Fast FiveAn Interview with Tyrese Gibson
By Wilson Morales
April 27, 2011
Coming out this week is the latest installment of the ‘Fast and the Furious’ franchise with ‘Fast Five,’ and what makes this film apart and special from the others is that at least one member from each of the previous films is back in this film and ready to rock audiences with non-stop action.
Directed by Justin Lin, the cast includes Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Tyrese Gibson, Matt Schulze, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Gal Gadot and Sung Kang.
Joining the group are Elsa Pataky, Joaquim de Almeida, and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
Blackfilm.com spoke with Tyrese, who first appeared in ‘2 Fast 2 Furious’ and is back reprising his role as ex-con Roman Pearce.
You had the best lines in the movie. Can you compare the first time you read the script to seeing the final movie now?
TYRESE: To be honest, there were only a couple moments I remember checking out playback on the set. I’m a people reader, I like to study and watch people, so when I was on set it was more about checking out everybody’s energy while we were doing it. Sometimes if you look at playback too much you find yourself trying to duplicate some magic that could have just been captured, like, “Yeah, I’m gonna do it like that again.” It stops you from trying new things. To be honest it was also part of my own strategy. I think I got a deep voice but Vin Diesel’s voice is a little deeper. I got muscles, but the Rock Johnson’s muscles are just a little bigger. I’m not going to try to compete with that, I’m just going to try to bring whatever energy I can, my own Roman Pearce energy, and have it be consistent with who I was in ‘2 Fast 2 Furious.’ I’m just glad I was allowed to be funny and have fun.
What surprised you the most now that you’ve seen it, since you didn’t watch playback?
TYRESE: This is my third time seeing it today, but I didn’t stay for the whole thing. Today was my first time watching it with all fans in the room, 800 people. It was pretty crazy.
Why is this franchise so popular?
TYRESE: It has all the elements in it. It’s multi-ethnic, it’s adrenaline, sex-appeal, swag, energy, it’s an adventure, and it’s not the kind of movie you come in and pick apart. You just come into it ready to have some fun then leave with your girl and do whatever you’re going to do after that.
What made you do this one since you didn’t do the last sequels?
TYRESE: I got invited back. When your phone rings and they got ‘Fast and the Furious’ on line one I think anybody will take that call.
What were you doing off the set? Brazil is a beautiful country, what were the best things about filming there?
TYRESE: We were praying. (laughs) Holdin’ hands by the water. “Let the Lord use you.” (laughs) No, were were having fun, man. Brazil is for every man who’s not married or engaged to go out there and have the time of their life. I consider Brazil Man Heaven. That’s where it’s at. It’s a beautiful country, the energy, I never seen one woman who was out of shape. It’s really crazy out there.
You guys were in the hood out there.
TYRESE: The favelas.
Did you have to get a pass to film there?
TYRESE: You know, there’s always street politics wherever you go. You do whatever you have to do to make sure everyone gets in and out of there safely.
You’re a people reader, so were there any parts where you felt you had to step up your game?
TYRESE: Oh man, I had to step up my game throughout the movie. Imagine doing a scene with that many people, that level of starpower. I can’t say that I was challenged, like, “this is the most challenging…” Once you get a sense of people’s personalities you can operate within that. I can’t crack the same jokes with Vin Diesel as I can with Paul Walker. You just kinda use your instincts and operate within what you know.
You have starpower as well, with several successful movies and books. How do you bring that starpower to the table.
TYRESE: Starpower doesn’t have to be announced, you just show up. At the end of the day that’s for them to think of me. I’m just showing up as a regular guy trying to make sure I’m getting along with everybody and we’re having a good time while we’re working. If they consider that starpower at the end of the day God bless ’em.
What’s the most fun you had, ’cause you had Brazil, thongs…?
TYRESE: Thing is, we only shot for six days in Brazil. Preparation was a month. We were there a total of a month, but we mainly shot in Puerto Rico, then moved to Atlanta. You noticed there were a lot of interior shots inside that big factory; that was all in Atlanta. It’s the filmmaker’s job to make people believe we’re in Brazil, but the world will believe we shot the whole movie in Brazil then mission accomplished.
Did you give yourself a backstory for what Roman was doing between the second film and now?
TYRESE: Not really. I didn’t want to be happy to meet Dom, Vin Diesel’s character. That was one thing I talked to the director about. The fact that me and Paul did ‘2 Fast 2 Furious,’ I may have heard some stories, some loyalty issues, and whatever else happened between Brian and Dom. I wanted that moment. That’s the only connection performance-wise to the second movie, not being happy to meet his character. Other than that it’s about what I can say and what I can do every day. You’ve got words on the paper but they’ve got no meaning and no soul unless you bring ’em to life. These words might not resonate to me in the scene. You pull the director to the side, come up with some one-liners, some funny moments while you’re there. Because of the comfort zone with everybody, it was okay that everybody was shining and having a moment. If everybody’s a star in a scene and you notice that I’m saying something that everybody’s going to respond to your insecurity comes in and you try to shut that down. That never happened. That’s why we all have our moments throughout this movie. I never do anything without praying first, so the first day on set during the scene where the guy looks through the peephole and gets hit with Vin’s gun. That was the first day of filming in Puerto Rico, and before we shot that first scene I said, “I just want to pray.” We all came together, bowed our heads and prayed. That broke the ice.
How much are you like the character Roman?
TYRESE: Anybody who knows me knows we’re laughing all day.
Are you into cars?
TYRESE: Oh yeah, I definitely got my share of vehicles.
Did you get to work any of the cars out?
TYRESE: Open it up real quick? Yeah, absolutely, a few of them. I was mashin’ in that police car. Being in the front seat of a police car is exciting.
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