‘Just Wright’, ‘The Believer’ and ‘Hell on Wheels’: They have something in COMMON.
This Tuesday ‘Just Wright’ will hit the shelves of video stores, online markets and retailers across the country. Loaded with extras not seen in theaters, the DVD is, according to Common, one of those films we need to included in our home theater collection.
The Chicago native, formerly known to the world of hip-hop as Common Sense, takes on his first leading role in the Fox Searchlight film ‘Just Wright’ along side two beautiful and talented actors, Queen Latifah and Paula Patton.
Common spoke with blackfilm.com and shared his views on the release of two films in 2010, the development of a new album and landing the role of a freed slave in the AMC pilot ‘Hell on Wheels’.
Are there any extra or special features that we should look out for included on the DVD?
Common: Oh yeah. Totally man. There’s the gag reel, you’ve also got some behind the scene’s interviews and deleted scene’s. There’s some cool stuff on the DVD that you definitely wouldn’t have seen at the movies. Another thing is just the movie itself. The way I look at it, this is one of those movies you need in your collection.
You have two beautiful and talented co-stars in this film. How was it working so closely with Queen Latifah and Paula Patton?
Common: Man Queen Latifah is a quintessential Queen in that she just has something about her that you love as a person. She’s a very warm person and at the same token she’s also fun and somebody that you can relate to. She’s just real. Many people, and I’m talking about strangers, just feel like they can talk to her. She’s just a warm person and she’s a very talented actress. She’s a talented artist! So being around her is motivation to me and it was really great to work with her.
Then Paula Patton is fun. She knows how to have fun but she is series about her craft. I just saw her last night. Her and Robin Thicke were at a party and I just happen to see them. After that experience I always feel connected to both of them. That was my first leading role.
You had two great projects this year that have recently made it to DVD. How exciting has that been for you?
Common: Man it was super exciting. I have ‘Just Wright’, my first leading role coming out and ‘Date Night’ came out before that. Being able to star in a movie with Steve Carell and Tina Fey and on the same token both of the movies were in genres that I had never had experience in. I’d never had experience in the Comedy World as far as people seeing me do something like that. So it was good exposure for me too.
What was it that originally sparked your transition from Music to Film and Television for you?
Common: I needed to expand as an artist. I felt like it was more out there for me. You know how you can be doing something and you’re like there’s something else that I want to do too? You know? That’s how I felt. I was making music and I felt like there’s something else out there that I want to expand and grow to. And when I went to acting classes, I just felt like, man this is too much fun. I felt like I was able to express things in me that I hadn’t ever done. So that’s what made me want to act and that’s what made me continue to go to acting classes. Once I came across the script for ‘Smoking Aces’ and I was so passionate about it, it just turned out to be the right fit for me, you know? As far as being an actor I do feel like my strengths right now lie more so in drama and action. Serious roles. But I do feel like I’m capable of doing comedy and other genres but I love the dramatic stuff.
Should your fans expect to hear more from you on the music front?
Common: Totally man. I’m working on a new LP right now. It’s called ‘The Believer’. I just got back to it this month because I had been out promoting ‘Just Wright’ through the month of May and then I started working on some other projects in the summer. Then I just had to sell this TV pilot called ‘Hell on Wheel’ for AMC. So I was working on other projects and I couldn’t focus on the album. Now I’m able to focus on it.
That actually leads right into my next question. Can you tell us about your next project ‘Hell on Wheels’ and how you became involved with this production?
Common: Yeah, it’s an AMC pilot that will be going to series at some point. It’s based on the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. It takes place in 1865 and it’s basically dealing with these different characters that come into the job of building the Transcontinental Railroad and the excursions of what that is. That means you’re trying to do something that has never been done. You’re having battles with nature, with Native Americans, with yourself and with other nationalities. It’s a period piece that really deals with issues of today. A lot of the human issues that we deal with today are being addressed in this project.
It was so well written. The character that was available for me to play was this freed slave of mixed race. He’s like a rebel you know. He’s a leader by nature and he’s similar to the way Denzel was in ‘Glory’ but still different. And it’s not stereotypical. When you think of images you may have seen of slaves at that time, it’s not that. It shows a human side that I never thought about. When I got to experience the audition and talk to the Directors, I was like, I never even thought about the fact that as much as White people were definitely treating Black people bad, there were still some Black and White people that had relationships. It’s interesting that that existed because all we know overall is that the majority of them were treating us like animals. I think it breaks some stereotypes and you see some characters that you’ve never ever seen before on TV. It’s well written. That’s what made me want to do it.
by Rob Smith
