Courtesy of a little Hollywood magic – and some careful staging away from the prying eyes of premiere guests and the media - Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel and director Rob Cohen arrived at the World Premiere of "Stealth" aboard F-14s. Before settling in to catch the special screening, the film’s stars took a fair amount of time to talk about the film.
INTERVIEW WITH JAMIE FOXX:
Besides being a big action film, “Stealth” addresses the debate over machines taking the place of humans. What’s your take on that issue?
“I think it’s going to happen. I mean, for the most part. But it’s like people always ask the question as if you change to machines, then all this evil is going to take place. And the only thing about that is that we control evil. We can use those machines for whatever we want to do.
I think that we will advance along with the technology. But it’s like this, when you’re watching TV and you see a casualty, it really gets to you. If we could figure out a way to where we could cut that down – especially for our young boys and girls in the military, you’ve got to look to that.”
What type of research did you do for this film?
“You know what you do? You watch all these people. They let me in on the inside and let me hang out with them. You watch how they move and do certain things, so you don’t look hokey in the film.”
How was working with director Rob Cohen?
“Rob Cohen is incredible because he can see the future. What I mean by that is he’ll shoot you like this in front of a green screen, and then he’ll take it and he’ll make it something completely fantastic. He’s got that eye to be able to see what he’s going to do before you do it.”
Do you like working in front of green screens?
“I like working anywhere. But the green screen is cool. It doesn’t bother me. That’s what we’d do anyway… As kids we used to get in front of a mirror [and act out scenes]. ‘Bang, you’re dead!’ We used to do all that kind of stuff so it’s the same thing.”
How does this action film separate itself from other films of its genre?
“It’s about working with Rob Cohen because he’s got the keys – you know what I’m saying? He really knows how to make it happen.”
What was it like starring in a military film?
”It was good. I started to go into the military before I went to college. I was going to go into the Army. I was just playing the piano and the recruiter came in and said, 'Don’t come in because you aren’t going to be able to do that in the Army.' And this was like about 20 years ago. But a lot of my friends went into the military and a lot of them went to the Gulf War, and so I kind of got a feel for it. Then what I did do, I would perform at Norfolk up north at the base, perform for the GIs and officers up there, and it was kind of like I got a feeling for it. Then it was just a matter of really getting down the mannerisms and the things that they do.
I just did another military film – ‘Jarhead.’ ‘Jarhead’ was really like,'Semper fi!' I get a chance to play Staff Sergeant Siek and I’m a mean mo’fo. Oh my goodness, it’s crazy. I scare myself.”
What’s the status of “Jarhead?”
“We did it. It’s finished. It’s hot. A hot movie.”
There’s already Oscar buzz associated with it.
“Yeah. I think that’s great because I think that Sam Mendes, another great director, he knows what he’s doing. But when I tell you man, I was off – man! And even when we were just like off, when they’d go to sleep and it was just the actors, I’d wake them up and get them up there running. They were like, ‘This dude is crazy.’”
Was that all your idea?
“Oh yeah. I’ve got to get it. They’ve got to respect me. And my first line was, ‘My favorite song is I Can’t Get No Satisfaction but I’m going to get some today.’ What?!”
And you’re also in the middle of filming “Miami Vice…”
“Yes, I am. It’s going good. I’m bringing all of it. Whatever I need to bring.”
Are you sticking to the script?
“I’m trying not to (laughing). But you know Michael Mann is down there kicking my ass and making sure I do the right thing. But I’m trying to get in it.”
Do you surround yourself with people who help keep you grounded?
“I think that’s important because a lot of times if you don’t have people around you kind of holding you down, you will fly off. Because everybody’s telling you it’s this, it’s that, and especially after this year, so there’s a certain amount of executing that beast. When you wake up every day you say, ‘I got the Oscar. I got this, I got that,’ and you just leave that behind and just go out and try to start all over again.”
