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Derek Luke is a fine example of why I’m glad that we’re not on every publicist “”A List”” or good side. I mean really, what can you ask someone like Julia Roberts, without being “”boring”” or just like every other interviewer? I’m sure there isn’t a question that she hasn’t heard a million times already, and doesn’t have a stock, polished answer for.
By now she’s probably jaded about the whole junket and interview tour process (which is why she doesn’t do many, especially here in DC.) However talking to someone who is new, fresh, and excited to just be there in the room with you, now those are fun interviews. Derek Luke the star of Denzel Washington’s latest film “”Antwone Fisher”” is just such an actor. “”Antwone Fisher”” marks several firsts, it’s the first time Denzel Washington, the Oscar Winning actor has directed a movie, and it’s the first appearance in a major movie by it’s two stars, Joy Bryant and Derek Luke. There are a lot of similarities between Derek and Antwone, they both come from broken homes, overcame diversity to become a success and both somehow ended up working on the Sony Pictures lot.According to the press materials, Denzel took one look at Derek and gave him the part, “”It wasn’t that simple. I totally blew the first audition and had to audition five times before I got the part.”” His staring role in Fisher has certainly opened doors for the first time actor (not counting a couple of TV appearances.) And in the next few months you will see him in two other major projects including Lawrence Fishburne’s “”Biker Boyz”” and Peter Hedges’ “”Pieces of April.””As they say in the film, Derek’s smile lights up his entire face, and he just couldn’t stop smiling throughout the entire interview. Here’s a guy who is on the very cusp of exploding onto the film scene and becoming a major star in 2003, and he couldn’t be more down to earth. This is what he had to say for himself.[Editor’s Note – We were having such a good conversation that half of our interview time was “”wasted”” just “”chewing the fat”” with Derek. I forgot I was supposed to be interviewing him. :)]EMI’m surprised, you look so much thinner in real life than you do in the film.DerekYeah, I lost 30 pounds since I did “”Antwone Fisher.”” I worked on two other films since this one, that’s why my weight has shifted so much. EMTwo other films since this one? When did you make this one then?DerekI made this last year. I think we shot it October.EMAnd you made two others since then? What are they?DerekBiker Boyz with Laurence Fishburne, it’s actually based on a true story about black bikers. And I did another piece called “”Pieces of April,”” which is being directed by first time director Peter Hedges (II) who is also a great writer. He wrote “”What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”” and “”About A Boy.””EMI love “”About A Boy,”” it’s one of my favorite movies of the year. That means we’ll see you at least two more times next year.DerekYeah, as a matter of fact in four weeks, I believe “”Biker Boyz”” will be in theaters in late January. ![]()
EMOh my god, do you realize half our interview time is gone? So I have to just dive right into our Q & A. I like to start all my interviews off with the same overly broad, simplistic question, please tell us who you are and why we are speaking with you today? [laughs] Just pretend like we haven’t already been talking.Derek[Laughs] My name is Derek Luke, and I’m an actor from New Jersey who made the pilgrimage from Jersey to LA. I’m the star of the new movie “”Antwone Fisher.””EMHow did this whole thing come about?DerekIt took five auditions over the course of about four years before I finally got the part.EMFive auditions? Four years? When you read the press materials they make it seem like you showed up at the door and Denzel raised his hands to the heavens and said, [laughs] “”You’re the one!!!””Derek[Laughs] Yeah, I think that’s the Hollywood version of the story. It was kind of like that, but not really. I first auditioned for the story 1998, right after I met Antwone. I went in and met with the casting director and my first audition was terrible. But they asked me to come back a few more times, and each time I was better. Then the project went on hiatus for three years. When the movie came back up three years later, there were more auditions and rumors were going around that this or that actor got the part, there were so many names mentioned. Still I was persistent about the story and got another shot to read for it, and then the part was offered to me.EMWhy did it go on hiatus for three years?DerekMr. Washington is a busy man, and had several other films to work on. I don’t blame him, he’s been making movies for those three years, and he was having problems finding Antwone.EMSo of course you had an agent keeping you up to date on the auditions?DerekNo I didn’t have an agent during this process. I worked at the Sony gift shop on their lot and followed the trades. I tried to become familiar with who the director was and what the projects were….EMYou are like the real Antwone Fisher then, just working some “”Joe job”” on the studio lot and then getting discovered.DerekI had two agents during that period. One dropped me a few months before I got the Antwone part, and the other one just didn’t work out. That one was early on in my career when I first came to L.A.EMWell the two obvious questions are: 1) why did the one agent drop you? 2) If you didn’t have an agent, then how did you get these auditions? In Hollywood isn’t it still true that you have to have an agent before you can get an audition?DerekYeah, it’s like a catch 22. When I auditioned, one of the things I heard was that “”I needed an agent to audition.”” Well I wanted to stay away from the politics of having an agent and figured if I had to go “”backwards”” that I might as well serve as my own agent. I got a manager who would help me get into with various casting directors. Once I got into the system, I started getting a lot of call backs, which are like money in Hollywood.EMDo you think being your own agent is more effective than having someone do it for you? And do you have your own agent now?DerekI do have an agent now, but I think following your heart wherever it’ll take it, is the right way to go.EMDid you read the script first or were you already familiar with Antwone’s autobiography?DerekI read the script first and thought that I would die for an opportunity to play this part.This story was so moving and so important. I think this story recommends to me not just every African American male’s story, but just every man. I think that every male has something that they are “”covering up,”” some event in their life that helped shape them into the person that they have become. EMA few weeks ago I was talking to someone who was reading the book and asked him what it was about. He told me that it was a book about “”triumph of the every man”” and felt that everyone in Hollywood has a history that would make a great film. Do you feel like this? And what would your story be?DerekI think there are two different stories, the Hollywood Story and then your story. I believe every story starts with a vision, so everyone can tell your vision. Hence the term “”television””, you should tell your dreams, tell your secrets, tell your ideas, you just have to be the one to put it on paper first. My own story would be one of struggle, hope and triumph, it’s what attracted me to Antwone in the first place. You should never give up on pursuing your dreams.[Editor’s Note – There was a more to this interview, including a conversation about race in Hollywood, and how minorities are portrayed in film, Hollywood’s social responsibilty, etc. But felt that this was a good breaking point to end the story on. We may have a part two to this sitdown in a few days or we may just wait and catch up with Derek again in a few weeks when he comes back through town to promote “”Biker Boyz.”” We hope to get Derek to guest host EMTV next year.]