Jada Pinkett-Smith and David Schwimmer Press Conference
This question is for both of you. I guess the only con of doing an animated feature is that you don't get to meet your cast members all the time. What are the pros of doing an animated feature?David Schwimmer: "I guess a whole new audience, in this case. There are all these kids that are totally unfamiliar with my previous work that suddenly I've got five, six, seven year olds that are just dying to have me do the voice and to introduce their friends to Melman, so it's really a pleasure."
Jada Pinkett-Smith: "I agree. It's very rare that I get to participate in a film that my children can actually watch, that I don't have to worry about, 'Okay, close your ears. Cover your eyes at this part.' So for me, that's refreshing. [Laughing] And also grabbing some new fans that are like three on up."
For both of you, these characters seem to always want to go back to the zoo. Do you think going back to being enclosed could actually end this trilogy? Or do you think they will question being free versus being back in a zoo?
David Schwimmer: "I think for me, too, I like that that's one of the questions that the film raises, which I really like, which is what is the definition of home? For you, for any of us, is home Manhattan? Is home Africa? Is it Madagascar? Where is home? And I think what it hints at, if not declares, is that home is actually kind of like that old adage - home is where the heart is. And home for these guys is each other. So wherever the others are, that's where home is."
Is it a different creative process to get in the mood to do voice acting? Do you feel like it's tougher to prepare the character, given that it's not necessarily a human role that you're going to do, especially when it's an animal? Is it harder?
David Schwimmer: "No, I don't think it's… It's more challenging in that there's not another actor to respond or react to. That's the greatest challenge, is you're using your imagination a lot to create all the atmosphere and all the other things that are happening to you. You know, when it says that you're swinging on a vine, you really got to imagine, 'Okay, that's what I'm doing. I'm holding it with my teeth.' You know what I mean? Like, you're really trying to imagine all that, and for me it's a great exercise as an actor, to really use your imagination."
David, you also have Nothing But the Truth coming up. Can you talk about the challenge of doing something that is mirroring what is happening in the real world, that is so relevant? Is it tough when you go home and turn on the news and realize what we just acted out is actually happening?
David Schwimmer: "Yeah, this is a movie written and directed by Rob Lurie and pulled from the headlines. It's inspired by the Valerie Plame incident. …I play Kate Beckinsale's husband, a small but I think really juicy role in this great political drama. And, yeah, it deals with freedom of the press. I think it's a really interesting complex film. And I love the opportunity of doing movies like this, that are really positive message movies - like Madagascar, I'm talking about - and I also like doing movies that are more reflective of social issues and concerns that we all have. So, I like both. I think they both have a real place in the world."
And Jada, what about you? What do you have lined up?
Jada Pinkett-Smith: "Executive producing and starring in a TNT project called Time Heals. I decided to go back to TV."
Can you elaborate on the character?
Jada Pinkett-Smith: "She's basically a chief of nursing whose husband has passed away. She's been a widow for a year and she's the number one patient's advocate. And, basically, we watch this woman who is trying to go on and cope with the loss of her husband, and who has a tremendous gift to take care of other people, and she's going to have to learn how to use that gift to take care of herself."
You have a really great opportunity, acting, producing, being in animated films, and there's so much conversation about work and balancing your personal life. How are you able to do it all?
Jada Pinkett-Smith: "Well, one of the things, I have a lot of help. I have a great husband and I have a mother who's very helpful, just as far as helping me with the kids when I'm at work. But I really feel like it's a joy, you know? I've learned in my life that I really can do as much as I want to do and have as much as I want to have, as long as I'm happy. I'm really motivated by happiness and fulfillment, and so I'm not willing to compromise. I want to be a great mother, I want to be a great wife, and I also want to have a great career. And I feel like I can have all those things. I don't have to compromise not one area in my life. And so I feel like, as long as I keep myself happy, then I can have it all. That's not to say that every woman should, you know? It's just that that's what I want. This is my life, and I'm determined to have it."
Your production company with Will Smith had success at the box office with Lakeview Terrace and The Secret Life of Bees. How does that feel and what's coming up for your company?
Jada Pinkett-Smith: "Man, it feels really good, you know? ...Lakeview Terrace was a project that was around for a while and we were very lucky to get Samuel L. Jackson to attach himself in that magnificent performance, as well as Patrick [Wilson] and all the other great actors in the movie. And then, The Secret Life of Bees with Queen Latifah and Jennifer [Hudson] and Alicia Keys, Sophie [Okonedo], just for me, personally, The Secret Life of Bees has been a project that I've been really passionate about."
"I'm just glad to be at a point in my career, and so is Will, where we can go to studios and make them trust us enough to just go listen. This is a really important movie to make, greenlight it, and it gets done. And so that just makes me happy, and I hope to continue to help bring projects like that to the forefront for African-Americans, as well as all other actors."
