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Snipes Talks
to AC Team Continued...
Q:
How many franchises do you think you would be comfortable continuing,
because I know you are developing "Black Panther," as well.
And then if that blew up and there were going to be sequels, how many
characters would you like to continue doing on a regular basis?
Snipes:
I think only two. "Blade" and "Black Panther,"
that's enough. (Laughter). You know, you're not going to see like
"Blade 15," let me tell you that. It's not happening.
Not going to happen.
Q:
When do you think you are going to get around to doing "Black
Panther?"
Snipes: The end of next week. [Snipes was interviewed
August 11, 2000 for this feature]
Q:
What about "Disappearing Act?"
Snipes:
Comes out in December�And it's not a film, I mean it's not a theatrical
release. It's made for HBO, but we are trying to convince them,
and we hope that the people will help convince them to do a limited
theatrical release.
Q:
Now you've been working on that for a few years. What is personally
important and special about "Disappearing Act?"
Snipes:
We were trying to develop it, and it's a great story, I mean, it's
a romance, it's a drama, it's interaction, it's black love, and
these are things we want to see. And I haven't done a project like
that in a long time.
Q:
Can you talk about the company that you have that sells books from
people who don't really have the avenue to get them made into films?
Snipes:
Yes, basically [we have] a publishing company where we
take some of these hot young writers, maybe some of you, and give
them the opportunity to write novels, street novels with a gritty
edge to it, kind of in the Donald Goines sort of thing, and then
those that are good, Amen Ra Films produces their next film, makes
a movie out of it. And coupled with the book is also a CD-ROM, and
the marketing campaign is to put the books in places that you don't
normally see these kind of books.
Q:
How comfortable are you with the term "action star," because
you've done so many kinds of films, in comedies and romance and stuff,
and even in this movie you're saying it's a suspense thriller with
action in it, but then they like say, "Oh, action star Wesley
Snipes." Are you saying I'm more then that, or do you kind of
know that your fan base knows everything that you do? Do you embrace
that?
Snipes:
You know, it's hard to say. I'm just fortunate that I can do action
things. I didn't go into this business to do action. You know, I'm
a classically trained actor, and I love the more dramatic pieces,
I love working with other classically trained actors, whether it's
on Broadway on stage, or whether it's in film. But I mean man, I
can tell you, doing action films has afforded me a lot of opportunities
to make and fund these other projects, and do the kind of more heartfelt
and more sensitive and dramatic pieces. So I'm not knocking the
action star, I'm not knocking it, because it pays a lot of money!
(Laughter)
Q:
You started when Black films started having a renaissance with Spike
Lee and John Singleton and everyone, and you've definitely evolved
into a star that goes beyond just that niche, but how do you feel
about where black films have come to from the mid 80's to now? Storylines
about the African American experience.
Snipes:
Well, you know, I believe this medium can afford a lot more opportunities
than we actually take advantage of. You know, it's cool. And I understand
the emotional side of wanting to express yourself�keeping it real,
showing what the reality is.
To
me it's kind of cathartic. But if you think back into how movies
were put together in the 20's, 30's and 40's, most of the people
who saw movies in the rest of the world, believed that this was
true! This was America, and it wasn't even real for the people who
were acting in the movie.
What
does that say? It says that you can actually take the medium and
use it to create a reality.
You don't have
to portray the reality, you can create another reality, that will
in the future become reality. That's kind of how I feel about Black
films, I mean some of it is cathartic and they're venting and they
want to be heard, and it's all good, I'm not knocking it, I'm with
that, but we are missing the value of the medium.
When you go see a movie you believe whatever the movie tells you
is there, period. You just accept it.
�keeping
it real. It's cool. But why not make a movie where we show Harlem
is not the way it is now, but the way we envision it to be. If we
do enough of them, everyone will begin to believe that this is the
way Harlem is, and we will become that.
Q:
Do you have a dream project?
Snipes:
You mean like a remake of the Martin Luther King story? (Laughter)
Q:
No, I mean anyone you'd love to work with?
Snipes:
I want to work with talented actors, man, I want to do some ensemble
work. I don't want to be always out there by myself. There's a lot
of people who's really, really talented. Man, you don't get the
chance. I'd love to work with Eddie, I'd love to work with Denzel,
I'd love to work with Morgan, I'd love to work again with Sean Connery,
Sly, you know all of the good guys�with Duval. I'm into it, totally.
I'd play the guy that [just] comes in, I'd do it! Hey, and I'm out!
(Laughter) As long as I can be ?part] of the credits, man.
Q:
Thank you!
Snipes:
Thanks!
-
End of Excerpts -
There's more!
Marie Matiko Interview
Jim Ferguson Interviews
Marie Matiko
Jim Ferguson
Interviews Wesley Snipes
The Art of War
Photo Gallery
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