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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2004)
T October 27, 2004 FOCUS in ®1**Fortiani» (©bserüer page C 3 Jackie Chan Chan: Hollywood Limits Asian Roles (A P)— Martial arts star Jackie Chan claims Hollywood limits roles for Asians and says it’s time he became a “real actor” by taking on roles other than as a kung fu fighter. “It’s all the same, cop from Hong Kong, cop from China. Jet Li, Chow-Yun Fat and we all face the same problem, our roles are limited,” said Chan, 50. Although Chan returned to the U nited.States this year for the filming of “Rush Hour 3,” he said he wants to move away from ac tion movies. “I’ve always wanted to change, to become a real actor,” says Chan. Jamie Foxx stars as Ray Charles a il i n c l u s i v e CRUIZE ZPECIALZ! le a v e you r m oney a t home. Cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico for Spring Break, Family Vacations, Retirement, Honeymoon or Mental Health Breaks! ____- n u ,',w 4 i___________________ Martin Luther King Week - Jan. 17-21, 2005 Cruise to Bala and stop at Catalina island on your way to Mexico Space is limited on Carnival’s 4 day cruise for an outside (window)cabin,$156.00, plus tax call Shirley for details! (503) 244-0547 H Carnival. j ust more fun. S h i r l e y W h ite T r a v e l S e r v ic e Audiences will be amazed by the incredible performance Jamie Foxx gives as Ray Charles in “Ray,” scheduled for released nationwide on Friday, Oct. 29. Foxx portrayal is a tour de force, an astoundingly accurate depic tion of the blind R&B legend who died in June, but not before Charles met Foxx and gave the 36-year-old actor his blessing. The film ’s producer and director T ay lor Hackford told Foxx his main concern was that whoever played Ray Charles would have to reveal an innate relationship to the very soul o f music. As it turns out, Foxx, similar to Ray Charles, had started playing piano at age three. In his youth, the actor led his Texas gospel church band and received a university pi ano scholarship. “When Jamie told me this, I just kind of sat back and thought, ‘My G od,” ’ Hackford said. “I’d like to say it was planned, but it wasn’t." it’s right under your fingers.’ And The next test was to have Foxx I’m thinking, ‘Thiscould really blow and Ray Charles meet - which they up in my face.’ But when Jamie did at two side-by-side pianos, while finally got it, Ray, who had been the filmmakers held their breath. pretty tough on him, said, ‘This is it. “Ray was not easy, as I’ve said, This kid can do it, see? He’s the and when it came to music, he de one.’” manded perfection .Jamie came over Foxx threw himself into the role. and immediately started playing the He began by adapting many of the piano,” Hackford said. “Ray could singer’s physical trademarks, from hear at least that he could play. So his close-cropped hair to his bodily mannerisms, bom out of acombina- tion of Charles’ history, blindness and unstoppable inner sense of music. The actor immersed him self in soul, jazz, and blues recordings to set the mood; attended classes at —Ray Charles advocating Jamie the Braille Institute; and spent Fox to portray him In film. weeks during rehearsal and pro they started playing and Jamie is duction w alking around with his playing a little funk and gospel, hut eyes sealed tight for 12 hours a then Ray goes into some jazz, some day, to gain an intim ate under Thelonious Monk. And I’m think standing o f what it really means ing,‘Oh, no, Jamie doesn’t know it.’ be blind. Ray was saying, ‘Come on, man, it’s “The key word for me was nu this’ and he keeps playing this ance, because I didn’t want to sim Monk phrase, only Jamie is not ply impersonate him,” says Foxx. getting it. Then Ray gets even “Rather, I wanted to capture some tougher, saying, ‘Come on, man. part of his spirit, that’s all.” t This is it. This kid can do it, see? He ’s the one.
