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Interview with Gabrielle Union
HBO
You are playing Clara Thomas, the wife of Mos Def. What's it like working with him?
GABRIELLE UNION
Well, I knew him before he was Mos, when he was Dante. [LAUGHS] So we've been friends awhile, and we have a lot of mutual friends, and I've just heard the most amazing things about him, and they're all true.
From day one when we first started the table readings, he had completely transformed himself into this man. And he's just phenomenal to watch, and an amazing talent, and he's become a great friend, so... it's been a great treat for me. And an amazing learning experience.
HBO
How would you describe Clara?
GABRIELLE UNION
Patient. [LAUGHS] Patient and basically, the love that these two shared, I mean, she stood by him through all the life changes and career moves, and was just his constant cheerleader. And they had such a passion for one another, and a true love you just don't always see nowadays, certainly not reflected onscreen. A very passionate, feisty woman, who always stood by her man.
HBO
What did you know about this story before you got into it?
GABRIELLE UNION
Nothing. I found out about it by reading a script, and when I found out it was a true story, you realize there's probably a lot of Vivien Thomases and Blalocks who also are probably waiting for their stories to be told. But the work that they did was revolutionary.
HBO
How does it feel to work in Baltimore, shooting at Johns Hopkins, on the streets, and in the neighborhoods where the story actually took place?
GABRIELLE UNION
I have friends who worked on (the HBO series) "The Wire", and everyone said that you have not lived until you've shot in Baltimore. The crews here are top notch, everyone from the drivers to the boom guy. Everyone's very committed to the craft.
It's just been a blessing being here, because the whole city has embraced us, everywhere we've gone, it's been, you know, red carpet, open arms. So, I've truly enjoyed working here.
HBO
You mainly work with Mos, but did you have any scenes with Alan Rickman?
GABRIELLE UNION
I will today. Today will be my first day working with Alan. So I'm excited. Nervous and excited. When you're working with a man as accomplished and talented as Mr. Rickman, so... trying to bring the A game. [LAUGHS]
HBO
The story spans several decades, do they age you, too?
GABRIELLE UNION
Yeah, that was really fun. Because we were all aged, like, 40 years, and between scenes, you know, Mos is... he's such an entertainer, and we were practicing dance moves and stuff, so it was kind of fun to be made up and still having a good time, you know, under all that prosthetic stuff.
HBO
How do you like working with Joe Sargent?
GABRIELLE UNION
Joe is hilarious...
HBO
... a veteran.
GABRIELLE UNION
Yeah. [LAUGHS] I mean, it's like, any time you come in with that much experience, and such a good attitude, and the respect of not only your crew but your actors, it makes the process go a lot smoother.
And he's one of those people who attracts more flies with honey than with vinegar, which is lovely as an actor, [LAUGHS] and... and sort of eliminates a lot of the stress and drama that can come when you don't have that.
But he's amazing, and he has a definite control and respect on the set, which on a piece like this, it's about the work, and it's about the characters, and getting the story told, as opposed to appeasing ego, so it's been a beautiful thing that we've been free of ego, you know, no egos, no craziness, and it starts with Joe, he establishes the tone, and everyone follows suit, so... it's been a great experience.
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HBO STORE
American Splendor is the award-winning story of underground comic book writer, Harvey Pekar. Video/DVD. |
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