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So in some ways there's more pressure playing a Malcolm X 'cause a lot of people thought they knew who he was, how he should be presented." "In a film like this," he said, "we are creating the character.
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Washington has received critical acclaim for his film work since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures such as South African rights activist Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, and Harlem heroin dealer Frank Lucas.Ĭontrasting these roles with fictional characters such as McCall in "The Equalizer," he said: "I didn't try to imitate (Malcolm X) but (rather) capture the spirit in the materials available, in the speeches that he made, in (video) footage.
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He recalled a director with whom he worked who said "at 9:30 am on day one, 'no, that's not right'." He declined to identify the director but said it resulted in a bad performance throughout and the film was a flop. Washington revealed that he likes to start slowly on new film projects in order to find his footing, "because you're not sure."Īctors generally, he said, "are real fragile day one, and a director can really crush an actor in the first day" with overly harsh criticisms. (but) when I get to sit and watch Denzel up close that way, it's powerful for me, and it gets me excited," Fuqua said.įuqua likened the experience to the soothing rhythm of music. Washington spent the first day of filming "The Equalizer" folding napkins over and over for a scene.įuqua said he got lost in the moment and let it go on to the point that producers had to interrupt and ask "are you going to (call) cut?" Washington last collaborated with Fuqua on "Training Day," which premiered in Toronto and went on to earn Washington a best actor Oscar in 2001 for his performance as a rogue cop in Los Angeles.Ī brief telephone exchange in which Washington told Fuqua, "This is Robert McCall (the lead character in the film) calling," set the stage for a reunion. At a press conference, the cast and crew shared insights about their métier, their successes and missed opportunities.