I know, I haven’t written anything here in more than a week. I’m in the middle of one of those ‘A lot of things happening at once’ phases. A couple big hurdles down, a couple big ones left to go. This shouldn’t be the only time I write this week though (I think).
And I probably would have taken tonight off, but if you know me at all, you know I was reposting this. The only thing I have to add is I’m only half joking when I say I was so hyped when I first saw this I contemplated wearing my cowl to the Avengers midnight screening later this week…
A lot going on right now. Some I’m hyped about but can’t talk about (yet) due to Confidentiality Agreements, other stuff I can at least ‘tease’ without revealing too much…
A lot of what’s been happening lately has related to acting, and I love doing it, and as I’ve said before, that’s almost always the most ‘fun’ part. But I got into this Game by working behind the camera, and I’ve been doing more of that than usual as of late.
This weekend I was apart of one of the smoothest, most laid back sets I’ve been apart of to date, working as an A.D. in this case. So for those of you who enjoy seeing the crusty, unshaven, hoodie version of me more than the cleans up nice version, you should like this little photo diary. Shots taken by young brother Major Latimer, who has a great eye for composing shots himself.
I’ll talk more about what we were shooting when the time comes. You should know by now discretion is one of my strong suits…
Today was a fun day for me so I’ll tell a lighter story this go round…
For the first time in a little while I found myself driving through Hollywood at night. Even though I’m more or less retired from being on the Strip, one of the things I’ve always enjoyed about living here, especially with summer coming up, is just cruising through the city with no particular place to go with a laid back song coming out of the stereo. As gas prices continue to go up, you don’t really go anywhere you don’t have to go as much as you used to, but you get my point…
I did a double take last week when one of my best friends in a conversation referred to me as a ‘romantic’; not to say I was offended, I just rarely see myself like that. But when the right song comes on at the right time, I admit I go in. Sometimes it’s an MJ ballad. Sometimes it’s one of many beautiful versions of ‘One for My Baby (and One for the Road).’ Tonight on the drive home, my IPad had the nerve to surprise me with this one, and if I didn’t have prior commitments, I might have driven straight to Vegas.
ESPN’s documentary ‘The Announcement’ didn’t have too many revelations, but was a bittersweet trip down memory road if you were any kind of Magic Johnson fan. So how big of a Magic Johnson fan am I? Well for the uninitiated…
After Michael Jackson, Magic was easily my second biggest childhood idol, and my favorite athlete by far. The first A I ever received in school was a book report about Magic, pro hoops was the sport my hometown didn’t have so like most black kids I gravitated toward the Lakers (and the lifelong bond was born). The most infamous childhood photo that hasn’t seen the light of day is me cheesing wearing a varsity jacket style Magic Johnson sweater I got for Christmas while holding my new Light Gun to play ‘Duck Hunt’ on. Simply stated, Magic was my guy.
So rewatching the press conference where he made his HIV positive announcement was chilling. I do remember without shame I was one of those who cried my eyes out that day. It’s hard to properly explain now that double whammy feeling: 1) my favorite athlete was retiring in his prime and 2) we were certain he was going to be dead in a couple of years. That’s the part we all lived through. Hearing Magic talk about how he doesn’t think he would have carried on if Cookie would have left him (I can’t imagine the personal stress of not knowing if you’ve also given your wife and unborn child this deadly disease) was nearly as heartbreaking. As we all know now, she and their son came back negative. Magic became the face of the AIDS education movement, and with his business endeavors, became the lifetime unofficial mayor of L.A. for life.
To the best of my knowledge, no one in my regular social circles is HIV positive. I can only confirm I get tested annually and in spite of my most trifling efforts in my younger days, I remain HIV negative. In terms of meeting the man himself, that was understandably memorable for me. Me and Magic worked out at the same gym for a few years, so we did the head nod everyday for months before I finally manned up and introduced myself. And I couldn’t front, I told the truth, “Magic, you were one of my idols growing up, and it just means the world to me to shake your hand.” Yeah I simped out completely, but he gave me a firm shake and said, “Thanks, that means a lot.” And the rest of the day I had a smile on my face like a 5 year old kid and had this playing in my head:
On a serious note Magic, if you’re reading this, thank you for EVERYTHING. You continue to make us proud!
Step one, as is always the case, was creating the script. I caught parts of Clooney on the Actors Studio over the weekend, and I agree with his sentiment that you can take a good script and make a bad film out of it, but you can’t turn a bad script into a good movie. So the first of many sacrifices I’ve been in the process of making has been slashing my social life down to the bone. By the grace of the Humblebragging Gods, there’s always something to do in this town and somebody I haven’t hung out with in awhile (and that’s not even counting private affairs). But as I look at the Mountain I’m trying to climb, I’ve become hyper focused again about the difference between spending half my day ‘just chilling’, and half my day writing and rewriting.
So what can I tell you about the story? Well it’s part stand up style special, part documentary. From a functional point of view that means the majority of the film can be shot in one day. I have no dreams of being Louis C.K. or Chris Rock, but especially with this subject matter, using my sense of humor and comedic timing is the absolute way to go. As I started to think about blueprints, the irony was not lost on me that in many ways I’m going down the path of the original Tyler Perry blueprint (film your stage shows and market the ish out of those bad boys to your core audience). Not that I’m the type to complete dismiss anyone’s hustle, but I was reminded of one of my favorite lines of Malcolm’s from the Autobiography: ‘…anytime you find someone more successful than you are, especially when you’re both engaged in the same business – you know they’re doing something that you aren’t.’
My superhero alter ego aside, this is also a Mountain that I would be insane to even attempt to climb alone. I know who I want to direct it, I know who I want for a crew, at the moment I’m satisfied with the list of people I want to interview for the documentary sections of the film, and have little doubt the brothers and sisters I already have a personal relationship with are going to be willing to help. As I’ve started the early process of building my team, I’ve made sure to drop a little caveat for my non-Muslim friends, of whom I have many: I need your support to make this happen, and you know me well enough to know I’m not ‘seeking’ to burn any bridges. But that said, the nature of the subject matter and my point of view will rattle somebody’s cages (if I’m doing my job right). But just because I can say something, I don’t want any of my people to catch heat because they have to answer to some person or group that has no jurisdiction over me. So I need your support, but if you have to be a ‘silent partner’ or you have to sit back of the theater so your face doesn’t show up on camera, trust, I take no offence. I’ll be glad to know you have my back.
So the first brick has been laid. Now, in no particular order, I have to drop at least 10 pounds, perfect a song, touch base with Film Independent, IFP, SAGIndie, research Wichita, get a ‘number’, and start writing the sci-fi story I came to this town to make in the first place. That’s what I can think of off the top of my head anyway. I’ve got a big Mountain to climb.
But as the young people say, I’m trending upwards…
The Malik Aziz Foundation held its annual Black History Month dinner on Wednesday in an undisclosed location in Beverly Hills. This year’s Guest of Honor was Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, who participated in an interview, followed by a Q&A with our benefactors, trustees, and their guests.
The following is a transcript from the untelevised interview session.
(Our Host Malik Aziz enters the room during the fourth course of the five course meal. On this particular evening, he’s wearing a midnight blue tuxedo from the Tom Ford Collection.)
MALIK: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and thank you all for coming this evening. In the play, Richelieu, Or the Conspiracy, you will find in the Second Act, the Second Scene, the following monologue:
True, This! —
Beneath the rule of men entirely great, The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold
The arch-enchanters wand! — itself a nothing! —
But taking sorcery from the master-hand
To paralyse the Cæsars, and to strike
The loud earth breathless! — Take away the sword —
States can be saved without it!
Our guest of honor tonight is a young Afro-American gentlemen, who is living proof, the pen truly is mightier than the sword. His work has been respected by his fellow writers, as evidenced by his nomination for a Writers Guild award; and also by the coloreds, as evidenced by his NAACP image award nomination.
The Malik Aziz Foundation is proud to welcome to the stage our guest of honor this year, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas!
(Applause as Aaron takes the stage… He gives Malik a look as he sits down.)
MALIK: For those unfamiliar with your past, let’s start with where you’re from, and what inspired you to become a writer.
ART: Wait, wait, wait, hold up, brotha…. Did you just use the word, “coloreds”? And, whatsup with the English accent and the blue velvet suit? What kind of place is this? I thought Popeye’s chicken catered this dinner.
(Malik, shakes his head with discernment.)
ART: Anyway, to answer your question, what inspired me to become a writer was my faith in God, my parents’ encouragement to pursue my dreams and the amount of enjoyment I get from writing. Knaw mean?
MALIK: Yes, I know exactly what you mean. Now, your first Hollywood experience came working on the television version of the popular urban story, Soul Food. What was that like, and do you feel like that experience shaped you either positively or negatively in what your idea of what ‘Hollywood’ is?
ART: My experience on Soul Food was all good. Everything I learned on that show, from how a writers’ room operates, to how you carry yourself as a professional in this industry, was invaluable. Combine that with the fact that I was able to see people who looked like me working together in a business where such “urban” situations are extremely rare and mocked by people like you and I can’t begin to estimate the positive impact it had on me at an early stage of my Hollywood experience. Knaw mean, brotha?
MALIK: Yes, I understand what you mean, but don’t call me brother. Now everyone has different feelings about the ‘film school’ experience. As a part time teacher, I would gather your feelings are better than others. But with the benefit of retrospect would you consider it a good decision?
ART: I consider it a great decision. As an adjunct professor at USC, I’m exposed to some of the most talented and ambitious storytellers in the world. It’s a rush to be around them and it keeps me on my toes to make sure that I’m able to give them something they can hopefully use going forward. Reminds me of a cat I went to film school with who used to be down for the cause. His name was Mali—
MALIK: Moving on! Friday Night Lights. You were there from the beginning. Smash Williams is the cocky, smart mouthed black member of the team in the predominantly white high school. In one of the trademark episodes of the first season (and truly the whole series), Smash goes through something of an identity crisis when he feels singled out, and underappreciated by his coaches and superiors. Did you draw from any personal experience when writing the episode ‘Full Hearts’?
ART: Good question. I think all writers try to draw from personal experience. Certainly, in the case of FNL, we tackled topics such as race and class, which were prevalent in the book and movie that proceeded the TV series. These topics are always interesting to discuss and write about. Certainly, I had experiences to pull from to help inform my writing on Full Hearts, which dealt with Smash going home to confront a past he had left behind, including some humble beginnings. Speaking of humble beginnings, my brotha, don’t you know a little something about that?
MALIK: I’m sorry but these beginnings you elude to escapes me (Malik straightens his conk). Tonight is about you so let’s get back on topic. Your first credit as a feature film writer was the film Cover. For those unfamiliar with the story, it focuses on a woman whose life is thrown into chaos when she discovers her attractive, upwardly climbing African-American husband is in fact, a closet homosexual. Did you draw from any personal experience when writing the film Cover?
ART: Lol…. Okay, I see what this is. The answer? No. That story was built off interviews and based on true stories that happened to real people.
MALIK: Next we come to Numb3rs. Your episode ‘Sneakerhead’ revolves around two characters who have a fetish for high priced tennis shoes. In light of the repeated violence that has taken place as sneaker companies try to release ‘limited edition’ versions of popular tennis shoes, do you feel that this subculture has gotten any of hand?
ART: Yes and no. The shoe companies know exactly what they’re doing. Like Chuck D once said, “I like Nikes, but wait a minute…” The shoe companies profit off the high demand for (really dope) shoes. But, even if the sneakers did not exist, the problem with customers would probably still be there. The demand would simply be for something else. And, because supply and demand aren’t going anywhere, I think the issue starts at home. It has to be ingrained that just because you don’t have a pair of sneakers, your stature isn’t any less. You don’t need them bad enough to trample, fight, or maybe even kill somebody. Full disclosure, I’m a sneakerhead, and what I’ve found is even if you don’t get the pair you want on release day, do a little research and due diligence and things have a way of working out.
MALIK: Assassination Games. If I would have told 13 year old Aaron Rahsaan Thomas that someday he’d write a movie starring the Muscles from Brussels, Jean Claude Van Damme, how would he have reacted?
ART: He would have smiled, been very happy, but not necessarily surprised. 13 year old Aaron had some big dreams. Now, if you told him he’d be interviewed by a brotha from KCK who adopted Michael Caine’s accent while wearing a suit from the Love Boat, he might have been curious…
MALIK: You are as precious to me as you were to your own mother and father; I swore to them that I would protect you. And I haven’t! But moving on, now we come to ‘CSI:NY’. You’ve had a wonderful collection of guest stars over the years, from Edward James Olmos to Ne-Yo. Do you have a personal favorite? Is there anyone you’d like to write an episode for that you haven’t had the opportunity to do so with yet?
ART: It’s all a blessing. Working with talented people who I respect is a joy. And, every episode is a new and different chapter. As for people I haven’t worked with? Anyone who has a good story to tell and believes in telling it well, I’m open to collaborating with. Dropping that knowledge on a sucka, knaw mean?
MALIK: Now let’s talk about this week’s episode. What can you tell us about it?
ART: It involves the world of The Go Game, adult role playing and takes a few twists that you may not see coming. There is one murder victim and someone else who gets kidnapped. Basically, it is truly an episode of television that will change your life. Or, maybe entertain you for an hour. One or the other.
MALIK: Thank you for joining us again, ladies and gentlemen, one more time for Aaron Rahsaan Thomas!
Aaron’s latest episode airs tonight on CBS. Check local listings.
So 99 times out of 100 when I’m sent sides (an audition script), I can look at the product as a whole, look at where the character fits into the story, and build something from the ground up. But there was one screen test I did this year where I had to do things a little differently…
2Pac.
When I first heard about the project (when Antoine Fuqua was still attached), I was actually aiming for the part of Mopreme, one of Pac’s older relatives who in the story (real and fictional) acted as his conscience. Then word went out that there was an open call for the title role, and they wanted an ‘unknown’. To be truthful, I was still a little hesitant (since at this point I’m older than Pac was when he was murdered), but after a few ‘Fuck That!’ conversations and reminders that every biopic I like uses this rare technique known as ‘makeup’, I decided to go in.
So now it’s a question of craft. Creating a completely original character is one type of challenge. But how do you create a character that based off a real person whose own persona is iconic in its own right? We all know what Pac looked like, we know how he sounded when he talked, how he sounded when he rapped. If you do a pitch perfect impersonation, you’re seen as an impersonator and not an actor. But you stray too far away from the public persona, and you’re rejected for not being ‘accurate’ or ‘realistic’. This is why playing real people, living or dead, is generally seen as the greater challenge.
So the sides went out and as a 2Pac fan I recognized it instantly from my teenage years. You have to take me at my word when I say I didn’t rewatch this until after I did my screen test:
So I learned the words, thought about the emotions behind them (frustration) and made some choices. Part two of the screen test was doing any Pac song that we liked. The choice I made in that regard was to stay away from his best known videos, where again we all have an established ‘visual’ performance to go with the lyrics. I lucked out a little since my favorite Pac song doesn’t have the ‘iconic’ video to go with it.
So my last gift for you this year, my loyal readers, is the screen test I did for ‘Tupac’. You can judge for yourself if the choices I made ‘worked’ or if I could’ve gone farther with it. I heard John (Singleton) is calling the shots now, so if you’ll excuse me I have to go butter up one of my fellow Trojans.
So if you’re like me, you’re probably still digesting your giblets. Got an extra day off work. If you’re really like me, you’re avoiding anything that remotely resembles a shopping center this weekend. So what do you do hot shot, what do you do?
I’ll tell you what to do; you can catch “Lady In My Life’ on African-American Short Films! This weekend, the film plays in both my native and my adopted hometown:
Odessa-Midland Station: KPEJ / FOX Date: 12/02 Time: 4:00AM
Kansas City Station: KMBC / NBC Date: 11/27 Time: 12:30PM
Jackson, MS Station: WAPT / NBC Date: 11/27 Time: 12:00PM
Los Angeles Station: KCBS / KCAL Date: 11/28 Time: 4:00AM
I know for a fact the Chiefs don’t play until Sunday night this weekend, all the more reason to get a little joy on the television this weekend before the bitterness and frustration kick in.
Hope everyone is having a nice Thanksgiving weekend!
A friend across the pond has passions similar to mine so when I got home tonight I shot a quick video promoting our mutual interests. You can see that below. The mustache I’m sporting for another week is for Movember; it’s certainly drawn attention to that cause. I guess at the moment I’m socially consciously multitasking.
I’m going through my annual rewatching of my favorite television series ever, The Wire. I won’t spend this space trying to win you over to it, but if you haven’t watched it, you should. Anyway, one of the nice things about watching a show like this is reconnecting with all the minor characters who fill up the world. I just passed the episode (minor spoiler alert) where Omar shoots Brother Mouzone. Thinking he’s on the verge of death, Brother Mouzone won’t give Omar the privilege of hearing him beg for his life, he simply says “I’ve made peace with my God,” and starts to pray to himself. Sure, I probably smile a little wider than most hearing the brother with the bowtie say that line, but the truth of the statement should ring true to everyone.
“I’ve made peace with my God.” Everyone of us has our own set of problems to deal with; we’re all driven by our own agendas, and then have to manage the agendas of others to various degrees. But you lose track of your own peace of mind, you might wake up one day and find you’ve given over too much of your life and personal happiness to someone or something with no vested interest in you.
And on that optimistic note, I wish you a happy week! I’ll try to get up one more post before Thanksgiving, but the short week may prevent that from happening.
