'Saving Grace' Star Bokeem Woodbine Talks About 'Devil'
Bokeem Woodbine made a regular appearance as a death row inmate on "Saving Grace" with Holly Hunter and has appeared in dozens and dozens of films and television series. He spoke with TheCelebrityCafe.com's Marjorie Quinn about his new movie he will be starring in called "Devil." The film is scheduled for nationwide release September 17th by Universal Studios. The supernatural thriller is based on a story by M. Night Shyamalan, the screenplay was written by Brian Nelson ("30 Days of Night"), and was directed by the "Quarantine" team of Drew and John Erick Dowdle.
TheCelebrityCafe: You are in the new M. Night Shyamalan movie "Devil."
Bokeem Woodbine: That's correct.
TCC: Now I was doing some research and I know the premise of the movie but what character do you play? I can't seem to find a name.
BW: Just out of curiosity is mine the only character you are having trouble finding?
TCC: No.
BW: Well, I'm sorry, Marjorie, I'm not sure how much I can say. I try not to disclose much so I don't get into any trouble. Do you have any hints though on any of the other characters?
TCC: Just that there are six people in an elevator.
BW: You know what, not to be rude but maybe I should keep it at that. I'm one of the six. I can say that.
TCC: Okay. So how did you hear about this role?
BW: That was an interesting situation. My agent called me, it was a typical situation initially, and my agent called me and said hey, you know we're having a meeting for a picture called "Devil." So just go ahead and do your thing. So I went in to read and then I hear just about everybody and their mother was reading for the same role so I pretty much just wrote it off. There were a lot of rappers, more prominent well-known actors reading for it. After a couple of weeks went by I just figured it wasn't going to happen. And then about two months later I was working on a picture called "Little Murder" in Detroit and I was about half way through that picture when David, my agent, called out of the blue and said, by the way, you got "Devil," you're going to Canada in a couple of weeks. It was a total surprise. There was really no indication at any point that I was even in the running for the role. It came out of the blue.
TCC: What about the character attracted you to the role?
BW: I like the fact that he's a man that has a past that he is not necessarily proud of but that he is trying to do the right thing.
TCC: How did you prepare for this role? Did you watch a lot of scary movies?
BW: You know what? I'm not very well versed in the genre. The last scary movie I watched was "Friday the 13th" part six I think. So that was a long time ago. And I've seen advertisements for this, that and the other thing, but I haven't really tuned in. So I don't watch horror movies but I did see a psychotherapist to prepare for the role because there were some questions I had regarding an aspect of my character's personality that I can't relate to personally so I had to go talk to a shrink--(laughs)--to figure out and just to try and get inside this guy's head. It was the first time I've done that for a role so hopefully it paid off.
TCC: Were you ever scared on set? Any pranks played?
BW: Na. Everyone was great and I know it's not real. But there were some interesting moments because of the simple fact that we shot in a linear fashion, which never happens. We shot the movie from beginning to end, which you never do. It's always your first day is the last day or your last day is the middle. We literally shot from one day to the next in order. You have people starting to feel weird and you go home to get some rest and the next day you pick up exactly where the previous scene ended. And that has never happen so that in and of itself gave it kind of an eerie quality as far as the work atmosphere.
TCC: This movie was from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan. Did you get to speak, meet or work with him on the film? If so what was that like?
BW: Oh yeah, absolutely. He was a very hospitable producer and welcomed us all collectively and made sure we got along well before we got into rehearsals and stuff. Then before we got ready to go on camera he spoke to us all individually about what he wanted out of us as actors and what his vision for the character was, and he came out to the set periodically throughout the shooting as well. He was really, really involved given to the extent that it wasn't out of the ordinary for an actor to get a call from him saying, hey I was watching the dailies and turn this up or turn this down and give us adjustments. His presence was felt even if he wasn't on set.
TCC: Is there anything you hope for fans take away from the film?
BW: I really, honestly believe that it's a very a well thought of and heart felt effort were put into the tradition of the genre. I think all the actors and directors and the producers and everyone really respected what we were trying to do because what we're trying to do is just scare the living daylights out of you. We're trying to horrify people and freak people out. That was our objective and we took that seriously. Every one of us really stepped up to the plate. Every one brought their A-Game. So I think people are going to be freaked out and scared senseless. You know I saw it and read the script and acted in it and I was still freaked out even though I knew what was going to happen. There are so many unexpected moments that just kind of give you that jolt. I think it's unique and a nice addition to the genre. I hope people are scared witless.
TCC: So what are some of your upcoming projects?
BW: I got a picture called "Little Murder" coming out. It is a very interesting film. It takes place right after [hurricane] Katrina and it involves our lead, Josh Lucas, who is kind of a cop who is in disgrace because of some special thing he did and a case that he is involved in which includes surveillance of a guy, Terrence Howard's character, who the police expect for some kind of petty crime. While he's staking out Terrence Howard's character, the place he is using as a stake out house is haunted with the ghost of a woman, played by Lake Bell--very well I might say--who wants this cop to help solve her murder. So you have Josh Lucas, Terrence Howard, Lake Bell and this kind of interesting crime, supernatural, thriller, mystery, and I play a police officer at odds with Josh Lucas but for all the right reasons. I'm not a bad guy. I have every reason to feel the way I do. That was a lot of fun. That will be coming out.
After that is a picture called "The Exodus of Charlie Wright," which is another really interesting movie starring Aidan Quinn, Andy Garcia, Gina Gershon, and Mario Van Peebles. That is kind of a way out script about a guy who dupes the government for billions of dollars and tries to escape to Mexico before the Mexican Mafia knows he's there and worth billions and trying to get to him. He stole money from the Russian mob that hires a team of mercenaries, my team, to go to Mexico to get him and than this federal agent who can't let the case go, chases him as well. The whole reason he goes to Mexico is to reconnect with a girl he never got to meet. It's really wild, well-written piece and very unexpected events.
Then I got a picture called "Letting Go." It's an interesting picture about a young man trying to come to grips with one day in his life and having to let go of certain things in order to go on to the next phase. I play a guy who is at odds with initially but ends up being a powerful catalyst for change in his life. They should all be coming out end of this year, beginning of next year.
TCC: You've worked with so many actors, writers, and directors. Is there anyone you are still hoping to work with in the future?
BW: Oh wow, yeah, there are a lot of people I would love to work with. I would love to work with Spielberg, Sean Penn, Sam Jackson, and Johnny Depp. I mean there are a million people I want to work with that I haven't had a chance to yet.
TCC: Is there a character you haven't played yet that you're still looking to play?
BW: I wouldn't mine being in a funny film. I wouldn't mine doing something like Steve Carell. I wouldn't mine doing comedy. I would love to play in something funny and just stretch. I am told by my friends and family I am a pretty funny guy.
TCC: You have composed songs and play guitar for your band 13 Purple Dragons. Do you ever think about maybe expanding on writing or maybe even directing your own films?
BW: Wow. Actually I'm in the process of putting the final revision on my first screenplay. My screenplay is called "Ox and Shanghai Scorpion." I'm looking to get it where it is and putting the final touches on the last draft. As far as directing is concerned I wouldn't mind it in the future but there is just so much stuff I want to do with acting that I think writing is about as close as I will come to directing for a while. At least another 10 years. Unless it is the perfect opportunity I couldn't turn down.
TCC: You're active in martial arts, too.
BW: I study Shaolin Kung Fu and my master is Sifu Shi Yan Ming who is 34th generation Shaolin Temple Warrior Monk. I have trained with him for a numbers of years and I'm not up to the level in my training I would like to be because of all the traveling I do away from New York. This show on the History Channel, "Stan Lee's Superhumans," will measure his punch. My master has the strongest punch. They say it is worst to be punched by Sifu than get hit by a car. He is a beautifully amazing guy.