Filed under: Interviews, Comedy
From Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier to Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, comedic duos have paved the way for a crop of new talent to carry on the tradition of providing urban flavor in their films.
Arriving in theaters Aug. 20 is the comedy 'Lottery Ticket,' which stars Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson in a film co-produced by Ice Cube.
When Kevin (Bow Wow) wins the lottery during the Fourth of July weekend, he has to find a way to hide from all of the folks who want to cash in on his winnings before he collects his money. Jackson plays his wisecracking best friend, Benny.
After first pairing up in 2005 on Malcolm D. Lee's 'Roll Bounce,' Bow Wow went on do more music and starred in the blockbuster action film 'Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift,' while Brandon starred in 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief' before playing opposite Robert Downey Jr. in the hilarious comedy 'Tropic Thunder' in 2008.
Directed by Erik White, the film also stars Naturi Naughton, Ice Cube, Loretta Devine, Terry Crews, Keith David and Mike Epps.
Black Voices recently caught up with the two rising stars. Excerpts from the interviews are below.
What was the attraction to the film?
Bow Wow: I was so eager and ready to take this on. I have two jobs, and it's hard to find the time for both. If I do a movie, everyone is asking me, "When is your next album coming out? When are you touring?" When I am hot and making music, people are constantly saying, "When are you doing a movie?" I just thought this was the time. I love movies more than I love rapping. So I was like, "Yo! I have to get back into this!" If it were up to me, I would knock out three or four movies a year. My fans have been wanting it. My manager told me that this project had my name all over it. If they didn't get me, it wouldn't happen at all. Once I committed to it, it all fell into place. Three months later, I heard that Ice Cube wanted it, too. He signed on as a producer, and he wanted to play Mr. Washington... I was on board from day one.
How's working with each other again?
Bow Wow: It was kinda weird having Brandon right back by my side again in this film. It's cool, because we already know each other, so the chemistry we had on 'Roll Bounce,' we kinda just carried it over and brought it to this film. I'm sure everybody knew once we came on screen what we were capable of doing. For me and Brandon, it's like a walk in the park. It's easy. He'll tell you, "I know what Bow Wow's gonna do," and I know what Brandon's gonna bring. We just know each other like that. It's cake.
Brandon T. Jackson: Working with Bow Wow is good. We are a little bit older now. Some rappers can't act, but then you have Bow Wow, who is a really good actor. Its fun to go off with him. He is always right there killing it. It's nice to have someone who is taking this so seriously. It reminds me of that 'Bad Boys' situation, two young black dudes in this setting doing a movie that speaks to our generation. It's really hard to do these days because you have certain rappers in a movie that can't act. I've been in scenes with Robert Downey Jr. and Uma Thurman, and Bow Wow is right up there killin' it, too!
How would you describe your role?
BW: The film is about a kid who wins the lottery on Fourth of July weekend. Unfortunately, on that weekend, you have to wait to cash in your ticket. I have to keep this whole thing a secret. For anyone who has never lived in the 'hood, you might not know how hard it is to keep these things quiet. Now that the word is out, I am fighting off everyone who wants a piece of me. I have people fighting me, trying to kill me. I am going through all of these things in a two-day period. I have to keep my mouth closed so that when Monday comes, I can go claim my prize. That is what it's all about. When the word gets out that I have this ticket, it becomes total chaos.
BTJ: Kevin is kinda the straight-laced guy, while Benny's a little more heightened, a little bit more loose than Kevin. The setting is the projects, any projects in America. It doesn't say a city. If you've ever been to the projects, you know it's about poverty. I think it's perfect for our story and what's going on today in America with the recession. You got these kids who are 19, don't know what they're gonna do after school. Everybody's kinda got that job you just go to every day. Benny's the kind of person who sells doorknobs, earrings, bags, knick knacks, any way to make a quick buck. When Kevin wins that $370 million, it's a whole different situation because it's like they're no longer trapped in this setting anymore. They can do anything they wanna do. They can go anywhere they like, and it's time to live it up! Benny's stirring everything up.
Were you able to be as funny as you have been in your other films?
BTJ: I didn't really get to show my comedic side as fully as I wanted to in this film. I think Benny is funny. But he doesn't ever play the joke. He plays the situation. I had to take this a little bit more seriously. You see certain comedians in a movie, and they are constantly playing the joke. There is more heart to Benny. He is more human. It's not just a bunch of jokes. He is funny as hell. Everyone grew up with Benny. It's not the over-the-top stereotype funny that you see in movies every day. He is a real character, and the situation makes him funny. I don't want to be one of those comedians who goes straight for the joke.
How was working with Ice Cube after doing 'All About the Benjamins' years ago?
BW: I've known Ice Cube for a long time. In Los Angeles, we play in the same basketball league for entertainers. That is where I first met him. We've always been cool. I shoot him an e-mail every blue moon. I remember him having some projects, and I would hit him up, "Let me come read for them!" He'd say, "All right, no problem." That is why it's cool that we're here now, making this film together. I have been asking him so many questions. He is an icon. He also made that transition from music to acting. People take him very seriously. That is what I want to end up doing eventually. Just stop rapping and become an actor. I get a bug where I don't want to rap anymore. I just want to do film. It's weird for people to talk to me about this. Because in my mind I feel 40. I have been doing this since I was 5. My next album will be my eighth album. Or my ninth. I have lost count. Most guys my age haven't even made three. So I am ready to stop. Ice Cube is like, "No, man. You can go on to make 30 albums if you want to. You can always be an actor. And while you are doing that, you can drop singles or make a record. Don't limit yourself. You could do this forever." He is right. I listened to him. These are the things I talk to him about.
Why do you think winning the lottery has a big effect on folks who live in housing projects?
BTJ: If you ever been in a project, there's a certain level of oppression that comes with it. It's not a happy situation, but what we have, we make the best of it, and that's why you see so many people coming out of the projects being famous because you have to make the best of the situation. When we were in the 'hood, you feel oppressed, you feel trapped. You don't wanna feel like you can't do what you wanna do and something else is controlling you. That's how I felt when I was there. It wouldn't take too much to draw from. It just brought back memories from when I was a kid and my boys came over to my house like, "Damn, y'all got ketchup and mustard?"
What message will this dramedy send out?
BW: The message is to dream big and never give up, and not only that, but believe in yourself. In the movie, Kevin's dream is he's a sneaker fanatic, and that's his goal, to design shoes. At one point, I give up. I'm like, "I can't deal with the pressure, people wanting things from me." Then there's hope. That is the message. It's all about change, believing in yourself, setting a goal, and going for it and never give up even when it gets tough.