More of this Feature ADDITIONAL "A MAN APART" PREMIERE COVERAGE: • Vin Diesel • Karrine Steffans, George Sharperson and Juan Fernandez • Mike Moroff and Steve Eastin • "A Man Apart" Premiere Photo Gallery • "A Man Apart" Premiere Video - Interviews with the Cast MORE INFORMATION ON "A Man Apart": • "A Man Apart" Photo Gallery • "A Man Apart" News, Trailer, and Websites • Vin Diesel Interview, Photos and Movies

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Larenz Tate ("Love Jones") co-stars with Vin Diesel in director F. Gary Gray's dramatic thriller, "A Man Apart." Though most of the film was shot two years prior to its April 2003 release date, Tate's enthusiasm for the film wasn't reduced by the long delay.

Here's what the talented actor had to say about working with his buddy, Vin Diesel, and about his character Demetrius Hicks in "A Man Apart:"

LARENZ TATE ('Demetrius Hicks')

The movie was basically completed a few years ago. Have you already watched it a few times, and did you stay involved with the project?
Even though it was done a while ago, we've always been very close to the film so I've always been very [involved] with the film. I've never really been apart from the movie. I didn't have to see it that many times, I know exactly what we did. I'm very confident in our work on it.

I'm excited about it. It's a good picture. There are lots of good elements in the movie. It's got Vin and myself, and so many great young actors in this picture. It's a good story, surrounded by a great action team led by F. Gary.

Could you relate to this character?
Absolutely. We're from the streets; I'm from the west side of Chicago. I'm happy to play somebody from the streets and somebody that's responsible, somebody that's smart, and somebody with something to live up to. I have a badge to live up to.

Where were you two years ago when you shot this film and where are you now?
I was definitely in a transition trying to do bigger, broader movies like “A Man Apart.” Now that this is out, I have the opportunity to do more.

Did you and Vin Diesel have a friendship prior to this film?
Yes. He and I were good friends before the film. Basically we were trying to find something to do and this seemed like the right thing to do. We liked the idea that we're like brothers, we're undercover cops, [and] we get a chance to do some cool action stuff.

How did you get hooked up with the script?
[Vin] told me about it. He warned me about it. I read it and I knew F. Gary Gray, as well. All the planets lined up and the rest was history.