WeeklySA_AdminARBITER: He explains why he almost turned down Men In Black, Ali, and The Pursuit of Happyness…
By Samantha Dorisca
While Will Smith has become of one of the highest-paid Black actors, he almost turned down some of his most successful roles that led him to the feat.
During an interview on Kevin Hart’s podcast “Hart to Heart,” he says there was initially no interest when he was presented roles for Men In Black (1997), Ali (2001), and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006).
Thankfully, his business partner, James Lassiter, was calling the right shots.
“My manager, James Lassiter, was the arbiter of taste. So, in the heyday, the 10 movies I made at the top of my career, JL was choosing the films,” Smith told Hart. “He just had an eye. I didn’t wanna make The Pursuit of Happyness. I didn’t wanna make Ali.’”
As for Men In Black, the actor didn’t have faith in pursuing the role since it would follow “Independence Day,” a film with an alien invasion plot.
He continued, “JL picked Men in Black. I kind of understood Men in Black a little bit, but I didn’t want to make Men in Black.’ That was the next year after Independence Day. So, I didn’t want to make two alien movies back-to-back.”
Smith was still hesitant to accept the role — that was until he met with Steven Spielberg, the famed director behind iconic films such as Jaws and Jurassic Park.
“Steven Spielberg sent a helicopter for me… I landed at his house and he had me at ‘hello,’” Smith explained. Moving forward proved to be a wise decision for Smith. Deadline reports the film earned R4,6 billion and paved way for two sequels. In 1995, Variety shared that “Smith had joined the cast — and for a cool R93 million.’
During an interview with GQ, the actor said the original Men In Black joins Pursuit of Happyness in his personal top films.
“For different reasons, those are the two almost perfect movies,” he told GQ.
Pursuit of Happyness was Smith’s sixth consecutive #1 opening and one of his consecutive R1,9 billion blockbusters. At the box office, the film grossed nearly R3 billion domestically in the US and Canada.
Ali opened on December 25 (Christmas Day), 2001 and reportedly grossed a total of R275 million in 2 446 theatres during its opening weekend. The film went on to gross a total of R1,8 billion worldwide.
Due to its high production and marketing costs, the film ended up losing Columbia Pictures as much as R1,8 billion.
Before the interview with Hart, Smith had already appeared in controlled interviews after he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars last year. He still hadn’t made an appearance where he felt more open and comfortable. One of the people who is his great friend and from Philadelphia as well is comedian Kevin Hart.
He happens to have a show on Peacock called ‘Heart to Heart’, where he interviews other celebrities in a more intimate setting. Hart gets to ask difficult questions and get more into the craft of the person he has in front of him. People expected him to ask a question about the infamous slap but Keving Hart understood it was a played out subject matter.
No questions about that came but he did get real about competition at the box office. – AfroTech Editors and additional reporting from Marca Lifestyle and WSAM
MZANSI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA’S 2ND TOUR ENDS ON HIGH NOTE
UPBEAT: Following star-studded appearances at three SA cities, ensemble gearing for bigger future plans…
By WSAM Reporter
The Mzansi Philharmonic Orchestra concluded last week what it described as a highly successful 2023 national tour of three cities across the country.
The orchestra, which comprised some of the best South African musicians from around the country and abroad, performed to full houses in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Gqeberha.
The positive public response has emboldened Mzansi Philharmonic in pursuing its mandate with greater rigour, which is to “broaden the orchestral experience of the country by showcasing excellence in our major cities,” but also presenting high profile concerts in centres which don’t usually enjoy access to them, according to the orchestra’s CEO, Bongani Tembe.
The programme for the three cities featured multi award-winning soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, who sang arias by Verdi, Puccini and Wagner, as well as a rendition of Miriam Makeba’s much-loved Pata-Pata. The second half of the concert featured Mahler’s magnanimous Symphony No. 5, performed by the 85-piece orchestra, conducted by Joseph Young, who led the orchestra with technical brilliance, as well as the vibrancy and energy that is fast becoming synonymous with Mzansi Philharmonic.
Tembe added: “The Orchestra is intent on presenting musicians who represent the diversity of our rainbow nation. With musicians from seven of our nine provinces, varied in terms of race, age and gender, and a passion to feed the ecosystem of the orchestral music sector, Mzansi Philharmonic is staying true to its mission to transform lives through the power of music.”
In addition to the symphony concerts, Mzansi Philharmonic also presented workshops to close on 100 young aspiring musicians from music schools in the Western Cape. These dynamic individuals, who are already receiving orchestral instrument tuition, received masterclasses from members of Mzansi Philharmonic. In Gqeberha, Mzansi Philharmonic presented a free community concert where more than 500 learners from schools around the region were bussed in to experience a demonstration concert conducted by Kutlwano Masote.
“The life and energy we see around us is infectious,” said Nicole Haynes, the Mzansi Philharmonic Tour Manager. “It is so encouraging to know that there is a new generation of musicians being groomed throughout the country, from first exposure concerts to in-depth training of upcoming musicians who already perform competently on orchestral instruments. It is part of the beauty of music traditions to watch skills being intentionally transferred from one generation to the next and to witness excellence being fostered. When we watch these youngsters growing in the joy, study and togetherness of orchestral music disciplines, we are more convinced than ever that this work truly matters and makes a lasting difference to those we are honoured to serve.”
The Orchestra’s commitments are to link arms with regional orchestras and music projects throughout the country. In addition to supporting them with funds, Mzansi Philharmonic also partners with orchestra management teams and aspiring arts leaders, assisting with strategy and implementation, practical workshops, scouting and development of upcoming talent and compositions, and showcasing of performances.
Says Tembe: “We are just getting started! We have great plans which will contribute to the growth of the knowledge and appreciation of music in South Africa and continue branding South Africa positively throughout the world.”
