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October 27, 2004
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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
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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.