Hustle & Flow Interview

I just went and talked to a whole lot of people living in
Memphis, and to some people involved in that lifestyle. I tried to
understand where they were coming from and what were some of their lost dreams. That’s what the film is really about. It’s not necessarily about the pimps and the prostitutes, but about people trying to find their lost dreams

When not taking a break from his busy schedule to get a lap dance from Beyonce’, which he describes as, “putting her rear end in my face, pulling on my hair, my head,” Terrence Howard has been dividing his time among family, music and moviemaking. Last month, during the filming of the BET Awards, he was pulled out of the audience and up onto the stage by the devout Christian pop diva who proceeded to treat him to such an eye-popping, three-minute tease that he was literally left with bloodshot eyes. Professionally, the past 12 months have proven to be a breakout period for the gifted actor. After appearing in “Rayâ€? last fall, in 2005 he received critical acclaim for his performances in a couple of made-for-TV movies, “Lackawanna Bluesâ€? and “Their Eyes Were Watching God.â€? Next, Terrence turned
in an Oscar-worthy performance in “Crash� as a Black man humiliated by a racist cop during a profile stop. In his new release, “Hustle & Flow,� he plays a pimp who wants to be a rap star. This picture is generating even more buzz, having won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

BSN: What made you decide to do this film?

TH:
“I just went and talked to a whole lot of people living in Memphis, and to some people involved in that lifestyle. I tried to understand where they were coming from and what were some of their lost dreams. That’s what the film is really about. It’s not necessarily about the pimps and the prostitutes, but about people trying to find their lost dreams.”

BSN:
A few years ago you told me that you were moving away from playing this sort of character.

TH:
“Yeah, that was around the time of Hart’s War.”

BSN:
“Assuming a pimp qualifies, what’s changed for you?

TH:
“I didn’t realize that part of being an actor is playing a variety of roles in life. An individual can choose what role he’s going to play in life, but an actor has to be open to playing all of them. Even things that he’s morally opposed to. That’s where the challenge comes in. That’s when you’re really acting.”

BSN:
How would you describe your pimp character’s relationship with the three young women in his life?

TH:
“They were like family to him, like sisters. You know how you might be best friends with one sister, while you can’t stand another, but you all are dependent on each other? And some are harder to deal with than others, or duller thinking? But all of them proved to be smarter than DJay.”

BSN:
: John Singleton produced Hustle and Flow. Was he there on the set?

TH:
“Every day. But Craig [writer and director Craig Brewer] literally directed every moment of that film. I applaud John because he stepped back and allowed Craig to do his thing.”

BSN:
Did you re-write your lines at all?

TH:
“No, this character I had no insight on, or very little insight on. So, I had to trust where the director was going with it.”

BSN:
Were you there at Sundance when the picture won the Audience Award?

TH:
“I was there to see the first screening, but I was off working when it won the Audience Award.”

BSN: How was it received by the audience?

TH:
“Like a newborn baby. Everybody just loved the child. I didn’t see one frown. It was really wonderful receiving love from everybody.”

BSN:
Seems like your performances in both this and Crash are generating early Oscar buzz.

TH:
“Wow! I hope I could win. That would be fun.”

BSN:
Do you think these movies will be remembered at the end of the year?

TH:
“I hope so. I hope so, man.”

BSN:
Speaking of being remembered, I still get goose bumps whenever I think of your grandmother, Minnie Gentry’s performance on Broadway in Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death, which I saw in the Seventies. She brought down the house with that moving monologue that closed the show.

TH:
“Yes, indeed. I was there. Yeah, I kind of think I’m just carrying on. That’s what we do as children and grandchildren. We carry on the hopes and the desires of those who came before us. I feel that everything that’s happening to me is happening to me through Minnie.”

BSN:
What made you settle in Philadelphia, since you normally think of Hollywood actors living in L.A.?

TH:
“Well, I was born and raised in Cleveland, but my wife was from Philly. I wanted to get back to where people were real, where a smile is a smile, not a trick pulled out of a sleeve.”

BSN:
Are you playing music anywhere soon?

TH:
“They’re trying to get me to do an album now. So, I think I’ll start by playing some small art houses and coffee shops, and try to build an audience for that dream.”

BSN:
Do you still have an interest in science, too?

TH:
“Yes, I do. I’m planning to take some classes next year, to re-educate myself, because I haven’t been in school in 14 or 15 years, and there have been so many advances in the field.”

BSN:
Do you think your kids will follow you into acting?

TH:
: “I’m sure all of them will, to some degree. I’m going to make that available for them, because every father has the responsibility of teaching his children his trade. So, yeah, I think both of my daughters will, and my son.”

BSN:
Which of your roles have you enjoyed the most?

TH:
“The one I’m doing right now, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, with Jim Sheridan.â€?

BSN:
Why so?

TH:
“Because he’s such a talented director and an incredibly gifted human being. I feel that he’s changing my perspective with regards to acting. He’s making me a better actor. But George Wolfe [director of Lackawanna Blues]
and Craig did the same thing, too.”

BSN:
Have you considered directing?

TH:
“It’s interesting that you should say that, because Jim Sheridan recently suggested it. And he said that he would executive produce the first film that I choose to direct.”

BSN:
Thanks for the time, Terrence.

TH:
“Thank you for appreciating my great grandmother.”

TH:
 Like I said, her spirit movies me to this day.

BSN:
“I’ll talk to you again soon, man. Be good.”

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