May 2009 | blackfilm.com | TERMINATOR: SALVATION

May 2009

TERMINATOR: SALVATION | An Interview with Common

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TERMINATOR: SALVATION
An Interview with Common
By Wilson Morales

May 18, 2009

The last few times we have seen Common on the big screen, he’s been on the opposite side of the law; from being the right-hand man to a hustler in ‘Smokin’ Aces,’ to being a drug dealer with Denzel Washing in ‘American Gangster,’ to playing an assassin with Morgan Freeman in ‘Wanted.’

This time around, the Chicago native is on right side, playing a soldier named Barnes, who’s helping preserve mankind with Christian Bale in the ‘Terminator: Salvation.’

Directed by McG, a group of survivors led by John Connor (Bale) struggles to keep the machines from finishing the job after Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust.

In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Common talks about his role, working with Christian Bale and his latest ventures, including the t-shirt line he has with Microsoft.

What attracted you to be in this film?

Common: The Terminator is a classic movie and to be in one of the continuing films was incredible for me. To be an African American man in that film was another reason. You didn’t see too many brothers in those films.

How would you describe your character?

Common: My character Barnes is part of the resistance. He’s like a spiritual revolutionary soldier. He sees the levels of what life is like in many ways. Although you don’t get to see my character develop a lot in the film, that’s what his origin is and that where he comes from and that’s who he is. When you think of Malcolm X or when you think of Martin Luther King, they fought in certain ways. Malcolm X definitely had the warrior in him. He was down for the spiritual fight too. I look at my character as someone who’s down for the spiritual fight and is a warrior.

Being you’re representing the Black community in this film, did you give Barnes a back-story?

Common: Yeah. I just tried to give some truth to the character and give it some depth. I represent Black people at all times.

With this film part of a franchise, did you do anything different to prepare?

Common: The preparation for this was a little different because you are dealing with a post-apocalyptic time, which is a time where no one can go and do research and say they lived in that time period. You can only imagine what it’s it like to live in a world that’s been destroyed and then be in that place. Obviously, there are people in the world who are dealing with now as they are living in war torn areas. A lot of preparation came once I got to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we shot the movie at. I just participated in the development of the character. I read the script but there wasn’t a lot for my character initially.

Have you seen allof the Terminator films?

Common: Yeah. I’ve watched every one. I liked the movies when I was young. I saw ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ first. I wasn’t a crazy fanatic, but once I got the role I brushed up on the films again and I appreciate them even more now.

How was the shoot in New Mexico?

Common: It was fun. We had a great time. I loved the energy of the people. They were really cool. I love mountains and the sun and it was beautiful. I enjoyed the environment. I had some shows there before, so I had an affinity to Albuquerque.

How was working with Christian Bale?

Common: He was really cool. I learned a lot from him. He’s a real solid guy. He’s a good person to work with. He was like a teacher and at the same time he’s a friend and had jokes too. He was able to learn from his focus.

What did you learn from McG?

Common: I just observed his leadership skills. He could fire a team up and round the team up and get things going the way it should be. I think he was doing magic with what we had. A lot of times during the shoot when the script was beingdeveloped, he was making sure we were focused and going in the right direction.

You held a gun in most of your films, including this one. How much of a gun expert are you now?

Common: I’m pretty good with guns. I try not to involve myself with them in my everyday life. As an actor, I’ve become really good with guns. Fortunately, I’m doing a comedy film with Steve Carell and Tina Fey called ‘Date Night’ and I play a bad guy, a dirty cop in the movie. But this next film I may be doing, which also stars Latifah, I won’t have any guns.

Is this your first comedy?

Common: This is my first comedy.

How is your t-shirt line doing?

Common: We’re doing great. We’ve had a lot of success with Microsoft t-shirts. This is the clothing line I started with them. I really love the shirts andI rock them all the time. I also did a couple of skits, one for Microsoft and one for Will Pharrell’s comedy website.

What’s next with your music?

Common: I’m working on a new album with Kanye West producing. More than anything, I’m just looking to be happy and healthy.

Is Green Lantern ever going to happen with you in the role?

Common: We really don’t know. We want it to. It fell apart and we don’t know if it will be put back together.

Why should anyone see ‘Terminator: Salvation?’

Common: If you like fun exciting movies with a good story and good action that you could enjoy, then go see this.

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