Nick
Cannon
The
“Chi-Raq” Interview
with
Kam Williams
Nick's Got Talent!
Nick
Cannon is a multi-faceted entertainer who wears many hats:
comedian, executive producer and host for television, film star,
director, entrepreneur, philanthropist and author of children's
books. Cited by People magazine as one of the "Top 10
Most Successful Young People in Hollywood," Cannon is proof
positive that focus and hard work can pay off. Nick made his first
appearance on the big screen alongside Will Smith in Men in Black II,
and was later seen in Drumline and Bobby.
More
recently, he wrote, directed and produced his first studio film,
School Dance, and produced the sequel, Drumline: A New Beat. And he
is currently in production on the reboot of the TV-series, Lifestyles
of the Rich & Famous.
The San Diego native began
performing at the age of 8 after his grandfather left him several
instruments as a gift. Shortly thereafter, he took to the stage to
perform his music along with stand-up comedy.
Nick
headed for Hollywood at the age of 15 and landed gigs at
world-renowned comedy venues including The Improv, The Laugh Factory
and The Comedy Store before landing his first television gig as a
series regular and writer on Nickelodeon's long-running hit series
All That. This trajectory culminated in the creation of "The
Nick Cannon Show," which he starred in, directed and
executive-produced.
Nick currently hosts NBC's America's Got
Talent, which kicked off its 10th season last May. While his
professional endeavors keep him extremely busy, Cannon has always
made the time to use his resources and his voice as a philanthropist
to giveback to the community and those in need, working with such
charitable organizations as Feeding America, Boys and Girls Clubs, Do
Something, Toys for Tots, Stomp Out Bullying, the Lupus Foundation of
America and the National Kidney Foundation, to name a few. He is also
an active member on the Board of Directors of New York's St. Mary's
Children's Hospital and he runs the Nicholas Scott Cannon Foundation.
Here,
Nick talks about playing the title character in Spike Lee's new film,
Chi-Raq, a modernized adaptation of Aristophanes' classic Greek
comedy, Lysistrata.
Kam
Williams: Hi
Nick. I'm honored to have another opportunity to speak with you.
Nick
Cannon:
Oh,
likewise, Kam. How're you doing?
KW:
Great,
thanks. I told my readers I'd be interviewing you, so I'll be mixing
their questions in with mine. Children's book author Irene smalls
asks: What interested you in Chi-Raq?
NC:
Even
before I read a script, Spike Lee came to me and said, "I want
to save lives in Chicago, on the South Side." And I was like,
"I'm in! I don't know what that is, but I'm in." Then, when
I saw how he made the brave artistic choice to take Aristophanes'
2,500 year-old play, Lysistrata, and set it in modern times, I
thought that was brilliant and I felt honored to be able to be a a
part of the project.
KW:
Were
you aware of Lysistrata before making this movie?
NC:
Yeah, I
was definitely familiar with Lysistrata and other works of
Aristophanes, and had heard the play's plot referenced in various
ways over the years.
KW:
What
did you think about all the rhyme in the dialogue?
NC:
I
thought it was outstanding that this film was in verse. I love how
Spike remained faithful to that original format while mixing in
spoken word and hip-hop and conveying an emotional message.
KW:
Irene
also asks: To what extent do you think we blacks are responsible for
the violence in our communities?
NC:
I say
we're responsible for everything in our community. We have to take
responsibility for us, and for our own. Right now, I feel like it's
about reconditioning the community. We let this generation down, so
we have to step back in and do whatever we can be the real pillars
and the real leaders. Ultimately, these young people are hurt.
They're in pain. And instead of pointing a finger at them, we need to
get involved and do something about the situation.
KW:
Editor/Lergist
Patricia Turnier asks: How did you prepare to play Chi-Raq?
NC:
I
really got to be a part of the community through Spike and [longtime
Chicago political activist] Father Michael Pfleger who introduced me
to some young peacekeepers, some reformed gang members turned leaders
in the South side of Chicago. I lived with them. They came to my
hotel and said, "Yo, let's go!. Let's rock! We going! We have to
show you every aspect of who we are and what we do." I was able
to jump in in a big way, and that's what it was all about.
KW:
I
assume that John Cusack's character, Father Mike Corridan, was a
thinly-veiled version of Father Pfleger. He really looked and sounded
just like him.
NC:
I
haven't yet seen the film, but I'm well aware of Father Pfleger, and
I watched John study him. And when you have such a phenomenal artist
like John, I'm confident he embodied him in every way possible.
KW:
That's
quite a cast Spike assembled for Chi-Raq.
NC:
Yeah,
that just shows the power of Spike. People love him, and will come
out for him to be a part of one of his projects. He always puts
together a phenomenal cast, especially when the film is designed to
deliver such an important, positive message. That made everybody jump
in wholeheartedly.
KW:
How
would you describe that message?
NC:
We want
people to appreciate the value of life. A life is a life, and, like
Spike says, "If we save one life with this film, then we've done
our job."
KW:
Patricia
also says: You are involved in the music industry as an entertainer,
host and producer shows. I really think there is a need for another
TV show like Soul Train. Are you interested in developing, producing
and hosting a program like that which would give aspiring musical
artists a chance to be showcased?
NC:
Yes. In
fact, for the last couple of years, I've been developing with the
Soul Train brand a show that could be very powerful for our culture.
We're putting something together that's been in the works for quite a
while. So, Patricia's right on the money with that suggestion.
KW:
Patricia's
last question is: What was the biggest professional challenge you
faced in your career and how did you overcome it?
NC:
You
know what? There are challenges every day, when it comes to this
industry. But I never like it when someone tries to put me in a box.
As soon as they think they have me figured out, I turn left. In that
sense, it's all about blazing your own trail and doing something no
one's ever done before. You have to give them something new, just
when they they think they know what to expect from you. Part of that
comes from my not being able to sit still, but mostly it comes from a
need to push boundaries as an artist. If someone says, "You
can't do that," that just ignites me. I have to show them that I
can do it, and that I can do it well.
KW:
Yeah,
you've come so far that I'd totally forgotten that you started out as
a child star on All That on Nickelodeon, which was one my son's
favorite show as a child.
NC:
Thanks,
Kam. That's what it's all about. It's about growth and being able to
build a career that can sustain. I've been doing this for two decades
now. So, it has been a blessing, to say the least, to be able to
express myself creatively on so many levels.
KW:
Marilyn
Marshall says: America's Got Talent is
enjoying great ratings, while American Idol continues to decline and
is preparing for its final season. How do you explain the success of
your show?
NC:
It's a
family show you can watch with your children and your grandparents.
At it's core, it's just true to what entertainment's all about. It's
simply watching people display their talents in front of an audience.
KW:
Did you
feel any heavy burden playing the title character in a Spike Lee
film?
NC:
I
didn't see it as a burden. I welcomed it as a challenge. I also saw
it as an honor for Spike to choose me for the role and to afford me a
opportunity not only to display my skills as an actor but to be a
part of a movement which really cares about people.
KW:
Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone
would?
NC:
[Chuckles]
I don't know. Maybe that question. Obviously, there are so many
questions one could be asked, but I can't think of one off the top of
my head.
KW:
What is your favorite dish to cook?
NC:
I wish
I could cook. My favorite thing to make is boiled eggs, because it's
the only one I know how to do. [Laughs]
KW:
The Ling-Ju Yen question: What
is your earliest childhood memory?
NC:
Singing
and dancing at about age 4.
KW:
Sherry
Gillam would like to know what's the most important life lesson
you've learned so far?
NC:
Just the value of life itself, knowing how to respect each other,
and that you have to learn to love yourself before you can do
anything else in life. That's revealed to me each day on so many
different levels.
KW:
The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who
you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?
NC:
I'm probably a little more chill and a little more reserved in my
everyday movements. But at the same time, I am that guy on the red
carpet, too. But I'd have to say I'm probably a little more
introspective and kind of focused than most would probably believe.
KW:
When
you look in the mirror, what do you see?
NC:
Me, in
all my glory! [LOL]
KW:
The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?
NC:
I don't
know that I have just one I could pinpoint.
KW:
The
“Realtor to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan’s question: What’s
your dream locale in Los Angeles to live?
NC:
Anywhere by the water is always amazing, whether that's Malibu,
Manhattan Beach or Newport. All those areas are beautiful.
KW:
The
Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would
you be?
NC:
Probably
a lion, the king of the jungle. [Chuckles]
KW:
The Anthony Mackie question: Is
there
anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous,
that you still haven’t done yet?
NC:
Not
really. It was never about become famous. It was more about becoming
the best artist I could possible be. I see it as a great blessing to
have attained the level that I've reached.
KW:
The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being
redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?
NC:
I can't
think of one. But you never know, if the right project presented
itself, I would definitely open it up.
KW:
Larry
Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster?
NC:
Freddy Krueger. [from A
Nightmare on Elm Street]
KW:
What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your
footsteps?
NC:
Don't
follow in mine. Blaze your own trail and go further than I could ever
go.
KW:
The
Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?
NC:
As
someone who made people smile and entertained them with his art.
KW:
Finally,
what’s in your wallet?
NC:
Just my
phone, because my phone and my wallet are the same thing.
KW:
Thanks
so much for the time, Nick, and best of luck with Chi-Raq and all
your many endeavors.
NC:
Thank
you very much, Kam. I appreciate it.
To see a trailer for Chi-Raq,
visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Bs1df0kPI