t cook. I can barely make a bowl of cereal.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

BH: A very tired dad.

 

KW: I’m not surprised since you have 1 and 4 year-old daughters.If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

BH: Sleep. [Chuckles]

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

BH: I don’t know.

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere something that you promised to do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

BH: I don’t consider myself famous.

 

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?

BH: There really is no difference other than my having some makeup on.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

BH: The ability to fall asleep.

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 

BH: Being able to deal with failure and being wired to pursue your passion because you enjoy the process of creating something, even if you aren’t living in New York or L.A. and work in a hardware store. 

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

BH: I don’t know.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

BH: Directing.

 

KW: Harriet: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

BH: Not really.

 

KW: What’s on the horizon for you, comedies like Superbad, Knocked Up, Adventureland and Forgetting Sarah Marshall?

BH: Well, I just did a couple of dramas, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby and The Skeleton Twins.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity?

BH: I’ve done stuff for Standup for Cancer which is great, but I don’t personally have one.

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

BH: Just as a good guy.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Bill, and best of luck with the film.

BH: Thanks, buddy.

To see a trailer for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNiVB_d_z4k

Newt Gingrich

The “Crossfire” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

What’s New with Newt!

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1943, Newt Gingrich spent 2011 and 2012 as a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. His broad policy agenda focused on energy development, national security, scientific advancement, and immigration reform.

Speaker Gingrich served the Sixth Congressional District of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1978 to 1999. He is well-known as the architect of the “Contract with America,” a popular set of proposals that led the Republican Party to victory in 1994 when it captured a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years.

Gingrich was elected and served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. Under his leadership, Congress passed welfare reform, the first balanced budget in a generation, and the first tax cut in 16 years. In 1995, he was named TIME Magazine’s “Man of the Year.”

Recognized internationally as an expert on world history, military issues and international affairs, the Speaker served as a member of the Defense Policy Board, as well as a distinguished visiting scholar at the National Defense University, and as a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

A former college professor of history, environmental studies, and geography, Gingrich is the author of more than two dozen best-selling historical novels and public policy books including, To Renew America, A Nation Like No Other, Gettysburg, and Victory at Yorktown: A Novel. His next book, Breakout, will be released in November 2013.

Gingrich and his wife, Callista, also host and produce historical and public policy documentaries at Gingrich Productions. Their recent films include Nine Days that Changed the World, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, and Rediscovering God in America.

Gingrich received his B.A. in history from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Here, he talks about his new duties as co-host of CNN’s Crossfire, a political talk show airing weekdays at 6:30 pm ET [Check local listings]

 

 

Kam Williams: Hello, Mr. Speaker, I’m honored to have this opportunity. Thank you.

Newt Gingrich: Well, thank you, Kam. I’m delighted to have a chance to chat with you.

 

KW: What interested you in hosting Crossfire?

NG: I used to appear on Crossfire back when it was a brand new show and I was a junior member of Congress. The early Crossfire episodes were very factual, idea oriented, and people felt like they learned a lot from them. You’d get a couple of smart guests on there with a couple of smart hosts, which really made for an entertaining program. So, the opportunity to go back and try to create a space in America where you know that at 6:30 every evening you’re going to hear interesting people have an intelligent discussion about a very important issue and stay on that issue for the whole half-hour is just a very exciting challenge.      

 

KW: Filmmaker Kevin Williams says: I thought you were very good in the presidential primaries and intellectually honest on the issues involving race, politics and the GOP. Do you have any plans to run again?

NG: Oh, I have no idea. At the present time, I’m simply focused, in a sense, on trying to be a teacher to the country, and to learn about and talk about a lot of stuff.

 

KW: The show was launched a week early because of the conflict in Syria. How do you feel about that?

NG: I had deliberately set aside two full weeks to prepare prior to the premiere but, when I got off the plane, they said, “Congratulations! You’ve just lost a week of preparations.” [Laughs] So, we’re running really hard right now, getting used to being a host. I’ve always been a guest, but never a host of a show before. And for a guy like me, there’s a lot to learn. Nonetheless, I think it was a very smart decision, because Syria is a perfect example of the kind of debate we want to have on Crossfire. It’s very serious… there are honorable and intelligent people on both sides… and it creates a real opportunity to lay out a series of proposals, so that people can have a better insight as to what’s at stake.

 

KW: What makes Syria so interesting is that you have some Republicans, like Rand Paul, opposing intervention, and others siding with President Obama?

NG: And it’s the same way with the Democrats. This is one of those unusual issues where you really have people on both sides wrestling with their conscience and trying to do the right thing. 

 

KW: How has the transition been going from being guest to being a host?

NG: It’s quite a challenge. I’ll give you one example. In reading a teleprompter, you have to time it to exit at exactly the right moment. You can’t start too soon or too late, and you’re watching the floor director, so you don’t make a fool of yourself. I never appreciated what the Wolf Blitzer’s, the Sean Hannity’s and the Greta Van Susteren’s of the world went through. So, I now have much more respect for how they do their jobs.

 

KW: In his documentary, Fear of a Black Republican, Kevin called you the Conservative Elvis and asked you: “How should we go about recruiting more African-Americans into the Party?” Your response to Kevin was: “Knock on their doors, go to their clubs and their churches and talk to ‘em!” You also said that activists shouldn't worry about getting money from Party bigwigs and that they should just to go out and find average citizens to help recruit African-Americans.  With so much focusing coming up on minorities and the black vote post-President Obama, why isn’t the Republican Party listening to the advice you offered in the film?

NG: Oh, I think they are. If you look at what Reince [Priebus] has been doing as Republican National Committee Chairman, he has clearly been going out and meeting with the NAACP, and attending local listening sessions around the country. We also have an African-American Speaker of the House in Oklahoma [T.W. Shannon] who is only in his thirties. He’s a very attractive, young Republican leader who Reince took to the summer meetings in Boston to introduce to people and say, “Look, here’s an example of what we’re going to be working on. This is the type of guy who represents our future.” So, I think he’s really trying to maximize our reach out not only to African-Americans, but to Latino-Americans and Asian-Americans as well.

 

KW: I’d like to ask you a few personal questions in order to color you in for my readers?

NG: Like green and orange? [Chuckles]

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

NG: I’m actually going back and re-reading Daniel Silva’s novels, beginning with the first. He’s written 16 now. And my grandson and I are starting to work our way through C.S. Forester’s Hornblower series, because he took sailing course this summer, and I thought I’d introduce him to the Royal Navy in the Age of Napoleon. He’s 12, so we’re working on that together. I’m also nibbling on a lot of different books in parallel. I’m also currently reading Winston Churchill’s “The Story of the Malakand Field Force,” which he wrote in about 1898.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486474747/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: I had no idea Churchill was already writing books back in the 19th Century.

NG: Listen, Kam, if you want to get a better understanding of part of the long conflict we’re in, read Churchill’s “The River War.”  Churchill was an astonishing figure who really made the generals mad when he was serving in the army because, even when he praised them, they were upset that he felt that he had the right to judge them at all. 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1620874768/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: I’m not much of a student of British history, but isn’t it true that Churchill ultimately went out in disgrace?

NG: No, no, he went out in 1915 because of the mistakes in the Gallipoli campaign, most of which were not his fault, but for which he was nonetheless held responsible as First Lord of the Admiralty. He later came back into public life around 1930, but became isolated in the Conservative Party. He reemerged only because of the rise of Hitler. If Hitler had not been such a real danger, Churchill would’ve ended his career as a complete failure. What really happened at the end of World War II was people were very grateful to Churchill, personally, for having won the war. But they did not think the Conservative Party was reliable to solve the peace, so they voted for the Labor Party because they wanted subsidized housing, subsidized food, and all the things we call the modern welfare state, including the national health system. So, Churchill lost power, even though he’d been a great war hero. He then came back again in 1951 in his mid-seventies, and served until about 1955. He’s one of those people you can study endlessly. For instance, he invented the tank while he was serving as First Lord of the Admiralty. Here’s a guy who was extraordinarily wide-ranging. He learned how to fly a plane in 1913. His pilot was killed in a plane crash later that summer. He was the impressive type of individual we’d love to have on Crossfire.

 

KW: Who are some of the guests you’re hoping to get?

NG: Over time, we’re going to have an amazing range. You obviously want cabinet officers, because they can defend the president’s positions. You also want senior leaders in the House and Senate, as well as really smart, really knowledgeable people who are making a name for themselves in very specific areas. And you also want people who might have served in the past, such as an ambassador who’s an expert on a hot topic. Or someone who may not be a political figure, but is in the field and really knows what they’re talking about, like a medical doctor on Obamacare. If I had to coin a slogan for the show it would be, “When facts matter, you should turn to Crossfire.”  

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

NG: That’s a really good question! Wandering around and finding things on a little farm of one of my relatives located about a half-dozen miles outside of Harrisburg.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

NG: If I were to stop and do other things, my two favorite hobbies are paleontology and wild animals. A couple of years ago, [my wife] Callista and I climbed 9,500 feet in Rwanda to watch mountain gorillas and take pictures of them. That was one of the most thrilling days of my life. We both love to travel so we might end up doing a travel series introducing you to places we’ve been and things we’ve done.

 

KW: The Michael Ealy question: If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be?

NG: Obviously, from my perspective, I would have to say Christ. But if you eliminated religion, probably Julius Caesar.

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

NG: Cheerful persistence. You’re gonna make mistakes. You’re gonna fall down. You’re gonna fail sometimes. But you have to get back up.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity?

NG: The one that I’m personally involved with is creating a scholarship program at the Museum of Natural History. 

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

NG: As a good father, a good grandfather, a good husband and a good citizen.

 

KW: Well, thanks again for the time, Speaker Gingrich, and best of luck with the show. I’ll be tuning in.

NG: Great! Thanks, Kam.

Steve McQueen

The “12 Years a Slave” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

God Save McQueen!

            Artist and filmmaker Steven Rodney McQueen was born in London on October 9, 1969. His critically-acclaimed directorial debut, Hunger, won the Camera d’Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. He followed that up with the incendiary offering Shame, a well-received, thought-provoking drama about addiction and secrecy in the modern world.

            In 1996, McQueen was the recipient of an ICA Futures Award. A couple of years later, he won a DAAD artist’s scholarship to Berlin. Besides exhibiting at the ICA and at the Kunsthalle in Zürich, he also won the coveted Turner Prize. He has exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Documenta, and at the 53rd Venice Biennale as a representative of Great Britain.  

            His artwork can be found in museum collections around the world like the Tate, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Centre Pompidou. In 2003, he was appointed Official War Artist for the Iraq War by the Imperial War Museum and he subsequently produced the poignant and controversial project Queen and Country commemorating the deaths of British soldiers who perished in the conflict by presenting their portraits as a sheet of stamps.

            Steve and his wife, cultural critic Bianca Stigter, live and work in Amsterdam which is where they are raising their son, Dexter, and daughter, Alex. Here, he talks about his latest film, 12 Years a Slave, which recently won the People’s Choice Awards for Best Film and Best Director at the Toronto Film Festival.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Steve. Thanks for honoring me with the opportunity to interview you.

Steve McQueen: Thanks so much for the interest, Kam.

 

KW: I’ve loved all three of your feature films, this new one, and Hunger and Shame as well. They are so different from each other and yet quite remarkable and memorable, each in their own way. 

SM: Thank you. Well, I do my best. I’m just happy that people are responding to the films as positively as they are. To be honest with you, it’s one of those things where we’re just happy to get them made. When you get to make something, you always hope people will go and see it. And we’re very, very pleased by the response to 12 Years a Slave. It’s kind of humbling and remarkable.

 

KW: Your work reminds me of Ang Lee’s in terms of its quality and versatility in the way that his movies are each phenomenal yet so very different from each other.

SM: Wow! That’s a huge compliment. What can I say? He’s a master. Ang Lee is a person I really admire and look up to. I love so many of his films, especially Ride with the Devil, Sense and Sensibility, and The Ice Storm.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: What does it mean to you to be in charge of adapting Solomon Northup’s memoir? How do you explain that his autobiography was buried for around a hundred years contrary to those of some of his contemporaries like Frederick Douglass?

SM: I feel tremendously honored but I also feel a tremendous responsibility because through this film we can bring Solomon Northrup’s memory to the surface. His story was buried for so long. When the book first came out in 1853, it was a phenomenal best seller for its time, and sold 27,000 copies in 18 months. But what happened was Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published the following year, and that was it for 12 Years a Slave. It fell into obscurity. Academics knew about the memoir but it otherwise became lost. To me, it was always like the American equivalent of The Diary of Anne Frank. That’s why it became my passion to get this film made. 

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: In a film described as a historical drama, how do you establish a healthy balance between history and drama?

SM: By relying on the book. As a filmmaker I was interested in illustrating the history of what slavery was about, which was slave labor. In the background of one frame, for example, you see sugar cane. In the second plantation, you see logging. And on the third location, we see corn. So, at the same time you’re following Solomon’s adventure of trying to get home, in the background you simultaneously see the horrors and pains of what slavery was about. 

 

KW: Fellow director Rel Dowdell asks: Do you feel that the great success of Django Unchained improves your very visceral film’s chances for a warm reception?

SM: I think that film was very helpful, of course, in making people aware by getting the subject-matter on film. So, I couldn’t say it didn’t help.

 

KW: What interested you as a Brit in an African-American story?

SM: The story’s not just an African-American story. It’s a universal story. It’s a world story. My parents are from the West Indies. My father’s from Grenada which is where Malcolm X’s mother was born. My mother was born in Trinidad which is where Stokely Carmichael, the man who coined the phrase “Black Power!” was born. Sidney Poitier was born in the Bahamas. I’m part of that diaspora of people displaced by the slave trades. I’m part of that family. It’s our story. It’s a global story.

 

KW: My grandparents were born St. Croix, St. Kitts and Barbados. Do you eat any West Indian food like curried goat, callaloo or roti?

SM: Yeah, all of that. And then, when you go to New Orleans, you find similar dishes. We’re all family! 

 

KW: How did you settle on Chiwetel as Solomon Northrup?

SM: Chiwetel was always the one I wanted to make the movie with because there’s a certain humanity and gentility about him that I needed for the lead role. Solomon was a person who maintained his humanity whatever his circumstances, and I needed someone of that same caliber, because he would be tested to the breaking point. I needed an actor who could hold up during those moments of extreme stress.  

 

KW: Why did you use the great Michael Fassbender in each of your films?

SM: I think Michael is the most influential actor of his generation. He’s like a Mickey Rourke or a Gary Oldman. People want to be him. Actors want to act with him. Students choose to pursue acting because of him. I was very fortunate to land him for Hunger. We’ve been close friends ever since. He’s an amazing actor I willl always want to work with. 

 

KW: How did you assemble such a top-flight cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Brad Pitt, Quvenzhane Wallis, Paaul Dano, and newcomer Lupita Nyong’o.

SM: I had huge help from the casting director, Francine Maisler. She did an incredible job. We auditioned over a thousand girls for the role of Patsey. And we ended up with Lupita who hadn’t even graduated from acting school yet. But she auditioned for us, and that was it. A star was born!

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

SM: The last one I actually read was a children’s book I read to my son last night called something like “Teacher Goes to School.”  

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

SM: Pasta, because it’s easy.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

SM: I see all the lines in my face from tiredness.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

SM: Borrowing roller skates from a next-door neighbor when I was about 3 or 4 years-old.  

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

SM: Meeting my wife.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

SM: World peace. It might sound corny, but that’s the truth.

 

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours left to live, how would you spend the time?

SM: With the people I love.

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you could be another animal, which one would you choose?

SM: A dolphin.

 

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question:How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?

SM: I learned that life is a long and difficult road, but you have to keep going, or you’ll fall by the wayside. 

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere something that you promised to do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

SM: Am I famous? 

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

SM: As a person who tried.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Steve, and best of luck with the film.

SM: Thank you. Take care, Kam.

To see a trailer for 12 Years a Slave, visit:

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/post/3764/12-years-a-slave-official-hd-trailer/  

Sharni Vinson

The “You’re Next” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

 Vinson’s Vision

 

Born in Sydney, Australia on July 22, 1983, Sharni Vinson was raised in Cronulla Beach in New South Wales where she began singing, dancing and acting at a young age. She is best known for playing the role of Cassie Turner on the long-running Aussie TV soap opera “Home and Away.”

At just 17, she was signed to Roadshow Music to become a member of the R&B band, Foxfire IV. In 2008, she relocated to Los Angeles and was immediately embraced by the entertainment industry, booking guest roles in “NCIS,” “CSI: NY,” “My Boys,” and the pilot for “Austin Golden Hour.”

After an extensive search for a leading lady with amazing dance ability, Vinson landed the coveted lead role of ‘Natalie’ in Summit Entertainment’s Step Up 3D, which was released in August 2010. The plot revolves around a tight-knit group of New York City street dancers who found themselves pitted against the world's best hip hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown that would change their lives forever.

In 2011, Sharni starred in Blue Crush 2 for Universal Studios, the follow up to the hit film about a group of girls who worked as waitresses and chamber maids to finance their passion for surfing. Last year, she starred in the action- thriller BAIT 3D, a disaster flick about a freak tsunami which traps shoppers inside a coastal supermarket along with a herd of hungry sharks.

Besides performing, Sharni is also an accomplished athlete, having represented New South Wales at the National Swimming Championships.  Here, she talks her latest film, You’re Next, a horror flick co-starring AJ Bowen, Joe Swanberg, Nicholas Tucci and Wendy Glenn.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Sharni, thanks for the opportunity to interview you.

Sharni Vinson: No, thank you so much, Kam.

 

KW: I really loved You’re Next. In fact, I’d have to say it’s the best horror flick of 2013 so far, in a great year for scary movies including The Conjuring, The Purge, and a few others.

SV: That’s great!

 

KW: And in my review, I don’t reveal any of the shocking developments, since this is a picture that has to be seen cold, with no knowledge of its unpredictable twists and turns.

SV: I agree. The element of surprise is everything.

 

KW: How would describe You’re Next in 25 words or less?

SV: As not your typical home invasion horror movie. It takes place at a family reunion where things quickly turn very dramatic. Basically, we all have to fend for our lives in the house. I don’t know if I can say too much more than that without spoiling it.

 

KW: That’s perfect. I loved your breakout performance. Your character Erin’s spunkiness very much reminded me of Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of The Hunger Games.

SV: Thank you. We wanted to keep the character likable, relatable, and still very strong and tough, so she’d be a very positive, female role model. There’s nothing in her that’s out of the ordinary in the sense that she’s not a superhero with superpowers. She’s just doing what she has to do in order to get the job done. I like the role for me and for the general audience because I think it shows how important it is to learn self-defense. So, I hope people can come out of this film getting into that more.   

 

KW: I know you were a nationally-ranked swimmer as a teenager, so you’re already very athletic. But did you have to do any specially training for this physically-demanding role?

SV: Not really, because there wasn’t any time. We shot this film over four weeks, and I only had three days of training in the lead-up to rolling the cameras. So, it was very important to the producer and director to find a girl who was already physically capable of stepping into a role like this. And thanks to my swimming and dancing and very competitive sports upbringing, I had that physicality ready to go. So, we were more or less focusing on certain exact skills like reaction time, boxing, agility exercises, and how to twirl a knife and a fireplace poker.  That was really a lot of fun. But overall, we devoted more time to developing the mentality of the character than her physicality. 

 

KW: I noticed that a number of your fellow cast members, like Joe Swanberg and Amy Seimetz, are members of the Mumblecore movement here in the U.S. Are you familiar with Mumblecore?

SV: I really am not. It’s really a whole new experience for me, which has been so great, because Amy and Joe and Ti [West] are not only amazing actors but also incredible directors to this specific horror genre. It was mind-expanding to be able to work with them on a project of this scale. Having them on the set, made the director’s [Adam Wingard] and the rest of the cast’s work so much easier. I thought I was learning from the best with them. 

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How do you prepare for and detox from a blood-and-guts thriller?

SV: It’s funny, because so many people assume it must have been a horrific experience making this movie. But because we were there every day, shooting on a night schedule from 5 p.m. until 7 a.m., bonding as a cast and watching how the prosthetic department put the props and blood and gore together, it was actually so much fun. It wasn’t scary because we were privy to the inside gag of how you create movie magic. And that just became the running joke on the set. You can’t help but laugh when you’re eating dinner at 1 in the morning next to someone with an arrow sticking out of his back. It was all so light off-camera, yet when we would roll, we would literally snap from a laughing, singing and joking moment into a totally serious mood. So, it never was scary during the film, just very entertaining because we were having such a great time.  

 

KW: You started out as a singer in the R&B group Foxfire IV. Are you still singing? 

SV: I started out learning all the different aspects of the entertainment industry: singing, dancing and acting. It was very much put to me from a young age that it benefits you to be a triple-threat in the business. I come from a line of performers in musical theater, my mom and my grand-mom, who encouraged me to train in all three areas of the arts. So, now it’s second nature in me, and I always keep those options open. At different points in my life, one has overtaken the others, but the great thing about acting is that you can find a way to incorporate any skill you have into a role. I’ve done a dance movie, maybe now we can do a musical. That would be really cool.

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

SV: Oh, man, that’s hard to say, because anything classic-classic almost should not be touched. But sometimes you feel the passion that you’d like to be in that movie yourself. I’m not suggesting it needs to be remade, but if they ever redid A Chorus Line, I’d love to play Valerie. Who knows? Maybe one day. [LOL]

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

SV: No, I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately that even I wouldn’t have ever thought of.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

SV: “Conversations with God.”

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0399142789/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

SV: “Blurred Lines” with Pharrell and Robin Thicke.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00DFBVJQA/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

SV: Anything with a lot of garlic and a lot of chili, like a Thai chicken vegetable stir-fry. You’d be lucky if you can find the other ingredients under all the garlic and chili I use. 

 

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

SV: Roberto Cavali.

 

KW: Haven’t you done modeling, too? 

SV: No, that’s a bit of a myth. I read that in the press a lot, but I don’t know where that came from.

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

SV: Moving to America.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

SV: The person I always wished I could be.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

SV: I would like to be able to fly.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

SV: Making all my cousins, even the boys, get dressed-up in these ridiculous outfits every Sunday, and then have them sing and dance for the family.

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere something that you promised to do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

SV: Yeah, I haven’t bought a house in Hawaii yet, and that’s been my dream for a dozen years now. I want my first house to be in Hawaii.

 

KW: You should’ve done a little house hunting when you made Blue Crush 2.

SV: I wasn’t there then. The original was made in Hawaii, but the sequel was shot in South Africa.

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

SV: A mole. I already am a mole in every sense of the word. Nothing gets past a mole. They’re like spies and detectives. So, the question’s not if I were an animal, since I’m already a mole.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

SV: I already said I’d like to fly. Do I have to pick another? Invisibility would be a good one.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

SV: Something working with animals, like animal rescue. I’m very passionate about animals and the ocean. Maybe marine biology. 

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: Do you believe that with great power comes great responsibility?

SV: Yes, I believe it’s very important to be a positive role model. And yet, no, to a degree because you also can’t merely live your life purely from the aspect of “How will this affect others?” It’s like a balance. You have to take the public image into account, but not let it rule your life.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity?

SV: I’m very involved with the Guide Dog Association in Australia. I have a chocolate Labrador, and we do the walk every year to raise money for that. I also work with the World Wildlife Foundation.

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

SV: Never give up! Most of life’s biggest failures are people who didn’t realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. If you believe that you were meant to do something, then you were. So, persist with it, have some patience, and stay true to your own beliefs. Don’t let others make decisions for you.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Sharni, and best of luck with You’re Next.

SV: I’m so glad you liked it, Kam. I really appreciate that.

To see a trailer for You're Next, visit: http://lionsgatepublicity.com/theatrical/yourenext/

Or: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufUQWpEkbf0    

Cuba Gooding, Jr

The “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Show Me The Butler!

 

Cuba Gooding, Jr. was born in the Bronx on January 2, 1968, but raised in Los Angeles from the age of 4 on. Best known for his Oscar-winning portrayal of the charmingly-arrogant Rod “Show Me the Money!” Tidwell in Cameron Crowe’s Jerry Maguire, he first found fame in 1991 when he received critical acclaim for his performance in John Singleton’s coming-of-age classic Boyz n the Hood.

 

Cuba followed-up that success with roles in As Good as It Gets, What Dreams May Come, and the Oscar-nominated A Few Good Men. The versatile thespian’s repertoire also includes roles in pictures ranging from Red Tails to Radio to Men of Honor to Pearl Harbor to American Gangster to Shadowboxer to Boat Trip to Snow Dogs to Norbit.

 

Among his upcoming big screen projects are Don Jon and the sequel Machete Kills. On television, he played the title character in the award-winning Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, as well as in Firelight, the highest rated Hallmark Hall of Fame movie ever.

 

A decade ago, Cuba’s extraordinary achievements were recognized when he was awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Here, he talks about his work opposite Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey in Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

 

 

Kam Williams: Hi Cuba, appreciate the time.

Cuba Gooding, Jr: Anytime, Kam. How are ya, buddy?

 

KW: Great, and you?

CG: Very well, thank you.

 

KW: What interested you in The Butler?

CG: Well, to give you a little history, Lee Daniels and I had been friends even before he was a producer, manager or casting director. When he offered me the role of the shadowboxer in Shadowboxer, I was invited into the editing room. We’ve done this thing throughout his career from Precious on, where he sends me screenplays that he’s considering. So, I feel like this is an invested relationship I have with him. He sent me this screenplay about five years ago, suggesting that I might be the butler.

 

KW: Were you upset when you didn’t land the title role?

CG: No, one thing led to another in casting choices, and now I couldn’t imagine this movie without Forest Whitaker playing the lead and Oprah playing his wife. I think they’re both deserving of Oscar nominations. Their relationship in the movie’s so powerful, and so is Forest’s with David Oyelowo’s character.  

 

KW: You did a great job, too.

CG: Thanks. It just feels so good to be involved again with a movie that’s socially relevant. I recently met a 27 year-old white male who admitted that he didn’t know about the sit-ins until seeing this movie’s scene with the kids being refused service in a segregated diner. And it hit me how we can so easily forget, because I’m in my forties. There’s such a disconnect from the next generation in terms of all the brutality. That’s why it feels good to be a part of this film which revisits that time period and talks about what transpired.

 

KW: Especially because it tackles the material from a fresh perspective.

CG: It’s interesting, too, because when Django Unchained came out, so many people were alienated by it, while others who thought it was just a really cool ride from Quentin Tarantino said, “Get over it!” If you look at the latter group, a lot of them were really young kids who had a disconnect from slavery. To them, all they saw was their hero being freed, shooting back, saving the day and getting his girl. It’s funny, I started dating my wife, who’s Caucasian with blonde hair and blue eyes, in 1987. I got hate mail when I did Boyz n the Hood saying stuff like, “I can’t believe your girlfriend is white.” But I hadn’t grown up in the South back in the days when blacks were lynched for even looking at a white woman. And when you look at what I did today, it’s elementary compared to the attention being paid to the issue of same-sex marriage. So, we’ve moved away for the better, but we just can’t afford to forget all the sacrifices and trials and tribulations.

 

KW: How much research did you have to do to prepare for the role?

CG: Well, I’d been researching and gathering information on the subject for several years for both this script and for a Martin Luther King story about Selma. So, it’s a time period I’d already become pretty well-versed in.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: How similar are you to your character in The Butler, Carter Wilson?

CG: I AM that guy! [LOL] Sometimes, I can be pretty goofy, and a bit of an exhibitionist. I don’t think I’m quite as free with the lips as he is, but I can tell a joke or two. Some of those lines I ad-libbed.

 

KW: How emotionally affected were you seeing the film for the first time?

CG: I was a wreck. I sat and hugged Pam [producer Pam Williams] like someone had died in the family. And, to be honest with you, Kam, it wasn’t so much the history lesson, but simply that my eldest son who’s 18 was going off to college, and I couldn’t get back to L.A. to see him off when he left because I was stuck in New York. The father-son relationship just hit me, man, especially the scene where Cecil Gaines says goodbye to his son departing for college. What I experienced wasn’t a feeling of sadness, but rather a realization of this higher calling in life, and how we’re all a part of this chain.    

 

KW: Speaking of your being in New York, Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How did you enjoy being on Broadway? What play were you doing, A Trip to Bountiful?

CG: Yes, sir, since February. I loved it. I actually started in theater, that’s where an agent found me in ’86, I was doing a Shakespeare festival. On the stage, if you don’t understand every word of what you’re saying, it is apparent in your countenance. So, I was always about living the character. Then I got stolen away by TV where I got my start as MacGyver’s sidekick for awhile which was easy to phone in. You know the guy, you know the peril, and you know how to save the day. So, I leapt at this opportunity to go back, and it reignited my creativity. Just to be across from Cicely Tyson on that stage every day, was great. My creative passion is back!

 

KW: Harriet also asks: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

CG: That’s an interesting question I’ve never been asked. Just last night, literary, I was sitting around talking with some friends about those old movies with a Broadway theme. Maybe one of those.

 

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?

CG: Well, I smile a lot more on the red carpet.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

CG: I would fly. I’ve been dreaming about flying since I was 5 years-old.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

CG: Social work. Or maybe coaching kids sports. I’ve always been a people person. It would have to be something where I could help people.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity?

CG: The Boys and Girls Clubs of America is one of them. I have a few.

 

KW: Can you give me a Cuba Gooding, Jr. question to ask other celebrities?  

CG: Yeah, what still scares you?

 

KW: Thanks, and thanks again for the time, Cuba.

CG: My pleasure, Kam. 

To see a trailer for Lee Daniels’ The Butler, visit:

http://www.twcpublicity.com/video_popup.php?id=108

Don Lemon

The “We Were There: The March on Washington” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Lemon Zest!

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on March 1, 1966, Don Lemon anchors CNN Newsroom during weekend prime-time and serves as a correspondent across CNN/U.S. programming. Based out of the network's New York bureau, Don joined CNN in September 2006.

In 2008, he reported from Chicago in the days leading up to the presidential election, including an interview with Rahm Emanuel on the day he agreed to serve as President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff. He also interviewed Anne Cooper, the 106-year old voter Obama highlighted in his election night acceptance speech.

Don has covered many breaking news stories, including the George Zimmerman trial, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Philadelphia building collapse, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the Colorado Theater shooting, the death of Whitney Houston, the Inaugural of the 44th President in Washington, D.C., the death of Michael Jackson, and the Minneapolis bridge collapse, to name a few. And he anchored the network's breaking news coverage of the Japan tsunami, the Arab Spring, the death of Osama Bin Laden and the Joplin tornado.

Don began his career at WNYW in New York City as a news assistant while still attending Brooklyn College. He has won an Edward R. Murrow award for his coverage of the capture of the Washington, D.C. snipers, and an Emmy for a special report on real estate in Chicagoland.

In 2009, Ebony Magazine named him one of the 150 most influential Blacks in America. A couple of years later, he came out of the closet, and discussed his homosexuality in an autobiography entitled “Transparent.”

Don recently caught a lot of flak from a number of African-American pundits for agreeing with Bill O’Reilly’s criticisms of the black community, especially since he even suggested that the conservative talk show host hadn’t gone far enough.

Here, he talks about We Were There, an oral history of The March on Washington featuring the only surviving speaker Congressman John Lewis as well as Harry Belafonte, U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton,  and other attendees. The special is set to debut on CNN on Friday, August 23 at 10:00p.m., 1:00a.m., and 4:00a.m.    

 

 

Kam Williams: Hi Don, thanks for the opportunity to interview you.

Don Lemon: Hi, Kam. How are you?

 

KW: Great! And you?

DL: I’m not complaining, but it’s a crazy-busy day. I have to anchor, do my radio hits, prepare for my show tomorrow, make tapes, and do press for We Were There! 

 

KW: What interested you in doing a special about The March on Washington?

DL: We had been talking about it for awhile as the 50th anniversary approached, and I kept indicating that I would love to be a part of it. Somewhere, somehow, somebody heard that, Kam, and they said, “Don really wants to do this. Let’s have him do it.”

 

KW: Being an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award-winner, I don’t think you’d have to beg too much.   

DL: Just because I’m here at CNN, I never rest on my laurels and presume I can coast now. I still throw my hat in the ring and push to have a voice. I am the face of this documentary for CNN, and I think that says a lot about how far we’ve come. Here I am a young African-American who has a voice at this major network. That is part of the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream. 

 

KW: Does the documentary have a theme?

DL: There are, for me, a few different themes. People like John Lewis and A. Philip Randolph put their lives on the line to participate. So, the first theme that stands out to me is courage. The second theme was the hope they exhibited in “the teeth of the most terrifying odds,” as James Baldwin said. Thirdly, Bayard Rustin, who many call The Architect of the Civil Rights Movement, finally gets his due. I think that’s a fair characterization to some degree. He’s the silent, strong man who made The March happen. But because he was gay and people tried to use that against him is probably why we don’t hear so much about him.     

 

KW: I remember feeling admiration as a child for the folks from my neighborhood who were going down to The March on Washington, because of everyone’s palpable sense of concern for their safety.   

DL: I think admiration is a good way of putting it. Whenever I see John Lewis, I invariably say, “Thank you.” And I will never stop. I don’t know how he’s still standing, because what he endured took courage and strength that I don’t know that I have. 

 

KW: I interviewed Ellen DeGeneres the day after Barack Obama won the 2008 Presidential Election. She felt his victory had been bittersweet because Proposition 8 had passed in California, banning gay marriage. The measure had succeeded with the help of the black community. I asked her whether she thought African-Americans would feel differently about homosexuality, if a famous black icon came out of the closet. How do you feel about that, as probably the most prominent black celebrity to come out?                                          

DL: I don’t consider myself a celebrity. I’m just a journalist. Frank Ocean is a celebrity. Yeah, I was in the forefront, and took a lot of heat for it. I think the President’s evolution in terms of gay marriage has helped change many people’s minds. I think it’s empowering for a person to live an authentic life. It can only help when prominent and successful people of color come out and live authentically, because younger people, who are being bullied and might be questioning whether they should continue to live, might have second thoughts about taking their own lives. So, yeah, I think any celebrity who comes out can only help a young person struggling with the stigma.  

 

KW: Do you think your coming out started a snowball among black gays?

DL: I don’t know. But I do think it helps the next person, because I get positive feedback every day from someone who has read my book.  

 

KW: See, you’re not just a journalist. Plus look at all the blowback from your recent remarks agreeing with Bill O’Reilly about the black community. 

DL: I don’t feel any blowback, but I will say this, whether you agree with whatever I said or not, at least I got a conversation started. That was my goal, and I think I accomplished it. I think if you’ve watched or read my work over the years, you know that I’m pretty much at the top in terms of taking on issues that have to do with African-Americans and profiling, and with race and racism. What I love about CNN is that, yes, we believe in diversity of bodies, but we also believe in a diversity of opinion. So, whether my bosses agree with what I said or not, it doesn’t matter. We’re in the business of journalism here. Journalism is about having a diversity of opinion. And just because I’m African-American does not mean I have to feel a certain way because I’m black. You don’t have true freedom until you allow a diversity of opinion and a diversity of voices. 

 

KW: I always feel that I’m black, so whatever my opinion on an issue happens to be is a black opinion.

DL: That’s a good way of putting it. [Laughs]

 

KW: But do you fear being pigeonholed as a buddy of O’Reilly?

DL: There are many things that Bill O’Reilly and I disagree about. I just happen to agree with some of what he had to say on this issue, but not all of it. Does that mean I co-signed his whole being and existence? No?

 

 

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

DL: Yes, what do you get from icons like Dr. King, Malcolm X and John Lewis? What I get from them is personal empowerment, personal responsibility, and that the only thing you truly own is your mind. And once you truly own your mind, you’re free. You can decide for yourself what is the best way to respond in the face of discrimination. How to carry yourself with dignity. What matters is how you think of yourself, and having presence of mind. Once you get that right, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of you, because you know how to carry yourself in the world. 

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

DL: The last two books I read were: “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander,

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595586431/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

and “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0807014273/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

DL: Besides all the flaws, I see the kid that I once was. [Chuckles] Seriously, what stares back at me is someone who lives in a constant state of gratitude, regardless of what’s going on in my life. Just this morning, when I woke up, I walked into the bathroom, looked in the mirror and said, “Look how far you’ve come. I’m grateful for this day. And for those fat cheeks. And for the boldness that you have. And for the stances that you take. And I know that you’re going to be okay. And I want the next person who looks like you whether they’re 1 day-old or 15 years-old to be better than you and to have a better life.” I swear to God I just said that this morning in the mirror. So, it’s funny that you asked that question.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory in Baton Rouge?

DL: Sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen at about 3 or 4, watching her talking on a yellow telephone with a long cord. I spilled my drink, and my sister scolded me, “Every time you spill something!” And I asked my very understanding grandma’s permission to go to the bathroom. 

 

KW: Can you give me a Don Lemon question?

DL: Yeah, this question has gotten to just about everyone I ask. It even made Wendy Williams cry. It’s, “Who do you think you are?”  

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

DL: Sleep. I loooooove to sleep. I also like salty, plain potato chips and Lindt dark chocolate with a touch of sea salt. 

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

DL: Seafood gumbo, because I get to make it with my family over the holidays.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

DL: That we would not be so enamored with the slavery of equality, and be more enamored with the freedom of independence.

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 

DL: Being self-possessed. Having a strong sense of self.

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

DL: Leaving Louisiana.

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

DL: Babies and puppies, because they’re so innocent, and they have their lives ahead of them.

 

KW: Makes me think of the saying: Youth is wasted on the young.

DL: To get back to O’Reilly and the whole saggy pants thing, it’s almost like, “Just take my advice, I’m an old guy. That’s probably not a good look. You might want to rethink that.” And then, invariably, something will happen to them in their career, and I hate to say, “I told you so, but…” I suppose people just have to go through things.

 

KW: Which reminds me of another saying: When the student is ready, the teacher appears.

DL: I like that. I’m going to use that on the air.

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

DL: I think it’s great, if you want to follow in my footsteps, but I want you o be better than me, and you have to do it because you are passionately motivated by journalism and by a quest for the truth, not by a desire to be a celebrity. That’s not what this is all about. And you have to be thick-skinned, since you’re going to receive a lot of criticism, and that’s part of what being a journalist is. I feel really strongly about the oath that I’ve taken to inform and to tell the truth. I’m not a race protector, I’m a truth protector. The truth is the truth is the truth. And as long as you tell the truth, you’ll be okay in the end. A lot of people didn’t like Dr. King, either, especially the black establishment. So, you may not be liked, but you’ll be respected.     

 

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Don, and best of luck with We Were There.

DL: It’s been a pleasure, Kam.

To see a trailer for We Were There: The March on Washington, visit: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/07/31/exp-we-were-there-the-march-on-washington.cnn.html  

To purchase a copy of Don Lemon’s autobiography, “Transparent,” visit: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0982702787/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 

To read a transcript of Don Lemon’s remarks about Bill O’Reilly and the black community, visit: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1307/27/cnr.06.html

Forest Whitaker

“The Butler” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

This Forest’s on Fire!

Forest Whitaker is a distinguished artist and humanist. He is the founder of PeaceEarth Foundation, co-founder and chair of the International Institute for Peace, and the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation. A versatile talent, Forest is one of Hollywood’s most accomplished performers, receiving such prestigious honors as a Best Actor Academy Award for his performance in The Last King of Scotland, as well as a Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for Bird.

 

Over the past decade, he has dedicated most of his time to extensive humanitarian work, feeling compelled by his social awareness to seek ways of using the film medium as a means of raising peoples’ consciousness. To that end, he produced the award-winning documentary Kassim the Dream, which tells the touching story of a Ugandan child soldier turned world champion boxer; Rising from Ashes, which profiles Rwandan genocide survivors’ attempt to qualify for the Olympics riding wooden bicycles; Serving Life, which focuses on hospice care for prisoners at Louisiana’s Angola Prison; and the Peabody Award-winning Brick City, which offers an unvarnished peek at inner-city life in Newark, New Jersey.

 

Whitaker was the 2007 recipient of the Cinema for Peace Award, and he currently sits on the board of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. In addition, he serves as a Senior Research Scholar at Rutgers University, and as a Visiting Professor at Ringling College of Art and Design, too.

 

Besides the aforementioned films, Forest’s impressive resume’ includes The Great Debaters, The Crying Game, Panic Room, Platoon, Ghost Dog, Mr. Holland’s Opus and Good Morning Vietnam. Here, he talks about his latest outing as the title character in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, a decades-spanning sage chronicling the life and career of an African-American who served eight presidents in the White House.      

 

Kam Williams: Hi Forest, I’m honored to have this opportunity.

Forest Whitaker: Oh, no, it’s a pleasure just to talk to you, Kam.

 

KW: What interested you in The Butler?

FW: It’s an amazing story. And the script was beautiful in the way it followed this man who served eight presidents and portrayed his love for his family, as well as the love between him and his son. So, I saw it as offering a great challenge and opportunity. And I thought that Lee [director Lee Daniels] would do a wonderful job with the script as a filmmaker, so that was an attraction as well. And I had wanted to work with Oprah, so all of that came together to afford me this tremendous opportunity.   

 

KW: Did the film’s father-son relationship resonate with you when you reflected upon your relationship with your own dad?

FW: Yes, it’s hard to always understand and appreciate your father when you’re coming up, especially since my dad had three jobs when we moved to L.A. So, he was always working. Plus, coming from the South, from Texas, he had a certain way of disciplining that made it hard for me to appreciate, at the time. You don’t fully appreciate the reasons why or the sacrifices that were being made until a later age. In some ways it did parallel the journey of ultimate appreciation that we see in the movie of me towards my son and my son towards me.

 

KW: How did you prepare for the role of Cecil Gaines?

FW: I trained with a butler coach for quite some time. And I studied the history and, of course, tried to make that a part of my own emotional understanding of the time period and the presidency. In terms of the aging process, I particularly had to work on movement and mannerisms. I also tried to understand the dialect and speech patterns. And I worked on how I could communicate my thoughts more clearly without words. I wanted to fill myself up enough so that you would be able to feel my thoughts, even in scenes where I would say nothing.

 

KW: That hard work paid off. I cried about a half-dozen times during the film.

FW: It’s very moving because it deals with so many primal issues: loss, degradation, even joy. Lee painted a picture that allows you to get in touch with many different emotions.

 

KW: True. Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What was it like acting opposite Oprah?

FW: Oprah just really committed completely to the movie. She was startling, at times, in how deeply she was into the authenticity of the scenes. For instance, there was a big emotional moment that wasn’t shown completely in the film where she screamed and fell to the ground, letting out a piercing wail that went through my bones. It had me trying to figure out how to comfort her, because it’s hard to find the proper emotion to respond to pain that overwhelms.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: You are a great director, in addition to of course being an excellent actor. Personally, I love biopics, like where you played Charlie Parker in Bird. Is there a story about an icon that you would like to direct and star in?

FW: Yes, there’s a film I’ve been developing about Louie Armstrong that I’d like to direct and star in. I wrote the script and really believe in it. I think it’s something I’ll probably do next year, although I haven’t made a final decision about whether I should direct it or not. It’s a really special story.

 

KW: Leah Fletcher asks: How did it feel, when you were just breaking into the industry, to receive such a glowing acknowledgment from a seasoned and respected actor such as Sean Connery for your work in The Crying Game? 

FW: Leah, I didn’t even know ‘til now that Sean Connery had commented about my work in The Crying Game. A lot of Brits believe that I was British for quite some time after that film. So, I can see how Sean Connery might have said something. That’s nice.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: You produced the extraordinary Fruitvale Station. Is this a new role you see for yourself?

FW: The truth is, I produce one or two movies every year, both independent and studio films. I’ll continue to produce. In fact, I have a documentary that just came out about the Rwandan National Cycling team called Rising from Ashes.

 

KW: I loved it!

FW: Oh, you already saw it. Great!

 

KW: You can check out my review at Rotten Tomatoes. Bernadette also says: You are a true Renaissance Man. Besides acting, you write, direct, narrate and produce. You’re like a latter-day Oscar Micheaux.

FW: Oscar Micheaux reshaped the Black Film Movement. Those are some great shoes to fill. I can only take that as a compliment. Thanks, Bernadette. That gives me something to live towards, because it’s a lot.

 

KW: Director Rel Dowdell, who has made two low-budget films, including Changing the Game last year, would like to know how he can pitch you about a project.

FW: I have my company, Significant Productions, in Los Angeles. And I also have a company called JuntoBox Films Select, a crowd-sourcing film site which we produce movies out of. We just finished one with a first-time filmmaker, called Sacrifice. And we’re about to do another one in a month or so. Rel can reach out to either one of those companies.

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

FW: [Chuckles] I can’t think of one.

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

FW: Two things: The success of my children, and the work for social justice that I do with my foundation.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

FW: I see someone who is continuing to try to build his connection with the rest of the world.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

FW: That everyone could recognize themselves in the face of the other people that they see.

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

FW: Either a leopard or an eagle.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

FW: My dad teaching me to ride a bike at about 5 or 6.

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere something that you promised to do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

FW: No, and my goals have expanded.

 

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the difference between you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?

FW: I’m the same person, just with different clothes on. I’m the same. 

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

FW: I’d be a spreader of love.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

FW: I’d either be a natural healer or a teacher.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

FW: Solutions Focus. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1904838065/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 

FW: Passion!

 

KW: Harriet also asks: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

FW: The Audrey Hepburn-Albert Finney film, Two for the Road. 

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

FW: Always tell yourself that you want to continue to grow, and you’ll be more connected to growth. 

 

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend that time?

FW: With my family.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Forest, and best of luck with The Butler, and I hope to talk to you about your upcoming independent project.

FW: Sure, Kam, and thanks again for supporting Rising from Ashes.  

To see a trailer for Lee Daniels’ The Butler, visit:

http://www.twcpublicity.com/video_popup.php?id=108

Or: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omJedbKwzLg 

Lee Daniels
The “Lee Daniels' The Butler” Interview
with Kam Williams

 

Lee Daniels is best known for directing and producing the Academy Award-winning film Precious which was nominated for a half-dozen Oscars in 2010, including histwo for Best Picture and Best Director. Mo’Nique won for Best Supporting Actress while scriptwriter Geoffrey Fletcher landed another for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Lee’s production company, Lee Daniels Entertainment, made its feature film debut in 2001 with Monster’s Ball, the dysfunctional family drama for which Halle Berry would earn her historic, Best Actress Oscar. Last year, he wrote, produced and directed The Paperboy, an adaptation of the Pete Dexter novel starring Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, John Cusack, and Nicole Kidman.

Here, he talks about his new picture, The Butler, a civil rights epic recounting the real-life story of an African-American who served in the White House at the pleasure of eight presidents, from 1952 to 1986.

 

Kam Williams: Hey Lee, what a phenomenal film!

Lee Daniels: Did you like it?

 

KW: I loved it!

LD: Thanks, Kam.

 

KW: I was born in the Fifties so all of the ground you cover in terms of the father-son relationship and the Civil Rights Movement resonated with me and touched me very deeply.

LD: That makes me feel good. Thank you very much.

 

KW: So, what inspired you to make the movie?

Read the rest of this story »

Snoop Dogg 
The “Turbo” Interview
with Kam Williams

Calvin Cordozar Broadus was born on October 20, 1971 in Long Beach, California where he was nicknamed Snoopy by his parents because of a striking resemblance to the Peanuts cartoon character. A promising rapper from an early age, he began performing in the 6th grade but was waylaid by brushes with the law in high school.

After a stint behind bars for drug possession, he took the stage name Snoop Doggy Dogg and launched his recording career with the help of hip-hop producer Dr. Dre. His 1993 debut album, Doggystyle, featuring his trademark, laidback vocal phrasings, was well-received and quickly went quadruple platinum.

Over the course of an enduring showbiz career, Snoop has released a dozen solo CDs and sold more than 30 million records. Last year, he tweaked his alias to Snoop Lion when he recorded a reggae album in Jamaica called Reincarnated.

A talented thespian, he’s also acted in a score of movies, most notably, Training Day, Baby Boy, Old School, Starsky & Hutch and, most recently, Scary Movie 5. Here, he talks about his latest screen outing as Smooth Move in Turbo, an animated adventure about a snail who dreams of entering the Indianapolis 500.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Snoop, thanks for the interview.

Snoop Dogg: My pleasure, Kam.

 

KW: What interested you in Turbo?

SD: Well I’ve wanted to do a family movie for a while now. Being able to watch a movie with my family and some of the kids from my Snoop Youth Football League has always been a goal of mine, so when [director] David Soren reached out to me about Turbo I was all for it.  And my character is a smooth little snail…I thought it was a cool concept.

 

KW: How would you describe Smoove Move?

Read the rest of this story »

Kevin Hart

The “Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

A Heart to Heart with Kevin Hart

            Born in Philadelphia on July 6, 1980, Kevin Hart is one of the most versatile comedic actors in both television and film. He’s recently delivered memorable performances in Think Like a Man which grossed over 90 million dollars in theaters, as well as in Judd Apatow’s The Five Year Engagement.
            He previously appeared in Little Fockers, Death at a Funeral, Fool's Gold, Along Came Polly and The 40 Year Old Virgin. And his additional film credits include: Soul Plane, Not Easily Broken, Extreme Movie, Drillbit Taylor, Epic Movie, The Last Stand, Scary Movie 4, In the Mix, Meet Dave and Superhero Movie.

            Kevin’s stand-up DVD Seriously Funny went platinum four times, after the Comedy Central presentation of the same name became the highest rated comedy special of 2010. Last summer, fans across America were treated to Kevin’s side-splitting stand-up comedy in Let Me Explain, an international tour to nearly 100 cities across the United States, Europe and Africa. 
            Here, he talks about Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, a concert film shot mostly at his final stop, Madison Square Garden.  

 

Kam Williams: Hey Kevin, thanks for the interview. I really enjoyed this film.

Kevin Hart: Thank you, Kam, thank you.

 

KW: What inspired it?

KH: I had a helluva year. This tour pretty much exceeded my expectations of what I was going to accomplish. It started off in 5,000-seat venues and eventually escalated to larger arenas with 15,000 seats and more, once I got to major cities and left the country and began selling out in places like Oslo, Copenhagen and Amsterdam. The support that I received from my fans was unreal. 

 

KW: How do fans in countries like Norway and Denmark, where they speak another language, understand you? Did you talk slower or change your delivery for them?

KH: No, I don’t have to change anything. I think that’s the secret to comedy. You want to be universal and appeal to everyone. You want to put yourself in a position that no matter what you’re talking about, everyone can relate to it and understand it, because it’s an experience that everyone can go through. That’s what I pattern my writing material and jokes after. I’m trying to maintain a level of realness that my fans can appreciate.

 

KW: One of the themes of this show was convincing your fans that success hasn’t gone to your head. But isn’t life a lot different for you now than a couple of decades ago? After all, you’re from North Philly and started out as a shoe salesman.

KH: Well, things changed, but only to a certain degree. Just because your environment or living space changes doesn’t mean that your attitude necessarily has to change. By attitude, I mean the way you interact with others. You don’t have to treat people differently. You may be living a different lifestyle, but the person living that different lifestyle still can relate to anybody and have the same amazing personality of the guy from North Philly. The people around me haven’t changed. The people who have been in my life since the beginning are still in my life now. I think that has a lot to do with my staying grounded and humble despite the success I’ve achieved.  

 

KW: You talk a lot about dating in the movie. Is there a Kevin Hart relationship advice book in the works?

KH: [Chuckles] Funny you should mention that, Kam. I don’t know if I’m at the relationship advice stage yet. I do have a lot of information to share, and a book is definitely in the works, but I don’t know whether it’ll be geared towards relationships. 

 

KW: In the film you cried at the end of the concert at Madison Square Garden. What was the emotion that overwhelmed you at that moment?

KH: I never thought in a million years that I’d ever sell out back-to-back shows at The Garden. That’s not to say, I never expected my career to take off. Still, it was a “Pinch Me, Wake Me Up” moment. I was like, “Wow! I can’t believe this. That I’m actually here, and this is actually happening.” And in that moment, when I was about to thank my fans for supporting me, I noticed that they were standing up clapping. It was overwhelming, and became a very emotional moment when I tried to thank them.  

 

KW: I also liked how you had pyrotechnics going off onstage during the show periodically.

KH: [Laughs] That was my way of joking around by saying, “I’m about to jump into a different level, because I have fire.” Ain’t no other comedian ever had fire.

 

KW: When did you know you had made it?

KH: The beauty of it is that I don’t think I’ve ever really relaxed. I want to do too much within the business. And there’s so much you can achieve with a launching pad like stand-up comedy. You can literally go from acting to hosting to being a personality to…

 

KW: To the Real Husbands of Hollywood?

KH: [Chuckles] To the Real Husbands of Hollywood. It all depends on what you’re willing to invest time and effort in and put your mind to. That’s what separates winners from losers. Winners are the ones who want the most out of their opportunities.

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

KH: [Laughs] No, I’m pretty much an open book. I’ve pretty much talked about anything I’m going through onstage. Between interviews and curious fans, I’ve been asked everything. And I always give answers. I don’t shy away from anything.

 

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

KH: I have good laugh every day. I enjoy life. I’m surrounded by love and positivity.

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

KH: Creation, getting behind a project from start to finish, and being able to see it blossom into a success.

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

KH: I can’t cook, but I can make a turkey and cheese sandwich like nobody else.

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

KH: Seeing my kids happy.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

KH: “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.”

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061728977/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

KH: Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It.”

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0013D7YCK/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

KH: Right now, I’d have to go with two: Lanvin and Yves St. Laurent.

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

KH: Focusing on stand-up comedy 100%.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

KH: I see a man with drive and determination who wants to go down in history.  

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

KH: For a better-looking pair of feet.

 

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend the time?

KH: I would spend absolutely every last minute with my kids, telling them how much I love them and how much I would do for them.

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

KH: A lion, the king of the jungle.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

KH: My mom and dad discussing taking us to Disney World at a time that they couldn’t afford it. I was probably about 5.

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere something that you promised to do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

KH: No, because I know how easy it is to put your foot in your mouth.

 

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question:How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?

KH: Going through my divorce has changed who I am in my understanding of what’s good and bad in relationships.

 

KW: You talk about the divorce in your act. How hard is that?

KH: Once again, that’s what separates the best from the crowd. Those who are willing to open up and show a vulnerable side are the ones who have gone on to achieve so many amazing things.

 

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person you pretend to be on the red carpet?

KH: None at all. That’s who I am.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

KB: To be able to read people’s thoughts.

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 

KH: That’s a great question… Drive!

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

KH: Writing.

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

KH: If they were ever to remake Goodfellas, I’d love to play Joe Pesci’s role.

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

KH: Hard work and determination equals success. Nothing comes easy. Put your mind to something. The best feeling in the world is seeing the benefits and rewards of hard work.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity?

KH: I participate with so many, but my goal is to get my own off the ground once I slow down. It’ll be dedicated to my mom who I lost to ovarian cancer. 

 

KW: I’m sorry about your mom. The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

KH: As a good father, as a great person, and as a hard worker.

 

KW: Can you give me a Kevin Hart question I can ask other celebrities?

KH: Yeah, do you have any career regrets?

 

KW: Great! That’ll be “The Kevin Hart Question.”

KH: There you go.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Kevin. I really appreciate it. 

KH: Take it easy, Kam.

To see a trailer for Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, visit:     

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T69cdWclv9I    

Senator Rick Santorum

The “EchoLight Studios” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Presidential Candidate-Turned-CEO of Faith-Based Film Studio

            Born in Winchester, Virginia on May 10, 1958, Rick Santorum is ever the advocate for families, freedom, the United States and faith. The former Senator from Pennsylvania spent last year as a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

            A grassroots approach to campaigning catapulted him to frontrunner status, as he won 11 states and over 4 million votes during the primary season. Earlier in his political career, prior to serving in the U.S. Senate from 1995 to 2007, Rick served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995.

            He is also the author of a couple of New York Times best-sellers, “American Patriots” and “It Takes a Family.” Rick and his wife of 23 years, Karen, are the parents of seven wonderful children: Elizabeth, John, Daniel, Sarah Maria, Peter, Patrick and Isabella.

            Senator Santorum recently spoke with me about taking the reins of EchoLight Studios, as CEO of the first vertically-integrated Christian movie studio to offer production financing, marketing and distribution across all releasing platforms.

 

 

Kam Williams: Hey, Senator Santorum, I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.

Rick Santorum: Hi, Kam. It’s very kind of you to take my call.

 

KW: How is your daughter Bella, and the rest of the family? 

RS: Thank you so much for asking. She is doing fabulously. She’s had a tremendous year since the campaign ended, and has been healthy, so I just feel like we’ve been extraordinarily blessed. Thanks again for asking. I have to tell you, that is the most common question I get when I talk to people. It’s very heartwarming for a dad who is very proud of his little girl.    

 

KW: Great! I’m happy to hear she’s doing well. So, what interested you in EchoLight Studios?

RS: I’ve always been interested in the idea of culture-shaping institutions, and film is obviously a huge shaper of the culture. I’ve long felt that folks who share my value structure have not done a very good job at getting involved in that space and creating content. When a friend of mine who is an investor in this company came to me and said, “Hey, I want to show you what I’m up to,” I got interested in it. And over the course of 8 or 9 months I got more and more involved to the point where I decided that it would be a good use of my time and energy to work with a unique company that is really structured like no other in the industry. It’s a vertically-integrated film company which not only has the money to develop and produce films, but has the capability to distribute them everywhere down the line, from theatrically to DVDs. It’s a full-service movie studio, and we’re very excited about it.          

 

KW: Does it seem to you that a certain secular political correctness has become the state religion which is backing people of faith into a corner where they no longer feel free to express their views without serious repercussions? Look at the blowback Chik-fil-A encountered when one of its executives cited the Bible in objecting to gay marriage. 

RS: You hear a lot about diversity from folks on the left, but diversity only seems to include things they want to talk about. Chik-fil-A is a great example. But on a whole variety of fronts you’re sort of ostracized if you don’t stand by the orthodox liberal point-of-view that the media seem to adhere to. You see this in a lot in films, too. I could cite example after example where they strip out controversial material because it mentions God or Jesus or faith or some moral teachings. It’s really sad that you can’t have real-life depictions of how people of faith live their lives, and have that reflected in movies without accusations like, “You’re a theocrat! You’re trying to preach to us.” No, this is how people live their lives. The sad part is that what Hollywood has done is sort of scrub faith out of the picture. It sanitizes any mention of God or faith or Christ.

 

KW: But what about The Bible miniseries which was such a hit on TV recently?

RS: A Biblical epic is another thing. That’s okay with them, because it’s just a Bible story. But if you’re interested in talking about how faith really works in people’s lives, and want try to tell that story grittily, truthfully and authentically, that’s missing. That’s a missing component in large part because of political correctness and a desire to appeal to a broader audience. Well, they don’t seem to worry about appealing to a broader audience when they promote other values inconsistent with where most of America is. They have no problem putting edgy stuff in movies that they know aren’t agreed to by most of the American public. But when it comes to faith-oriented fare, they stay way far away from it. So, what I hope to do with these faith and family films is to show faith in its authentic form. I don’t want to be pastor-in-chief. I don’t want to preach to anybody. A lot of our movies are going to be true stories, and we’re going to show the role of faith as it really is. And hopefully, it will feel natural and not forced. That’s what we have to do. We have to produce quality content. No one wants to see poorly-scripted, poorly-made, poorly-acted Christian content. We need to produce high-quality, compelling stories that have a heart.   

 

KW: Why is it that Congress can open each session with a prayer, yet it’s forbidden to do the same thing in public schools? It seems that we’ve ushered God out of most of the public square. 

RS: That’s true and, to me, it’s really a violation of what our Constitution says, and of what is essential for a good and decent society. A good and decent society allows everyone access to the public square, whether I agree with them or not. Sadly, someone who has a moral point-of-view that is informed by, say Friedrich Nietzsche [who pronounced “God is dead!’], has the right to advance their beliefs in the public square, while someone whose morality is informed by Jesus Christ can’t. They’re supposedly bad. What makes Nietzsche more legitimate under the Constitution than Christ? Nothing. The whole idea of the Constitution was to let people of faith as well as those of no faith have their voices heard and respected. I don’t vilify people because I disagree with them. I don’t assume they’re bigots or haters, but that’s the way people of faith are depicted now, when in the public square.  

 

KW: What did you think of President Obama’s recent statement about parochial schools he made while in Ireland?

RS: Sorry, Kam, I haven’t heard it. We’ve been on vacation, and I deliberately tuned out while away. I apologize.

 

KW: He basically dissed religious schools, saying they encourage division. As a product of Catholic schools, I was shocked, especially since they have done such a great job serving inner-city communities with poor public schools.

RS: That wouldn’t surprise me, but I’m not in a position to comment on it.  

 

KW: Well, when you’re up to speed, I hope we can chat again about this and some of the other issues of the day. Meanwhile, thanks for the time, Senator, and I look forward to reviewing the pictures you produce as CEO of EchoLight Studio.

RS: That sounds great. Thanks, Kam.

To order a copy of “American Patriots,” visit:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1414379080/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

To order a copy of “It Takes a Family,” visit: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/193223683X/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

Fana Mokoena

The “World War Z” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

A Fan of Fana

            Born in on May 13, 1971, veteran South African actor Fana Mokoena garnered worldwide acclaim for his powerful portrayal of General Augustin Bizimungu opposite Oscar-nominees Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo in Hotel Rwanda. He previously worked with World War Z director Marc Forster on Machine Gun Preacher where he played John Garang, leader of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army.

            Fana’s other film credits include supporting roles in Safe House, Inside Story,  State of Violence and Man on Ground, for which he received an Africa Movie Academy Award. Here, he talks about his latest outing opposite Brad Pitt in World War Z where he reunites with Forster as U.N. Deputy Secretary General Thierry Umutoni.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Fana, thanks for the interview.

Fana Mokoena: Thank you.

 

KW: How is Madiba’s [Nelson Mandela] health holding up?

FM: I’m seriously worried about him but I've learned to let him go. It's hard.

 

KW: What interested you in World War Z?

FM: That it was a brave stab at the Zombie genre. We haven't seen one at this scale, and I immediately saw how it was going to work.

 

KW: How was it working with director Marc Forster?

FM: He trusted me with the work, and I found that refreshing. It helps you grow.

 

KW: What was it like acting opposite an icon like Brad Pitt?

FM: Awesome! Awe-inspiring! Awe-striking! It was incredible to watch him work.

 

KW: How would you describe your character, Thierry Umutoni?

FM: As a measured character. Hard-driven, but kind and compassionate. No drama.

 

KW: How did you prepare for the role?

FM: I first had to read the book to cover my basics. Then I had to understand the world of the zombie, and familiarize myself with what the end of the world means to my character personally.

 

KW: What message do you think people will take away from the film?

FM: I hope they take away the overarching message that the end of the world is all our responsibility.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

FM: I’m still reading my birthday gift, 'Speeches That Changed the World.’ It’s a compilation of speeches by some of the greatest men and women in history.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0857382470/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: Belated happy birthday! The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

FM: I’ve been going retro on Ephraim Lewis and the last song I listened to was “Captured.”

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002HAR/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20 

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

FM: I like our traditional dishes, but I can cook a mean pasta, too.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

FM: A sign: “Work in Progress.”

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

FM: Happiness and longevity.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

FM: The chicken and the doves we used to have at home.

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 

FM: Tenacity and integrity.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

FM: Art and graphics.

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

FM: Citizen Kane, the second greatest movie ever made.

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

FM: Just as a guy who worked hard.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Fana, and I will be keeping Mandela in my prayers.

FM: Thanks, Kam.

 

To see a trailer for World War Z, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md6Dvxdr0AQ  

Michael B. Jordan    

The “Fruitvale Station” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Emerging Actor Discusses His Breakout Role as the Late Oscar Grant

            Born in Santa Ana on February 9, 1987, Michael B. Jordan is one of Hollywood's brightest young actors. In 2012, he starred in 20th Century Fox’s box office hit CHRONICLE, a supernatural thriller that follows three Portland teens as they develop incredible powers after exposure to a mysterious substance. He also had a supporting role in George Lucas’ film RED TAILS, a World War II saga recounting the story of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen.

            Michael recently completed shooting ARE WE OFFICIALLY DATING?

opposite Zac Efron, Imogen Poots and Miles Teller. Before embarking on his film career, he was best known for his work in two of the most significant television dramas of the past decade.

            First, he received critical acclaim for his portrayal of the hard-shelled, soft-hearted, young urbanite Wallace in the HBO hit dramatic series THE WIRE. He then went on to star as quarterback Vince Howard on the NBC’s Emmy-winning FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.

            He also portrayed recovering alcoholic Alex on the third season of the NBC series PARENTHOOD. Blessed with the opportunity to begin a professional acting career early in his life, Michael caught the eye of Bill Cosby and was

cast in the recurring role of Michael on the series COSBY in 1999. Almost simultaneously, he appeared on the HBO series THE SOPRANOS opposite the late James Gandolfini.  

            In 2001, he was selected from hundreds of hopefuls to play Jamal in the feature film HARDBALL starring Keanu Reeves. A couple years later, he became the youngest African-American actor contracted with ABC’s daytime drama series ALL MY CHILDREN where he played Reggie, Susan Lucci’s character’s adopted son.

            Michael later moved to Los Angeles where he soon landed a lead in the independent film BLACKOUT, co-starring Melvin Van Peebles, Jeffrey Wright, and Zoe Saldana. In the fall of 2007, he was cast in the faith-based feature film PASTOR BROWN.

            He has enjoyed guest appearances on CSI, COLD CASE, LIE TO ME, WITHOUT A TRACE, and LAW & ORDER, and garnered NAACP Image Award Nominations for Outstanding Male Actor in a Television Daytime Drama Series in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Here, he talks about starring as the late Oscar Grant in FRUITVALE STATION, a critically-acclaimed picture which has wowed audiences at both the Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals earlier this year. The movie recounts the shooting of the 22 year-old Grant in the back by a police officer on a train station platform on New Year’s Day 2009.    

 

Kam Williams: Hi Michael, thanks for the interview.

Michael B. Jordan: What’s up, buddy? Thank you for taking the time.

 

KW: That’s quite a powerful performance you delivered as Oscar.

MBJ: Thank so much, Kam.

 

KW: Congratulations on this picture’s winning at Sundance in January and then again at Cannes in June. Did you attend both film festivals?

MBJ: Yes sir, I did.

 

KW: Where did it get the longer standing ovation?

MBJ: At Cannes. It went on for about 7 or 8 minutes. It was overwhelming. I got chills all over. It was very intense. 

 

KW: What interested you in Fruitvale Station?

MBJ: Honestly, I remember hearing about the incident when it happened, and feeling very angry, upset and frustrated about not being able to do anything about it. I felt very helpless. I was coming off a project at the time, and I really wanted to do an independent film that was more of an intimate, character-driven piece. And it just so happened that what I wanted to do, Ryan’s vision [director Ryan Coogler] and the timing of his project worked out in my favor, man. All of the pieces seemed to fall right into place.

 

KW: Did you feel any pressure to deliver a great performance given that it’s the biopic of a person who has passed away and who left behind family, including a young daughter who barely got to know him?

MBJ: Of course, and I put a lot of that pressure on myself. I knew that Oscar’s daughter was going to see this film someday, and that was the only pressure I needed to do her father justice. But I felt a huge responsibility not only to his family, but to the whole Bay community, since the story is so important to them, too.

KW: Did you meet with his mother or any of Oscar’s friends and family members in preparing for this role?

MBJ: Yes, I spent time with his mother, his daughter, his girlfriend, Sophina, and his best friends. So, I got a chance to get to know Oscar a little bit better and to understand each of their relationships with him. It was very beneficial to the film.  

 

KW: Is there anything the family wanted people to know about Oscar?

MBJ: That he was a person, a flawed human being who made some mistakes just like anybody else. That was about it. They really trusted Ryan’s vision and what he wanted to do.

 

KW: Did you identify with this character at all, given how often young black males are subjected to profile stops and police brutality? 

MBJ: Yeah, I’m from Newark, New Jersey, so I’ve been in that sort of situation before. I could relate, since I used to catch the train back and forth between Newark and Manhattan all the time. You’d see transit cops interacting with intoxicated passengers during the holiday season in response to distress calls. It could just as easily have been me, or somebody else with a group of friends going to the city who might have gotten a little rowdy. Oscar was a product of his community. The problem is that people from outside of that community can be quick to judge us based on the way we look, talk and dress.

 

KW: How was it being directed by Ryan Coogler?

MBJ: He’s an incredible director, extremely talented and a natural born leader. And he was the ideal coach for me, because we’re so close in age. We speak the same language, being from the same generation. The story meant a lot to him because he’s from the Bay area. He’s very close to this project. Everything worked out. It was a perfect storm.  

 

KW: What was it like acting opposite an Oscar-winner in Octavia Spencer?

MBJ: That ain’t bad, either. Not too shabby. I learned a lot from her. She’s one of the most giving actresses I know in terms of getting you there. Whatever you need, she’s very selfless, no ego, and I think it shows.

 

KW: Is it weird that the cast has actors named Michael Jordan and Kevin Durand? Are you worried that people might mistake the picture for a movie about basketball?

MBJ: Oh man, that was the crazy thing.

 

KW: What message do you think people will take away from the film?

MBJ: I hope people feel angry, upset, or something that sparks a conversation about how we can be better people. A better father… a better brother… a better mom… a better sister… We have to start with the individual. So, I want people to leave the theater and think, “How can I be a better person?” That’s the only way things are going to improve. It may not happen in my lifetime, but if I can play a part in moving things along, then I feel I’ve done a good job.   

 

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

MBJ: Scaring my little brother who is deathly afraid of birds. It’s ridiculous because he’s 6’ 7” and weighs 290 pounds. But he hates birds. If you really want to have a good laugh, all you have to do is send him pictures of geese, ducks and stuff like that randomly. His responses are pretty funny and make me laugh out loud.   

 

KW: What are your favorite dishes to cook?

MBJ: My grilled lamb chops and homemade mashed potatoes. And my barbequed salmon, that’s pretty good, too. I love cooking! The first dish I ever learned to make was rainbow trout with couscous and raisins. It’s pretty incredible. I can cook that with my eyes closed now. 

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

MBJ: My Japanese animation.

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

MBJ: [LOL] You’ve got some great questions, dude… No.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

MBJ: Snow Crash.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553380958/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

MBJ: Memories Back Then by T.I.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00CFK7W54/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

MBJ: Being around like-minded creative people. Watching a really good movie excites me, because it makes we want to get up off the couch and go shoot something and act in a scene. And music excites me because it puts me in a mind state, whatever that may be.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

MBJ: A man trying to figure it all out.

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

MBJ: Doing the movie Chronicle.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

MBJ: For more wishes.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

MBJ: I been waiting for that question. That’s one nobody has ever asked me. It was one day when my dad was outside washing the car. My older sister tricked me into sitting in the bucket. I remember getting stuck in the bucket, soggy diaper and all, and not being able to get out. That’s my earliest childhood memory.   

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Michael, and I look forward to speaking with you again in January when you get that Oscar nomination.

MBJ: I appreciate that, Kam [Chuckles] But don’t jinx me, dude.

To see a trailer for Fruitvale Station, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxUJwJfcQaQ

Ross Mathews
The “Man Up!” Interview with Kam Williams

Born in Mount Vernon, Washington on September 24, 1979, Ross Mathews has traveled the world and established himself as one of the most in-demand television correspondents in the pop-culture arena today. Endearing and witty, undeniably funny and one of the hardest working people in show business, Ross has won the hearts of millions of Americans since his television debut as Ross the Intern on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

He can be seen as a regular panelist and occasional guest host on E!’s late-night talk show “Chelsea Lately,” and is a fixture on the E! Network’s live red carpet awards show coverage. While working on a variety of projects Mathews continues duties on “The Tonight Show.”

In 2009, he hosted and executive produced a daily web talk show for The Insider and CBS.com called “Inside Dish with Ross Mathews,” a show about covering Hollywood from the outside in. “Inside Dish” eventually became the official web show for the CBS hits “Big Brother” and “The Amazing Race.”

In 2011, he began a national college tour speaking about his experiences climbing the Hollywood ladder and discussing his humorous take on pop culture. Many of his tour dates were documented on E! News’ political series, “Pop & Politics.”

Leading up to the 2012 Presidential Election, Ross served as the official political reporter for E! News. He covered both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, where he interviewed such leading political figures as First Lady Michelle Obama, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former Republican Presidential nominee John McCain.

Ross recently released his first book, “Man Up: Tales of My Self Delusional Self-Confidence.” Featuring an introduction written by Gwyneth Paltrow, and afterword from Chelsea Handler, the memoir takes readers inside Mathews’ personal journey as a super fan, revealing the most embarrassing and hilarious moments of his small town life and big city adventures, and explains how he managed to turn an obsession with pop culture into one-on-one interactions with A-list celebrities.

Ross lives in Los Angeles with his partner Salvador, and their two rescue dogs, Louise and Mijo. When not working, he’s is a strong supporter of the Human Rights Campaign, speaking at many of its events, and receiving its Visibility Award in 2011. Here, he talks about his career, his autobiography, and the TV talk show he’ll be hosting in the fall on E! called “Hello Ross.”

Kam Williams: Hi Ross, thanks for the interview.

Ross Mathews: It’s great to talk to you, Kam.

KW: First, I want to let you know I was both thoroughly entertained by “Man Up!” and very moved by its self-empowerment theme. It’s a book I really savored and read slowly because it had substance and was thoroughly enjoyable.

RM: That makes me so happy I can’t even tell you. I can’t tell you how much I like hearing that, because it was a calculated decision to write the book which I took it very seriously. It wouldn’t be worth my while to just publish a trashy, bitchy, red carpet celebrity tell-all. I wanted my kids to be able to read it someday, and have them go, “Hey, that was pretty cool.”

KW: It was hilarious where you talked about interviewing celebrities on the red carpet, but it was also truly touching when you revisit the challenges you overcame in childhood and the support you received from your mother when you decided to come out. It gave me goose bumps.

RM: I’m going to call my mom and tell her you said that. She’ll love it!

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: What message do you want people to take away from your new book?

RM: The book is really funny, but it does have a message. I wanted to make sure the readers did take something away from it. I define “Man Up!” as celebrating what you are. So many people waste time hating what makes them different. But if you are really willing to own what makes you unique, then good things can happen. That would be the message I want them to come away with.

KW: Patricia also says: You have tried several different aspects of the entertainment business. Is there another you would like to try in the future? How about directing?

RM: I just did this tour playing theaters all by myself, which was really scary, but I ended up loving it. I always thought I was only good at a couple things and felt it was best to play it safe by staying in my wheelhouse. However, this tour challenged me in a way I kinda’ enjoyed, so you never know. Every Oprah has her Color Purple.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: Ross, it’s possible that, at first, most of your fans were laughing at you. But your “stick-to-it”-iveness eventually had them laughing with you. Good show! What are your plans to transition from Leno?

RM: I knew what I was, kind of like a high-pitched, gay cartoon with a Middle American TV audience. So, I had to get them to laugh with me by the end. In the early days, that was a struggle every piece. It was stressful, because I never knew whether I was going to get another assignment. But they did, and I’ve been doing Leno for twelve years, and I’ve developed a great relationship with the E! Network where I’ll be doing my new talk show produced by Chelsea Handler. It’s going to hit the airwaves in the Fall.

KW: Congratulations! What’s the show’s format?

RM: Yeah, it’s really cool. There are so many shows that look at Pop Culture and tear it down, saying, “Isn’t that lame?”“He’s stupid! or “She’s stupid!” But I love pop culture. I want to create a place that’s interactive where we can talk it out. It’s about the fans. When I have Gwyneth Paltrow on my show, I’ll interview her first, then go into the audience and let them ask her questions. I envision it as a place where Pop Culture and fans can come together.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

RM: Omigosh! What are you wearing.

KW: Okay, what are you wearing?

RM: [LOL] Pajamas. I’m in a hotel room in Chicago.

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

RM: I’ve never thought about it, but no. In my experience, I always just leapt, and felt, “What happens, happens. I’ll be fine.” I do see fear in a lot of friends and in people who email me or tweet me. I don’t think fear ever really factors in with successful people. They just take the leap. I might feel fear over things I couldn’t control, like health, or in the middle of a disaster.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

RM: Yes, very happy.

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

RM: I’m traveling with my partner of five years, Salvador, and we laugh constantly. We shared a good laugh in the elevator last night after I did an impression of someone.

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

RM: Happy hour and an early bedtime.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

RM: “Then Again” by Diane Keaton . It was really good.

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to?

RM: “Whistle” by Flo Rida. It’s the ringtone on my cell phone.

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

RM: Nana’s Potatoes.

KW: Oh, yeah, the dish you cook every Thanksgiving with Corn Flakes on top. You share the recipe for it in the book.

RM: It sounds so trashy, but it’s my “go to” dish. It’s soooooo good!

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

RM: I’m obsessed with her show “Scandal.” I would be one of my dogs. They eat better than I eat... they have more clothes than I have… and go to the doctor more than I do.

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

RM: Achievement… Success... Crossing something off my life wish list.

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

RM: Here’s the thing. People think I’m a super-fashionista because I do E! and tell it like it is when I’m on the red carpet. But in real life, I’m content wearing slip-on shoes and a zip-up hoodie or a windbreaker. And I love a bargain.

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

RM: To just be myself the first time Jay Leno asked me to go out and cover an event. To take that risk and do it my way, a way no one had ever done it before.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

RM: A double chin.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

RM: Selfishly, to have my dad back. But, if it weren’t just for me, I’d like to eliminate poverty.

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, what would you do? Would you do the bad stuff, you never got a chance to do, or would you do good stuff to make sure you make it into heaven?

RM: I would go wherever mom was with my dogs and Salvador. And I would eat as much pizza as I could while watching Steel Magnolias. Pizza’s my favorite thing. But I rarely eat it, because I always feel horribly guilty afterwards.

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

RM: Playing in the fields behind my house with my brother at about 4 or 5. I also remember being tricked by my brother one New Year’s Eve, when my dad brought home a stuffed animal for us to share. My brother offered to let me play with it “until next year.” Then he took it back the very next day, saying, “Okay, it’s a new year, so now it’s mine.”

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere something that you promised to do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

RM: I promised myself that I’d host an award show. I haven’t done that yet.

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question:How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?

RM: My first big heartbreak was right after college. It really hurt and toughened me up so that everything after that seemed more doable. So, it sort of gave me some calluses on my heart.

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person you pretend to be on the red carpet?

RM: Funny! For me it’s all the same. It’s different for actors and actresses, because they have to have a certain air of glamour about them. My whole thing is that I’m a liaison for the fans, and if I pretended to be someone different, it would never work.

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

RM: A reverse-calorie superpower that would enable me to make fattening foods healthy.

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share?

RM: If you’re going to be successful, you’re going to be successful. Successful people don’t let anything get in their way. A square peg fits perfectly into a round hole for them.

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

RM: Hairstyling.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

RM: Anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps should consider looking somewhere else, because my story was so unique. Most people who come to Hollywood get headshots, find an agent and go to auditions. Being an intern and getting plucked like I was is so rare. It doesn’t really happen.

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

RM: As someone who put something good out. That’s the whole reason I worked so hard on this book, and fought so hard to do it the way I did it. I wanted to plant a seed of positivity. When I was a kid, I didn’t know what it meant to be a successful, grown-up gay person, because I didn’t see it. The role models weren’t on TV for me back then. So, I would hope that I am sort of setting an example, and not just for gays. My message is a universal one of self-acceptance. Whatever you are, you need to love it

KW: Thanks again for the time, Ross, and best of luck with the book, the talk show and everything else.

RM: Thank you so much, Kam, for the fun interview.

Rochelle Aytes
The “Mistresses” Interview
with Kam Williams

Born in New York on May 17, 1976, Rochelle Aytes is quickly establishing herself as one of Hollywood’s brightest starlets with an impressive film and television career on the rise. Rochelle is now starring on Mistresses, ABC’s new, nighttime soap opera premiering Monday, June 3rd at 10 p.m. ET/PT (Check local listings).

Based on the British TV series of the same name, the show co-stars Alyssa Milano, Jess Macallan and Yunjin Kim. It is a provocative, thrilling, drama that finds four women with scandalous romantic lives caught in storms of excitement and self-discovery, secrecy and betrayal, and at the mercy of the complex relationships they’ve created.

Rochelle will play the lead role of April, a young widow raising two daughters and running a high-end linen shop on Robertson Boulevard. She was previously seen as a series regular on a short-lived but very funny sitcom for ABC entitled Work. And she starred opposite Christian Slater on ABC’s The Forgotten.

She enjoyed a recurring role on the hit series Desperate Housewives and Detroit 187. In addition, she has shot guest leads on TV shows like White Collar, Dark Blue, NCIS: Las Vegas, Daybreak, ER, CSI: NY, and on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, as Allen Payne’s love interest.

Rochelle made her big screen debut in the summer of 2004 playing the love interest of Shawn Wayans in the romantic comedy White Chicks. More recently, she starred in a lead role opposite Blair Underwood, Tyler Perry and Boris Kodjoe in Madea’s Family Reunion.

 

 

Kam Williams: Hi Rochelle. Thanks for another interview.

Rochelle Aytes: Thanks for having me!

 

KW: Congratulations on landing a lead role on your own TV series! 

RA: Thank you, Kam. I am so excited for it to finally air.

 

KW: How would you describe the show in 25 words or less?

RA: Mistresses is about the lives of four women, each going through different versions of infidelity. Their longtime friendship is what gets them through extremely challenging times.

 

KW: Did you watch episodes of the British version of the program in preparation for the role?

RA: I have actually never seen the British version.

 

KW: What makes your character, April Malloy, tick?

RA: April is the more down-to-earth, motherly one of the girls. She gets so worked up over prank phone calls and starts to believe that it is the ghost of her dead husband.

 

KW: What message, if any, do you want the audience to take away from the series? 

RA: I hope that the audience is thoroughly entertained. Each story line is very relatable to the average person’s life and hopefully they will find comfort in knowing that they are not alone.

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

RA: Coffee and wine.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read? 

RA: DeVon Franklin and Tim Vandehey’s book, “Produced by Faith.”

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1439171033/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

RA: A cheese omelette with spinach and peppers, and home fries!

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

RA: Planning a vacation on a beach somewhere!

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question: What was your best career decision?

RA: Working with my team. I have the best agent, manager, publicist, acting coach, and lawyer. Without them I wouldn’t have the opportunities that I’ve had.

 

KW: What was your first big break? 

RA: My first big break was White Chicks. I had only been acting for about two years and I certainly didn’t feel like I was ready for such an opportunity. It could only be the hand of God blessing me. I accept everything I’m given with great appreciation.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for? 

RA: To heal my mother. She has kidney failure and osteoporosis. It’s very sad.

 

KW: I’m so sorry to hear that, Rochelle. I’ll keep her in my prayers. The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, what would you do? Would you do the bad stuff, you never got a chance to do, or would you do good stuff to make sure you make it into heaven? 

RA: I would do the good stuff. I want eternal life with my father.

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be? 

RA: A butterfly or a bird. 

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory? 

RA: I remember being very young and going to AA meetings with my father in Brooklyn. I thought it was fun because they served hot chocolate and cookies.

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Is there something that you promised to do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

RA: No, but I promised to buy my mother a house when I became rich. 

  

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person you pretend to be on the red carpet?

RA: I feel like I am pretty much the same, minus the extra hair and makeup. I may turn the energy up a bit, but I’m a silly person naturally and I love to laugh and have fun, so I tend to carry that same energy onto the carpet.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose? 

RA: That’s a hard one! It’s a tie between flying and healing.

 

KW: The Michael Ealy question: If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be?

RA: Jesus.

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

RA: Yes--Pretty Woman. I love Julia Roberts and that red dress. I actually had someone duplicate it for my high school prom. [LOL]

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity? 

RA: Any one that has to do with saving children.

 

KW: Can you come up with a Rochelle Aytes question I can ask other celebrities? 

RA: If you could choose any other occupation what would it be?

 

KW: Thanks, and thanks again for the time, Rochelle, and best of luck with Mistresses.

RA: Thank you so much, Kam. I really enjoyed answering these questions. They were very thought provoking.

To see a trailer for Mistresses, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBE5pX6fLQk 

Zulay Henao
The “Love Thy Neighbor” Interview
with Kam Williams

Hip Hip Zulay!

Zulay Henao was born in Medellin, Colombia on May 29, 1979, and moved to the United States with her family at 4 years-old with her parents. Living in New Jersey, she knew from an early age that she wanted to be an actress. However, Zulay didn’t follow the conventional route to fame. In fact, she took a pit stop and joined the United States Army after graduating from high school.

While stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, she found time to study at Methodist College. After completing her commitment to the military, Zulay decided to finally pursue her dream of performing.

She enrolled at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, where she would study for several years. It was during this tenure that her break came when she landed the female lead in Feel the Noise starring opposite music sensation Omarion.

It was then that Hollywood insiders began to take notice of her irresistible beauty and talent. She was hand selected by writer-director Tom Skull to star in his horror feature Grizzly Park produced by Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead’s Belle Avery. Next would be the role that would really put Zulay on Hollywood’s radar – a starring role as Channing Tatum’s love interest in Fighting.

She would subsequently go on to star in John Singleton’s Takers alongside the star-studded cast of Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Michael Ealy, Hayden Christensen, Chris Brown, Matt Dillon, Zoe Saldana and Jay Hernandez. She also appeared in S. Darko, Boy Wonder and Hostel: Part 3.

No stranger to the small screen, Zulay’s TV credits include guest-starring roles on such series as Grey’s Anatomy, Army Wives, Law and Order: SVU and The Unusuals, as well as the made for TV movie Racing for Time. Next year, she will appear in Tyler Perry’s Single Mom’s Club alongside Amy Smart, Nia Long, Terry Crews and Eddie Cibrian.

Here, she talks about playing Marianna on Love Thy Neighbor, a new TV sitcom written and directed by Tyler Perry and airing on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network. The show premieres on May 29 at 9 PM ET/PT. [Check local listings]

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Michelle Rhee
The “Radical” Interview
with Kam Williams

Michelle Rhee was born on Christmas Day, 1969 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A first-generation Korean-American descended from a long line of educators, she embarked on a career as a teacher in inner-city Baltimore soon after graduating from Cornell University with a BA in government.

However, her star really started to rise after she earned a Masters Degree in Public policy at Harvard University’s prestigious Kennedy School. She was subsequently recruited by NYC School Chancellor Joel Klein to help handle his stalled contract talks with the teachers’ union.

And on the strength of Michelle’s negotiations with UFT president Randi Weingarten, Klein recommended his feisty protégé for the top job in DC. Washington’s public schools were among the worst performing in the nation, and Rhee found a very receptive Mayor in Adrian Fenty, who gave his new hire free reign to overhaul his troubled system in accordance with her controversial reforms.

She would spend a stormy three years in the public eye as the embattled Schools Chancellor of the Washington, DC public schools. Employing a “kids first” philosophy, Michelle chopped heads in the top-heavy administration, firing dozens of dead wood principals, laying off hundreds of extraneous office workers and closing over twenty underperforming schools.

Although students’ test scores improved dramatically during her brief stint in the position, her anti-union stance proved unpopular. Mayor Fenty’s reelection bid was basically a referendum on whether the city wished to continue with Rhee’s scorched earth philosophy. When he lost, her days were numbered, so she handed in her resignation rather than wait around to be fired.

Michelle, a mother of two, is married to former NBA star Kevin Johnson, who is now the Mayor of Sacramento, California. Here, she talks about currently serving as CEO of StudentsFirst, a political advocacy organization she founded in 2010 to advance the cause of educational reform.

 

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Mel Brooks
The “Mel Brooks: Make a Noise” Interview
with Kam Williams

Mel Brooks, director, producer, writer and actor, is in an elite group as one of the few entertainers to earn all four major entertainment prizes – the Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar. His career began in television writing for Your Show of Shows and together with Buck Henry creating the long-running TV series Get Smart.

He then teamed up with Carl Reiner to write and perform the Grammy-winning 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums and books. Mel won his first Oscar in 1964 for writing and narrating the animated short The Critic,and his second for the screenplay of his first feature film, The Producers, in 1968.

Many hit comedies followed, including The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, History of the World Part I, To Be or Not to Be, Spaceballs, Life Stinks, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dracula: Dead and Loving It. His film company, Brooksfilms Limited, also produced such critically-acclaimed pictures as The Elephant Man, The Fly, Frances, My Favorite Year,and 84 Charring Cross Road.

For three successive seasons, 1997-1999, Mel Brooks won Emmy Awards for his role as “Uncle Phil” on the hit sitcom Mad About You. Brooks received three 2001 Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards for The Producers: the New Mel Brooks Musical, which ran on Broadway from 2001 to 2006.

The Producers still holds the record for the most Tony Awards ever won by a Broadway musical. He followed that success with The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, which ran on Broadway from 2007 to 2009, and both musicals continue to be performed and enjoyed by audiences all over the world.

In 2009 Mel received The Kennedy Center Honors, recognizing a lifetime of extraordinary contributions to American culture. His most recent projects include the Emmy-nominated HBO comedy special Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again, a follow-up HBO special Mel Brooks Strikes Back! and a career retrospective DVD box set titled The Incredible Mel Brooks: An Irresistible Collection Of Unhinged Comedy.

Here, he talks about Mel Brooks: Make a Noise, an American Masters profile chronicling his illustrious career. The PBS special is set to premiere nationwide on Monday, May 20, 2013 at 9 pm (ET/PT). [Check local listings] And in June, Mel will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Film Institute (AFI) at a gala tribute airing on TNT.

 

Kam Williams: Hello, Mr. Brooks. I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.

Mel Brooks: Thank you, Kam. Hey, what the hell is Kam short for?

 

KW: It’s short for Kamau, an African name.

MB: I’m so sorry to hear that. I thought it might be short for my last name, Kaminsky. I was hoping you just took my last name and shortened it to become part of the family. 

 

KW: [Chuckles] No, I took the name back in the Seventies during my brief career as a jazz musician. You started out as a jazz musician, too, right?

MB: I did, I did. We were both jazz musicians, so it’s like we already know each other. In the early Forties, before I went off to World War II, I was in a little five-piece group that played at those Borscht Belt resorts in the Catskill Mountains. One night, the comic at the Butler Lodge got sick, and his boss, Pincus Cohen, begged me to perform in his place. I told him, “That name is redundant. Pincus and Cohen, you don’t need ‘em both. We know you’re a Jew.” [Laughs] He said, “I’ve watched you doing rehearsals. I can tell you’re a funny guy.“ I knew all those dopey jokes, so I went up on stage, and that’s how I got into comedy. I was only about 15 at the time.      

 

KW: I’ve been to the Catskills a couple times. Do you remember the Nevele?

MB: The Nevele! It’s still there. That was a big place, a real hotel, not like the bungalows that Jews rented for the whole summer. In Yiddish, those cottages were called “kuchalein,” which translates to “cook alone,” meaning you do your own cooking. Those places always had a little playhouse that would seat about two hundred people. So, I’d get booked to play them for around fifty bucks, which was a pretty good salary for one night.

 

KW: Speaking of hotels, the first time I saw Blazing Saddles was soon after it was released at a hotel where you could rent first run movies. I was so captivated by it I had to watch it four times in a row, practically ignoring the woman I was supposed to be sharing a romantic evening with. True story.     

MB: That’s crazy! But it does sound like a true story.

 

KW: I have a million questions for you from fans, but let’s see how many we can get through. 

MB: Sure, sure.  

 

KW: These two people have related questions. Editor/legist Patricia Turnier asks: Where did you get the inspiration to make a musical comedy about Adolf Hitler? And Bobby Shenker asks: How did you manage to get backing for a picture as bold as The Producers?

MB: Those are  two good questions. I kinda backed into the number “Springtime for Hitler.” I worked for a guy who lived in his office. He wasn’t supposed to. But he had laundry hanging, a hotplate to make coffee, and he slept on the couch. I can’t tell you his name because he has grandchildren. But he was a great guy. I was like [the character] Leo Bloom. I had a job working fifteen hours a day for him, doing anything he needed. For instance, I put cards in barbershop and other store windows advertising Tito Guizar, a Mexican balladeer, who periodically played Town Hall. That’s where I got this story. He would raise more money than he needed to put on Off-Off Broadway plays, and he’d keep some of it to live on. Let’s say the play cost $2,500 to produce. He’d raise $3,000 and, if it did okay, he’d skim the difference off the top for living expenses. I once asked him, “Why don’t you put on a $100,000 play and raise a $1,000,000? You know every little old lady in New York. You could get the money?” He used to screw wealthy widows on the cracked leather couch in his office. True story. He was just like Zero Mostel’s character. You know what he said to me? “You’re going to go places. I don’t think that big.” But that was the seed of an idea for a play. And then I backed into Hitler after I asked myself, “What if somebody did do that, raised a million for a $100,000 play?” It would have to be a flop, because if it were a hit, they could never pay all those backers off. There came the idea that you can make more money with a flop than with a hit. Then I had to figure out what would be a surefire flop, and I brainstormed for days and days until I came with Hitler. I thought, nobody’s going to stand up and cheer for Hitler, especially not in New York with so many Jews. When I realized a scene of just him with his generals wouldn’t be festive enough, I decided it had to be a musical. And that’s when I wrote the song “Springtime for Hitler.”           

 

KW: Bobby also says: You married on of the most brilliant actresses of the 20th Century, Anne Bancroft. Is there a biopic in the works? Or at least a behind-the-scenes documentary about her outstanding performances in The Miracle Worker and The Graduate?

MB: So far, no. To be honest, Bobby, it’s certainly still too painful for me to be involved with it at all.   

 

KW: Ray Hirschman says: Hey Mel, how did you land such a beautiful wife? Was it your charm or your humor?

MB: I don’t know. I once asked her that. She said, “I never encountered anybody with so much energy. It’s daunting just to be with you.” When we were first married, she was a star and I was nobody.” I had been writing for Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows” which became “Caesar’s Hour.” Lawrence Welk was on at the same time and, strangely enough, he got the ratings, and we went off the air in 1959. So, I was basically out of work for a couple of years when I met Anne on February 5, 1961. She was on The Perry Como Show, and I was collaborating on a Broadway musical called All American with Charles Strouse, the great composer who wrote the music for Bye Bye Birdie, Annie and All in the Family.  I wrote the book, and he wrote the score. I thought it was a pretty good show but it never really made it. Anyway, he was playing piano for Anne at The Actors’ Studio where she was presenting a song as Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady, and he invited me to accompany him to a dress rehearsal. She came out onstage in a beautiful, white dress. She was gorgeous! My tongue was hanging out. When she finished, I shouted out, “Hey Anne Bancroft! I’m Mel Brooks. I think I love you.” Everybody stopped and looked, and I ran over to her and we talked. She said, “I have your new record. You’re a genius!” referring to the 2,000 Year-Old Man comedy album Carl Reiner and I had just released. Afterwards, she said she had to go somewhere, and I made believe I had to go there, too. For the next week, I would find out from friends what restaurants, clubs and theaters she’d be frequenting, and I’d show up, and ask, “What is this, Kismet?” until she finally said, “Okay, you can stop the B.S. Let’s hang out together.” It was all good. We were literally in love and together from that day until she passed away on June 6th in 2005. We had a nice, long run.     

 

KW: Film student Jamaal Green says: Hi Mel! I am a huge fan of your work from Blazing Saddles to Young Frankenstein to Space Balls. But I would like to know, if you have any plans to do some new 2,000 Year-Old Man skits?

MB: Thank you for that question, Jamaal. However, I’ve become the 2,000 Year-Old Man now, and I have a 2,000 Year-Old Man brain. When I originally wrote it, I was in my thirties. I was young, and hip, and smart, and could think fast. I’m no longer there. Things have slowed-up incredibly. Synaptic connections are taking me to strange places in my brain. I think I probably could eke out one more. Carl, who recently turned 91 is hot to trot, but I’m not sure.    

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What was the hardest film to shoot because of laughing breaking out on the set?

MB: Blazing Saddles was pretty damn funny. The crew was constantly cracking-up and ruining takes. So, finally, I sent my assistant to Woolworths to buy a thousand white handkerchiefs. I gave one to everybody on the set. I told them, “If you feel like laughing at something, you stick one of these in your mouth, bite on it, and laugh through it.” Anytime I wasn’t sure whether a scene was working or not, I’d look over my shoulder, and if I saw a lot of white handkerchiefs, I’d know it was funny. That became my litmus test. The crew’s laughing could’ve ruined the picture, Bernadette, but we saved it with the white handkerchiefs. It also turned out to be a great way to test to see if something was funny.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: Thank you, and Ann, for that incredible performance of “Sweet Georgian Brown” in Polish to open your re-do of “To Be or Not to Be.” On the NBC Today show, you said “Annie is funnier than I am,” and I remember that side-splitting, incredible thing with her eyes. How did she speak to and influence your projects?

MB: Harriet, she was incredible right from the first time I met her. I was writing The Producers. She immediately became my sounding board. I didn’t trust anybody else. I’d write something and show it to her. Then she’d mark it up with “This is brilliant!” or “Never let this go!” and once in awhile she’d say “This stinks!” [Chuckles] She was really responsible for getting the best out of me, like the trainer of a racehorse.

 

KW: Hollywood Hills realtor Jimmy Bayan says: Mel, you once said you and Anne were glued together from the day you met until the day she died. She obviously really "got you." Can you tell me, what made your marriage sizzle for so many years?

MB: I can’t, Jimmy. What is it, magic? Magnetism? Meant to be? Who the hell knows! We were very lucky. Fate may have had a hand in it.

 

KW: Roger Klein says: You are a great filmmaker. You are to movies what the Rolling Stones are to Rock & Roll.

MB: I was never recognized as a movie director, Roger. Never! They always talk about my being a great writer and comic, and an important producer, But I’ve never been saluted as a filmmaker, except by a few colleagues like Alfred Hitchcock. He once said to me, “Nobody appreciates your directing skills. High Anxiety is brilliant! The back lighting!” He thought of me as a wonderful director, but no one else did.

 

KW: Did it bother you?

MB: I never really got that upset about it because I was doing what I wanted to do. If you can do what you want to do in this life, the rest is gravy. Instead of going to work, you’re going to joy every day.

 

KW: And he was just as snubbed.

MB: [Laughs] Yeah, he was nominated for an Academy Award a number of times, but he never won one. And he might have been the best director who ever lived.

 

KW: Roger would like you to name some comedies that really make you laugh.

MB: Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot, Preston Sturges’ The Palm Beach Story, Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights, and Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last. Those are really my favorites. I thought The Hangover was really funny. But the sequel just exploited the first. 

 

KW: I gotta tell you, Mel, Get Smart is still my all-time favorite TV show. Was there ever a funnier sitcom?

MB: I don’t know. Buck Henry was very, very talented, and together we came up with some incredible ideas. He invented the Cone of Silence. And I think I invented the cell phone, because I dreamed up having Maxwell Smart talking on a shoe telephone.

 

KW: Harriet says: You set a very high standard for revamping old films, with To Be or Not to Be, Young Frankenstein, and The Producers. Do you have your sights on another old classic that you care to discuss?

MB: There’s a good-looking old lady who lives in Cincinnati that I have my eye on, but I’m not sure as far as show business. [Chuckles] Maybe musicalizing The Twelve Chairs, one of my overlooked films, for Broadway.

Or Blazing Saddles. They both cry out for music, and they both have good stories.

 

KW: Why do you think Blazing Saddles remains as fresh as ever?

MB: What makes it last so long is that there’s a black sheriff that everyone in that world of 1874 wants to see dead right away. But he endures and gains the respect of the townsfolk, especially the Waco Kid [played by Gene Wilder]. That’s the engine that drives it, and that’s why it’s still around. It’s around because there’s a tremendous amount of focused emotion in that movie.

 

KW: When I interviewed Quentin Tarantino about Django Unchained he attributed the demise of the Western to blazing Saddles. He said that you had parodied the genre so effectively that no one could take them seriously anymore. 

MB: [Laughs] I don’t know. Maybe he’s right. But I wouldn’t take credit for that.

 

KW: What’d you think of his movies?

MB: I love Quentin for what he does. He doesn’t give a [bleep]. Freedom… fantasy moviemaking. In Inglourious Bastards, he’s got Hitler and Goering and Goebbels all in a theater in France and he kills them all. With Django, I would have been a little upset if Abraham Lincoln was run over by a Buick on 43rd Street. But coming from Tarantino, I accepted it. He’s a genius who should be respected for his work.

 

 

 

KW: Harriet also says: The Critic is one my favorite works of art by you. How about getting it back out there so people who didn’t see it in 1963 can get a look at it on its 50th anniversary?

MB: Ooh, well thank you Harriet for being aware of it, for enjoying it, for getting it, and for understanding it. And, as a matter of fact, The Critic is in The Incredible Mel Brooks box set.   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008VIMLXM/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: Harriet says: Remember the rock Dr. Haldanish put his hand on and said, “I’m a psychiatrist?” Well, I put my hand on that same rock and said, “I’m a life-long fan of yours!”

MB: That’s very funny! Harriet, I love you! I really appreciate it. 

 

KW: Kate Newell asks: Have you ever considered working with Monty Python alumni? I think that would trigger a comedic cosmic shift!

MB: We should’ve gotten together because Blazing Saddles and Life of Brian were on the same bill at the Baker St. Theater in London for three years straight. And they actually sent me a check. I couldn’t believe it.   

 

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: How does playing yourself on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" compare to some of the amazing characters you’ve played like Moses and President Skroob?

MB: I have no judgment and no perspective. When I’m playing myself, I dissolve into the character as a person, so I can’t really criticize my performance. I don’t know whether I’m good or bad. But when I’m playing Tikon, the Russian servant in The Twelve Chairs, I would say, yes, that’s a fine performance. And when I was Goddard Bolt in Life Stinks, I think I was pretty good. It was close to me, but not me, in the performance. I also think I was wonderful singing “The Inquisition” in History of the World.     

 

KW: In preparing for this interview, I went back and watched a lot of your appearances on Johnny Carson. They were phenomenal!

MB: He was a great catalyst. He’d get the best out of you. And he was a great audience, too. Carson was the best.

 

KW: Patricia says: I have a passion for tap dancing that I did for almost 15 years. You have been influenced by Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. How can tap regain the status in movies that it once enjoyed?  

MB: That’s a very good question, Patricia. When people ask me, what’s your favorite movie, I’d like to say Jean Renoir’s La Grande Illusion to make myself sound like such an intellectual. But my favorite movie is actually Swing Time with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and then maybe Singin’ in the Rain. My very favorites are American musical comedies of the Thirties, and tap dancing was my favorite dance form. To see Astaire tap like a maniac with such grace and charm was very magical. It was very balletic. How can you forget the Nicholas Brothers? They’re very hard to beat. Or Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Shirley Temple’s duet up and down the steps. So, I agree with you Patricia. Tap is a glorious aspect of show business, and I’ll see what I can do about bringing it back.   

 

KW: Patricia also asks: What prepared you the most for your career in showbiz?

MB: I think the Show of Shows, because I didn’t spread my wings and do my movies until I had nine years of seeing the best comedy of its day with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Imogene Coca, Howie Morris and Nanette Fabray under my belt, and, and of working with writers like Neil Simon, Woody Allen and Larry Gelbart. That set the stage for my going out on my own.

 

KW: Wow, what a group! I’d have to say Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple was my second favorite TV show of all time.

MB: Neil was one of my best friends.

 

KW: What is the best advice you can give to young people who would like to follow in your footsteps as a filmmaker?

MB: I have no advice for anybody. Something impels you, and you have to keep going. Something mysterious drives you, and you’ll have to take a thousand no’s before you get your first yes, and they let you do your stuff.

 

KW: Bobby says: One of my favorite comedies is Young Frankenstein. The casting was sheer inspiration. What could you tell us about your collaboration with Gene Wilder? With such a brilliant cast, was it a collaborative effort, or primarily carved out by you and Wilder?

MB: It actually came from Gene Wilder’s head. One day when we broke for lunch out in the desert during the shooting of Blazing Saddles, I saw him scribbling on a legal pad and on the top it says “Young Frankenstein.” And I said, “What the hell is that? What’re you doing?” And he explained to me his idea and asked me if I’d collaborate with him on it. I said, “Sure.” As far as the casting, there was a guy named Mike Medavoy who had in his stable of actors Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle and Marty Feldman. The only ones he didn’t have were Madeline Kahn and Teri Garr.  

 

KW: Wesley Derbyshire asks: For better or worse, how do you see comedy changing on the screen over the past half-century?

MB: That’s a good question, Wesley. I wish could answer it. Comedy is too vast a subject. I don’t know what it is. It’s reaching a place in us that is unrestrained. That place where we can no longer be a proper part of society, and just have to laugh. If you have the ability to reach it in yourself, you’ll reach it in others. But how it’s changed, I don’t know. All the sitcoms have gotten very sexual, but not necessarily funnier.

 

KW: I agree wholeheartedly, Mel. Thanks for being so generous with your time, and for sharing so many anecdotes, insights and remembrances. 

MB: It was my pleasure, Kam. Nice talking to you.

To order a copy of The Incredible Mel Brooks: An Irresistible Collection of Unhinged Comedy on DVD, visit:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008VIMLXM/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

Craig Robinson      

The “Peeples” Interview

 

Craig Is Good “Peeples”

Born in Chicago on October 25, 1971, Craig Robinson is currently appearing in the final season of “The Office” on NBC, where he portrays acerbic Dunder-Mifflin employee Darryl Philbin. He is definitely a world away from his original career intentions; before deciding to pursue a comedy career full-time, Robinson was a K-8 teacher in the Chicago Public Schools.

He had earned his undergraduate degree from Illinois State University and a Master’s in Education from St. Xavier University. It was while studying education that he discovered his love of acting and comedy upon joining the famed Second City Theatre.

Craig made his mark on the comedy circuit at the 1998 Montreal “Just for Laughs” Festival. That year, he also won the Oakland Comedy Festival Awards and the Miller Genuine Draft 1996 Comedy Search. He soon went on to perform his act on “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” and on “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

His rise to success with “The Office” and his stand-up prowess quickly brought him to the attention of comedy maven Judd Apatow. Robinson made audiences question their notions of vanity, playing the sensitive bouncer in Knocked Up. He then kept audiences glued to their seats as one of the henchman hunting Seth Rogen and James Franco’s bumbling stoner characters in Pineapple Express, and made fans squirm when he co-starred with Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks in Zack and Miri Make A Porno.

In 2010, Craig starred alongside Rob Corddry and John Cusack in Hot Tub Time Machine. The story follows three men as they visit the hot tub where they once partied, accidentally discover it is now a time machine, and travel back to their raunchy heyday in the mid-1980s. Fans’ voices spoke loudly, and early negotiations are currently in progress for a sequel.

Here, he talks about his first leading man role as Wade Walker in Peeples, a comedy co-starring Kerry Washington.

Kam Williams: Hi Craig, thanks for the interview.

Craig Robinson: Thank you for getting the word out. I appreciate it, Kam.

 

KW: What interested you in Peeples?

CR: When I met with [director] Tina Gordon Chism, I was impressed with her passion about the project. She had lived this experience of dating someone from a family with so many secrets, and watching them unravel. So, she knew what she was talking about. And when she let me know that Kerry Washington was playing the love interest, I went, “Okay, I’m in! Let’s go ahead and do it.”

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: You’ve done some great cameo and support roles, but now landed a lead role here. Congratulations! So, in Peeples, your fans will see more of you. How was it playing a main character and working with [producer] Tyler Perry?

CR: I worked with Tyler before on Daddy’s Little Girls. He couldn’t be smarter or more laid back and cool. He’s always throwing out lines and is funny as hell. And he was shining his light on Peeples, too, lending his name to showcase Tina as a first-time director, and me as a first-time lead. I’m humbled and honored to work with him. He’s great!

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier would like to know what was it like to on the set with legendary actors like Diahann Carroll and Melvin Van Peebles?

CR: Diahann Carroll delivered a very moving speech at the start of the whole project, and Melvin pulled me aside on the set and told me to, “Stay strong!” in a way that carried considerable heft. These people are legends, and we couldn’t have been more thrilled about their participation in the movie and blessing it. It was superb.

 

KW: Patricia also says: Given that you are a singer, are you interested in recording an album one day?

CR: Yes I am. I have a sound. It’s called funk mixed with stank. That’s what I do.

 

KW: What’s it like having the same name as First Lady Michelle Obama’s brother?

CR: I was once dating a woman who got very upset after confusing the two of us when she found my picture next to his bio which indicated that he’s divorced with kids, and remarried. So, if you can imagine, that’s what it’s like.

 

KW: Larry Greenberg says: I'm just crazy about films with time travel.  Where there any special issues or tricky scenes when you played Nick in Hot Tub Time Machine?

CR: Yes, there was a special issue. Her name was Jessica Paré. She was topless with me in the hot tub. So, yes, that was a very special moment, and I watch the movie every night because of that scene. 

 

KW: Dinesh Sharma asks: Do you think that your role describes a challenge most black men face today, of trying to fit into upper-class black society? Or was the movie just Meet the Parents with an African-American twist?

CR: Peeples is definitely not Meet the Parents. It’s more a movie about family secrets. It does explore class issues somewhat, but it’s mostly about living your own truth. 

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

CR: I can bake the hell out of some chicken, my friend.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

CR: Celestine Prophecies.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446671002/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

CR: Butterflies by Michael Jackson. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005Q4JH/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

CR: JSLV, Just Live, it’s a company in California.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

CR: Craig Robinson… I see growth.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

CR: To be able hug my deceased family members, friends and godfather.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

CR: Banging on the piano while my grandmother was watching me. I’d run up to her and ask: “How was that, Grandma?” And she’d say, “That was beautiful, baby!” And I’d run back to the piano and play some more. I’m sure that’s why I still play today, because I was encouraged from such a young age, 2 or 3.

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 

CR: Determination!

 

KW: The Mike Pittman question” asks: What was your best career move?

CR: Choosing my manager, Mark Schulman.

 

KW: PBS President Neal Shapiro asks: If you could really time travel and live in another period, which one would you choose? 

CR: The Sixties, because it was the beginning of Rock & Roll. All the songs sounded alike, since they were using the same three chords, which would make it easy to hop out and rock.  

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

CR: That’s a great question. I can’t think of one.

 

KW: The Viola Davis question: Who do you really believe you are when you go home as opposed to the person you pretend to be on the red carpet?

CR: The red carpet is weird because, when they don’t know who you are, you’re standing there posing and nobody’s taking pictures of you. And when they do know you, they’re calling your name from every which way and you don’t know in which direction to turn. For me, I’m more in control at home. On the carpet, I want to be in control, but it can be overwhelming.

 

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would it be? 

CR: Rock star! Singing songs that the whole world knows, like my favorite band, Earth, Wind and Fire.

 

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere something that you promised to do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

CR: No, because I don’t make promises unless I know I’m gonna keep ‘em.

 

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

CR: Invisibility!

 

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, what would you do? Would you do the bad stuff, you never got a chance to do, or would you do good stuff to make sure you make it into heaven?

CR: I would live like I’m already living. If I couldn’t get to my family, I’d hit my favorite restaurant. I’d seize the moment.

 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

CR: A whale.

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

CR: The little things that let me know I’m on the right path, like running into an old friend, or getting into the car and catching an awesome song from the beginning.

 

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question:How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?

CR: I don’t get too close in relationships. I kinda have my arm out, like the Heisman trophy, because I don’t want to hurt somebody the way I was hurt.

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in with an eye toward a particular role.

CR: Yeah, Cannonball Run.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: Do you have a favorite charity?

CR: No, I don’t.

 

KW: The Nancy Lovell Question: Why do you love doing what you do?

CR: Because it brings me closer to people, and it lets me explore who I am. It’s a chance for me to be connected. Whenever I’m performing live, the first thing I look for is to make a connection.

 

KW: What is your favorite way of performing?

CR: I’m in my element when I’m alone on stage with a microphone and a keyboard.

 

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

CR: Be yourself, because you’re special. There’s only one of you. Second, be tenacious, visualize success, and then live it. And remember everything you learned in kindergarten.

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

CR: As a joy!

 

KW: Thanks again, Craig. I really appreciate having this opportunity, brother, and best of luck with Peeples.

CR: Thank you. You are phenomenal, Kam.

To see the trailer for Peeples, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMEzaXX0xnU

Aviva Kempner
“The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg” Interview
by Kam Williams

 

A child of a Holocaust survivor and a US Army officer, Aviva Kempner was born in Berlin, Germany after World War II. She was inspired by her heritage to produce and co-write Partisans of Vilna, a documentary on Jewish resistance against the Nazis. She was also the executive producer of the 1989 Grammy-award nominated record, Partisans of Vilna: The Songs of World War II Jewish Resistance.

Ms. Kempner is the scriptwriter, director and producer of The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, a film about the Jewish slugger who fought anti-Semitism in the 1930's and 40's. It was awarded top honors by the National Society of Film Critics, the National Board of Review, the New York Film Critics Circle, and the Broadcast Film Critics Association. The film received a George Peabody Award and was nominated for an Emmy, too.

In her documentaries, Ms. Kempner investigates non-stereotypical images of Jews in history and focuses on the untold stories of Jewish heroes. Upset with the 2000 election results, she was inspired to make the short, Today I Vote for My Joey, from the script she wrote about Election Day in Palm Beach for the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women.

She produced and directed Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, a 90-minute documentary on America's favorite radio and television personality. Gertrude Berg was the creator, principal writer and star of the popular 1930's radio show and later the 1950's weekly TV sitcom, The Goldbergs.

Ms. Kempner writes film criticism and feature articles for numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, The Forward, Washington Jewish Week and The Washington Post. She also lectures about cinema throughout the country. She started the Washington Jewish Film Festival in 1989.

 

Kam Williams: Thanks for the interview, Aviva. How has being the daughter of a Holocaust survivor shaped your life?

Aviva Kempner: As a child of a survivor born in post-war Europe, I had grown up fantasizing about being in the resistance during World War II. In late 1979, I had a roots awakening to explore my Jewish roots. Since then, I have devoted myself to countering negative screen images of Jews.

 

KW: How would you say Jews been stereotyped?

AK: Typically, Jews are portrayed by the suicidal, female Holocaust survivor, the nebbishy Jewish male and the domineering Jewish mother. I am committed to making documentaries which counter these negative portrayals by showing non-stereotypical images of Jews.

 

KW: How did you get your start in filmmaking?

AK: I was determined to make a film about my obsession: Jewish resistance to the Nazis. I incorporated the Ciesla Foundation which I named for my grandparents who had died in Auschwitz. Ciesla was their last name. I worked with Josh Waltetzky to make Partisans of Vilna in the Eighties, a film which examined the unexplored theme of Jewish opposition to Hitler.

 

KW: And how did you decide to do a documentary on Hank Greenberg?

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Anthony Mackie
The “Pain & Gain” Interview
with Kam Williams

Born in New Orleans on September 23, 1979, Anthony Mackie attended the Julliard School of Drama. He was discovered after receiving rave reviews for playing Tupac Shakur in the off-Broadway play “Up Against the Wind.”

Immediately following, Anthony made an auspicious film debut as Eminem’s nemesis, Papa Doc, in Curtis Hanson’s “8 Mile.” His performance caught the attention of Spike Lee, who subsequently cast him in “Sucker Free City” and “She Hate Me.” He also appeared in Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” as well as in Jonathan Demme’s “The Manchurian Candidate.”

Anthony had five features on movie screens in 2006. In addition to “We Are Marshall,” he starred in “Half Nelson,” with Ryan Gosling, adapted from director Ryan Fleck’s Sundance-winning short “Gowanus Brooklyn;” in Preston Whitmore’s “Crossover;” in Frank E. Flowers ensemble crime drama “Haven,” opposite Orlando Bloom and Bill Paxton; and in the film adaptation of Richard Price’s “Freedomland,” starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Besides an impressive film career, the gap-toothed thespian has performed both on and off Broadway, making his Broadway debut as the stuttering nephew, Sylvester, alongside Whoopi Goldberg in August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Next he was seen as the lead in Regina King’s modern retelling of Chekov’s “The Seagull,” in Stephen Belber’s “McReele,” and in the Pulitzer Prize-winning “A Soldier’s Play.”

More recently, Anthony participated in the Kennedy Center’s presentation of “August Wilson’s 20th Century.” As one of more than 30 renowned stars of stage and screen, he performed in three readings of Wilson’s cycle of ten plays chronicling the African-American experience, each set in a different decade of the 20th century. A true aficionado of live theatre, he hopes to return to the stage soon.

In 2009, he played Sgt. JT Sanborn on the big screen in Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker,” a film which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. That same year, he reprised his role as Tupac Shakur in “Notorious,” the biopic of Notorious B.I.G.

In 2010, he took a break from film to return to Broadway where he starred in “A Behanding in Spokane.” He subsequently returned to Hollywood to appear opposite Kerry Washington in “Night Catches Us.” Then he appeared in “The Adjustment Bureau” and “Real Steel.” Last year, he made several movies, including “Man on a Ledge,” “10 Years” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.”

2013 is proving very productive for Anthony, with the horror thriller “Vipaka,” the coming of age drama “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete,” the crime thriller “Runner, Runner” and “Bolden” being among his offerings. Here, he talks about his new movie, “Pain & Gain,” a fact-based crime comedy co-starring Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Anthony, thanks for another interview.

Anthony Mackie: What’s going on, my man?

 

KW: Nothing much, brother. What an impressive resume you’ve compiled for someone so young: The Hurt Locker, The Manchurian Candidate, Notorious, We Are Marshall, Half Nelson, 8 Mile, American Violet, The Adjustment Bureau, Gangster Squad, Night Catches Us, etcetera, etcetera...  

AM: Thanks a lot, Kam. I’ve been very fortunate to land all the projects that I’ve done. I have a great team of people working with me.

 

KW: So, what interested you in Pain & Gain?

AM: It was the script. I was really psyched about Michael [director Michael Bay] doing a story with three-dimensional characters like these who you could real delve into to see what makes them tick.

 

KW: A Michael Bay flick with both that trademark action as well as some complex character development. It felt almost like I was watching a new genre of film.

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Mike Tyson
The “Scary Movie 5” Interview
with Kam Williams

Born in Brooklyn on June 30, 1966, Michael Gerard Tyson is an all-time boxing great who, in his prime, struck fear in the heart of any opponent he squared off against. He compiled an impressive record of 50 wins, 5 losses and 1 disqualification for biting off an opponent’s ear over the course of an incomparable career in which he became the first undisputed heavyweight champ to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF title belts simultaneously.

Iron Mike has weathered a host of woes and controversies outside the ring ranging from allegations of spousal abuse to a rape conviction to the death of his 4 year-old daughter, Exodus, to declaring bankruptcy after frittering away over $300 million in prizefight purses. Today, he is a very happily-married man, with a couple of children, Milan and Morocco, by his third wife, Kiki.

Mike is currently on a 36-city tour of the country in “Undisputed Truth,” a one-man Broadway show which is part comedy/part confessional and covers all of the above and more. Here, the pugilist-turned-actor talks about his latest movie, Scary Movie 5, co-starring a rogues gallery of controversial celebrities including Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, Katt Williams and Snoop Dogg.

 

 

Kam Williams: Hi Mike, thanks for the interview.

Mike Tyson: What’s up, Kam?

 

KW: I really appreciate your taking the time to speak with me.

MT: It’s all good in the ‘hood, my friend.

 

KW: Ray Hirschman asks: What interested you in Scary Movie 5?

MT: Whew! It’s a franchise that’s going to last ‘til the end of time. I wanted to be involved with that. I don’t care how silly it comes across. It’s more so for us than for kids. It’s adults acting stupid and silly.   

 

KW: What was it like working with this cast?

MT: Everybody was great. Ashley [Tisdale] was awesome. I got an autographed picture of her for my niece.

 

KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks: How did you get into acting?

MT: Just from messing around with a friend, Jim Toback, the director of The Pickup Artist. I always used to see him in New York and talk to him when I was younger, like a teenager. Anthony Michael Hall brought me onto the set of one day in about ’86, and Jim and I became acquainted and then good friends, and he started putting me into his movies, first Black and White, and then we did Tyson. He thought I was an interesting character. After that, I did The Hangover and got bitten by the acting bug. I have a lot of friends who’ve won Oscars, and they started telling me I could do it, too.  

 

KW: I remember your doing a great job in Black and White opposite some famous daughter. Who was it, Jennifer Jason Leigh?

MT: That was Bijou Phillips. She was awesome in that film.

 

KW: And Jim’s documentary, Tyson, was riveting from start to finish. 

MT: I’m just very grateful for his friendship. He’s a remarkable dude.

 

KW: Larry Greenberg says: When we talk about comedy, you hear words that could refer to boxing like “timing” and “punch line.” Do you see any similarities between the two?

MT: I don’t know. People tell me I’m a comedian, but I don’t approach acting from that perspective. I do know that everything in life has to do with your timing and perception. You have to be comfortable with the rhythm that you’re in. You can’t just jump into a fast rhythm if yours is slow. You might have to pick up the pace but in your own particular way. It has to do with personality, too.

 

KW: Richie the intern was wondering how the play‘s coming along?

MT: We’ve been doing just great, selling out every night. And I couldn’t believe the reviews. I couldn’t believe it was me they were talking about. They’re saying “Remarkably funny!” and “Moving!” I was like “They’re talking about me?” The biggest honor I had so far was when the comedian Jeff Ross told me he liked it and said, “You’re one of us, now” That was just amazing.

 

KW: Fight fan Mike Ehrenberg asks: Who was stronger, Razor Ruddick or Bonecrusher Smith?

MT: Bonecrusher was stronger, but Razor Ruddick hit harder.

 

KW: Mike also asks: What was the hardest punch you ever took in the ring?

MT: Wow! A bunch of guys really rang my clock. Gee! Razor Ruddick… Lennox Lewis… Evander Holyfield… They all did a number on me.

 

KW: Finally, Mike is curious about how you think you would’ve matched up against some of the other heavyweight greats in the ring?

MT: I have no idea. I just did what I did in my era, basically because of my admiration for the guys who came before me. That’s how I’ve always looked at it. I never thought of boxing like, I’m going to be the greatest fighter ever and make a lot of money. Instead, I thought I was going to win because I learned from the best. I carefully studied the videotapes of all the fighters from the past, dissected their styles, and entered the ring with their spirit.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: Champ—you’ve had a long and varied career that involved lots of press coverage. What’s the thing you’d most have us remember about you?

MT: Overcoming my adversities.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

MT: Me? I see an old, broke-ass black guy taking care of a bunch of kids, living life, taking them to school, and all that stuff, who’s asking himself: What the hell is this? But I wouldn’t give it up for the world because I love my wife. I never expected to have a life like this. No chaos… no confusion… no lawsuits… no violence… no going to jail…

 

KW: I’m originally from Bed-Stuy, too, from around Nostrand Avenue and Eastern Parkway.

MT: I know where that’s at. That’s an awesome neighborhood! Bed-Stuy, do or die! I’m from Franklin between DeKalb and Willoughby. Do you remember the Welfare place at 500 DeKalb?

 

KW: Sure, I’m older than you. I was born in the early Fifties.

MT: Oh, so you know what’s really going down. My mother used to have us waiting with her in that long-ass line when we were kids. But we moved to Brownsville when I was 10.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

MT: Being in the hospital at about 5 years of age, after I drank some Drano. I remember it like it was yesterday. My mother had a bunch of people over the house, and I drank it because no one was paying me any attention.

 

KW: Yeah, children would prefer to be praised than punished, but they’d rather be punished than ignored.

MT: No doubt about it. That’s life. That’s our nature as human beings. 

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

MT: Artichokes.

 

KW: Lastly, if you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

MT: That my daughter could still be with us.

 

KW: My condolences, Mike. Thanks again, and best of luck with all your endeavors.

MT: Thank you, Kam. Okay, brother.

To see the schedule for Mike Tyson’s one-man play Undisputed Truth, visit

To see a trailer for Scary Movie 5, visit

Ken Burns
“The Central Park Five” Interview
with Kam Williams
 

Ken Burns has been making films for more than thirty years. Since the Academy Award-nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, Ken has gone on to direct and to produce some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made.

The late historian Stephen Ambrose said of his films, “More Americans get their history from Ken Burns than any other source.” A December 2002 poll conducted by Real Screen Magazine listed The Civil War as second only to Robert Flaherty’s Nanook of the North as “the most influential documentary of all time,” and named Ken Burns and Robert Flaherty as the “most influential documentary makers” of all time.

In March, 2009, David Zurawik of The Baltimore Sun said, “… Burns is not only the greatest documentarian of the day, but also the most influential filmmaker period. That includes feature filmmakers like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. I say that because Burns not only turned millions of persons onto history with his films, he showed us a new way of looking at our collective past and ourselves.”

Ken’s films have won ten Emmy Awards and two Oscar nominations, and in September of 2008, at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, Ken was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Here, he talks about his latest film, The Central Park Five, co-directed by his daughter, Sarah, and her husband, David McMahon, which premieres on PBS on April 16th.

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Chad Boseman
The “42” Interview
with Kam Williams

Hailing from Anderson, South Carolina, Chadwick Boseman is an accomplished actor, scriptwriter and playwright who, until now, was probably best known for portraying the character Nate on the critically-acclaimed dramatic TV series Lincoln Heights. Prior to entering show business, Chad earned degrees at Howard University and the British American Dramatic Academy at Oxford.

Here, he talks about playing Jackie Robinson opposite Harrison Ford and Nicole Beharie in 42, a biopic about the late Hall of Famer’s historic breaking of Major League Baseball’s color barrier back in 1947.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Chad, thanks for the interview.

Chad Boseman: Nice to talk to you, Kam.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: I appreciate the opportunity to ask you a question, especially because everything changed for Jackie Robinson in my hometown of Montreal. What did it mean to you to portray Jackie Robinson and how did you prepare for the role?

CB: It’s just a great honor to play him. In order to portray him, I basically paid attention to three different aspects of the role. First, the physical aspect of baseball, and his five-day-a-week workout regimen starting with Spring Training in the middle of January all the way to May. Secondly, I studied Hall of Fame footage of Jackie so that I could emulate his batting stance, how he took leads, how he ran bases, the arm slide he used in certain situations, and his fielding style. Thirdly, there was the question of how to attack the role. I didn’t want to just do an imitation. I wanted to interpret it while remaining faithful to the script and [director] Brian Helgeland’s vision.

The research also included reading, and talking to Jackie’s widow, Rachel, and his daughter, Sharon, in order to deliver the most authentic interpretation of him possible.

 

KW: Documentary filmmaker Kevin Williams asks: Was the role at all intimidating to you? Did you feel any pressure to get Jackie right, given his importance in history?

CB: Yes, because Jackie is a hero to people from so many walks of life whose reverence for him is often based on different interpretations of who he was.  I also felt a certain amount of responsibility to give an accurate account of his life and the person that he was for the benefit of the youth who don’t know him. But I still felt a great responsibility to Rachel Robinson and his family. She has carried on his legacy for decades, and she’s carried the torch for this film. So, my main goal was to do right by her.  

 

KW: Peter Brav says: You were absolutely awesome in the role. My 85 year-old mother, a concentration camp survivor, embraced the Brooklyn Dodgers when she came to this country in 1946. She saw 42 and hasn't stopped talking about how you ARE Jackie in the movie. Prior to auditioning, how much of the Jackie Robinson story did you know?

CB: I knew his story since I was a kid. My parents told me stories about him. And I learned about him, Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders at church. I didn’t know anything about Jackie’s personality, or the specifics about his family or where he came from. So, I went into the audition with very limited knowledge of the facts that you would need to play him.

 

KW:  Kate Newell asks: In doing this film, what did you find out about Jackie Robinson that surprised you the most?

CB: I was surprised that he was considering quitting baseball just before he was signed by the Dodgers’ GM Branch Rickey [played by Harrison Ford].  He had become disenchanted with barnstorming across the country in the Negro League for several reasons: he often had to play several games a day; there were a lot of places where African-Americans couldn’t stop to eat, sleep, buy gas or even use the bathroom; and he wasn’t being paid enough at a time when the most important thing to him was taking care of his family. I was also surprised that baseball was only his fourth best sport. He had greatness in him already. He was an All-American football player, a great basketball player, and he could’ve gone to the Olympics in track and field. Jackie was a better athlete than his brother Mack who had been a silver medalist behind Jesse Owens in the 200 Meters at the ’36 Olympics in Berlin. So, Jackie was well aware of his talents but felt very frustrated by the fact that there was no place in the United States at that time where a black man could fully actualize himself. Fortunately, baseball became that place where he could reach his full potential, although he might have achieved it in other sports. But that frustration of his potentiality almost made Jackie quit.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: Jackie Robinson encountered extraordinary obstacles on account of the color of his skin pursuing his professional baseball career. Have you encountered similar obstacles in your acting career?

KB: Well, you don’t get the same opportunities as white actors. Every year, Hollywood is looking for that new, white leading man and new white starlet that audiences fall in love with. But they’re not looking for the next Denzel Washington, Will Smith or Sidney Poitier. Some of that is due to the fact that even in our educational process we’re taught history from a totally Eurocentric perspective. And so it’s no surprise that we grow up to value European literature. Since we don’t value our own history, African-American stories don’t get made into movies as much. Your being the protagonist or the hero is not a fundamental part of our culture. That’s what I run up against trying to get cast as an actor, and that’s what I feel needs to change. It’s very difficult to make strides to play big roles in big movies when our culture doesn’t support it and therefore the movies can’t.

 

KW: What did you major in at Howard, Acting or Black Studies? 

CB: I majored in directing. However, I did spend some time at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, so I am somewhat well-versed in African Studies. 

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

CB: One wish instantly granted? Woo! I would love for my grandmother and my sister to have been able to see this movie. They both passed.

 

KW: My condolences Chad. Thanks again for the time, and best of luck with 42.

CB: Thank you, Kam.

To see a trailer for 42, visit

Harrison Ford
The “42” Interview
with Kam Williams

Born in Chicago on July 13, 1942, Harrison Ford was a late bloomer who only developed an interest in acting during his senior year of college. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as carpenter for almost a decade while struggling trying to launch his showbiz career.

He was finally discovered in 1973 while installing cabinets in the home of George Lucas. The director cast him in American Graffiti, which in turn, led to his landing the iconic character Hans Solo in Star Wars, and the rest, as they say, is cinematic history.

Ford went on to play the title role in the Indiana Jones franchise, and to make memorable outings in such hit movies as The Fugitive, Witness, Air Force One, What Lies Beneath, Presumed Innocent, Blade Runner, Frantic, Apocalypse Now and Clear and Present Danger, to name a few. Here, the Oscar-nominated thespian (for Witness) talks about his latest outing opposite Chad Boseman as Brooklyn Dodgers’ general manager Branch Rickey in 42, a biopic about Jackie Robinson’s breaking the color barrier in baseball.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Mr. Ford, thanks so much for the interview. I’m very honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.

Harrison Ford: That’s kind of you to say, Kam.

 

KW: I was moved to tears several times by the movie. If 42 were released in December, I’m sure you’d be a shoo-in for another Oscar nomination.  

HF: Again, you’re very kind. Thank you. I credit the wonderful material. It was very well-crafted, well-written and well-directed. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to be involved with the project.

 

KW: Documentary filmmaker Kevin Williams says: You have been my favorite actor for many years, as were you my Dad's ever since he saw you in Hanover Street. Thank you for bringing us so much joy. 

HF: How sweet!

 

KW: Why did you decide to play Branch Rickey?

HF: First of all, I read what I thought was an amazing script with very high standards, telling an important story with a character for me to play who was colorful and dramatic and different from any I’d ever played before, and with a director [Brian Helgeland] I admired who had written this wonderful script. So, I had a multitude of reasons to want to do this character. I also saw this project as an opportunity to fully ascend to the rank of the noble calling of character actor. I thought that I could best serve the film by not bringing any of the audience’s history with Harrison Ford into the scene. So, I did everything I could to create a character that truly resembled and was attendant to the real-life Branch Rickey.   

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: You’ve earned some much-deserved acclaim for playing serialized fantasy figures—thank you big time for Hans Solo and Indiana Jones. How different is the preparation for doing a one-shot biopic of an historical figure?

HF: The truth is… the job’s always the same. It involves helping to tell the story and creating an alloy between character and story that serves the film. And it also involves creating behavior that brings the information in every scene to life, and investing emotionally in the communication of those ideas. 

 

KW: Gil Cretney asks: Will Hans Solo be in JJ. Abram's upcoming Star Wars sequel?

HF: I think you’ll have to ask somebody else that question. I’m not ready to commit or talk about that at this time.

 

KW: Kate Newell asks: How did it feel shooting on location at some of those venerable, old baseball stadiums?

HF: To tell you the truth, I didn’t pay much notice because in many cases the stadiums were recreated through computer graphics after the fact. We really only had the first ten rows, and the rest was added during post-production. The places where we shot were not historical or so impressive. But given that this film takes place over sixty years ago, it’s amazing how much different the world was back then. It’s seen so many changes in a relatively short period of time.   

 

KW:Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: I am honored to ask you a question because I have admired your work since I was a child. Jackie Robinson is special to me because his minor league career began in my hometown, Montreal. What does his legacy mean to you?

HF: This is a country which has always proclaimed itself to be founded on and to be pursuing high ideals. I believe that the racial injustice which existed such a short time ago probably would have persisted longer if the color barrier had not been broken in baseball, since the Civil Rights Movement might not have blossomed when it did, had it not been preceded by Jackie Robinson’s joining the Dodgers. You have to remember that baseball really was the American pastime in the Forties, not football, basketball or any other sport. Baseball was a metaphor for America, both here and in terms of how it was understood by the rest of the world. So, the legacy of Jackie Robinson and the part he played in this very important chapter of our history is very compelling and very meaningful to me personally.    

 

KW: My father took a photo of me with Jackie when I was a kid in the Fifties, and I kept that picture on my bureau my entire childhood.  

HF: Cool!

 

KW: Well, thanks again for the interview, Mr. Ford.

HF: It was my pleasure, Kam.

 

To see a trailer for 42, visit

Jurnee Smollett-Bell
The “Temptation” Interview
with Kam Williams

Sentimental Jurnee!

Born in New York City on October 1, 1986, Jurnee Smollett-Bell is an award-winning actress and activist of rare talent and conviction. She recently starred in the Emmy Award-winning series “Friday Night Lights” on which she portrayed the character Jess. She’s also been seen on “The Defenders” as Lisa, a new attorney at the law firm.

Jurnee starred in The Great Debaters with Forest Whitaker and Denzel Washington who also directed the historical drama. Jurnee received rave reviews and won the NAACP’s Best Lead Actress Image Award for her performance.

The versatile thespian landed her breakthrough role at the age of 11, when she starred in Eve's Bayou opposite Samuel L. Jackson and was cited by Interview Magazine as one of the five Hollywood stars to watch in the new millennium. Her other film credits include Roll Bounce, Gridiron Gang, and Beautiful Joe with Sharon Stone as well as made-for-television films including the Wonderful World of Disney’s "Selma Lord Selma” and Showtime’s "Ruby's Bucket of Blood" opposite Angela Bassett.

On TV, Jurnee has guest starred in the season finale of “Grey’s Anatomy” as well as on "House," "E.R.," "Strong Medicine," and "NYPD Blue." Her other television credits include "Wanda at Large" and "Cosby," for which she won NAACP Image Awards in 1999 and 2000.

She began her television acting career at the age of 4 with a recurring role on "Full House," later reviving the character for a season of "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper." She followed that by starring on the ABC comedy "On Our Own" alongside her real life sister, Jazz, and her brothers, Jojo, Jussie, Jake and Jocqui.

Besides acting and singing, Jurnee is an activist and the youngest board member of Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA), a nonprofit dedicated to fighting the spread of HIV, advancing human rights, and to educating and empowering AIDS orphans and other at-risk youth. She has been involved with ANSA since the age of 11. 

Working with the organization, Jurnee has traveled to South Africa, where she has met with Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu, as well as with victims of HIV. She even went on an official mission for the U.S. State Department to Botswana, Swaziland and South Africa to conduct AIDS awareness workshops.

Among Jurnee’s other charitable causes is the Children’s Defense Fund, where she joined the board at the invitation of her longtime mentor, Marian Wright Edelman. Here, she talks about starring as Judith opposite Vanessa Williams, Kim Kardashian and Brandy in Tyler Perry’s latest morality play, Temptation.

Read the rest of this story »

Benjamin Bratt
The “Snitch” Interview
with Kam Williams

Born in San Francisco on December 16, 1963, Benjamin Bratt's career has successfully spanned movie and television for over 25 years. His impressive resume includes the critically acclaimed Piñero, in a powerful portrayal of poet-playwright-actor Miguel Piñero; Steven Soderbergh's Traffic; and The Woodsman, a festival and critical favorite starring Kevin Bacon.

Television audiences recognize Benjamin from his award-winning role of Detective Rey Curtis on NBC's long-running drama Law & Order. He also starred in A&E's miniseries The Andromeda Strain, based on the novel by Michael Crichton, which garnered seven Emmy nominations. Additionally, he served as series lead as well as producer on A&E's The Cleaner, for which he received an ALMA Award in 2009.

A veteran of dozens of films, Benjamin's other work includes The River Wild opposite Meryl Streep; Blood In, Blood Out with director Taylor Hackford; Clear and Present Danger with Harrison Ford; Abandon opposite Katie Holmes; The Great Raid; Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock; and the screen adaption of Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera.

In La Mission, Benjamin re-teamed with his writer/director/producer brother, Peter Bratt, to star in and produce a story which recalls the culture, people and beliefs of their childhood in the Mission district of San Francisco. He and Peter joined with producer Alpita Patel to form 5 Stick Films, a production company geared towards film of conscience, to tell stories with passion, vision and personal reflection.

Benjamin is married to actress Talisa Soto Bratt. They live in Los Angeles with their two children, Mateo and Sophia. Here, he talks about his latest outing as El Topo in Snitch, an action thriller co-starring Dwayne Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Harold Perrineau and Barry Pepper.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Benjamin. I’m honored to have a chance to interview you.

Benjamin Bratt: It’s totally my pleasure, Kam.

 

KW: What interested you in Snitch?

BB: A few things, actually. I really liked the script. [Director] Ric Waugh happens to be an old friend of mine. We sort of came up together. His father, the great Fred Waugh, was the stunt coordinator on the first series I ever did, Nasty Boys. And Rick, believe it or not, was a kid who happened to be a great stuntman. It was a family business for him and his father and his brother. Since we became friends way back when, I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to come full circle working together again, but in an actor/director relationship. You might look at my part on the page and think, hmm, it’s a little small, and maybe not worth flying to Shreveport three times for just a few days’ worth of work. But the truth of the matter is I was excited to reconnect with him and also to play a part that certainly looms large over the story as a kind of ominous presence of danger, not unlike the role I played in Traffic.
 

KW: I have some questions for you from my readers. Larry Greenberg asks: When you play a hardcore bad guy like El Topo, is it a different mindset from when you play someone in law enforcement?

BB: One might think so, Larry but, surprisingly, the answer is “No.” I think most law enforcement people would tell you that there’s a very fine line between going one way or the other. On some level, as a career criminal, you’re a soldier. And certainly a police officer also has that soldier’s “us or them” mentality where the delineation between black and white is very clear. My brother-in-law happens to be a detective on the East Coast. Having played a man in uniform several times, it’s always been a fascination for me. And I’ve spent hours talking to him over the years about the mindset of someone on the force, and it’s very clear. There’s no gray area in law enforcement. Evil exists in the world and it must be dealt with. And those on the side of good can feel righteous in their approach to eliminating evil. There’s no ambiguity there. So, in the case of someone like El Topo, it’s not so much that he’s evil, but that the director is very keen to point out that he’s a man, a father, just as Dwayne Johnson’s character is. He has a job to do. He’s a businessman. Yes, he happens to sell drugs but, at the end of the day, he has to get the job done and take care of his family. I thought that was a unique take on this kind of villain. Although we don’t get to spend much time with him, we get the sense that, yes, he’s capable of a great deal of violence, and yet, he’s just taking care of business.   

 

KW: Editor/legist Patricia Turnier would like to know: What message do you think people will take away from Snitch?

BB: I think the message that resonates most, and definitely the one that resonates with me and my wife as parents, is that there is no length that is too great to go to in order to protect your child. So, it’s fascinating to see how Dwayne Johnson, who is a formidable, mountain of a man, is reduced to feeling powerless when his son is suddenly in danger. It’s very compelling to watch the process of his coming to terms with what he has to do to get his boy released from jail.    

 

KW: Kate Newell says: I love Benjamin Bratt! You’ve done such amazing work, but I'm going frivolous, here. Will your character, Javier Delgado, be returning to Modern Family?

BB: [Chuckles] Yeah, rest assured, Kate, he will be back. We don’t have an air date yet, but I just filmed an episode recently which I believe will be coming out some time in April.  

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How difficult is it to switch from doing a TV role to a big screen movie role? Which do you prefer?

BB: I’d have to say that acting is acting, and that you always want to convey a sense of honesty and authenticity. So, I approach both in a similar way. For me, though, the great joy of doing this film was that there was so much gravitas to my role. In fact, I feel that I do my best work when the stakes are a lot higher, where I play the heavy, like I did in La Mission, a movie my brother directed.   

 

KB: Harriet has a follow-up: Is there a remake of a classic you’d like to do with a role for yourself in mind?

BB: I think every actor would like to be in some version of The Godfather. So, if they’re doing Godfather IV, sign me up. [Laughs]

                      

KW: Patricia asks: Is there a Latin icon you would like to portray in a film?

BB: Not one that jumps out at me. That’s a good question, Patricia, and one I’ve pondered a lot because I’m always trying to be proactive in bringing our stories to the fore, and I’m lucky to have a built in writer/director in my brother.

 

KW: Your mother brought you to Alcatraz as a child to participate in the occupation of the island by Native Americans. Maybe you’d like to portray Dennis Means, the leader of the American Indian Movement.

BB: That idea has come up before. In fact, I even saw a script at one point. There was a young, charismatic leader by the name of Richard Oakes who spearheaded the initial takeover of the island. He was a Mohawk from New York. I always thought that his would make an interesting story. 

 

KW: Documentary filmmaker Kevin Williams says: How has acting changed for you over the years and how have you managed to mix comedy with drama so successfully?

BB: Good question. I think that I was hungrier when I was younger, and it showed in my work on some level. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown a lot more assured about what I’m doing. I call upon my training, my research and my life experience. That’s the good news about getting older. Your life experience really informs the work that you do in front of the camera, and even more so onstage. That comfort level enables an actor to be more at ease. Being a greater risk-taker comes from the experience of taking on roles, and it shows.  

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

BB: I remember being twirled around in a circle when I was about 3 by my dad who was holding me while music played.

 

KW: Is there a childhood friend you’d like to reunite with?

BB: Yeah, there are a couple of them.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

BB: The Round House by Louise Erdich.

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

BB: “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars.

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

BB: Pasta Bolognese. Cooking is one of my favorite things to do at home with my wife. I also make my own homemade sausage with kale and pasta.   

 

KW: That’s great. So many celebrities I interview say they never cook.

BB: I know. They’re probably single. [LOL]

 

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

BB: Oh man, Armani’s hard to beat. Hugo Boss makes some great stuff. Rag & Bone is excellent for casual wear. Calvin Klein has worked out very well for me, and so has Levi’s. It’s tough to beat Levi’s!  

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

BB:  [LOL] I see a father, and a husband, and someone who is very content.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Benjamin, and best of luck with the film.

BB: Thank you, Kam.

To see a trailer for Snitch, visit

Terrence Howard
The “Dead Man Down” Interview
with Kam Williams

In 2006, Terrence Howard received an Academy Award nomination for his lead role in John Singleton's "Hustle & Flow," and the song which he performed in the film became the first rap song ever to receive an Academy Award. That same year, he was also a member of the all-star cast (along with Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Thandie Newton and Matt Dillon) of Crash, the Oscar-winning Best Picture.

Maintaining a powerful presence on the small screen as well, Terrence won one of his three NAACP Image Awards in 2006 for the HBO film "Lackawanna Blues," directed by George C. Wolfe, which was based on Tony Award-winning Ruben Santiago-Hudson's autobiographical play. His love of acting came naturally through summers spent with his late grandmother, the celebrated, stage actress Minnie Gentry.

Terrence began his showbiz career on "The Cosby Show" after being discovered on a New York City street by a casting director. That chance encounter helped him break into feature films, and soon he was cast in "Mr. Holland's Opus."

Among Terrence’s most memorable work are scene-stealing performances as Cowboy in "Dead Presidents" and as Quentin in "The Best Man," the latter earning him an NAACP Image Award. His other film credits include "Pride," "Angel Eyes," "Hart’s War," "Four Brothers," "Idlewild," "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," "Fighting," "Iron Man," "The Brave One," "The Hunting Party," "August Rush," "Awake" and "Red Tails."

In 2008, he made his Broadway debut in a revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," co-starring Phylicia Rashad and James Earl Jones. A self-taught musician on both the piano and the guitar, Terrence’s musical talents were in display on the big screen opposite Jamie Foxx in "Ray." Also in 2008, Howard released his debut album on Columbia Records, “Shine through It," which he wrote, produced and performed on.

Here, he talks about his latest film, Dead Man Down, where he plays crime boss Alphonse Hoyt opposite Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace and F. Murray Abraham.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Terrence, thanks for the time. It’s nice to have another opportunity to speak with you.

Terrence Howard: Thank you, Kam, for taking the time.

 

KW: What interested you in Dead Man Down?

TH: Being able to work with Niels [director Niels Arden Oplev], given the work he’s done. Some of those Swedish films [such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo] were breathtaking. And he has an interesting style that mixes traditions of old with the allure of mystery. And I’m impressed with his Shakespearean approach to storytelling. It’s always about these relationships which become unwound. I was also interested in working with Colin [Farrell] again. We made Hart’s War together back in 2002, and I’ve always appreciated his artistry. So, I jumped at the chance to continue our friendship. 

 

KW: The cast has a lot of other big names, too: F. Murray Abraham… Noomi Rapace… Isabelle Huppert…

TH: And everyone in there came to play. Everyone!

 

KW: Marianne Ilaw asks: Is a movie with an intricate plot like this one difficult to shoot?

TH: To me, we’re all one, and everything is basically about trying to get back to a balanced state. We have our in-harmonics, our harmonic, and our beginning. Everybody’s trying to get back to that, and with this work, even as a director or as actors, we’re all trying to get back in harmony. But to expand, you have to become in-harmonic for a moment. So, the story’s about the battle to get back there, and that’s how it works out. Alphonse [Terrence’s character] could’ve been a simple bad guy who goes around killing people. But when you add a conscious element, and an element of reciprocity, a karmic recompense that he’s aware of, that simple ideal mushrooms to the point where it becomes palpable for everyone by association. The audience can now see his humanity because they’ve been in a compromised position. That’s the point of the film, to help someone learn. Take Colin’s character who was left for dead and whose family was murdered. Yet, here he has an opportunity for brand new love and to continue on and to just appreciate the fact that he’s still alive. But he’s willing to risk all of that to payback the debt, which nobody really knows the value of. When you take another person’s life, whether you survive or not, you only lose your own humanity in the process. That was one of the mistakes Alphonse made early on, which caused him all of these problems down the line. So, I love how Niels was able to lay out these complicated plotlines. And Noomi’s character is also on a vendetta and harbors a grudge that she won’t let go of. The film really questions the morality and ethical stances of all the characters.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: How did you prepare to play Alphonse Hoyt?

TH: I got a process, a perm in my hair. [LOL] That was my preparation.

 

KW: Marcia Evans says: I’ve loved your work in The Best Man, Pride, Red Tails and Crash, but your performance in Lackawanna Blues blew me away. It’s my favorite film. Have you considered spearheading a project similar to Lackawanna Blues?

TH: I’ve never heard that before. I’m really appreciative that Marcia said that, because I feel that the work I did in that movie was purely a product of the efforts of [director] George Wolfe. I fought him tooth-and-nail every step of the way on the set. Everything I wanted to do, he said, “No, you can’t! This is not going to be Terrence Howard Impersonation Day. You’re going to have to act today.” [Laughs] So, no I haven’t considered doing a similar project, because I prefer impersonating myself. But I would be willing to go down that path again under George Wolfe’s tutelage. He created that charter just like Niels created this one, Alphonse. You’ve got to give credit to the artist. I’m just a color in these directors’ films, and I really appreciate having had the opportunity. 

 

KW: Professor/director/author Hisani Dubose asks: What type of character do you enjoy playing the most?

TH: I like the conflicted soul, the complicated human being. I’ve never been a perfect man. There’s always been a choice between right and wrong, and no one does a single thing for a single motive. There are many motives behind what we do, and when you dig deeper and try to find the base tone in the harmonic and in-harmonic, you create a palpable, three-dimensional individual. I like to search for balance in an unbalanced system.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: What advice do you have for an aspiring actor or actress? What is a major pitfall you would warn a newcomer to the acting field about?

TH: Stop aspiring and just do it! Stop thinking and just follow your instincts the same way a half-billion sperm leaves our father and travels down the maze of opportunity inside our mother. No one tells them how to get there. If you don’t trust your instincts, you’ll get passed by another million sperm and might lose out on the opportunity of life, which is the opportunity to dream. Follow it! You already know where to go, you just have to trust that you know, and stop asking people for advice. You didn’t ask for advice to come to life, and it’s a hell of a journey to win a half-billion sperm race. That’s an amazing accomplishment. Compared to that, working in this industry is not that difficult.

 

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in with an eye toward a particular role.

TH: Carmen Jones. I would love to play Harry Belafonte’s role in that.

 

KW: Harriet also observes that you work in film, TV and theater. She’s wondering how different is your preparation for each and which is your favorite performance medium?

TH: My favorite medium is the theater, but the theater has its limitations. The stage is really for well-established actors who have their money together or who don’t have a family to support. It’s more of an artist’s retreat. But I love the control you have as an actor in the theater as compared to the screen. Once you’re on film, the director and the editor, have the final say about your character, and often at the discretion of the producer and the studio. Television is a little more improvisational, but the stage is the only place where you can tell your story without worrying about editing.

 

KW: Film Student Jamaal Green says: I am a huge fan of your work. He asks: What is your favorite film and was there an actor you admired growing up who inspired you to pursue acting?

TH: That’s a great question, Jamaal. My favorite film would probably be Cool Hand Luke. Paul Newman’s performance was a revelation. It gave me an understanding because I had seen him in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Elizabeth Taylor. His portrayal of Luke seemed like what he had intended Brick to be in Cat had finally come to fruition. So, I loved the simple majesty with which he told his story in Luke. Another performance that impressed me was the work that Val Kilmer did in Tombstone. That was one of the most brilliant, modern-day performances I’ve ever seen. I am yet to see anybody trump that. I also love Sam Rockwell’s work. It’s explosive! It’s a gas!

 

KW: Larry Greenberg says: You have been so prolific as an actor and producer, is there any chance we will see you as a writer and director in the near future?

TH: God only knows what we have in store. Man makes his plan and God laughs. I have aspirations to do many things, but I lack the constitution of discipline to follow all those things through. Time and unforeseen occurrences befall us all.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

TH: I see someone made in the image of God. Unfortunately, I also see too much of man scattered about my face with the insecurities and inadequacies and lack of understanding. And I see the source of humanity’s purpose in my eyes, and that’s the desire and attributes of trying to be closer to God with love and morality. But like Blanche [DuBois] said [in A Streetcar Named Desire], “It’s been a long time since I was made in God’s image.”  

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

TH: [Chuckles] It’s a little different. I have a pretty remarkable memory. My earliest memory is from about three months prior to being born. I was searching for my own arm in the womb. I thought it was a friend, and didn’t yet realize that it belonged to me. [LOL] 

 

KW: Thanks for another intriguing interview, Terrence, and best of luck with Dead Man Down. I loved the film!

TH: Thanks a lot, Kam.

To see a trailer for Dead Man Down, visit

Bryan Singer
The “Jack the Giant Slayer” Interview
with Kam Williams

Bryan Singer has consistently entertained audiences between a bold visual style and richly drawn characters ever since his making a noteworthy feature film debut in 1993 with the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize-winner "Public Access." He gained widespread attention a couple years later with the crime thriller "The Usual Suspects" which won Academy Awards for Kevin Spacey (Best Supporting Actor) and Christopher McQuarrie (Best Original Screenplay).

Singer’s subsequent film was an adaptation of the Stephen King novella "Apt Pupil," followed by the wildly successful "X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United.” He was next tapped to helm "Superman Returns," the first blockbuster shot on the Panavision Genesis digital camera, and the first live action film to utilize the post-conversion 3D process.

Most recently, Bryan made the World War II drama "Valkyrie," starring Tom Cruise. And he is currently in production directing "X-Men: Days of Future Past," which reunites numerous cast members from the franchise’s previous films.

For television, Singer directed the pilot and was executive producer on the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series "House," starring Hugh Laurie.  He also produced the ABC series "Dirty Sexy Money" and the HBO documentary "Vito," about author and 1980s AIDS activist Vito Russo.

Bryan has directed and/or produced a myriad of other projects through his Bad Hat Harry Productions, a motion picture and television production company formed in 1994. To date, his projects have grossed over two billion dollars worldwide.

Here, he talks about his latest film, “Jack the Giant Slayer,” a big screen version of the classic fairytale.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Bryan, thanks for the interview.

Bryan Singer: Sure. Not at all, Kam. My pleasure.

 

KW: Guess what? I met your mom in a waiting room last year. We happen to have the same dentist. 

BS: Oh really? That’s cool. Are you from Princeton?

 

KW: Yep.

BS: How random! That’s funny. How did you know it was my mom?
                                                                                   

KW: I struck up a conversation with her, and mentioned I was a film critic.  

BS: And I bet it was the first thing that came out of her mouth.

 

KW: Just about. She’s a very proud mama who’s very knowledgeable about film in general. We had a great chat!

BS: That’s so nice, since she’s a big movie fan, herself. 

 

KW: I invited her to attend the screening of the film the studio set up for me locally, but she declined.

BS: Yeah, she’s flying out to join me at the premiere here in L.A.

 

KW: What interested you in making Jack the Giant Slayer?

BS: At the time, there were no fairytale movies in development that I was aware of, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to do something different that I hadn’t seen before and that I hadn’t done before. A product existed called Jack the Giant Killer, which I kind of rewrote from scratch with Chris McQuarrie and Dan Studney, who are also Jersey kids.  So, it began with that and my desire to see beanstalks and giants in a way they’ve never been portrayed before.

 

KW: I was familiar with Jack and the Beanstalk, but I don’t remember reading Jack the Giant Killer as a child.

BS: Jack the Giant Killer was from the 1700’s, and kind of an Arthurian character who went around slaying giants and sending their heads back to King Arthur. This film takes some inspiration from both fairytales but, frankly, it’s its own original story. 

 

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: Can you tell me about how you directed the relationship between Jack [played by Nicholas Hoult] and Isabelle [played by Eleanor Tomlinson] with all the chaos going on around them.

BS: How do I put this? By basically making sure there was enough material that could build between them. But one of the key things was something I shot very late in the game, namely, the opening scene. I still didn’t feel that their destiny was cemented, so I went to New Zealand to shoot the opening where you see them being read to as little kids, and designed it to be intercut, much the same way the next scene is intercut when Jack’s uncle and Isabelle’s father are scolding them. By doing that you set them on a path of romantic destiny. So, that setup not only gave the history of the giants, but put the idea of the two characters being on a trajectory to be together in the audience’s mind. By the way, I used some of [director] Peter Jackson’s stages and crew from the Hobbit for that. And I got to go to the Hobbit premiere while I was down there, which was a lot of fun. 

 

KW: So you shot some of the film in New Zealand?

BS: Only those scenes where the parents were reading to the children. Those scenes also established who Jack and Isabelle were meant to be had his father and her mother not died. Now, Jack is fatherless and trapped on the farm, while Isabelle is motherless and trapped in a castle by an overprotective father who is afraid of losing the only other woman in his life. So, that opening tableau sort of sets the characters up in a fun way, and we shot it in New Zealand over a couple days. The rest of the movie was completely shot in London.

 

KW: Is there a message you want people to take away from the film?

BS: No, I don’t think of it as that kind of film. It’s just supposed be entertaining. Awards season is over, so it’s time for an adventure.

 

KW: Documentary filmmaker Kevin Williams says: I’m from Trenton and almost everyone I meet from Princeton says they know you or your mom. His question is, how do you fight off complacency, and do you look at scripts any differently today versus earlier in your career?  

BS: Well, early in my career, I really wasn’t look at scripts. I was developing them from scratch. Now, I look at them for inspiration but, ultimately, I’m driven to a kind of movie I want to make, knowing that eventually I’m going to bring aboard my friends, some of whom I grew up with, like Chris, and others whom I met later in life, like Dan. So, initially, I’m just looking for an idea, for a kernel of a story.

 

KW: Have you met Damien Chazelle out there in Hollywood yet? He’s an up-and-coming young director also from Princeton whose short film just won at Sundance.

BS: No, I haven’t, but it would be great to meet him.

 

KW: Erik Daniels, who teaches at West Windsor High School South, your alma mater, says: We all know how formative the high school years are. How influential was your high school experience in shaping your desire to direct?

BS: It was very fostering. I had a communications teacher named Denise Mangani who really opened up my mind to the cinematic arts in general. And I also had a creative writing teacher, Mr. Berridge, who was very inspiring in terms of thinking about stories. Another was my social studies teacher, Ms. Fiscarelli. She was very influential because she taught a comprehensive unit on The Holocaust. That material has found its way into many of movies, from Apt Pupil to X-Men to Valkyrie to X-Men: First Class, as well as into some of the documentaries I’ve produced. That subject-matter has been very important to me.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: Is there a new genre of film that you would like to tackle for the first time?

BS: Yes, horror. Something supernatural. I always enjoy a good horror film, and there hasn’t been a great horror film like The Exorcist for awhile.                                                        

 

KW: Patricia also asks: What director did you admire the most growing up?
BS: Steven Spielberg.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

BS: I’ve been reading a lot of David Sedaris lately. I recently finished “When You Are Engulfed in Flames” and “Holidays on Ice.” And I’m currently reading “Barrel Fever.”

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles notes that you produced the TV series “House” which is set in your hometown, Princeton. She asks: Were you also involved in the writing?

BS: No, the original script which was written by David Shore, was set in Boston. I moved it to Princeton because I didn’t want it to be just a city hospital. I also felt Princeton was a perfect location to have a diversity of patients. 

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

BS: Time moving forward, not backwards. [LOL]

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

BS: I don’t cook, but I love eating sushi.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

BS: Eternal good health.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

BS: My father reading a storybook to me at about the age of 2. It had a fly on every page, and whenever we saw the fly, we’d fall back on the bed together and laugh.  

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Bryan, and best of luck with the film.

BS: Sure thing, Kam, and if you see my mom in town, tell her I said “Hi.”  

 

KW: Will do!

BS: Thanks!

To see a trailer for Jack the Giant Slayer, visit   

Haley Strode

The “Wendell & Vinnie” Interview

with Kam Williams

 

Establishing Rapport with “The Girl Next-Door”

Haley Strode has proven her skills on both screen and stage, effortlessly executing dramatic and comedic roles for which she has received significant praise. With charm, sharp intelligence and a vibrant personality, Haley is a multitalented actress who has showcased her talent across the board.

She was last seen onscreen co-starring as Marcia Keeler in Gangster Squad where she shared the screen with Josh Brolin, Giovanni Ribisi, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn and Emma Stone. And her impressive list of television appearances includes a recurring role on Important Things with Demetri Martin as well as guest appearances on Mind of Mencia, Lewis Black’s: Root of All Evil, Pack of Wolves, CSI: NY, Castle, Whitney, Vegas, L.A. Noir and The New Normal.

Bringing her charisma to the theatre stage, Haley received rave reviews for her performance in the Katselas Theatre Company’s production of Le Ronde de Lunch. The comedy, written by Peter Lefcourt, was awarded Stage Scene L.A.’s Best Production for 2009-2010. Her previous theatre credits include Oxford Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night as Viola, A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Hippolyta, Othello as Desdemona, Romeo and Juliet as Juliet, A Streetcar Named Desire as Stella, Noises Off! as Brooke, and The Importance of Being Earnest as Cecily.

Here, Haley talks about her new sitcom, Wendell & Vinnie where she plays a next-door neighbor named Taryn opposite Jerry Trainor and Buddy Handleson. The show is set to premiere on Nick at Nite on Saturday, February 16 at 8 PM ET/PT. (Check local listings)  

 

Kam Williams: Hi, Haley, thanks for the time.

Haley Strode: Of course, Kam!

KW: What interested you in Wendell & Vinnie?

HS: Taryn is the kind of role I've always wanted to play: the eternal optimist, sweet and thoughtful, but fiery when she needs to be. She's got it all, and then some. I was enamored, and after reading the entire script, I fell in love. It's classic sitcom through and through. One thing I absolutely loved about the show from the beginning was that not only are the characters hilarious, but they’re also incredibly relatable. When a poignant moment unfolds, as it does in every episode thus far, it has the ability to pull on your heartstrings. It'll make you laugh and cry, and it's one of that kind of show that I love and grew up watching, like Cheers, Friends, and Frasier. A lot of our writers actually worked on and have won Emmys on those shows.

KW: Tell me a little about the sitcom?

HS: The show revolves around a 30 year-old man-child, Vinnie Basset [played by Jerry Trainor], who is living the bachelor’s life in L.A., when he suddenly becomes the prime caretaker of his bookworm, brainiac nephew, Wendell [played by Buddy Handleson]. The two form a sort of odd couple duo, being that Wendell, on many occasions, can be more discerning and responsible than his uncle. And with the help of their next-door neighbor my character, Taryn, and Vinnie's sister, Wilma [played by Nicole Sullivan], a support unit is formed to help raise Wendell… and sometimes Vinnie. [Laughs]

KW: How would you describe your character, Taryn?

HS: As I said, Taryn is the kind of girl that has it all. She's the quintessential “Girl Next-Door.” In the pilot episode, we see her struggling with a new town and existence really, because she's newly divorced. There's definitely a vulnerability there, mixed with the fire she possesses to turn down Vinnie's advances from the beginning. But once she meets Wendell, and sees how much Vinnie loves his nephew and wants to be a good parent, the side of her that wears her heart on her sleeve becomes intertwined in the family unit.

KW: What message do you think the show is trying to deliver?

HS: I think ultimately the message is that no matter what life throws at us, no matter what our circumstances are, surrounding ourselves with people who love and support us is the key to leading a happy and fulfilled life. Family doesn’t have to be conventional; it just has to have love and laughter at its core.

KW: You recently played a serious role in Gangster Squad where your husband [Giovanni Ribisi] dies, leaving you a single-mom. Which do you prefer, drama or comedy?

HS: This is a great question, I'm asked this a lot. While I love working on dramatic characters and stories, it's comedy that I love the most. For me, it's incredibly rewarding to make a person laugh. Laughter is one of the greatest parts of life.

KW: What was it like working with such an accomplished cast that included not only Giovanni Ribisi, but Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena and Robert Patrick?

HS: It was truly an incredible experience. I've been a huge fan of Giovanni's for a long time; he's such a chameleon. It was an honor to work with him, as well as the rest of this stellar cast. Being that it was male dominated, it was often fun feeling like a part of the 'boys club’ that took place on set. Such a talented, fun and luckily for me, welcoming group of men that made the entire experience a memorable one. Our director Ruben Fleischer, was the most welcoming of them all. I can't say enough about how wonderful it was to work with him and watch him work.

KW: What would be your dream role?

HS: I've often tried to imagine my dream role and what that would truly mean. I'm not sure I've reached a clear picture of it yet, but I have always said the reason I wanted to act was ultimately to develop characters that evoke emotion and consequently change lives. So many incredible actors do that for me. It's something I've known about myself for as long as I can remember.

KW: What directors would you like to work with?

HS: Cameron Crowe, Michel Gondry, Charlie Kaufman, Wes Anderson, Jonathan Dayton, Rob Reiner and many, many more.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

HS: I wish someone would ask me about my big brothers so I could talk about how proud of them I am and all their accomplishments. My oldest brother owns and operates our family's fifth generation farm alongside my father, and is a member of the Kentucky Agriculture Leadership Development Program. Only 22 are chosen to travel worldwide to study and teach different methods of farming. They'll be heading to Washington, DC in the fall to speak to legislators about how to improve methods of agriculture in our country. My other brother, Matthew, is a general surgeon in Georgia, halfway through his residency and working on research that will hopefully be used to help children with specific deficiencies. This month he'll be presenting a paper he wrote on this at a national surgical conference. My brothers are incredible and I couldn't be more proud of them.

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

HS: Yes, but I always manage to rework my fear into drive.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

HS: Extraordinarily so!

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

HS: Today, on set. There has not been one day I've left without my cheeks and stomach hurting from laughing so hard. It's the greatest workout routine ever.

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

HS: A badass pair of heels, and cookie dough ice cream

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

HS: The last book I read was a reread. Hemingway's “The Sun Also Rises.” It's one of my favorite books, and has one of my favorite characters: Lady Brett Ashley. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743297334/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to?

HS: Cheap and Cheerful from The Kills’ Midnight Boom album. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0012IWHKU/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

HS: I make a mean apple pie and, if I'm feeling really wild, with cheddar cut into the crust.

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

HS: As cheesy and melodramatic as it might sound, it's very simple: Love excites me more than anything… in all its forms.

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

HS: I love so many, but my favorites are the classics: Dolce and Gabbana, Chanel, Dior and Chloe.

KW: Dante Lee, author of "Black Business Secrets,” asks: What was the best business decision you ever made, and what was the worst?

HS: The best? Working with my longtime manager, David Rhee. The worst? I've grown from every mistake, so there is no 'worst' decision.

KW: The Michael Ealy question: If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be?

HS: There are many life stories I've heard that are so inspiring, that leave me with such cognizance of myself and the level of work that I want to reach. Mary Cassatt comes to mind as one the most attractive historical figures for a meeting, because her life story, to me, always sounded remarkable in every sense. She overcame the difficulties of having parents that loved her, but did not support her passions. She was a female artist at a time when women were meant to be married, have children and almost forbidden to have a job. She saw her passion clearly, and unapologetically went for it. I love and admire that great amount of gumption that it must have taken. I also read a quote of hers once about how she learned so much from her mentor and, later, best friend, Henry Matisse. She said "I used to go and flatten my nose against that window and absorb all I could of his art." I love this quote because I think this is how every artist feels while pursuing their art. We all want to scour what inspires us, and learn from and build on it.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

HS: A work in progress

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

HS: That my family and friends would be protected from harm always.

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

HS: My dad coming home from the farm, spinning me around, and dancing with me. It was my favorite time of day.

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, what would you do? Would you do the bad stuff, you never got a chance to do, or would you do good stuff to make sure you make it into heaven?

HS: I'd gather with family and friends to tell stories and laugh over a bottle of my favorite bourbon.

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

HS: I would love be a bunny, but I'm clearly a golden retriever.

KW: The Pastor Alex Kendrick question: When do you feel the most content?

HS: After a live studio audience show. Nothing feels better than working in front of an audience. I grew up in theatre, so it's really my heaven. I feel exhausted from hard work and give myself time to acknowledge what I've done before I move on to the next episode. I think it's important to celebrate the strides we make.

KW: The Toure question: Who is the person who led you to become the person you are today?

HS: My mom

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share?

HS: I would say that all successful people are "fighters." They're passionate and determined. They see not only what they want out of life, but what they were built for, and fight for it.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

HS: My advice would be to enjoy every moment and to take the time to learn from every mistake.

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

HS: I want to be remembered as a passionate professional and compassionate human being.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Haley, and best of luck with the show.

HS: Thank you so much, Kam!

To see a trailer for Wendell & Vinnie, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc-XQqJJ9CY

Viola Davis
The “Beautiful Creatures” Interview
with Kam Williams

Viola Davis is a critically acclaimed actress who garnered her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her stellar work in "Doubt,” co-starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. She received her second Oscar nomination, this time in the category of Best Actress in a Leading Role, for her portrayal of Aibileen, in "The Help," based on Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel. Davis also received a Screen Actor’s Guild Award and an NAACP Image Award for that powerful performance.

Next fall, Viola will be seen in the sci-fi action adventure "Ender's Game" opposite Harrison Ford, as well as in the drama "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby," alongside Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and William Hurt. And she is currently in production on "Prisoners," starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Her other feature film credits include "Won't Back Down," for which she just won another NAACP Image Award, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," with Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock; "It's Kind of a Funny Story," with Emma Roberts, Lauren Graham and Zach Galifianakis; "Eat Pray Love," starring Julia Roberts; "Knight and Day," with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz; "Law Abiding Citizen," with Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler; "Nights in Rodanthe," based on the Nicholas Sparks novel and starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere; "Madea Goes to Jail"; "State of Play"; "Disturbia"; "The Architect"; "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," opposite 50 Cent; "Syriana," starring George Clooney; "Far from Heaven," with Dennis Quaid and Julianne Moore; and the Steven Soderbergh-directed films "Solaris," "Traffic" and "Out of Sight."

On the small screen, Viola was most recently seen in a six-episode arc on Showtime's hit series "United States of Tara." Her extensive television credits include roles on "Law & Order: SVU"; "Jesse Stone"; "Life is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story"; "Traveler"; "Century City"; "Lefty"; "City of Angels"; Oprah Winfrey's "Amy and Isabelle"; and Hallmark Hall of Fame's "Grace and Glorie."

A veteran of the stage, in 2010 Viola returned to Broadway in the highly anticipated revival of August Wilson's "Fences," alongside Denzel Washington. Her performance in the 1987 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play earned her a Tony Award, as well as the Drama Critics' Circle Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award. In 2001, she was awarded a Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Tonya in "King Hedley II."

A graduate of The Juilliard School, Davis also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts Degree from her alma mater, Rhode Island College. Here, she talks about her latest outing as Amma in the screen adaptation of the romantic fantasy novel “Beautiful Creatures.”

 

 

Kam Williams: Hi Viola, thanks for another opportunity to interview you.

Viola Davis: Absolutely!

 

KW: Congratulations on winning another NAACP Image Award. I loved your performance in Won’t Back Down.

VD: Thank you very much, Kam.

 

KW: Do you think the movie suffered from political blowback, the way that Zero Dark Thirty has been hurt at the box office because of controversy?

VD: Yeah, I think it definitely suffered from that because we were in an election year and because education is a hotbed issue. And people have strong opinions about public school education, unions, charter schools, and parent-trigger laws. Occasionally, the timing of a movie is just bad and I think, in the case of this movie, it was probably the worst. 

 

KW: What interested you about Beautiful Creatures?

VD: What interested me was that the character wasn’t what she appeared to be. That she had different secrets to be discovered. When you first meet her, she’s kind of just woven into the fabric of this family. But then you see the tribal scarification on her back, and you see her channeling spirits. And then you learn that she’s the keeper of a library that’s the gateway to different worlds. I like that. I like when there are different layers to peel away. It was just subtle enough to play and to craft. That’s what appealed to me about the role.

 

KW: Have you ever made a romantic fantasy before? Is Kate & Leopold the closest you’ve done to something like this?

VD: I didn’t think of Kate & Leopold, but yeah, I guess so. It’s the only other time I’ve tried this genre.

 

KW: In this case, the film is more akin to the Twilight and Harry Potter series. 

VD: I love young adult fantasies. While I say that, I have not seen all of the Twilight and Harry Potter movies. But I’ve read all of the books, and I love them. I love them because I enjoy being transported to a different world and having my imagination challenged. That’s a huge part of what we do as actors. We have to imagine ourselves in a different world. And when you are in a young adult fantasy, it challenges you in the best way.

 

KW: Did you see The Hunger Games? That’s another adaptation of a young adult book that targeted teens and ‘tweeners.

VD: Yes, it was fabulous!

 

KW: Editor/legist Patricia Turnier asks: Among all the characters you played, which one is closest to your personality and why?

VD: You know who? The character I played in Nights in Rodanthe, a movie I did with Diane Lane. Jean was kind of fun, and tough, sarcastic, artistic, creative, quirky and a little sexy. She was probably the closest to the real me. 

 

KW: Patricia also points out that you’ll be receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year. She’d like to know what that means to you.

VD: I keep forgetting about that until someone reminds me again. I kid you not. What does it mean? It’s hard for me to say that I’ve made it, because no real actor feels that way. But it does represent a physical manifestation of my dreams coming to fruition, if that makes any sense.  

 

KW: Professor/curator/author/documentary director Hisani DuBose says:

Please ask this beautiful woman what has been the public’s response to her natural hair? I'm so glad she's working and bringing a different kind of beauty to Hollywood.

VD: The response to my natural hair has been huge, Hisani! And bigger than to anything else. I think people admire the boldness of it, and the courage of it. For me, personally, it represents my coming into who I am, not apologizing for it, and being comfortable with the way I look. I have been amazed by the testimonies coming especially from women of color who have thanked me for it.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says congratulations on your Image Award to add to your Tony Awards and Oscar nominations. She asks: How have these accolades affected your career and the quality of scripts you are offered?

VD: Recognition has brought me more work, because your name suddenly comes to mind when some directors are trying to cast a character. And my stage work has specifically enabled people to have faith that I can handle a role, even when it’s not specifically written for an African-American. So, I’d have to say that recognition brings work. A successful movie brings more work, and that been the biggest blessing. 

 

KW: Harriet was also wondering with so many directors giving some 'classic' films a 'new look,' whether there is a particular role you'd like to reprise either on stage or the big screen?
VD: I would love to star in a remake of Thelma and Louise. Yep, that’s the one I’d be interested in redoing.  

 

KW: Marcia Evans says: I'm grateful to see you receiving rewards after putting in so much work into perfecting your craft. I wish you continued success with your career and lovely family, and I’m proud that you represent an example of a sister of worth. She asks: Do you have any personal charity benefitting your hometown of Central Falls, Rhode Island?
VD: Definitely! I’m very committed to its educational institutions, including my alma mater Central Falls High School’s drama program, because I know that’s what got me my start. I do everything I can to keep it alive since it made me feel like I had something to give to the world. I also support the Segue Institute for Learning, a charter school in Central Falls run by a friend of mine that my niece attends. I’m committed to that because of its proven results. They have the highest math scores of any charter school in Rhode Island.

 

KW: Marcia has a follow-up question. Are you concerned about art programs being removed from so many public school systems?

VD: I’m very concerned. I do as much as I can in my community. I’ve gone back to do fundraisers and to offer my services. My sister started a thespian society that my husband [actor Julius Tennon] and I have done workshops with in Central Falls. 

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

VD: That’s a hard one. But I would have to say I can make a great big mac and cheese.

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

VD: Lately, my daughter. I get so excited when she says something new, which she is doing every day. I can leave the house for a few hours, come back and meet a totally different person. That’s very exciting to me.

 

KW: Would you mind giving me a Viola Davis question?

VD: Okay. Let’s see… Who do you really believe you are when you go home as opposed to the person you pretend to be on the red carpet?

 

KW: That’s a great question. Thanks. So, who do you really believe you are when you go home as opposed to the person you pretend to be on the red carpet?

VD: When I go home, I am a slug. I want to do everything completely opposite of what I do on the red carpet. [LOL] I like to take off all my makeup, put on a t-shirt, be completely unassuming and just do stuff with my husband and my daughter.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Viola, and best of luck with Beautiful Creatures.

VD: Thanks, Kam.

To see a trailer for Beautiful Creatures, visit

Sly Stallone
The “Bullet to the Head” Interview
with Kam Williams

Sylvester Stallone has been known worldwide as a true screen legend since creating the title role in the seminal 1976 Oscar-winning Best Picture “Rocky,” for which he also wrote the screenplay. Over the course of his long career, he has been recognized for his work as an actor, writer and director.

A cultural phenomenon, “Rocky” grew into a six-film franchise, successfully spanning four decades. He wrote, directed and starred in “Rocky II, III and IV,” and wrote and starred in “Rocky V.” Stallone brought the character’s story to a close in 2006 with the critical and box office hit “Rocky Balboa,” which he also wrote and directed. That year, to commemorate one of the most iconic scenes in motion picture history, a bronze statue of Rocky Balboa was placed at the foot of the now-famous steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum—called the “Rocky steps”—at a dedication ceremony presided over by the mayor.

Beginning with the 1982 blockbuster “First Blood,” Stallone has also embodied another indelible character: John Rambo. Following that film, for which he also wrote the screenplay, he wrote and starred in “Rambo: First Blood Part II” and “Rambo III.” In 2008, he directed, wrote and starred in “Rambo,” which continued the saga of the scarred Vietnam vet more than 25 years after his screen introduction.

Stallone more recently wrote and directed perhaps his most ambitious project to date, the action thriller “The Expendables,” in which he also led an all-star cast, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren. The film opened at number one in August 2010, making Stallone the only actor to open a film at number one in five consecutive decades. In 2012, he co-wrote and starred in “The Expendables 2,” which reunited the cast, this time under the direction of Simon West.

Upcoming, Stallone is set to star with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the action thriller “The Tomb,” and then stars opposite Robert De Niro in “Grudge Match.” In addition, he wrote and is producing “Homefront,” directed by Gary Fleder and starring Jason Statham and James Franco.

Born in New York City, Stallone attended school in suburban Philadelphia, where he first started acting and also became a star football player. He then spent two years instructing at the American College of Switzerland in Geneva. Returning to the United States, he enrolled as a drama major at the University of Miami and also began to write.

But Stallone left college to pursue an acting career in New York City where the jobs did not come easily. During this period, he turned more and more to writing, churning out screenplays while waiting for his acting break. The opportunity came in 1974 when he was cast as one of the leads in “The Lords of Flatbush.”

With the money earned from the film, Stallone moved to Hollywood, where he landed a few small roles in television and movies. He also continued to pursue writing. Fighter Rocky Balboa was born in a script Stallone wrote in longhand. Several producers offered to buy the screenplay, but wanted to cast a name star in the title role. Despite being nearly broke, he held fast in his determination to play the part, and his perseverance was finally rewarded and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Kam Williams: Hey, Mr. Stallone. I’m so honored to be speaking with you.

Sly Stallone: Thank you very much.

 

KW: Thanks for the opportunity.

SS: Sure, Kam.

 

KW: I asked my readers if they had any questions for you. I won’t be able to get to them all but I must say that I was very impressed with the uniform reverence they have for you.

SS: That’s great. Thank you.

 

KW: Let me start by asking what interested you in Bullet to the Head?

SS: Well, I liked the idea of a very simple story with a dark morality. There’s  humor in that later on, but you start with the basic idea that you have two total opposites having to work together for a common cause who you know are going to have to take each other out at the very end, at least that was the original premise. I also really liked the idea of doing it with Walter Hill after the first director bowed out. That made the project especially enticing.

 

KW: Was that because of his track record with unlikely-buddy flicks like Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 Hours?

SS: Yes, and also because he’s kind of gone down the same path as I did. There was a period when I was pretty much untouchable for about 8 or 9 years until I got a big break with Joe Roth when he helped produce Rocky Balboa. That was a big, big, long shot. Everybody thought it was a joke, but it worked. [Chuckles] I think there’s a lot of music left to play in a lot of these old instruments. And I felt that Walter Hill is a pro at this genre, yet he’s not getting the opportunity. So, when I saw the opportunity present itself, I decided, “If he does the movie, I’ll do it.” And it worked out that way. 

 

KW: Documentary director Kevin Williams says: Your sticking to your guns when you wrote and then wanted to star in Rocky inspired me to do the same when many told me I couldn't make my documentary film, "Fear Of A Black Republican." As a matter of fact, I thank you for your great inspiration in my film’s credits. Do you have any idea how many filmmakers and actors you have inspired and does that experience with making Rocky still come into play for you today? 

SS: Actually I don’t, Kevin, but I’m very flattered whenever I hear stories like this, or about a student who has written a graduate thesis on Rocky or Rambo. I’m always surprised to see that the films had that kind of impact. Having that sort of faith in something that only you truly understand and believe in is still prevalent today. If I just know in my gut that a film is going to work, I’ll fight to the death over it, and I convince myself. When a movie is purely a money job, the film doesn’t have the same sort of intensity, and the audience almost senses it, at least that’s the way I perceive it. So, yeah, the idea is to do something that you truly, truly believe in. I understand that a lot of other actors don’t have a choice. They have to eat so they need to work and they’ll do films that they’re not so proud of. But I’ve been fortunate enough to be given a second wind, so I try to pick projects I know will provide the audience the kind of escapism they want from me.    

 

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: How did you develop your character, Jimmy Bobo?

SS: I decided to approach it this way. I, Sylvester Stallone, am really not much like Rocky. Rocky is a much more ethical, moral person than I am. [Chuckles] He’s really a great guy. And Rambo is a much darker person than I am, and much more reserved and withdrawn. I thought, let me try something different. What if I, Sylvester Stallone, were transported into the world of hit men? In other words, what if I were the hit man but just played myself. So, that’s the way I approached this character. I wanted to be as casual and comfortable with the character as possible. I said, if Sylvester Stallone were a hit man, this is how he would be. So, pretty much what you see up there is Sylvester Stallone as a hit man. Rather than trying to create a character that was different from me, I tried to make the character the same as me, and just add the story. I don’t know if that makes sense to you. It’s like as if you were going to play a hit man and asked me, “What do I do?” And I went, “No, no, you Kam, you just have to play yourself.” It would be your personality, but you would play a hit man. That would be an interesting choice. That’s different. That’s unusual. So, this was the first time I’ve ever said, “Let me just be myself, but pretend I’m a hit man.”

 

KW: Larry also asks: How did you go about create the father-daughter dynamic with Lisa [played by Sarah Shahi]?

SS: Having children, they tend to be very angry, if you’re not there growing up. Of course, he was never there for her growing up, and she has done everything that’s rebellious. So, I tried to think how I would approach that in my own life. I decided that he would be a little remorseful, but he’d have a little resentment because she’d ask for a favor every time he came to see her. When she decided to be a tattoo artist and to cover herself in tattoos that weren’t exactly the most flattering, I realized she was doing it out of spite and for attention, and as a way of getting back at me. So, there are all sorts of possible approaches to developing that kind of relationship. 

 

KW: Is there a message you want people to take away from the film?

SS: That a tiger never really changes his stripes and that Jimmy Bobo is what he is, without regret. But he’s not an amoral person, since he only takes out, as he puts it, “the hard to get at stains.” That his job. He takes out the trash. In effect, he’s doing a service. He’s a people person. He removes the bad people.

 

KW: Marcia Evans says: I've been a fan of yours since Rocky. I was particularly blown away by your outstanding performance in Copland. My question is: Have you considered getting into the fitness industry and opening a chain of gyms?  

SS: [Laughs] I thought about that for a long time, Marcia, but it’s such a competitive business. I tried a line of vitamins once, but that didn’t go over well, because I didn’t realize how hard and time-consuming it was. So, I decided to leave it to the people who are truly dedicated to that 24 hours a day.   

 

KW: Are you still an art collector?

SS: Yes, an avid art collector. [Chuckles] In fact, every day, I’ll read a chapter of some art book. I don’t know why. It’s just a habit.

 

KW: Film student Jamaal Green asks who is your favorite director and how has he or she influenced your work?

SS: Hmm… It’s not a modern director. To me, the greatest director ever was Elia Kazan whom many of your readers probably never even heard of. But he did On the Waterfront with Brando, and he did East of Eden. He made some truly epic, monumental films, when no one else was really doing it. His contemporaries were making relatively lighthearted movies. I’d say he was far and away the best. Everyone today is pretty well much derivative of Kazan. So, to me, he was the real master.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: I am a fan of your work since childhood. Being versatile and taking control of your career in show business surely helped you succeed and achieve longevity. What advice do you have for aspiring actors who want to follow in your footsteps? 

SS: In this day and age, if you’re aspiring to be an actor, and you’re putting all your eggs in one basket, you could be disappointed. I started out as an actor, but I forced myself to be a writer, even though I wasn’t very good at it and had never written. I don’t think I ever passed an English course in my life. My first 8 to 10 scripts were pretty horrendous, but I stayed at it, stayed at it, and stayed at it, until I eventually found a voice and a subject like Rocky that people were interested in. So, I recommend that you go out and try to be as versatile as possible: writer, actor, producer and especially director. Look at Ben Affleck. He’s literally had a career reversal. I tell so many young actors that if I hadn’t written, directed and acted, I’d have been long gone. I would not have made it out of the Nineties.   

 

KW: Patricia also asks: Are you interested in writing a memoir which gives us more of look into your life than Sly Moves did?

SS: [LOL] I don’t know. It all depends on how deeply I’d have to delve into it. I’d be willing to do it, if I only had to write about what inspires and motivates me. But I couldn’t go into the personal aspects of my family, because I’m way too private. But my career, absolutely.

 

KW: Kate Newell asks: Would you ever consider running for public office?

SS: No, I talked to Arnold [Schwarzenegger] about running for office, and he said he loved it. But he is also much more of a people person. You have to have an almost boundless reservoir of energy and interest to enter politics because quite often it’s thankless and fruitless and you can’t accomplish much. But he loved it. I don’t have that. I’m much more of an introvert.    

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How much of an offer they couldn't refuse did you make to assemble the cast of matinee idols, not once, but twice, for The Expendables?

SS: [LOL] This was an idea I got thinking about how there’s strength in numbers. I would always see these Rock & Roll revivals comprised of 25 different bands that had once been very famous, but weren’t anymore. However, the name value was still there. I said to myself, “Why don’t I do this with actors?” Every one of these guys had had phenomenal careers but had fallen on hard times, including myself. I thought that together this might generate the same sort of interest that fans have when they go to see a Rock & Roll revival. Instead, they’d be going to see a revival of action stars. I didn’t know if it was going to work, but I thought of it as an experiment. And since I had known them for years, I could call on favors, and all of them could trust me that I wasn’t going to embarrass them. And that’s how I was able to make it happen, Harriet.   

 

KW: Thanks for a great interview, Mr. Stallone, and best of luck with the film.

SS: Thank you, Kam. I appreciate it. Bye.

 

To see a trailer for Bullet to the Head, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzcvSoCqq1w  

Marlon Wayans
“A Haunted House” Interview
with Kam Williams

 

Multi-talented Marlon Wayans graduated from the prestigious High School of Performing Arts in New York and Howard University’s Film School. He is best known for getting his start in Hollywood as a cast member of the Emmy Award-winning comedy series, In Living Color. Marlon then went on to create executive produce and star in The Wayans Bros on the WB.

Together with brothers, Keenen and Shawn Wayans, and producer Rick Alvarez, he formed the successful production company, Wayans Brothers Entertainment. Some of his noteworthy credits include: The Ladykillers, directed by the Coen Brothers; the record breaking Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2, Little Man, White Chicks, Norbit, Behind the Smile and Dance Flick.

Marlon’s compelling dramatic performance as a drug addict in Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream proved he could do more than comedy. Most recently, Marlon was seen starring opposite Channing Tatum in the box-office smash, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

Projects in development include: Super Bad James Dynomite, based on his comic book series of the same name, Pretty Ugly, The Year of Living Biblically, and an animated series for TBS entitled The Black Family.

Next, he will be seen playing the title role in Sony Pictures, Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? Marlon will also star in the upcoming Harmony Korine film Twinkle, Twinkle.

Marlon continues to publish books under the 101 Ways title including 101 Ways to Know You're a Golddigger, 101 Ways You Know It's Time to Get Out Of Your Mama's House and 101 Ways to Know You’re Having a Ghetto Christmas as well as the children’s series Boo Crew which stemmed from the animated series the Wayans’ created for Nickelodeon.

Here, he talks about his latest film, A Haunted House, a spoof of the Paranormal Activity franchise.  

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Quentin Tarantino
The "Django Unchained" Interview
with Kam Williams

With a vibrant imagination and dedication to rich, layered storytelling, Quentin Tarantino has established himself as one of the most celebrated filmmakers of his generation. His World War II epic, "Inglorious Basterds," was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Achievement in Directing, and landed an Oscar for Christoph Waltz for his memorable portrayal of Colonel Hans Landa. .

Prior to "Inglorious Basterds," Tarantino thrilled audiences with "Death Proof," starring Kurt Russell and Zoë Bell. In "Kill Bill Vol. 1″ and "Kill Bill Vol. 2," Uma Thurman, as "The Bride," enacted a "roaring rampage of revenge" on her former lover and boss, played by David Carradine.

Quentin wrote and directed "Jackie Brown," a crime caper starring Pam Grier in the title role. Loosely based on Elmore Leonard's novel "Rum Punch," the picture netted Robert Forster an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Tarantino co-wrote, directed and starred in "Pulp Fiction" which won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. He wrote, directed and starred in "Reservoir Dogs," which marked the beginning of his career and made an auspicious debut at the Sundance Film Festival.

Here, he talks about his new movie, Django Unchained, a Western featuring Jamie Foxx in the title role as a slave-turned-bounty hunter, and co-starring Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kerry Washington.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Quentin, thanks for the interview.

Quentin Tarantino: Oh, it's my pleasure, Kam.

 

KW: The last time we spoke, the conversation went so well, the interview is going to be published in the new edition of Quentin Tarantino Interviews.

QT: Oh yeah! Edited by Gerald Peary! Volume 2. Cool!

 

KW: Let me start with a question from Larry Greenberg, a reader who also sent in a question for that interview: He says: When I got to ask Mr. Tarantino a question about Inglorious Basterds his answer changed my life and inspired me to go into filmmaking. It gave me permission to pursue my dream. If that had not happened, I doubt that I would be sitting here today with a script and an insane deadline. It was a key turning point in my life. This time, I'd like to know how you came up with the characters Django and Dr. Schultz [played by Christoph Waltz] and how did you dream up their relationship?

QT: Wow, Larry! That's great! As for the scriptwriting process, it was kind of funny. I always knew I wanted to do a Western. And trying to think of what that would be, I always figured that if I did a Western, it would have a lot of the aesthetics of Spaghetti Westerns, because I really like them. They're really brutal and operatic with a surreal quality to the violence. So, about eight years ago, I came up with the idea of a black man who was an ex-slave who had become a bounty hunter. And his job would be to track down white outlaws who were hiding out as overseers on Southern plantations. Now, that's not a story; that's just an idea. That was kicking around in the incubator for about eight years, waiting for its time. At the same time, I was writing a film criticism book on Sergio Corbucci, the director who did the original Django. So, I was kind of getting immersed in his world. Towards the end of the Inglourious Basterds press tour I was in Japan. Spaghetti Westerns are really popular there, so I picked up a bunch of soundtracks and spent my day off listening to all these scores. And all of a sudden the opening scene just came to me. It just came to me, and I knew I had to sit down and write it, even though I didn't even have my notepad with me. So, I was just writing it on the hotel stationery. During those previous eight years, I never had a German, dentist bounty hunter in mind for the character. [Chuckles] But during that time, I did get to direct Christoph Waltz who was one of the best actors I'd ever worked with. Nobody does my dialogue better than he and Sam Jackson do. They just sing it! And now I think it's going to be hard for me not to write for him. Anyway, I just started writing that scene, and this German bounty hunter shows up.

KW: What was the most challenging aspect of writing the script? Addressing racial issues? Historical accuracy? Did you feel any pressure to conform to political-correctness, or did you feel free to take poetic license, given the glowing reception of audiences to Hitler's dying in a movie theater in Inglorious Basterds?

QT: I felt no obligation to bow to any 21st Century political correctness. What I did feel an obligation to do was to take the 21st Century viewers and physically transport them back to the ante bellum South in 1858, in Mississippi, and have them look at America for what it was back then. And I wanted it to be shocking.

 

KW: Have you seen the film yet with a black audience?

QT: Yes I have!

 

KW: And what was their reaction? I know how an all-black audience feels comfortable enough to talk back to the screen and let you know exactly how they feel about what's happening.

QT: [Laughs] Let's put it like this: We screened it for heavily-black audiences quite a few times, where the audience was between 40 and 60 percent black. That's pretty black. We also screened it for a 100 percent black audience, and you would've thought it was 1973 and they were watching the end of Coffy [A blaxploitation era flick starring Pam Grier]. It's funny because I was sitting next to [executive producer] Harvey Weinstein and he turns to me and says, "I guess we know who we made this movie for." [LOL] But the film really has a lot of ups and downs, and taps into a lot of different emotions. To me, the trick was balancing all those emotions, so that I could get you where I wanted you to be by the very end. I wanted the audience cheering in triumph at the end. So, as rough as some of the things I show in the movie are, they couldn't be so rough that you're too traumatized to enjoy the movie any longer.

 

KW: Gil Cretney doesn't have a question, but he just wants to say thanks for not filming the movie in 3-D.

QT: [LOL] You're welcome, Gil!

 

KW: Irene Smalls: Why this film? Why now, in the Obama era?

QT: [Chuckles] I would've written this story if Obama were president or if he never existed. For one, I think it's time to tell a story that deals with this subject America has avoided for so long. Most countries have been forced to deal with the atrocities of their past that still affect them to this day. But America has been pretty slippery in the way that it has avoided looking slavery in the eye. I believe that's a problem. We should be talking about it to get past it and to get over it. Not only that, frankly, this is an American story that needs to be told, when you think of slavery existing in this country for 245 years. In slave narratives there were all types of tales and drama and heroism and pain and love that happened during that time. That's rich material for drama! Everyone complains that there are no new stories left to tell. Not true, there are a whole bunch of them, and they're all American with a capital A.

 

KW: Why do you think you're the first director to confront slavery in such a frank fashion?

QT: I hate to sound full of myself but maybe I just have the shoulders.

 

KW: Nick Antoine says: Westerns seem to have fallen out of favor in recent years. Even Rian Johnson's Looper, which was sort of a subtle homage to the genre, didn't enjoy as much success as I think it deserved. Why do you think Westerns are so unpopular? I think Westerns are the best!

QT: If you ask me, I'd say Westerns have been doing really well. True Grit did great, and 3:10 to Yuma did pretty well, too. I actually think there's something else going on. There was that last blast of Westerns that came out in the Seventies, those Vietnam/Watergate Westerns where everything was about demystification. And I like that about those movies. And there's another aspect about the Seventies. Blazing Saddles, as wonderful as it was, sort of hurt the Western. It made such fun of them, that you almost couldn't take them seriously from that point on. That's why only Westerns that had the stink of Watergate or Vietnam could be taken seriously. There were so few Westerns made since then, from the Eighties on, that the few directors who did were so pleased with themselves and so happy to have the opportunity that they got lost in visuals, they got lost in the vistas and the pretty scenery. Suddenly, Westerns, which were our action films and what the working man went to see to blow off steam and have a good time, became boring to most people growing up from the Eighties on, because they're kind of pastoral.

 

KW: Interesting. I never thought of them that way. Film student Jamaal Green asks: What are your three favorite Shaw Brothers films?

QT: Great question, Jamaal! My three favorite Shaw brothers films would be The Avenging Eagle directed by Chung Sun, King Boxer, AKA Five Fingers of Death, and the last would have to be one by Chang Cheh. So, I'm going to go with Five Element Ninja, AKA Chinese Super Ninjas.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles: What would you say were the most essential components in a script you consider working on?

QT: That's kind of a tough question. Well, maybe not. The dialogue. But the dialogue and the characters would be wrapped up in each other, because if I'm doing my job right, then I'm not writing the dialogue; the characters are saying the dialogue, and I'm just jotting it down. So, it's all about me getting into the heads of the characters. I prop them up a little bit, and then they take over from there.

 

KW: Since you're also the director, do you ever have trouble adapting your vision to the screen?

QT: Sometimes. But usually the process is that it gets better, because when I'm writing in my bedroom, in a bar, at my kitchen table or wherever, I'm conjuring it all up on the page. That's all well and good, but it is going to be a limited perspective at that point and time. Occasionally, what I write might read really well initially, but then you change your mind while hunting for locations when you discover settings which offer even better opportunities for drama or dramatic staging.

 

KW: Keith Kremer asks: How do you feel about the end of the year award season? Is it too much? Are you honored when recognized or do you not even care?

QT: [Laughs] For some reason, everyone thinks I'm always too cool for school when it comes to competing for trophies. But I worked extremely hard on this movie all year long, so it's really nice to get recognized and be considered one of the best in the end. And it's nice to get invited to the parties and to be able to hobnob and celebrate a job well done with your colleagues. However, I have it all in perspective. If the film is nominated for awards, and even if it wins them, it doesn't make the movie any better, just as if it's ignored that doesn't make the movie any worse. A lot of the movies I love didn't get nominated the years they came out. The Wild Bunch didn't win best picture in 1969, Oliver did. [Laughs]

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

QT: So far, I see a happy guy doing what I'm supposed to be doing. So far, so good.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

QT: Frankly, my earliest childhood memories are of watching Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed. I remember not liking Frankenstein then and going, "Who is this bald guy?" But I love it now.

KW: Well, thanks again for the honor, Quentin, and best of luck with the film.

QT: I always look forward to talking to you, Kam. Good talking to you.

To see a trailer for Django Unchained, visit

Jamie Foxx
The "Django Unchained" Interview
with Kam Williams

Academy Award-winning actor, talented Grammy Award-winning musical artist and comedian Jamie Foxx is one of Hollywood's rare, elite multi-faceted performers. He was last seen in Horrible Bosses and also recently lent his vocal talents to the popular animated adventure RIO, as a canary named 'Nico.'

Meanwhile, Jamie recently executive produced a sketch comedy series called "In the Flow with Affion Crockett" as well as "Thunder Soul," a documentary chronicling the achievements of Houston's Kashmere High School Stage Band.

In addition to his outstanding work in film, Foxx has enjoyed a thriving career in music. In December 2010, he released his fourth album, "Best Night of My Life," featuring Drake, Justin Timberlake, Rick Ross, T.I., and other artists. In January 2010, Foxx and T-Pain's record breaking #1 song "Blame It" off of his previous album, "Intuition," won "Best R&B performance by a duo/group with vocals" at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2010, Foxx delivered a hilarious cameo appearance in "Due Date," and appeared in the hit romantic comedy "Valentine's Day." The year before, he starred opposite Gerard Butler in Overture Films' dramatic thriller Law Abiding Citizen.

Jamie demonstrated his affinity and respect for fictional portrayals with The Soloist in which he played Nathaniel Anthony Ayer, a real-life musical prodigy who developed schizophrenia and dropped out of Julliard, becoming a homeless musician who wonders the streets of Los Angeles. Prior to that, he played the leader of a counter-terrorist team in The Kingdom.

In December 2006, Foxx was seen in the critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, Dreamgirls. That came on the heels of his Best Actor Academy Award-winning performance as the legendary Ray Charles in Ray.

His big-screen break came back in 1999 when Oliver Stone cast him as star quarterback Willie Beamen in Any Given Sunday. The versatile thespian's additional film credits include Ali, Miami Vice, Jarhead, Stealth, Bait, Booty Call, The Truth about Cats and Dogs, The Great White Hype, and an Oscar-nominated supporting role in Collateral.

Jamie first rose to fame as a comedian, from which he initiated a potent career trajectory of ambitious projects. After spending time on the comedy circuit, he joined Keenan Ivory Wayans, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans and Tommy Davidson in the landmark Fox sketch comedy series, "In Living Color," creating some of the show's funniest and most memorable moments. In 1996, he launched his own series, "The Jamie Foxx Show," on the WB Network.

Here, he talks about playing the title role of slave-turned-bounty hunter Django opposite Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington and Leonardo DiCaprio in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained.

Kam Williams: Hi Jamie, thanks so much for the time. I'm honored to have another opportunity to interview you.

Jamie Foxx: [Playfully clears his throat, before answering in a very refined tone] Why thank you. [Chuckles. Then, speaks in his normal voice] What's happening with it, Kam?

 

KW: I suppose I should start by asking if you'd like to comment on the recent shootings in Connecticut?

JF: I got two daughters, man, and all I want people to do is to mourn the loss of these precious kids and their teachers and to pray that their families heal.

 

KW: What interested you in Django Unchained?

JF: Quentin Tarantino... Leonardo DiCaprio... Samuel L. Jackson... Christoph Waltz... Kerry Washington... Oh, man! It was like an all-star team. What's funny is that I didn't know anything about Django, and I was hearing all this buzz and then I saw online how the biggest actor in the world, Will Smith, was going to work with Quentin Tarantino. And I was like, "Damn! There's another project I didn't know nothing about." But luckily, I somehow got a chance to meet Quentin and read the script which I thought was brilliant. Next thing you know, I was in a room talking with him about trying to make it happen.

 

KW: Did you have any reservations?

JF: I didn't have a knee-jerk reaction like some people did to the language and the violence. My stepfather was a history teacher at Lincoln High School in Dallas. So, I was already familiar with the N-word and the brutality of slavery. What I was drawn to was the love story between Django and Broomhilda and how he defends and gets the girl in the end. I thought it was just an amazing and courageous project.

 

KW: Children's book author Irene Smalls says: In this film you turn the docile stupid black man myth on its head. You also portray the enduring love of a black man for his woman.

JF: Most definitely! When you see the slave who's been chained and whipped with no way out, and he finally catches up to this, some people call that revenge. But I say, "No, it's righting a wrong at that time." You've been wronged for so long, and here's your karma personified, standing in this funny blue suit. And on the end of that suit is your maker. You've never seen that in a movie before, at least not when it comes to slavery. Ordinarily, when the slave gets a chance to hold the whip or the gun, they start singing a hymn or doing the speech about "If I do this, I'll be as bad as you." We come out with a mix-tape, and that's it. But with Quentin Tarantino, it's just like a regular Western. The bad guy has to pay, and the good guy gets his woman.

 

KW: Have you seen the film with a black audience? Were people talking back at the screen?

JF: Yeah, they were yelling like crazy.

 

KW: Irene also says: In both your stage name and your career choices you've paid homage to great black artists who have come before you. Is this film another acknowledgement of that legacy?

JF: Absolutely! I know this might sound strange, but some of the people I actually studied for this film were a little more contemporary. Of course, I started with the original film Django and Clint Eastwood's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, but I also watched Wesley Snipes in New Jack City, and Denzel Washington in Glory and A Soldier's Story. Those performances moved me in a way that I cannot explain. So, you're seeing me tip my hat to those guys in this film.

 

KW: Film student Jamaal Green says: Jamie, you are such a talent in so many areas, it seems like there isn't anything you can't do. Is there any chance that directing will be something you may try next?

JF: We're doing a directing thing with Canon and Ron Howard, a special where we have people send in pictures. I would also like to direct some comedies with people like Chris Tucker, Kevin Hart and Mike Epps, and go to work with them on some fun stuff.

 

KW: Nick Antoine was wondering whether you're ever going to get around to doing Skank Robbers, that long-rumored film based on the characters Wanda and Sheneneh that you and Martin Lawrence played on In Living Color?

JF: No, that's not going to happen.

 

KW: This question is from your co-star Kerry Washington: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

JF: Wow! If I were an animal, I would be an eagle.

 

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question: How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?

JF: Guys don't adapt as well as women do to getting their heart broken for the first time. It's tragic. I really wanted to be in love, get married, have kids and buy a wood-paneled station wagon for the family. But it didn't work out, and, boy, it wrecked it!

 

KW: Would you mind coming up with a Jamie Foxx question I could ask other celebrities when I interview them?

JF: Hmm... [Thinks] If you only had 24 hours to live, what would you do? Would you do the bad stuff, you never got a chance to do, or would you do good stuff to make sure you make it into heaven?

 

KW: Great question! Thanks! Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: You have so much fun singing. What would be your dream band, if you could select the members from any group?

JF: My dream band? Jesus Christ! I would start with Prince, and then Questlove and Buddy Rich on the drums, Rick James on the bass, and Herbie Hancock on the piano. The horn section would be Miles Davis on lead trumpet, with Wynton and Branford Marsalis. I'd have Santana on lead guitar and Sheila E. doing percussion. My hype man would be Jerome [Benton] from The Time, and my singing group would be New Edition. There it is!

KW: Great band! Thanks again for the time, Jamie, and best of luck with the film.

JF: Thanks, Kam.

To see a trailer for Django Unchained, visit:

Peter Ramsey
The "Rise of the Guardians" Interview
with Kam Williams

The Rise of Ramsey!

Rise of the Guardians is Peter Ramsey's first feature film after directing the hit DreamWorks Animation Halloween special, "Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space." This project followed the feature film, "Monsters vs. Aliens" on which Ramsey served as Head of Story. While at DreamWorks Animation, Ramsey also served as a story artist on "Shrek the Third," and as a story board artist on "Shark Tale."

Before joining DreamWorks Animation in 2004, Ramsey's talent as a storyboard artist was on display while working on a notable number of live action feature films, including "Adaptation," "Minority Report," "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," "Cast Away", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "Fight Club," "Godzilla," "Men in Black," "Independence Day," "Batman Forever," "Far and Away," "Backdraft," and "Predator 2" amongst others.

Ramsey's directing skills were also honed early, as he served as Second Unit Director on live action feature films including "Godzilla," "Tank Girl," "Higher Learning," and "Poetic Justice." A lifelong resident of Los Angeles, California, Peter grew-up in Crenshaw, and graduated from Palisades High School before attending UCLA.

Here, he talks about his life and career, and about being the first African-American to direct a full-length, animated feature.

Kam Williams: Hi Peter, thanks for the interview. I'm honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.

Peter Ramsey: Oh, the pleasure's all mine, Kam. The pleasure's all mine.

 

KW: I really enjoyed Rise of the Guardians. Let me start by asking you what it meant to make history as the first African-American hired by a big studio to direct a full-length, animated feature?

PR: I thought about it a little bit when I first got the job, but then rapidly got lost in the work. It wasn't until later, when my mom and dad read that fact about me in the newspaper, and I saw how it affected them, that it came back to me. Since I talk to a lot of groups at schools, one good thing is that kids can look at me and have direct knowledge of someone who's doing something they might be dreaming of doing themselves.

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Bob Zemeckis
The "Flight" Interview with Kam Williams

Born in Chicago on May 14, 1951, Bob Zemeckis won an Academy Award for Best Director for the hugely successful "Forrest Gump." The film's numerous honors also included Oscars for Best Actor (Tom Hanks) and Best Picture. The Library of Congress recently selected the film to join the esteemed National Film Registry.

Zemeckis re-teamed with Hanks on the contemporary drama "Cast Away," the filming of which was split into two sections, book-ending production on What Lies Beneath. Earlier in his career, Zemeckis co-wrote and directed "Back to the Future," which was the top-grossing release of 1985, and for which Zemeckis landed an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

He then went on to helm "Back to the Future, Part II and Part III," completing one of the most successful film trilogies ever. In addition, he directed and produced "Contact," starring Jodie Foster, based on the best-selling novel by Carl Sagan; and the macabre comedy hit "Death Becomes Her," starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis.

He also wrote and directed the box office smash "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?," cleverly blending live action and animation. And he directed the action-adventure hit "Romancing the Stone," pairing Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

In March 2001, the USC School of Cinema-Television celebrated the opening of the Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts. This state-of-the-art facility is the country's first fully-digital training center, and houses the latest in non-linear production and post-production equipment as well as stages, a 50-seat screening room and a USC student-run television station, Trojan Vision.

Here, he talks about his latest film, Flight, a combination special f/x and legal thriller starring Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, John Goodman and Melissa Leo.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Bob, thanks so much for the interview.

Bob Zemeckis: You bet.

 

KW: I'm honored to have this opportunity to speak with you. I loved the film and found it fascinating. I told my readers I'd be speaking with you, so I'll be mixing my questions in with theirs. What interested you in making Flight?

BZ: I thought it was a wonderful, beautifully-written screenplay with some really interesting, complex characters, including Denzel's, obviously. I found it to be very bold and very courageous.

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Daniel Craig
The "Skyfall" Interview with Kam Williams

Born in Chester, England on March 2, 1968, and raised on the Wirral Peninsula outside Liverpool, Daniel Craig has gone from waiting tables as a struggling actor to playing the legendary James Bond. In between, the versatile thespian has tackled a variety of roles, which is reflected in a resume which includes outings in Elizabeth, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Road to Perdition, The Mother, Sylvia, Layer Cake, Fateless, Munich and Infamous prior to his 2006 debut as 007 in Casino Royale.

Since then, the Brit beefcake has also appeared in The Invasion, Defiance, Cowboys & Aliens, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and another Bond flick, The Quantum of Solace. Here, Daniel talks about his third go-round as the secret agent with the proverbial "License to Kill" in Skyfall, a riveting adventure which establishes him as the best 007 since the standard was set by Sean Connery back in the Sixties.

 

Kam Williams: Hey, Daniel. Is that you? I'm surprised, because most celebrities have their publicist place the call and then put them on the line.

Daniel Craig: I can dial the phone myself. Amazing! [Chuckles]

 

KW: We'll, thanks for the interview. I loved Skyfall. How did you enjoy making it?

DC: Immensely! Immensely! It's been the culmination of a lot of effort by many different people. We've been very busy prepping over the entire, four-year hiatus. I won't lie, it was very hard work and sometimes very intense, but with a cast this good and a crew that's just out of this world, it added up to a great, great experience.

 

KW: I told my readers I'd be interviewing you, and they sent in a lot of questions. Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: How is Skyfall different from all the other Bond movies?

DC: I suppose the only way I could say it's different is that it's a modern take. But we've been very careful that, throughout the film, you never forget that you're watching a James Bond movie since that, of course, is what people come to see. And we want you to make all the sort of nods to the past, and to make sure that we not only reintroduce characters that everybody knows by now but also introduce some new ones as well. We had a great story with a unique plot.

 

KW: Children's book author Irene Smalls asks: Do you feel at all intimidated as the face of such an enduring and beloved film franchise?

DC: Well, I don't know about feeling intimidated. But there is a little pressure in the back of your mind when you've been afforded a chance to make a movie of this stature. But it's a good pressure. It spurs people on. I know that Sam [director Sam Mendes] and I were in total agreement that we just wanted to make the best Bond we could, not only because of the 50 year anniversary, but because you don't have a chance to make one very often. So, we had better make a good one.

 

KW: Film student Jamaal Green asks: How did you prepare yourself physically and mentally to play 007 this time around?

DC: I just hit the gym for the physical side of it. I'm training about six months before we start shooting. Three months out I kind of up the rate, and try to get as fit as I can. The mental preparation involves long, long, long discussions with the writers and the directors to make sure we're all on the same page.

 

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: What is the coolest gadget we will get to see you use in the film?

DC: I can't tell you that, Larry. [Chuckles, then pauses to think] The DB5! [The Aston Martin first driven by 007 in Goldfinger] It's still there and it's still one of the best gadgets there ever was.

 

KW: Director Kevin Williams asks: What did you bring to your interpretation of James Bond to make the role your own?

DC: I don't know, just my knowledge of the way I like to act. I've always felt that I could never be as good as the guys who've gone before, or even like them in any way, shape or form, so I have to kind of try to create something. I always had a grand plan that if I ever had the chance to make a few of these that something would emerge, and I'm really sort of pleased with how things have worked out, because it gave us an opportunity to get into Bond's head a little bit.

 

KW: Well, I think you're being extremely modest. Yes, Sean Connery may have set the standard as the originator of the role, but I think you've done a phenomenal job and eclipsed all the other Bonds while making the role your own.

DC: Thanks, Kam.

 

KW: Ilene Proctor says, Daniel. You are such a phenomenally talented actor. What has been your favorite role to date?

DC: Ooh, wow! That's a really hard question to answer. I've loved a lot of what I've done. It's a very difficult question to answer because each individual movie has a very specific memory. I'd have to put James Bond near the top for sure.

 

KW: I've enjoyed the versatility of your work which ranges from a relationship drama like Mother to the historical thriller Munich to the Holocaust drama Defiance. What a mix!

DC: Yeah, I get around.

 

KW: Laz Lyles asks: Do we discover anything new about Bond's mental make-up, motivations or fears in this film?

DC: Without giving anything away, Laz, yes we do.

 

KW: Kate Newell says: I loved your performance with the Queen in the Olympic opening ceremonies. Is she going to be your new Bond girl? Is there any chance of you two working together again?

DC: I shouldn't think so. I believe that was just a one off. [Director] Danny Boyle did such an extraordinary job with it. I was very proud to be part of the opening ceremony and it was an extraordinary opportunity for me to act with the Queen and to go to the palace.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: did you play a role in picking the Bond girls? DC: Oh, no, not really, that's Sam's job, although I certainly encouraged him when I thought he was on the right track.

 

KW: Harriet also asks. Which was your favorite location to shoot on?

DC: I enjoy them all, but London was the best one this time around, because we shot at a number of places there that you don't normally get to shoot. And I think that plays very beautifully in the film.

 

KW: Eddie Von Der Schmidt asks: Have there been moments in your career where you personally doubted the likelihood of breaking through and finding success?

DC: I never really had that in mind. I got rid of my desire to make it a long time ago. I actually have just enjoyed working. I've always felt that when you're only trying to strive to be successful, and you're always worried about the grass being greener somewhere else, then you've failed. I've simply enjoyed the experience of working with people more than anything else, and that's where I've put all my energy. Of course, I had a desire to be successful, too, but when I first started acting, all I wanted to do was pay the rent. I counted achieving that as the biggest success.

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

DC: God, no! [LOL]

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

DC: Spaghetti vongole. It's spaghetti with clams in a white wine sauce.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

DC: Me, I see me.

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

DC: To banish hate. That's a bit of a Miss World beauty pageant question, but I really do wish people would stop hating each other.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

DC: Playing in my backyard. At about the age of 3, I would imagine.

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share?

DC: The people I admire are the ones who allow the people around them to do their job. The most successful people I've met in my life are the ones who've had the ability to encourage and get the best out of people.

 

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity?

DC: I have several: Dr. Bernardo's children's charity... a friend of mine runs a charity called Safe Africa, which is dedicated to the eradication of disease and poverty in Africa... another is the RNLI, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which I try to help out as much as I can... and a few others. But you know what? It may be a cultural thing, but I kind of keep my charity work private, maybe because I'm English. I think it's a private matter. That's the way I grew up.

 

KW: Thanks again for the time, Daniel. It's been an honor.

DC: Nice to talk to you, Kam. Bye!

 

To see a trailer for Skyfall, visit

Neal Shapiro

The "WNET/THIRTEEN 50th Anniversary" Interview
with Kam Williams

Big Bird's Boss Shares His Vision for PBS

Neal Shapiro is President and CEO of New York City's WNET, America's flagship public media outlet, bringing quality arts, education and public affairs programming to over 5 million viewers each week. The parent company of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET produces such acclaimed PBS series as Great Performances, American Masters, Nature, Need to Know, Charlie Rose, and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online.

Shapiro is an award-winning producer and media executive with a 25-year career spanning print, broadcast, cable and online. At the helm of WNET, Shapiro has revitalized programming, nearly doubled arts and culture programming, placed a new emphasis on local programming and community engagement, set new fundraising records and inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art studio at Lincoln Center.

In addition to WNET's signature national series, Shapiro has overseen the launch of a number of innovative local programs (including American Graduate, MetroFocus, NYC-Arts, Need To Know and Women, War & Peace) which make the most of New York City's rich resources and vibrant community.

Before joining WNET in 2007, Shapiro was President of NBC News, leading its top-rated news programs, including Today, NBC Nightly News and Meet the Press, as well as Dateline NBC. Shapiro was executive producer of Dateline NBC when it was a mainstay of NBC's schedule. And in his 13 years at ABC News, he was a writer and producer for PrimeTime Live and World News Tonight.

Mr. Shapiro has won numerous awards, including 32 Emmys, 31 Edward R. Murrow Awards and 3 Columbia DuPont awards. He serves on the Boards of Tufts University, Gannett Company, the Investigative News Network and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Neal lives in New York City with his wife, ABC News Correspondent Juju Chang, and their three sons.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Neal, thanks for the interview.

Neal Shapiro: My pleasure, Kam.

 

KW: I feel like I already know you from watching you introduce movies every Saturday night.

NS: [Chuckles] I have to admit that of all the things I do that's actually the most fun.

 

KW: What is your favorite genre of film?

NS: Film noir. I'm especially a big fan of Humphrey Bogart.

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Ann Coulter

The "Mugged" Interview with Kam Williams

Beware the Coultergeist!

Born in New York City on December 9, 1961, arch-conservative Ann Coulter is the author of eight New York Times bestsellers and of a nationally-syndicated column for Universal Press Syndicate. She also serves as the legal correspondent for Human Events and is a frequent guest on such TV shows as The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Sean Hannity, The O'Reilly Factor, The Glen Beck Show and HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher.

The ever-controversial, flame-throwing firebrand has been on the cover of Time Magazine and profiled in publications like TV Guide, the Guardian, the New York Observer, National Journal, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle Magazine, too. In 2001, she was named one of the top 100 Public Intellectuals by federal judge Richard Posner.

A Connecticut native, Coulter graduated with honors from Cornell University and received her J.D. from University of Michigan Law School, where she was an editor of The Michigan Law Review. Here, she talks about her ninth book, Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Ann, thanks for the interview.

Ann Coulter: Thank you, Kam.

 

KW: I'm a fellow Cornellian, but I went there a decade ahead of you.

AC: Wow! It was such a beautiful campus. But were you there during all the turmoil?

 

KW: No, I arrived the year after the famous, black student takeover with guns that made national news. But while I was there, we did have plenty of strikes, takeovers and demonstrations about everything from Apartheid to the War in Vietnam. There was so much chaos on campus it seemed like finals were cancelled every spring semester.

AC: Didn't you people ever learn anything? [Laughs]

 

KW: Rather than reminisce, let me get right to the questions, since my readers sent in more than I could ever get to. Troy Johnson was upset by a quote from your book where you counter Michael Moore's Stupid White Men by asking: "Shall we compare SAT scores, cultural contributions and inventions?" Troy wonders whether you're aware of all the cultural contributions that can be traced back to Africa, including Christianity? And are you aware that blacks tend to outperform whites from similar socioeconomic backgrounds on standardized tests?

AC: Yes, in fact, in an early chapter of Mugged, I rely heavily on Thomas Sowell's magnificent book, Black Rednecks, White Liberals. He points out that blacks in the North perform better, academically, than whites in the South where they did not have much of an emphasis on learning. But please note that I'm not the one making that argument in that section about Michael Moore. And by the way, I'm not a man. White men have done a lot. It's silly to write a book titled, Stupid White Men.

 

KW: Filmmaker Kevin Williams, director of Fear of a Black Republican asks: Why do you think the Republican Party doesn't reach out more to African-Americans on its own terms today? Have you seen the documentary?

AC: No, but I've heard of it.

 

KW: It's excellent. You figure prominently in it. So does Michael Steele. Kevin says he'd like to get you a copy.

AC: Oh, I would love that, and I love Michael Steele.

 

KW: Kevin's basic thesis is that the Republican Party is hurting itself by failing to court the black vote.

AC: Oh, I don't believe that's true at all. Republicans have reached out so much to black Republicans because it's part of our tradition. Blacks have been in this nation longer than most other Americans with the possible exception of WASPs. The first blacks in Congress and the first black Governor were all Republicans. It was Republicans who fought the Civil War over slavery and who introduced the Civil Rights legislation over the next hundred years. So, suggestions to the contrary drive Republicans like me crazy.

 

KW: Marcia Evans says she agrees with your recent comment that the U.S. is only indebted to African-Americans. What prompted that statement?

AC: I was being a little cross with a right-wing black friend for throwing in the Hispanics and the Asians into a Jesse Jackson-type Rainbow Coalition. No! No! Blacks have a special history, since they were enslaved and were here as early as the first Americans. I hate to sound like a liberal but these are facts. That makes blacks a special group and I really don't appreciate all these hangers on coming along. Yes, of course, black Americans are a special group, and I'm disappointed that they're not Republicans, given our traditions. We're not getting much love in return, despite our efforts.

 

KW: Why do you think that's the case?

AC: Part of the reason is that it's really hard to be a black Republican. I see what they go through. It's a good little trick the entire mainstream media has pulled by describing Republicans as "Racist! Racist! Racist!" and then turning around and laughing at us for not having more blacks in our party. That's why I hope a lot of black people will read my book because I think it will change minds.

 

KW: One discussion I found interesting in Mugged was where you point out that Strom Thurmond was the only segregationist U.S. Senator to change his affiliation from Democratic to Republican. I would've guessed that there had been a wholesale flight of Southern conservatives to the Republican Party.

AC: Thurmond's the only segregationist anyone can name. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party had former Klansmen, members of a terrorist group that was lynching and murdering black people. That was an outgrowth of the Democratic Party. FDR put a Klansman [Hugo Black] on the Supreme Court, and Democrat in good standing Bob Byrd [U.S. Senator Robert Byrd] was a recruiter for the Klan.

 

KW: Nonetheless, I still have the sense that most of the Southerners who would've been segregationists in the Fifties and Sixties are now in the Republican camp.

AC: No, that's only because liberals say this over and over and over again to hide the actual history, which is why I go through the specifics on the big segregationists in the United States Senate, the ones who signed the Southern Manifesto and the ones who voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. There's a panoply of issues to consider. These were aggressively-liberal Democrats who loooooooved big government when it came to The New Deal and Great Society programs. The first time they objected to the Federal government doing something was when it came to civil rights legislation. This is in stark contrast to the very few Republicans who voted against the '64 Civil Rights Act.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula Teweles asks: What do you hope will be people's reaction to being "Mugged" by you?

AC: [LOL] I like that! Two reactions. The main point is: don't make the mistake, America, of voting for Barack Obama who, by the way, does not come out of the American black experience and everything white Americans feel guilty about. He's a Hawaiian born in 1961. Weirdly enough, the best thing that ever happened to black people in the last twenty or thirty years was the O.J. verdict because it shut down the white guilt bank. And white guilt has never led to anything good. It's brought us spiraling crime rates, mostly with black victims, and a permanent underclass living in public housing projects. For years, liberals cried that "law and order" and "welfare reform" were racist code words. Yet, when Republicans were finally able to push through tough policies on crime and welfare which they'd supported for decades, they were magnificent successes for the entire country, but especially for black people. Release us, and great things will happen!

 

KW: Yale grad Tommy Russell asks: Are you familiar with Dr. Nina Jablonski and her important work that helps debunk the myth of race? Do you feel it's important to get past the notion of race as something that separates us, and use our understanding of its at times painful history to move forward as a country, civilization and world?

AC: I have not heard of her work, and I have not thought about the issue in those terms, but I would say "Yes!" based on the way it was phrased in the question.

 

KW: Tommy also asks: As a former smoker, do you feel a special kinship with President Obama?

AC: [LOL] Yes, though I think he's a little more uptight than most smokers. We're usually pretty relaxed.

 

KW: Why do you make the point in the book that he might have slave trader ancestors?

AC: Because of all our presidents, Obama is the one most likely to be descended from a slave trader, since Kenya had a major slave-trading port, and the Muslims were heavily involved in the slave trade. Right before The Civil War, only 8% of white people owned slaves. Some plantations would have hundreds and hundreds of slaves, but the vast majority of whites didn't have any.

 

KW: Larry Greenberg says: When Alan Ball launched the HBO-series True Blood with his pilot "Strange Love" episode, he mentioned right in the script that he wanted the conservative commentator on the show to be as much like Ann Coulter as possible. How did you feel about that and about how you are portrayed, vis-a-vis vampires coming out of the coffin?

AC: I had no idea. I'm not familiar with show. As soon as the subject moves to TV shows and movies, I'm a total failure. And I‘d been paying for all those premium channels for years, but recently cancelled them, since I never watched any of those networks. Now, I may have to get them back. As far as True Blood, I haven't seen my portrayals, but I could guess that I probably wouldn't like ‘em.

 

KW: Richie the intern asks: What did you think of how the cartoon The Boondocks depicted you?

AC: I've at least heard of The Boondocks. But again, I have no idea how that was done. I wouldn't know all that I do about history, if I spent my time watching cartoons and other TV shows. [Chuckles]

 

KW: Richie was also wondering what Christian denomination you are affiliated with.

AC: I don't really talk about it much, but I'm a Presbyterian.

 

KW: Ilene Proctor says: Beware the Coultergeist! She asks: Why did you recently say that civil rights should only be limited to African-Americans?

AC: Because, historically, that's what civil rights were. The Democrats pretended to care about black people for about five minutes to help their electoral process, and then civil rights suddenly became abortion on demand, gay marriage, rights for the homeless, etcetera. Frankly, I'd be a little ticked off if I were black that, after the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow, everybody else wants to get to the head of the parade. Well, no! Listen, I like white women. I am a white woman. But we didn't go through slavery and Jim Crow. Knock it off with this stuff!

 

KW: What inspired you to write this book?

AC: I was morose that the Era of Obama has returned us to a period where everything is racist, everyone is walking on eggshells, and you get the moral preening from white liberals who don't actually even know any black people. But, oh, do they love to get on their high horses and accuse Republicans of being racist for opposing very liberal government policies and a very liberal Democratic president. It's an extension of the civil rights label being slapped on gay marriage and abortion. Allow me to be bi-partisan for a moment, and love this moment because it won't last long. In my last chapter, among the public officials I mention who I think are spectacular and unaided by white guilt is the Democratic Mayor Cory Booker of Newark. He was Mau-Maued for not being black enough. He's been like Giuliani in Newark. He's got to become a Republican.

 

KW: Kate Newell asks: Would you consider debating Stephen Colbert ala the upcoming face-off between John Stewart and Bill O'Reilly? What do you think of the use of satire in getting your views across?

AC: Obviously, I'm a fan of satire. I'd debate anyone, but it would have to be the actual person. That would be my only hesitation about debating Colbert. If he were playing a character, it wouldn't really work. But I'd pretty much debate anybody. I prefer to debate smart liberals. I'm not saying this about Stephen Colbert but, unfortunately, the most famous liberals generally aren't the smartest ones. I have a list of the smarter liberals I recommend.

 

KW: Fellow attorney, fellow Cornellian and, in his opinion, fellow fiction writer Peter Brav says: Where do I start? I worked really hard to come up with a question for you, telling myself that your act is just an act, that you might actually help my wheelchair-bound mother across the street and not push her into traffic to help reduce the Medicare deficit, because I don't want to risk Kam's not making it onto your website's short list of seven "Interviewers Who Are Allowed to Interview Ann Again." But I just couldn't.

AC: [LOL] Read the book, Peter! You'll come up with a lot of questions. I don't know why liberals find it comforting to say this is an act. If you like saying that, okay. But it's an act that apparently you can't respond to, and an act that is intellectual and well thought out enough that you don't have a response to, otherwise you would.

 

KW: Peter's wife, Professor Janet Brav says: Since things are not going as well as you might have hoped for Mitt Romney, with the benefit of hindsight, whom would you have preferred to head the Republican ticket this year?

AC: No, it's still Romney. And I don't think things are going that badly. I believe the media's lying. I think it's part of their attempted suppression of the Republican vote to discourage them by announcing that the campaign is over.

 

KW: Marcia Evans also asks: What has been your personal relationship with blacks that qualifies you to write this book about blacks?

AC: Well, Marcia, this is why you should read the book. It is not about black people. It is about white liberals using race and lying about race to wreck the country. By the way, there are many black heroes in this book that you've never heard of before, and it drives me crazy that there aren't any movies made about them.

 

KW: Marcia asks: How do you feel about reparations?

AC: I'm against reparations. At this point, blacks should just be handing money to themselves. But I am an enthusiastic supporter of Professor Henry Louis Gates‘ project to get black people admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution, of which I am a member. He's done some amazing things with DNA testing and tracing ancestry.

 

KW: Marcia asks: How do you feel about Bob Dylan's recent statement that "America was founded on the backs of slaves" and that the country would be much further along if slavery had been ended peacefully.

AC: That's an interesting point. I was unaware that he'd said that. I'm not sure I disagree with his statement but, unfortunately, it wasn't going to end peacefully. It wasn't going to happen. You could not get Democrats to stop holding slaves, and America had waited long enough. It was right there in The Declaration of Independence that the slaves would be freed. My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have to call on God's grace not only for slavery, but for what we're doing now with abortions.

 

KW: You dedicated your book to "the freest black man in America."

AC: Yes!

 

KW: Who is it?

AC: It's a Cracker Jack surprise to trick everybody into reading my book.

 

KW: Let me guess. Is it comedian Jimmy ".J'J." Walker? Many of my readers mentioned rumors about the two of you being romantically linked.

AC: [LOL] Jimmy started that rumor. The little sneak.

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

AC: Probably, although we got to a lot of good ones on this book.

 

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

AC: I'm a little afraid right now, but I think I'll be calm by November 7th.

 

KW: Can you give me a good question I could call the Ann Coulter question when I interview other celebrities?

AC: Oh, that's a good question. The only question I'd be interested in is what books they've read recently, which is part of my campaign to promote reading.

 

KW: It's already the bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

AC: Mugged.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

AC: If I've just had my makeup done for Fox, I see the hottest chick. [LOL]

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

AC: Mitt Romney as president, or for lots of people to read my book. One of the two.

 

KW: What is it like to be such a controversial figure? There are so many things you've said that have touched a nerve, like when you said Jews needed to be corrected.

AC: "Perfected." You, as a fellow Cornell grad and a fellow Christian, which is another part of your tradition, should know that "perfected" means "completed." The Old Testament calls for a Messiah. You turn the page to the New Testament, and there He is. There was nothing insulting about it. And who really cares? It was just Donny Deutsch who wanted press for his TV show. He screamed anti-Semitism, and I was going on vacation and didn't really feel the need to respond to point out how the English language works. And boy they say Jews are smart.

 

KW: But that's not the only statement that's landed you in hot water.

AC: Usually, they're my greatest hits and they make me happy. I give a lot of college speeches, and usually the Young Spartacus League or the Democrats will put up posters on campus with all the quotes they consider outrageous. But I think they're my best quotes. [LOL]

 

KW: Well, thanks for the time, Ann. I hope I get added to that short list of reporters you'll interview with again.

AC: Yes, I think you will, Kam. This has been a fun interview.

 

To order a copy of Mugged, visit

Viola Davis

The "Won't Back Down" Interview

with Kam Williams

Voila! It's Viola!

Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965 on her grandmother's farm in St. Matthews, South Carolina, but raised by her parents in Central Falls, Rhode Island. After earning a degree in theater from Rhode Island College in 1988, she went on to do post-graduate work at the prestigious Juilliard School prior to embarking on a critically-acclaimed professional career.

Ms. Davis made a memorable mark on Broadway, winning Tonys for stellar performances as Tonya in King Hedley II and as Rose in the revival of Fences. She's also been nominated twice for an Academy Award, for her powerful portrayal of stoic Aibileen in The Help and for her equally-sterling interpretation of Mrs. Miller in Doubt.

Viola's other noteworthy screen credits include impressive outings in Traffic, Nights in Rodanthe, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Eat Pray Love, Madea Goes to Jail, Antwone Fisher, World Trade Center, Trust, Knight & Day, Get Rich or Die Tryin' and State of Play. And her upcoming films include Enders Game with Harrison Ford, Beautiful Creatures with Emma Thompson and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby with Jessica Chastain.

Here, she talks about her new film, Won't Back Down, a female empowerment saga, where she plays Nona Alberts, a jaded teacher who joins forces with a frustrated single-mom (Maggie Gyllenhaal) to turn around an underperforming public school.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Viola, thanks for the interview.

Viola Davis: Thank you, Kam.

 

KW: Music teacher Steve Kramer asks: What interested you in Won't Back Down?

VD: My interests in the film were two-fold: the backdrop of education and also the human story within it about a woman who, when she was in her twenties, had all these high ideals and hopes of taking the world by storm as a great teacher and also as a great mother. But all of that was just blown to bits, and we find her at a low point where she's totally disillusioned. For me, the movie is about her story of coming back to life again. And that journey is a very human one. It intrigued me, and I saw it as a very interesting challenge as an actor.

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Selena Gomez
The "Hotel Transylvania" Interview with Kam Williams

Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania!

Born on July 22, 1992 in Grand Prairie, Texas, Selena Gomez got an early start in show business as Gianna on "Barney & Friends." She made her screen debut soon thereafter in "Spy Kids 3-D," and subsequently appeared on such TV shows as "Walker, Texas Ranger," "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody," "Hannah Montana" and "The Suite Life on Deck," before skyrocketing to fame starring as Alex on the Disney Channel's Emmy-winning sitcom, "Wizards of Waverly Place."

In 2008, the versatile entertainer embarked on her musical career when she recorded several songs for the soundtrack of her Disney film, "Another Cinderella Story." She has since had many hit tunes, including duets with Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, as well as with her own group, Selena Gomez and The Scene.

In 2009, Selena became the youngest UNICEF Goodwill ambassador in history at 17. The following year, she launched her very own fashion line, the Dream Out Loud Collection.

In terms of her private life, Selena has long been romantically-linked to pop idol Justin Bieber, and the couple was recently rumored to be building a love nest together in the San Fernando Valley. Here, she talks about her new movie, Hotel Transylvania, an animated adventure where she plays Dracula's daughter Mavis who, over her father's objections, falls in love with a mere mortal.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Selena, thanks for another interview.

Selena Gomez: Of course, Kam thank you.

 

KW: I really appreciate that last time you were gracious enough to take a photo afterwards with my intern, Richie. Thanks.

SG: Thank Richie for asking. That was so sweet.

 

KW: Editor/legist Patricia Turnier asks: What interested you in Hotel Transylvania?

SG: It had a really good script, it's really funny, and has an amazing cast, so it was kind of a no brainer.

 

KW: How would you describe the movie?

SG: I think it's a really cute father-daughter film that kinda touches on growing up, and on experiencing your daughter wanting to have independence. It's a really sweet story that daughters and dads can relate to.

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt

The "Looper" Interview with Kam Williams

In the Loop!

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was born on February 17, 1981 in Los Angeles where he began acting at the age of 4 when he played the Scarecrow in a community theater production of The Wizard of Oz. He subsequently grew up in front of the camera, appearing in television commercials for Pop Tarts and Cocoa Puffs and on such shows as Family Ties, Murder She Wrote, L.A. Law, Roseanne and Dark Shadows.

Joseph first enjoyed widespread fame on TV playing Tommy Solomon on 3rd Rock from the Sun which led to his breakout role on the big screen in 10 Things I Hate about You. He has since blossomed from a teen heartthrob into a truly talented thespian with both big box-office and art house appeal.

That versatility is reflected in a resume with acting credits ranging from sleepers such as 500 Days of Summer, The Lookout, Brick and Uncertainty to bona fide blockbusters like The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Premium Rush and Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, which is set to be released in November.

Here, Joseph talks about Looper, a mind-bending sci-fi thriller where he and Bruce Willis play the same character. The story revolves around a hit man who has no problem traveling 30 years into the future to murder for the mob until the day he is ordered to assassinate his future self.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Joseph, I'm honored to have this opportunity to interview you. I think of you as the best actor never to have been nominated for an Oscar.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Thanks, Kam. That's very kind of you.

KW: I love a lot of your artsy films that many people might have missed. Movies like 500 Days of Summer, Uncertainty and The Lookout.

JGL: Why, thank you!

KW: What interested you in doing Looper?

JGL: First of all, having a chance to work with Rian [director Rian Johnson] again. He's a dear friend of mine. We've known each other since making Brick [2005]. I also found the story incredibly intriguing, as well as the role.

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Interview with Kam Williams
Carmen Sparkles

Carmen Ejogo was born in London on New Year's Day 1974 to Elizabeth Douglas and Charles Ejogo, a couple of Scottish and Nigerian extraction, respectively. She made her U.S. film debut opposite Eddie Murphy playing Veronica 'Ronnie' Tate in the 1997 comedy Metro.

Carmen then went on to star in films such as Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost, What's the Worst that Could Happen? opposite Martin Lawrence, Neil Jordan's The Brave One opposite Terrence Howard and Jodie Foster, Gavin O'Connor's Pride and Glory opposite Ed Norton, and in Sam Mendes' 2009 indie hit Away We Go opposite Maya Rudolph. Ejogo can next be seen starring opposite Tyler Perry in the feature I, Alex Cross, a psychological thriller based on the James Patterson novels about Washington DC detective Alex Cross.

Additionally, Ejogo garnered the attention of television critics and audiences alike for her portrayal of Sally Hemmings, the title character in the 2000 CBS miniseries Sally Hemmings: An American Scandal. Later, Ejogo starred as Coretta Scott King in HBO's critically acclaimed film Boycott opposite Jeffrey Wright and Terrence Howard. Her role earned her a 2001 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a TV film or miniseries. In 2005, Ejogo starred in HBO's Emmy nominated Lackawanna Blues. Her role as Aalen earned her a second Image Award nomination. Ejogo will next star as FBI agent Baca Sunjata in the highly-anticipated ABC television series Zero Hour opposite Anthony Edwards.

Carmen and her husband, actor Jeffrey Wright, live in Brooklyn which is where they are raising their two children. Here's she talks about her latest role as Sister in Sparkle opposite Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Carmen, thanks so much for the time. I really appreciate it.

Carmen Ejogo: Thank you.

 

KW: My brother Larry is the librarian at a Friends school that I think you're very familiar with.

CE: Oh, wow! That's so cool! That's where one of my kids got their start. Small world!

 

KW: What interested you in Sparkle?

CE: You wouldn't ask that question, if you'd seen the movie, Kam. This role is to die for. It's such a great role. The highs and lows of the character's sister [Sparkle, played by Jordin Sparks] are so dramatic and nuanced and layered that you'd be a fool to turn this role down.

 

KW: Did you go back and Watch Lonette McKee's performance in the original version of Sparkle in preparing to do this role?

CE: No. No, I don't know how you make a role your own if you do that. So, watching another actress play the same character in preparation for my own performance is the last thing I would ever do, particularly with Sister, since Lonette made it so iconic that it would be a crazy idea to watch her. I think our movie pays homage to the original, but it's definitely different in numerous ways.

 

KW: What message do you think people will take away from the movie?

CE: It's essentially about not letting your light be dimmed by anybody who doesn't appreciate the dream that you're trying to pursue. It's about knowing who you are, and following your path even if you're not given support by those around you. And it's also about family.

 

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: I looooooved your performance in Metro. She asks: Do you enjoy being a member of Mensa and what is your IQ?

CE: [LOL] That is hilarious! Oh my God! I had no idea until recently that my being in Mensa was even on Wikipedia or somewhere else. It is true, but it's funny that it should come up as interview question.

 

KW: So, how high is your I.Q.?

CE: 156, for anyone that's interested. But I probably wouldn't be able to get as high a score after raising two kids and losing a lot of brain cells in the process.

 

KW: Patricia also says: Musicals are an amazing art form. We used to see a lot of them with people like Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and The Nicholas Brothers. They were an integral part of Hollywood and it was common to see actors sing, dance and act. But by the 1950s, the decline began and we rarely see big musicals anymore besides Chicago. How do you explain this phenomenon and what do you think it will take to reverse the trend?

CE: I'm not a film historian, so I couldn't say for sure. But my guess is that the costs involved in making musicals was pretty high, and that the taste of what was pleasing to movie audiences changed by the time you got into the Sixties and Seventies. I was a big fan of John Cassavetes, his wife, Gena Rowlands, and that era of filmmaking which was about realism and which represented the antithesis of the dreamy escapism you found in musicals. I'm guessing that musicals didn't make sense anymore because of the changes in the political environment that began in the late Sixties, an era of self-awareness and social revolutions. Musicals are finally kind of coming back to a degree now, perhaps out of a sense of nostalgia.

 

KW: Marcia Evans says: I'm a huge fan of yours. I loved your role in my favorite film, Lackawanna Blues. I was so proud that HBO showcased such an amazing story about a piece of the patchwork to our cultural history quilt. You PLAYED that role! What was it like for you to portray Alean, and to be paired opposite the gorgeous and talented Jimmie Smits?

CE: What's interesting is that that role was actually Halle Berry's. She had to pull out at the very last minute, which meant I literally had only a couple of days to prepare for that role. Honestly, it was like baptism by fire, because I was so underprepared that I had to work on instinct. I was feeding off the energy of those excellent actors while trying to find my place which made it a really exciting experience for me.

 

KW: April Hughes asks: What was it like working with Whitney Houston?

CE: Amazing! She is an icon, and she brought a passion from the heart for telling Sparkle's story that made her an inspiration to watch every day and it also made it a pleasure to perform opposite her.

 

KW: April would also like to know if you have any advice for aspiring actresses/singers?

CE: Yes, go back and watch the great performances in your business so that you can understand the heights that should be aspired to. There are many mediocre entertainers who don't aspire to much more than fame and glory. It's very easy to have them as your role models because there aren't as many greats. Go back, discover the greats, and take it from there.

 

KW: Larry Greenberg says: I read that your director, Salim Akil, worked with schizophrenics before he started working with actors. He asks: Did that make him a more patient director than others you have worked with?

CE: Oh my God! I had no idea. But that makes sense. He is literally the calmest director I've ever worked with. He was so willing to step back and let us do our work without feeling that he had to interfere and tell us what to do just for the sake of looking like a director. He had such confidence in himself. So, it wouldn't surprise me, if he's had experience outside of the business, because he has much deeper soul than that. Working with people troubled in that way could be great training for working with actors who themselves can be a little schizophrenic at times. [Laughs]

 

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

CE: Oh yeah. A lot. The great fear I've had to overcome, particularly this past year, is the fear of failure. It can be safer to stay in a comfort zone that's not stretching yourself. I tried to overcome that fear playing Sister. You have to be willing to be afraid, if you're going to be an artist.

 

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

CE: Yes. I'm happier than I've been for a very long time, for all kinds of reasons. I'm glad my kids are happy. I'm grateful that my work is going well. I'm happy that this moment in my career arrived at this age, because I'm ready for it in a way that I might not have been at 20.

 

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

CE: I don't have a lot of guilt.

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

CE: Darwin's Cathedral. It's about evolution and religion and it's gonna serve me well for Zero Hour, my new TV show that I start filming soon. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0226901351/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

 

KW: I see that you'll also be starring opposite Tyler Perry in Alex Cross this fall.

CE: That's right! That's coming out in October. That was fun, too!

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

CE: I make a really delicious eggplant and squash curry that's inspired by Vij of Vij's Restaurant, a great chef and restaurateur in Vancouver. I like to cook that dish because it's really simple but the flavor is so pungent and intense that I feel like I'm a real chef whenever I create it.

 

KW: Harriet Pakula Teweles says: You've portrayed Coretta Scott King and Sally Hemmings. She's wondering whether there's another historical figure you'd like to play in a biopic?

CE: I'd love to play Betty Davis, one of Miles Davis' wives. She was sort of like Madonna before there was a Madonna. I'd love to play a full-out rocking chick. Like a Sister 2.0.

 

KW: Dante Lee, author of "Black Business Secrets," asks: What was the best business decision you ever made, and what was the worst?

CE: Leaving my first agent was both my best business decision and my worst business decision. It depends on how I want to look at my career because of opportunities that may have come had I stayed with him and because of the opportunities that did come because I had to fight harder for roles.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

CE: Oh, my goodness me! [Chuckles] A mommy.

 

KW: How hard is it to balance working and parenting, giving that you and Jeffrey are both actors?

CE: It explains why I haven't been onscreen very much the last ten years. [Laughs] It's very hard. It's been getting easier as I give myself permission to work again. It's all about my guilt level.

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

CE: Great question! Ooooh, gosh! You know what? That is a question I don't have an answer for. You've stumped me!

 

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

CE: That Sparkle's a huge hit! [LOL]

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

CE: Summers in Scotland when I was 3.

 

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share?

CE: That depends on how you define success. Success for me will be where the body of work I've done afforded me the opportunity to be as good as I can be, and to explore myself and to see what I'm capable of. People like that share a willingness to be scared and to take chances.

 

KW: The Rudy Lewis question: Who's at the top of your hero list?

CE: Oh man, it's so hard to answer that. In terms of dignitaries, Nelson Mandela's up there. In terms of artists, this will change, but I'm really into a performance artist named Marina Abramovic' right now.

 

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?

CE: My children.

 

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh with them?

CE: There's a lot of laughter in our house. I get their American/British sense of humor and they get my British sense of humor.

 

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

CE: Oh my! I'm a bit young to be asked that. [Laughs]

 

KW: Yes, you are. Sorry. Thanks again for the time, Carmen, and best of luck with Sparkle.

CE: Thank you, Kam.

To see a trailer for Sparkle, visit

 

The "Marley" Interview with Kam Williams
Getting Ziggy with It

David Nesta "Ziggy" Marley was born in Trenchtown, Jamaica on October 17, 1968 to Bob and Rita Marley. A five-time Grammy-winning musician, actor, artist, activist and humanitarian, Ziggy has enjoyed a prominent presence on the public stage for over a quarter-century.

At the age of 10, Ziggy first sat in on recording sessions with his father's band, the legendary Bob Marley and the Wailers. Later, he joined with his sisters Sharon and Cedella and brother Stephen to form Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, which enabled him to craft his own soulful sound blending blues, R&B, hip-hop and roots reggae. The Melody Makers earned their first Grammy (Best Reggae Recording) for their third album Conscious Party (1988), produced by Talking Heads Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, which included the hit songs "Tomorrow People" and "Tumbling Down."

Subsequent albums included the Grammy-winning One Bright Day (1989), Jamekya (1991), Joy and Blues (1993), Free Like We Want 2 B (1995), Grammy-winning Fallen is Babylon (1997), Spirit of Music (1999) and Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers Live, Vol. 1 (2000), featuring some of their biggest hits, as well as a cover of Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved." While selling millions of records and selling out numerous concerts, Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers never lost sight of their foundations in faith, fellowship and family.

Involved with a breadth of charities, Marley leads his own, URGE (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), a non-profit organization that benefits efforts in Jamaica, Ethiopia and other developing nations. The charity's missions range from building new schools to operating health clinics to supporting charities like Mary's Child, a center for abused and neglected girls.

The title of his latest album, Wild and Free, is a little ironic, given his time-consuming commitments to family, philanthropy, songwriting, producing, studio work and touring. Ziggy also continues to head Tuff Gong Worldwide in honor of his father's own music label Tuff Gong Records, working on the re-launch of the official Bob Marley website and an exhibit at the Grammy Museum in L.A.

Ziggy divides his residency among Florida, Jamaica and California, and has his own website at: www.ziggymarley.com. Here, he talks about Marley, a new documentary about his father.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Ziggy, thanks for the interview.

Ziggy Marley: Thank you, Kam.

 

KW: Do you remember Ras Karbi, who played with your dad in Jamaica before embarking on a solo career?

ZM: Jah, mon.

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Interview with Kam Williams
A Tete-a-Tete from 2006 with the Late Author

Gore Vidal (1925-2012) was a celebrated author and progressive political activist. His first novel, Williwaw, written when he was just nineteen years old and serving in the Army, appeared in the spring of 1946. He went on to publish two-dozen novels, five plays, numerous short stories, over two hundred essays and his autobiography.

Vidal was also an accomplished screenwriter, evidenced by his scripts for Ben Hur, Caligula and Myra Breckenridge. A true Renaissance Man, he even found the time to appear in a dozen films, including Gattaca, and to found a political party, the US Peace Party, and to run for Congress.

Because this indomitable firebrand was been a thorn in the side of the Establishment for so long, some might forget that he was a very well-connected blueblood. On one side of his family tree, he is related to former Vice President Al Gore, on the other to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

This interview was conducted in 2006, at a time that Vidal was campaigning for Marcy Winograd, an anti-war, pro universal healthcare candidate for Congress in California's 36th District in Congress.

Kam Williams: You have such an illustrious career I don't know where to begin. Why don't I start with the present and ask you why you've decided to endorse Marcy Winograd for Congress?

Gore Vidal: Well, it's a Democratic primary, and I thought it would be nice to endorse a Democrat against the incumbent, Ms. Harman, who is sort of a Republican Bush-ite. That was my first instinct, before I listened to Marcy and watched her campaign. I thought she's very well-suited for this time and place. So, I've gone as all-out as I can.

KW: Do you think she has a decent chance of unseating Harman? The rate of re-election of incumbents is incredibly high.

GV: Well, we all know about the safety for incumbents laws that come out of gerrymandering and so on. I think that Harman's been around a little bit too long, to the extent that her constituents really think about her at all. She's not been a Democrat in the progressive sense, by which I simply mean she's not been against the war. Nor has she had much intelligent to say about Intelligence, and she sits on the Intelligence Committee. In other words, she's pretty hollow while Marcy's alive! The living candidate usually wins.

KW: What makes Marcy alive?

GV: She's organized the progressive Democrats across the State of California, as opposed to the ones who pretend to be Democrats and vote Republican, like her opponent. So, it's not as though she came wandering in on a whim. She came marching in out of a sense of duty, and also with a fire in the belly to get rid of the sort of candidates like the incumbent.

KW: Why are so passionate about a congressional election in the House?

GV: The House, you see, is the closest thing to the people that we have. Every two years they have to go out for an election. To the extent that we have any form of democracy, it's the House of Representatives.

KW: My sense of American politics is that most of our politicians are for sale, whether they are out and out crooked, or simply beholden to corporate interests because they've taken so much money from their lobbyists. I believe that's a big part of the problem.

GV: Of course it is. It's been like that for quite some time. With Marcy, she's not beholden to anybody, except me and Susan Sarandon. She got a check from me, and I think that's not quite enough to buy her.

KW: I reviewed your book Dreaming War in which you predicted that Bush would attack Iraq. At the time, he had already invaded Afghanistan, but people didn't realize...

GV: ... that the target was also Iraq, and American mastery of the entire Middle East which is what seems to be going on now, as we head toward Iran.

KW: How would you describe the State of the Union?

GV: This is an Empire gone berserk. You've got a President who had every intention of militarizing the economy and militarizing the society. This had nothing to do with governance. He was mostly smearing people who pointed out his shortcomings. Now we don't have the money anymore... We don't have the will... People are disgusted... Katrina has turned off half a nation... And there's all the nonsense about borders... and so on... This is the worst period that I've ever seen for the United States. And Marcy Winograd, at least, is a good candidate who is intelligent.

KW: Given your WASPy, blue-blood background, where did you find the strength to buck the system?

GV: If you study the Gores, and you don't really have to study Albert who's a worthy person who does good work, the Gores were the founders of the party of the people at the end of the late 19th Century. They represented the people who'd been wrecked by the Civil War and by Reconstruction, people who'd lost their farms. And they made common cause with the city machines, which turned out to be a big mistake. Like in New Jersey, which is how we got Woodrow Wilson as President. But the whole family has been, from the very beginning, totally aligned with the people against "The Interests" as they used to call them back in the 19th Century. So, it just comes to me naturally.

KW: I suspected something was funny about the 2000 Presidential election when, instead of conceding, Bush's confidently responded to all the networks projecting Gore as the winner in Florida with, "That's not what my brother tells me."

GV: I think that tells it all. They already knew about the Diebold voting machines, and how an election like that could absolutely be switched around. In other words, you could beat them and beat them and beat them in the popular vote, but it will not be recorded, as long as these machines are out there.

KW: The same thing happened in Ohio in 2004.

GV: Congressman John Conyers, as you know, went up there and did a very thorough analysis with a lot of first-rate detectives to determine who had stolen that election, starting with Mr. Blackwell [J. Kenneth Blackwell], Ohio's Secretary of State, who was also in charge of the Bush campaign. The whole thing was shocking beyond belief. To have two Presidential elections stolen in a row means that you have no republic.

KW: I've called it a post-democracy.

GV: To use the word "democracy" is nonsense. And here we go again. This coming November, we're going to have the same machines with no paper trail.

KW: And besides manipulating machines, they've used a variety of other tactics to disenfranchise black voters.

GV: Oh yeah, it was well thought out. After 2000, I said, "Watch out for 2004. They'll have four years to perfect that one." After 2004, you know I wrote the preface to Congressman Conyers' book [What Went Wrong in Ohio: The Conyers Report on the 2004 Presidential Election], thinking that might help get it off the ground. But it wasn't reviewed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, or any daily paper in the United States, after this highly-respected Congressman and ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee had taken the time and gone to all the personal expense to do the book. When nobody would even mention it, that sounded to me like the end of the republic.

KW: What do you think was Bush's agenda for this Presidency he wanted by any means necessary?

GV: To give his corporate friends jobs and tax cuts, from the oil people to General Electric. To make sure Halliburton wouldn't have to bid on its contracts to rebuild a country we first knocked-down with our tax dollars.

KW: By deliberately ruining Iraq so war profiteers could rebuild its infrastructure, he ended up ruining this country in the process, given the record federal deficit, which is why so much of the Gulf Region looks the same as the day after Hurricane Katrina hit. I wonder whether Bush has a sense of the irony about that.

GV: He has no sense at all. That's the problem. I don't think he deliberately set out to wreck the United States, but he has. It'll take two generations to get this country back, if we can ever get it back.

KW: Why aren't the people up in arms?

GV: Acquiescence. What used to be called citizens are now just a bunch of consumers waiting to be told what to do next, and automatically voting, even though they know the machinery is going to reverse their vote. We've lost too much in the way of the Bill of Rights.

KW: How do you think Bush feels about his disastrous Presidency?

GV: I don't think he cares. There are so many different kinds of stupidity. In American politics, you get to meet every kind. But he's a little exceptional. Very few politicians who got to be president are as ignorant as he is. Usually, they knew something about economics, something about how the world works. I would say even some of them have a bit of conscience, not much, not much, and talk about impossible dreams. Aside from ambition, they do have an idea that they're going to serve a certain group.

KW: How has this played out with Bush?

GV: So, if there's a really difficult job, like running FEMA, you pick the dumbest person you know, because he's a really good guy. To watch Bush do this time and time again, I sit there and my jaw drops. Each time he does it he's in deeper trouble. He learns nothing.

KW: What will be the Bush legacy?

GV: If you remember, in one of my other books, I prophesied at the time of his election in 2000, "He will leave office the most hated President in our history."

KW: How'd you know?

GV: I put it together just from things he was saying along the way and from what I knew of his career in Texas.

KW: What do you think of his War on Terrorism?

GV: First of all, it's a metaphor. Secondly, "terrorism" is an abstract noun. It's like having a war on dandruff. It's something from advertising, it's meaningless. You have to have a country for a war. Congress also has to declare it. So, he has no declaration, and no countries to fight, except the ones he chooses to attack. This is against all the rules of the United Nations which we've sworn to uphold, since we started the damn thing back in 1945.

KW: Do you think he deserves to be impeached?

GV: He's totally illegal on every level, which is impeachable. And that's not partisan talk. That's patriotic talk, Constitutional talk. He's got to go. He's got to be punished for what he's done.

KW: Your cousin, Al Gore, has a new movie out about global warming entitled "An Inconvenient Truth." Do you think he's going to run for the Presidency again?

GV: I have no idea at all. I assume so, as he's very much on the scene. Politicians do that when they're getting ready to run. But I know nothing from the family about what he's up to. I know he's had trouble raising money, which I think is going to be a great barrier for him, if he does decide to run.

KW: How did you feel watching what unfolded in New Orleans in the wake of Katrina?

GV: That was wanton cruelty shown toward the native inhabitants who were left there to die. But you might say that someone was really very eager for the City to go. Putting Brownie in charge had to be a slap in the face of the people. I used to live there. Have you ever lived there?

KW: No, and I had a friend there, Randy, who urged me come visit every year, till he left town.

GV: It was a wonderful city, but everybody who lived there knew we were all living with danger. It is below sea level, and those levees just looked like humped sand castles on the beach. We all knew that they were extremely fallible and probably couldn't withstand a major hurricane. But they hadn't had a major hurricane in quite some time. Then, Albert's [Al Gore] predictions all came true. The climate has changed and gave us Katrina.

KW: Yet Bush arrogantly lied after the fact, praising Brownie and saying we had no idea such a disaster was possible, when now we see videotapes of the National Weather Service warning him.

GV: He'd been warned. It was like 9-11, for God's sake. They'd been warned by President Putin of Russia. They'd been warned by President Mubarak of Egypt. They'd been warned by elements of Mossad. They'd been warned by our own FBI out in the Midwest. There was a hell of a lot of evidence that we were going to have unfriendly visitors to our serene skies. Bush pretends he knew nothing about it. Well, he probably didn't read the reports. But you'd think that at least somebody in the government would be on top of it and say, "You've got to pull yourself together, Mr. President. Otherwise, something terrible might happen to us." He did nothing.

KW: How about his behavior on the morning of 9-11?

GV: That famous shot of him reading the children's book about a goat to the school kids in Florida tells it all. After the Secret Service agent whispers in his ear, his eyes just go out of focus. You can see that he's so stunned he doesn't know what to do, because there's nobody to tell him. Can you imagine the leader of any country on Earth who would just sit there staring straight ahead? We'd been hit. The Twin Towers were hit. The Pentagon was hit. But he just sat there KW: And he actually continued reading the picture book to the kids for a while.

GV: He just wanted to prove that he could read. Finally, somebody decided to race him across the country to find bunker to put him in, so he wouldn't get hurt, as if that would've made any difference.

KW: Former counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke, in his book [Against All Enemies] made it clear that when he warned the then National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice about bin Laden, her response was to cut his staff. And even before 9-11, Bush was already more interested in attacking Iraq than in tracking down Osama.

GV: He should've at least pretended to be interested in getting Osama bin Laden. But they wanted that war and that oil. They want control. They want to knock things down and to frighten the world. But Bush isn't the first. It goes straight back to Harry Truman who started The Cold War because he wanted to frighten Stalin, because he believed that the Russians were coming. The Russians had just lost 20 million people in World War II. They weren't going anywhere.

KW: What do you think of Truman ushering in the atomic age by dropping the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

GV: Did you know that every single major military officer tried to get Truman not to drop the two atomic bombs? Contrary to what our history books try to tells us, Japan was already defeated. They had been defeated and the Emperor was trying surrender, but Truman would not respond, because he wanted to drop the bomb.

KW: I never knew that.

GV: These are all things American people ought to know, but history was the first subject to be jettisoned when they decided all they wanted was docile workers and loyal consumers. Why educate them? You don't want to tell them anything.

KW: I remember reading something scathing you wrote about Harry Truman and Zionists.

GV: Yeah, getting the bribe.

KW: Did he really take two million dollars in return for supporting for his support of Israel?

GV: I don't know whether it's true, but I'll tell you who told me. It was Jack Kennedy. They did not like each other, Truman and Jack.

KW: Why would Kennedy divulge such a damning secret?

GV: When Jack was running the first time, and Truman said he wasn't going to support him, Jack started telling this story about how a suitcase with two million dollars was delivered to Harry.

KW: Do you believe it?

GV: It sounds in character.

KW: In the Fifties, you wrote a trio of murder mysteries under the pseudonym Edgar Box. I use to be a big fan of that genre until I read those three novels. They were the best, nothing else ever measured up to them, not Agatha Christie, Dick Francis, Raymond Chandler, anybody. I've said that in print before, so don't think I'm just buttering you up.

GV: Thank you. Well, I certainly enjoyed writing them. They were a lot of fun.

KW: What made you decide to adopt the sobriquet?

GV: I did it, because I was then being blacklisted by The New York Times. So, in order to make a living I wrote as Edgar Box, and got wonderful reviews from The Times. Eight of my books did not get reviewed.

KW: And what got you blacklisted in the first place?

GV: Homophobia over my novel The City and the Pillar. They were deeply into homophobia. The Times was really the center of it in American culture, and didn't give it up until they were threatened in other directions. It's a very bad newspaper.

KW: I agree. Even though I'm published regularly in over 100 publications around the U.S., Canada, England and the Caribbean, and I email their editors every op-ed I write, The Times has never seen fit to publish even one of my pieces.

GV: You don't need The Times. Just keep getting them out there in any form you can.

KW: Thanks so much for such an informative and forthcoming tete-a-tete. I didn't mean to monopolize your time, but there was just so much to talk about.

GV: That's okay. It was good to talk to you, too, though I need to finish writing a preface I was working on.

5 BROKEN CAMERAS is a very powerful and emotional piece of filmmaking. Now, it was never your original intention to set out to make a documentary, is that correct?

EB: Actually, when I started filming my village in 2005 I was filming and documenting for many purposes. But after a few months, the idea of making a film came to me. I saw other films had been made about the subject so I decided not to do it at that time. Instead, I started to focus on my friends, my family, and my son growing up. It was like constructing the story.

GD: When Emad asked me to work with him, it was in 2009, a few months after the killing of Bassem Abu-Rahme - El Phil. The name of the project was "Elephant in Bil'in". I actually was skeptical, since the Bil'in moevement had been portrayed in the media a lot, (think of the 2006 film "Bil'in My Love"). I didn't think it would be logical to make another film on the characters of the village and the movement. Plus, I grew up with so many films that commemorate the deaths of soldiers (Israelis of course) that I didn't like the idea of making another film that commemorates death.

Read full interview on Alive Mind Cinema

 

Premiering in the documentary competition at the Tribeca Film Festival this week, Alex Mar’s American Mystic is a poem of a film, following three young people in America who have chosen to make their spiritual practice the center of their lives. A pagan priestess who proudly defines herself as a witch, Morpheus has moved to the outskirts of rural California to create a pagan sanctuary on a small plot of land. Kublai, a Spiritualist medium, works on a farm in upstate New York but spends his off hours with his head in the hands of elderly women, learning to channel spirits. Chuck, a Lakota Sioux, barely scrapes by at his day job in the city, but he and his wife are raising their child with their ancestors’ way of life as their guide, taking long trips to the reservation to participate in the traditions that are still alive.

Read full review and an interview with the filmmaker

Watch a film clip or Download to Own

Filmmaker Niko von Glasow dishes about his early days in the film industry, when he was as an assistant fetching coffee for the legendary and temperamental although undeniably brilliant Rainer Werner Fassbinder, for which he received a production assistant credit. He charts his course from there before talking about his days at NYU and the Actor's Studio and closes with an honest assessment of his on work, placing the NOLA-winning NOBODY’S PERFECT, and his first film WEDDING GUESTS, at the top of the heap.

Watch the interview or download "Nobody's Perfect"

Q. Why is it important that this story be told?

A. My films always begin with something that is happening inside myself, but that I also see reflected in the world around me. I think people are starting to feel like they're coming to a dead end with the old models of creating change in the world, especially some of the forms of activism that are focused on what we're against, as opposed to what we're for, and that are anger-based. I definitely found that with myself, and so I discovered a new kind activism that has its roots in the attitudes of Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. You could call it compassionate activism or spiritual activism -- positive, celebrating life, and solution based.

Read full interview at National Post

Read Velcrow Ripper Blog at MyFilmBlog