January 3, 2018 The Skanner Page 7 Arts & Entertainment Katt Williams: The ‘Father Figures’ Interview By Kam Williams For The Skanner News L egendary stand-up comedian, actor and rapper Katt Wil- liams has enjoyed an impressive career seeded with thousands of stage shows in sold- out arenas, a laundry list of starring roles on the small screen and mem- orable performances in major box office hits. The film “Father Figures” marks the eagerly-an- ticipated rebirth of this beloved and beleaguered comedian with seeming- ly more than nine lives. Katt guarantees his stand-up show audienc- es an experience that will stimulate further conversation after his curtain closes. Look for articulate, quick-wit- ted dialogue featuring names like Trump and Cosby that is rooted in evergreen conversations about politics, race rela- tions and police brutali- ty — all a mere mirror re- flection of the American cultural landscape. Born on Sept. 2, 1971 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Katt grew up in Day- ton. Strong-willed and self-motivated even as a young man, he became emancipated at 13 and relocated on his own to Florida where he worked as a door-to-door sales- man. Not long thereafter, he took his first shot at first stand-up, thrilling a crowd with a five-minute improv routine, much to his surprise. That’s when Katt, having searched his entire adolescence for a sense of purpose, found fulfillment in making people smiles. Encouraged by his early success, Williams committed himself to fine-tuning his God-giv- en talent— a unique comedic delivery audi- ences had not yet wit- nessed— by performing his routines in clubs all over the country. By 1999, Review cont’d from pg 6 ence after a showing. Directed by James Fran- co, “The Disaster Artist” is a hilarious buddy com- edy chronicling Tommy and Greg’s misadven- tures during the making of “The Room.” Adapt- ed from Greg Sestero’s memoir of the same name, the film co-stars Franco’s brother Dave as Greg, and boasts an A-list ensemble that includes Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Sharon Stone, Melanie he had become estab- lished in the pantheon of great African American comics that also includes Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Dave Chapelle and Chris Rock. After cultivating a loyal fan base, he made a smooth transition to TV and film, making a scene-stealing big screen debut playing “Money Mike” in “Friday After Next.” Here, the come- back kid talks about act- ing opposite Ed Helms, Owen Wilson, Ving Rhames, Glenn Close, J.K. Simmons and Christo- pher Walken in the new ensemble comedy, Father Figures. “ KW: Once again, you’ve managed to have the most memorable scenes in a movie, even in a sup- port role. Katt: Thank you, Kam. I’m always trying to wring as much, come- dically, out of a perfor- mance as I possibly can. This role was different because it called for the exercise of a different muscle. It wasn’t just about, “More! More! More! More!” This film called for me to start with absolute constraint, to start at 0 and gradual- ly accelerate from there. I appreciate the acting lesson within it. That’s the beauty of the situ- ation we’re in on this planet. We have the opportunity every day to meet someone we didn’t know who might become an integral part of our life that really matters Kam Williams: Hey Katt. Katt Williams: Hello, Kam. KW: I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak with you. Katt: Oh, thank you. I appreciate it. KW: What interested you in “Father Figures”? Katt: When I read the script, I instantly under- stood that it was some- how funny and yet also touching. It really felt like something substan- tial. The only question was whether it would be cast correctly. Then, when you hear it’s going to be Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, Glenn Close, J.K. Simmons, Christopher Walken, Terry Bradshaw and Ving Rhames, it’s like, “Wait a minute! This is exactly what I was hop- ing for. So, I was “in” all through the process. Griffith, Charlene Yi, Al- ison Brie, Bob Odenkirk, and Hannibal Buress, the stand-up comic credited with torpedoing Bill Cos- by’s career. Good sports Greg Ses- tero and Tommy Wiseau make cameo appearanc- es in this sidesplitting tribute to utter inept- itude. And be sure to catch the closing credits featuring scenes from the original side-by-side with reenactments from this inspired spoof. Oxymoronic Os- car-quality acting KW: What would you say is the message of “Fa- ther Figures”? Katt: It’s twofold. On the most basic level, it’s about not judging a book by its cover. That all close friends start out as strangers. That’s the beauty of the situation we’re in on this planet. We have the opportu- nity every day to meet someone we didn’t know who might become an integral part of our life that really matters. The second message is that we all have holes in our souls, and that we’ll be better people when we figure out how to fix those holes. So, it’s also about people trying to be more complete. And that’s a wonderful story to tell any time of year, but especially during the holiday season. Kat Williams says ‘Father Figures’ was a funny yet also touching story nent to your childhood? Katt: I’ve always felt that way. I’ve sensed, at my best moments, that I was being led. So, I know that sort of protection exists. I also know that there are some people who are much more in tune with the universe than the rest of us. and their lives are evidence of that. KW: Ling-Ju Yen asks: What is your earliest childhood memory? Katt: I can remember thinking, at the age of 3, that I invented the con- cept of lying. By a bril- liant thought process, I figured that I could fib and avoid the repercus- sions for something I had done, because lying meant that it never hap- pened. However, by the time I was 5, I came to hate lying and to think of it as the worst thing in the world. That’s my ear- liest memory. Weird, but true! KW: The Morris Chest- nut question: Was there any particular moment in your childhood that inspired you to become the person you are to- day? Katt: No, I could only envision myself doing something that was im- portant to people. But years later, when comedy came into my life, I was so ready for it. I had already watched the great comics. It had just never occurred to me that that was some- thing I could be doing, too. See INTERVIEW on page 11 Information is powerful. The power is in your hands. KW: Was there a mean- ingful spiritual compo- that’s simultaneously godawful! Excellent HHHH Rated R for sexuality, nudity and pervasive profanity Running time: 104 min- utes Production Company: Good Universe / New Line Cinema / Ramona Films Distributor: A24 To see a trailer for “The Disaster Artist,” visit: TheSkanner.com. NEWS www.TheSkanner.com TheSkannerNews @TheSkannerNews