Interview: Notorious Stars Anthony Mackie And Derek Luke

By Katey Rich: 2009-01-15 22:09:03

Anthony Mackie and Derek Luke aren't actually rivals; they just play them on TV. Sitting down with the two up-and-comers the day after seeing Notorious is kind of strange, given that you've just seen the rift between Tupac (Mackie) and Sean Combs (Derek Luke) that led to the death of the Notorious B.I.G.

And while they both profess their deep appreciation for hip-hop and its affect on the world, they're both actors above all. You've seen them both all over the place in recent year, from Mackie's role in Eagle Eye to Luke's in Miracle at St. Anna, and their roles in Notorious promise to just be two more in a long line of impressive performances. Read below for their thoughts on getting to know their characters (and their families), the global influence of hip-hop, and how to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Washington and Mr. Poitier.

Have you heard from Sean Combs or Tupac's family at all?
Mackie: know Pac's family hasn't seen it. My first job out of school, I did a play about Tupac. I had the opportunity to meet his family and become friends with them after the play, after them seeing the play. I know that they haven't seen it, or else I would have heard.

Having done that play, did you have to audition for this role? Or did you automatically get it?
Mackie: Nothing's automatic. I had a meeting with [director] George [Tillman], because I was a huge fan of his, and I wanted to get into directing. [I said] 'I would really like to be your assistant. I don't have a problem with getting coffee, whatever.' He's like 'No, I want you to be in the movie!' We had a very long conversation about the story that he was trying to tell, and the movie he was trying to make.

Can you talk about Jamal's performance?
Luke: We were shooting some studio scene, and I was out in the hallway. I turned and I looked through the window, and I saw the side-- I was like 'Biggie?' And it was Jamal, just resting. I went up to him, I was like, 'Yo man, you just freaked me out.' They made a great choice, and Jamal just embodied him. He embodied him coming from Brooklyn. He was just made for this moment. And I'm proud of him, I'm proud for where his life is about to head. I watched him at the screening yesterday, and he was emotional-- I was emotional at my first screening. I was just enjoying it through him.

Is it weird watching yourself onscreen?
Mackie: It's not weird watching myself, because what's done is done. One of the things I always feel when watching my work is, I know I did my best. Watching it, I was so proud watching Jamal, and I remembered the 8 Mile premiere, and I remember everything that got me to the point where I am. I remember where I was when I heard Pac got shot. This is truly the first definitive film of our generation, of our art form, of our creative genius as a people. It was great to see.

What was your process in making it authentic?
Luke: For Sean, talking to Mrs. Combs, it felt like I was talking to my mom. She was kind of giving me who he was, what he experienced in his life. It just made him more human. I watched Diddy on MTV Making the Band, but I don't know who Sean is, and I'm going to find out.

What would you like people to come away with after seeing the film?
Mackie: For me, a certain understanding of humanity. I feel like a lot of time we look at rappers and athletes, with their tattoos and their conflicts and them shooting themselves, and we don't look at them as humans. But we're all flawed. We all make dumb choices, we just happen to overcome our dumb choices, and get opportunities and help along the way. When pepole go see this movie I really want them to understand the level of humanity, and the level of pride, that went into creating who we are as a generation today. When Tupac came along with "Juice," he completely revolutionized the world. Hip-hop is truly an influential art form, the biggest art form on the planet, and I want people to come away saying "Ah. That's the creative instinct that goes into it."

Derek, you had an interesting year with Miracle at St. Anna. What are you looking to do next?
Luke: What's right for me. From Mr. Washington and Mr. Poitier, the sky is just the limit, and do things that are close to your heart. I want what's mine. I see other actors who are doing very interesting roles, and I just want to continue to do things that are interesting, and things that people will go see in theaters. Always a business aspect to it.

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