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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 2012)
Arts & Entertainment Jamie Foxx: The Django Unchained Interview Academy Award-winning actor, talented Grammy Award-winning musical artist and comedian Jamie Foxx is one of Hollywood’s rare, elite multi-faceted per- formers. He was last seen in Horrible Bosses and also recently lent his vocal tal- ents to the popular animated adventure RIO, as a canary named ‘Nico.’ Meanwhile, Jamie recent- ly executive produced a sketch comedy series called “In the Flow with Affion Crockett” as well as “Thun- der Soul,” a documentary chronicling the achieve- ments of Houston’s Kash- mere High School Stage Band. In addition to his out- standing work in film, Foxx has enjoyed a thriving career in music. In Decem- ber 2010, he released his fourth album, “Best Night of My Life,” featuring Drake, Justin Timberlake, Rick Ross, T.I., and other artists. In January 2010, Foxx and T-Pain’s record breaking #1 song “Blame It” off of his previous album, “Intuition,” won “Best R&B performance by a duo/group with vocals” at the 52nd Annual Grammy of the Broadway musical, Dreamgirls. C ELEBRITY That came on the I NTERVIEW heels of his Best Actor Academy Award-win- ning performance as the legendary Ray by Kam Charles in Ray. Williams His big-screen break came back in 1999 when Oliver Stone cast him as star quar- Awards. terback Willie Beamen in In 2010, Foxx delivered a Any Given Sunday. The hilarious cameo appearance versatile thespian’s addi- in “Due Date,” and tional film credits include appeared in the hit romantic Ali, Miami Vice, Jarhead, comedy “Valentine’s Day.” Stealth, Bait, Booty Call, The year before, he starred The Truth about Cats and opposite Gerard Butler in Dogs, The Great White Overture Films’ dramatic Hype, and an Oscar-nomi- thriller Law Abiding Citi- nated supporting role in zen. Collateral. Jamie demonstrated his Jamie first rose to fame as affinity and respect for fic- a comedian, from which he tional portrayals with The initiated a potent career tra- Soloist in which he played jectory of ambitious proj- Nathaniel Anthony Ayer, a ects. After spending time on real-life musical prodigy the comedy circuit, he who developed schizophre- joined Keenan Ivory nia and dropped out of Jul- Wayans, Jim Carrey, liard, becoming a homeless Damon Wayans and Tommy musician who wonders the Davidson in the landmark streets of Los Angeles. Prior Fox sketch comedy series, to that, he played the leader “In Living Color,” creating of a counter-terrorist team some of the show’s funniest in The Kingdom. and most memorable In December 2006, Foxx moments. In 1996, he was seen in the critically launched his own series, acclaimed screen adaptation “The Jamie Foxx Show,” on the WB Network. Here, he talks about playing the title role of slave-turned-bounty hunter Django opposite Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Wash- ington and Leonardo DiCaprio in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. Kam Williams: Hi Jamie, thanks so much for the time. I’m honored to have another opportunity to interview you. Jamie Foxx: [Playfully clears his throat, before answering in a very refined tone] Why thank you. [Chuckles. Then, speaks in his normal voice] What’s happening with it, Kam? KW: I suppose I should start by asking if you’d like to comment on the recent shootings in Connecticut? JF: I got two daughters, man, and all I want people to do is to mourn the loss of these precious kids and their teachers and to pray that their families heal. KW: What interested you in Django Unchained? JF: Quentin Tarantino… Leonardo DiCaprio… Samuel L. Jackson… Christoph Waltz… Kerry Washington… Oh, man! It was like an all-star team. What’s funny is that I didn’t know anything about Djan- go, and I was hearing all this buzz and then I saw online how the biggest actor in the world, Will Smith, was going to work with Quentin Tarantino. And I was like, “Damn! There’s another project I didn’t know nothing about.” But luckily, I somehow got a chance to meet Quentin and read the script which I thought was brilliant. Next thing you know, I was in a room talk- ing with him about trying to make it happen. KW: Did you have any reservations? JF: I didn’t have a knee- jerk reaction like some peo- ple did to the language and See FOXX on page 8 December 19, 2012 The Portland Skanner Page 7
