'Fighting' Ringside Master: On the Scene with Terrence Howard
By Paris Hampton, Hollywood.com Staff
|
Friday, December 28, 2007
Terrence Howard |
Academy Award nominated A-lister Terrence Howard has been acting in TV and film since the late '80s, but his groundbreaking role in Hustle and Flow (2005) placed him squarely on the map.
Now he’s teaming up on an NYC set with noted indie helmer Dito Montiel--a director whose work he first admired as a judge on the jury at Sundance--to bring his own brand of magic to Fighting.
According to Fighting producer Kevin Misher, Terrence’s character, Harvey Boarden, is a hustler "looking to make a buck off of Channing’s [Tatum's] character [Sean]. He’s a tortured soul, but he’s likeable. They have a mentor/protégé relationship."
However, unlike traditional fight movies like Rocky, the co-dependent relationship between Harvey and Sean is more complex--and as the story unfolds, we find that Terrence’s character is not entirely benevolent.
Clearly, the gifted and nimble Terrence Howard is perfectly cast to play such a nuanced role.
Channing Tatum stars in Rogue Pictures' 'Fighting' |
Having been invited to the set of Fighting to watch Dito, Terrence and Channing's collaborative efforts, I eagerly headed to Midtown in the rain where the sprawling, outdoor set was located. With equipment lining the area, the soggy gotham street was sprinkled with a mix of lively and exhausted crew members.
I stood around, waiting and anticipating when the action would erupt. However, as most people know who have observed movie sets, and the complicated behind-the-scenes goings-on, there’s a lot of .waiting around.'
When Terrence and Channing weren’t filming, they were always trying to pinch, hit or surprise each other; keep the energy fresh on the set. If that grew tired, they spoke in cryptic non sequiturs--anything to break up the monotony!
One of the more engaging moments involved Terrence--quite the prankster--hiding behind the director’s chair for several minutes, waiting for the optimal moment to startle and pounce on Channing.
When I asked Channing how many black-and-blue marks he sustained in these onset tackle games, he told me they were "all over his body" (something for the ladies to think about!). Maybe this was all about character development?
Representing Hollywood.com, here’s my recreation of the prankster scene:
Terrence approaches Channing, plops in a chair and nudges him.
Channing Tatum |
Terrence Howard (to Channing Tatum):
Dingle berries grow in the fields of winter.
Hollywood.com (to Terrence Howard):
What the?!
Channing Tatum (to Terrence Howard):
Abraham Lincoln grows down on Crow’s Street on Thursdays.
Hollywood.com (to Channing Tatum and Terrence Howard):
Translation please?!
Terrence Howard:
Alexander Dumas--he got killed in a duel.
Channing Tatum:
Pink license plates always over Betty Boop’s shoulder.
Terrence Howard:
Very interesting.
Channing Tatum (to Hollywood.com):
We talk in code [laughs]...
Hollywood.com (to myself):
Okaaaaay?!
I, of course, am left scratching my head--several minutes later.
Dito Montiel |
Terrence Howard is both eccentric and playful on set, but his focus as an actor was unmistakable--particularly when Dito was instructing him between takes. Watching Terrence at work is like watching an acting master class.
Also during filming, I witnessed that Terrence had really bonded with Channing; he clearly respected and admired him regarded
When I asked him about his feelings on Channing’s acting talents, he didn’t mince words.
"I thought Channing should have been nominated for an Oscar last year for A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," he enthused.
(l-r) Paula Jai Parker, Terrence Howard, and Taryn Manning star in Paramount Classics' 'Hustle & Flow' |
Expertly playing characters 'in moral crisis'--a musically ambitious pimp to a legally obstinate detective (Hustle and Flow and The Brave One, respectively)--Terrence’s recent high profile film choices boast an eclectic range; however, his participation in Fighting seemed like a new kind of risk for him.
I was curious as to why, with all his newly earned Hollywood clout, he still chose this smaller budget picture to star in now, rather than focus on starring in the "bigger" projects with the "bigger" names--as most would be doing in his shoes.
Terrence explained, "I thought Dito had the most incredible film when we were at Sundance. I saw A Guide to Recognizing your Saints."
He furthered, "It was the very first film we saw in the competition, and I said afterwards, 'Wow. We could leave the festival right now and come back nine days later, and give this film every award--and be justified in doing it!' [Sincerely] And they had some really incredible films there. They had Half Nelson. But this film was the most dynamic one."
Terrence Howard |
For the rest of my Friday night set visit, I watched Terrence and Channing perform the same quiet scene, over and over again. It was clear that Dito's meticulous focus was on having the edgy scene come to life just as he'd envisioned; and the more the pliable actors consumed it, the more curious outcomes it offered.
Terrence’s morally questionable character Harvey is practicing the art of the subtle hustle on Channing’s naïve young rogue Sean. "You’re a gladiator--that’s what I see," Terrence explains, as he nervously tries to seduce the out-of-town kid into the violent world of street fighting.
If every day on the set is a battle, Terrence Howard’s undeniably truthful and charismatic performances are surely winning the fight.
Click here: 'Fighting' Set Visit Q&A with Channing Tatum
Click here: 'Fighting' Set Visit Q&A with Dito Montiel
Photo(s) by Dave Edwards- © 2006- DailyCeleb.com- All Rights Reserved
Photo(s) © 2007- Rogue Pictures- All Rights Reserved
Photo(s) by Dave Edwards- © 2007- DailyCeleb.com- All Rights Reserved
Photo(s) by Hollywood.com- © 2007- Hollywood.com Staff- All Rights Reserved
Photo(s) © 2005- Paramount Classics- All Rights Reserved