They gon’ catch yo black ass Django!
In a recent actor’s panel with The Hollywood Reporter, Will Smith opened up on the creation process of his upcoming controversial NFL film, Concussion. He went to discuss how Sony gave him complete control in the film’s creation process using the actual NFL-likeness, and said they’ll just have to get sued after the motion picture hits theaters during the holidays.
After praising the project’s authenticity, he was asked whether he turned down a role that didn’t convey a message he didn’t believe in. Samuel L. Jackson hilarious blurted out Django Unchained, which Will revealed he initially said yes to.
However, his vision was to make the greatest love story African Americans had ever seen from American cinema, but Quentin Tarantino’s original script wouldn’t be changed. Smith wanted to create a love story, in comparison to a violent vengeance story, which he couldn’t connect to.
Watch more from the Concussion interview above, where Willy also talks about his encounters with prejudice and racism within the entertainment industry.
Was there ever a point where you fell out of love with acting?
SMITH I had a brief period, four years ago. In retrospect, I realize I had hit a ceiling in my talent. I had a great run that I thought was fantastic, and I realized that I had done everything that I could do with the “me” that I had. And I didn’t work for about two years, and I [went through] marriage counseling, 50 parenting books, all of that stuff. And I really dived into me, and then all of a sudden it was like, “Oh!” And I found the connection. Your work can never really be better than you are, you know? Your work can’t be deeper than you are.
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