This Friday (August 13) I had the opportunity to join a phone conference with T.I while he answered questions on his new role in the movie "Takers". The conference call consisted of one student from each major university in Florida. I was selected to represent Florida Memorial University and www.24hourhiphop.com as well. The conference call allowed the students to talk directly to T.I and ask their questions directly. Check out below for the inside scoop from the "Uncaged King", T.I, himself!
Question: Was it an easy transition for you to go from being a rapper to an actor?
T.I: Hmm well I agree and I disagree. Music is all of your thoughts, your opinions, your views, based on your person. In music the words are coming from your situation. Where as with film its the views of the story teller, the writer. So your used as an instrument, but in music you play the instrument.
Question: Where or from whom did you draw inspiration from for this role? Or any of your roles so far ?
T.I: I was blessed because in my first roles I got to work alongside two of the best actors in the game. My first role "ATL" was produced by Will Smith and I really got to learn the ropes from one of the biggest box office sellers in the world. Then "American Gangster", I got to share the screen and pick the brain of one of the greatest black actors ever, Denzel Washington...
Question: This movie "Takers" and "American Gangster" seem to focus on illicit activities, what is it that you want your audiance to get from this as a whole?
T.I: First of all I would like for the seperation to be made from art and life, fact and fiction, from reality and entertainment. Now I dont think I should be held anymore accountable to the chracters that I play, like in "American Gangster", or like Ghost in "Takers". I shouldnt be more accountable than Arnold Schwarzenegger should be held for him playing "Terminator" or him playing "Commando" or any other actor. No one questions their intentions no one questions their values because they play gangster. No one questions Pachino's values for playing "Scarface", no one questions Di Nero for his role in "Goodfellas". No one makes it any different. I am an actor. I'm really just being used to tell a story and convey a message, a message of the writer of the script, message of the director. This is not T.I or Clifford Harris message. I'm just accurately displaying what the story calls for. I'm taking whats on the script and putting it on the screen.
Question: Earlier you said you want to learn from actors like Denzel Washington and would like to be like them eventually. Does your joy lie in music still or are you hoping to shift more into film?
T.I: I believe the answer to that question is yes and still yes.Music is my first love and I am very passionate about it. Film is something that is new, and fresh, and exciting to me. You know right now music is over saturated, you know what I'm saying? The music industry is so over saturated. When I first decided I wanted to be a rapper, if you were to make it and become a rapper and get a video and a record deal, and go platinum or go gold, man you were soemthing special. You were a cut above the rest. Let alone get a video playing on MTV. Let alone manage to do shows and go touring. Let alone going gold. But now a days if you tell somebody your a rapper (yea I know everybody a rapper), well my video coming on tv (yea but everybody video come on tv). There is no exclusivity to the artistry anymore. You know what I'm saying? It's like it's been diluted and over saturated so much that if you want to be special you have to find another way to be special. You got to step outside of this and do something else. You know I will still do it because I love to do it but a side of me still yearns for that exclusivity and to be on that narrow. Part of me saying I gotta do something else too. Everybody can't just hop into a box office smasher and earn 20K the first weekend. Everybody can't do that.
Question: You mentioned how complex of a character that Ghost is, what do you like most about Ghost?
T.I: I like his ambition. I like the fact that Ghost refuses to take no for an answer. I gotta pick my words carefully, I dont want to give the movie away too much. I like the way Ghost is trying to help himself in everyway. Everything that he has done, he is looking to do better. Now there are some questionable chracteristics about Ghost but I think that it should also be taken into consideration that it may have been what he had to do. I can also say I like Ghost loyalty. Ghost was above all loyal to people who he felt weren't always loyal to him in return. Now, I mean do I like the decisions Ghost chose to make? No I dont but I think I can say with a clear conscience I dont know what kind of mind frame I would be in if I had been put in the same circumstances as Ghost. I dont believe I wouldve made the same decisions as he did but I do believe I would definitely have an adverse opinion.
Question: There are a lot of action scenes in the film. Were you able to be involved in many of them?
T.I: Not many of them. I had maybe two. You know the director and the studio, you know they made sure that I knew that Ghost involvment was more of an emotional contribution. Emotional, mental, comical contribution. You know not the physical, Ghost character, he meant so much. He is the driving force to the story. He is the character that dictates the pace of the film. If he had as much physical contribution to the film as everyone else he would be an off set of attention. He would be overshadowing a lot of the other characters at that point.
Question: I think it's pretty obvious that 2009 you and your "Takers" co star Chris Brown had a rough year. I was listening to you earlier and I agree that people should differentiate between the artist and the art. Having said that, do you think the movie will shed a different light, sort of a modern day mythological hero type light on the two of your for 2010, or does the movie contribute to a bad boy image to the public?
T.I: Well I really dont know. I believe the public perception is what they feel. No more would I think if I were to do a role in "The Great Debators" would it no more help my image as a college student. Your going to think about that person whatever you choose to think about that person. I dont think if Chris was to come out tomorrow with a romantic comedy and sweep a woman off of her feet with a "Pretty Woman" type of feel, it still would not take away all what people think and believe about him if that is what they CHOOSE to think and believe about him.
Question: On Larry King Live, you mentioned that you were somewhat an honor roll student. If you were to obtain a degree today, away from the music and acting, what could you see yourself doing?
Question: There's a lot of buzz about your statement about wanting to win an oscar by age 40. I was wondering what was your strategy for that and do you feel like you need validation from the academy and critics?
T.I: I heard that statement regurgitated so many times, and I believe it waas taken out of context. My point was I rather be a full time actor at 40, than a full time rapper. I rather win Oscars at the age of 40, than still trying to win Grammys. Now I would like to win an Oscar by 35 if possible! You know what I'm saying? But I am not trying to rush the process, and validation from the critics, I mean its wonderful to be acclaimed for your art and your passion but at the end of the day I am more concerned about the public and how the public sees my work. Those are the people who are working hard and parting with their dollars and cents to be entertained by me. So I'm more concerned with their perception and their opinion of my work than the critics. I am passionate about what I do and whatever it is that is given to the best, then I want that. Whether it is fashion, film, endorsement deals , whatever it is, whatever it may be, whatever they give out to the best in the business then I want some of those.
Question: What was the most memorable moment you had while filming the movie "Takers"?
T.I: The most memorable moment ? Hmm let me think. The whole experience as a whole was phenomenal. Just the camaraderie, it was really like just showing up and hanging out, we just happened to shoot a movie in the process. Everybody got along well, everybody brought a different swag to the screen. It was just an outstanding experience on all levels. I can tell you my least favorite moment, it was when they had me in that cop suit. It was hot, it was tight, and it seemed like the scene went on forever. It had to be one of the hottest days in California history!
This has been an EXCLUSIVE interview brought to you by 24hourhiphop.com. Make sure you check out "Takers" in theaters August 27th also starring Matt Dillon, Chris Brown, Idris Elba, T.I., Jay Hernandez, Hayden Christensen, and Zoë Saldaña! Check out the trailer below.
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<a href="http://24hourhiphop.com/article.php?id=7776tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://24hourhiphop.com/article.php?id=7776Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:25:48 GMT 00:00">EXCLUSIVE Interview: TI On The Movie "Takers"
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