INTERVIEW WITH NICK CANNON:
I heard you’re working on your autobiography. What’s happening with that?
I’m actually trying to have that out by the time I come out with my next album. It’s something I’ve been working on for a long time, but I’m now just starting to finish it. But it’s like my life thus far, you know what I mean? “Raising the Cannon” – that’s what I think I’ll title it. We’re just starting off.
Why do a book at this point in your life?
I think it’s right now because a lot of people don’t understand the trials and tribulations that go with actually getting to where you want to be. I just want to talk about the hardships and how you just have to keep going. It’s just kind of showing that I can relate with that. And whatever hand you’re dealt, you’ve got to make the best of it. That’s kind of what I did and that’s what the book is about. About being raised by my grandmother and different things like that. It’s just cool. And then there’s the cool comedy twist that I put on there to where it’s like talking about getting whoopings and all that stuff.
How do you stay so connected with your family? I know you’re very close with everyone even with everything that’s going on in your career.
Oh yeah, I keep people around me. To me, those are like my true friends. The people who truly love me and loved me before all of this stuff. You can’t ever leave them behind. I’m from San Diego and I still go back there every day just to take out the trash. You know what I mean? You’ve got to keep that element alive.
Your career is all over the place. How do you keep grounded?
(Laughing) All over the place. That’s how I stay grounded – I stay busy, because I’ve got A.D.D. If I was standing still too long, it hurts. So I’ve got to keep on moving and keep on going. Work keeps me grounded more than anything.
What’s your next movie?
My next movie that’s coming out is “Shall We Dance?” with Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere. And then the next movie that I’m the star of comes out in January and it’s called “The Underclassman.”
Is that the one with the undercover cop going back to high school?
Yeah. I’m the undercover cop who goes back to high school. And I created that idea and I’m the executive producer.
Did you write the screenplay?
I wrote the first draft and then they got it to the other writers and they boosted it up.
How easy is it for you to get something sold, for you to actually be in charge of your own projects?
It’s actually a little bit easier for me just because there’s not a lot of stuff out there that’s written for me. So people want to be in business and want to make movies with me, but a lot of times there’s no material. So for me to kind of come up with an idea and say, “This is what I want to do and this is the direction I want to go,” the studios are pretty open to it because there’s nothing else out there.
What’s your role in “Shall We Dance?”
I play a young private investigator. I’m supposed to spy on Richard Gere.
What was life like on the set with Jennifer Lopez?
Oh, it was great. That was probably one of the greatest experiences for me. We really only worked together, I think, for two days. Those were the best two days of my life [said with a huge smile].
Why?
Just to watch her, just how cool she is. She has that aura. I understand why her perfume is called Glow because when she comes in a room, she just lights it up. It’s cool.
ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS FROM THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “I, ROBOT”:
Will Smith & Bruce Greenwood / Alan Tudyk / James Cromwell / Shia LaBeouf & Paul Teutul Jr.
Special Premiere Guests: Jason Isaacs / Ron Lester
