Will Smith and Michael Ealy Interviews - Seven Pounds
Will Smith takes a dramatic turn in 'Seven Pounds' directed by Gabriele Muccino ('The Pursuit of Happyness') from a screenplay by Grant Nieporte. Smith plays a man who helps seven strangers, and Michael Ealy plays his very concerned brother.
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Transcript: Will Smith and Michael Ealy Interviews - Seven Pounds
Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the Los Angeles Premiere of Seven Pounds.
Will Smith – 'Ben' in Seven Pounds
What was the appeal of Seven Pounds?Will Smith: "When I first read this script, first of all it's a real test of audience patience because the way that it unfolds is kind of like a mystery so you have no idea what's going on. It's a clue here and a clue there. You have no idea. You can't put it down. And it gets to the end of the movie and there's a payoff at the end of this film that's unlike anything I've ever experienced. I've never had that emotional of a reaction reading a script."
What's Seven Pounds about?
Will Smith: "One of the central ideas of this film is it's a man who has made a huge mistake and the film is his process of trying to get his life back together. He decides he's going to find seven strangers that he's going to help for his penance, basically, to atone. And just in going through that process I discovered that the difference between depression after loss and the difference between essentially that zeal and joy that someone like Nelson Mandela could find, or somebody like Mohammad Ali, to find that strength to go on – the difference between the two is purpose. And if you can attach a higher purpose to your life has a meaning, your life has a connection to other people, that because you woke up today, somebody else's life is better. Like, that is so the key to that ultimate joy and that ultimate self-esteem. So I made my adjustments."
Michael Ealy
This is a tough film to talk about because you give too much away if you talk about it too much.Michael Ealy: "Exactly, so I got to go…"
So playing Will Smith's brother – we can at least say that much.
Michael Ealy: "Yes. I play Will Smith's brother. I have a wife and two kids. And Will gets in trouble with me… Will and Rosario have a love story – that I can say. And it's actually so well written. When I read this love story I was like, 'Man, I want to be that guy.' I just want to do a love story that's real, and this one was real. You know what I mean? So I was kind of jealous that he got to do this love story and I didn't. But I'll get one eventually."
After having seen the movie I know that you can walk out of it either kind of depressed or find it very life-affirming. You found it life-affirming?
Michael Ealy: "Life-affirming, definitely. I think people will take from it what they want but I think at the end of the day when you sit back and you think about it - hopefully it will provoke conversation and thought – that people will find the life-affirming moments and the message in it and go from there."
Something real important in it is that Will Smith's character checks people out, makes sure they are nice people. Would you pass his test?
Michael Ealy: "Yes, definitely. Definitely. Sort of. Okay, yes I would as long as he doesn't look up certain things."
As long as he doesn't Google you?
Michael Ealy: "Stay away from that because some of that stuff is made up."
What are you doing next?
Michael Ealy: "I don't know what I'm doing next but I got another movie with Sony coming next year though."
Bone Deep?
Michael Ealy: "Yeah, the heist movie coming next year. I'm excited about that. It's going to be hot."
Is it really Bone Deep because I've heard the title changed a couple of times?
Michael Ealy: "The title may change a couple of times. I know it's going to probably change, but right now it's Bone Deep so I'm going to go with that."
That's a cool title.
Michael Ealy: "I like it."
It's a heist movie? Is it an action movie?
Michael Ealy: "Yeah, it's an action movie so I got to shoot guns and fight. I loved it. Hopefully I get to do some more."