Will Smith Interview
AOL Chat 12/23/97

Are you going to do any more movies soon?

Right now, I'm working on a film called Enemy of the State shooting in Baltimore.
The Director is Tony Scott and I'm working with Gene Hackman and Jon Voight

What did you get your son for Christmas?

He got a train set. For some reason he's fallen in love with trains and everything
has to have trains on it, like his underwear and toothbrush

Which do you like better, rapping or movie making?

Um... I enjoy the one that pays the bills!

Now that you are a big time star do you still speak to DJ Jazzy Jeff?

Oh, no... I never speak to him.

hahaha! No, we're great friends Lately, we've been spending 5 or 6 hours a day
playing John Madden '98 football!

What would you consider to be your most memorable movie experience?

I guess, the piece of work that I performed in that shaped me most as an actor and
as a person was Six Degrees of Separation. The level of the work and the difficulty of the work
helped me find out a lot about acting and about myself.

What movie was more fun to make, Independence Day, or Men in Black?

They were both fun but making special events movies, in general, isn't something
that you'd consider fun. It's hard work. There's stunts, and when you're working with special
effects, there's lots and lots of hours of sitting around. The real fun is going to the premiere and
sitting with the audience and watching if people like it.

Will..yo man. What advice you got for a little Harlem kid dat wanna make it big in
hip-hop ?

You gotta love hip-hop and not love money. You've gotta do it 'cause it's something
that you love from the heart and not something about getting paid. And if you keep doing it - and
if you keep loving it - - then you can't help but be successful.

Where was Will Smith born?

Children's Hospital, Philadelphia, September 25, 1968

How long and hard did you work on your new CD, Big Willie Style.

It was probably about a year's worth of work on the album. The real difficulty
wasn't the actual work on the album, it was figuring out what it was that I wanted to talk about.
It's been 4 years since I released an album, so I needed to live to get some experience. Once I
sorted through the experience, the material came easily.

In your free time (if any) what do you enjoy doing??

Golf, golf golf golf golf

Will, as far as actors go, who do you admire most?

There's not one person that I admire the most. There have been great performances
by a lot of great actors that I watch and love. But there isn't a specific single person that I feel
shaped by. I enjoy the cinema, I enjoy the movies, I enjoy lots of different actors

Who are some of your faves, though?

I think that Jennifer Lopez' performance in Selena was really great. Everyone in
The English Patient, complete flawless performances. The scene in True Romance -- Roseanna
Arquette, when she was getting beat up when they were trying to get her to tell 'em where
Christian Slater is, where she stabs him in the foot. That's how a woman is supposed to be!

When did you get started in acting?

The first thing that I ever did as an actor was The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Quincy
Jones gave me a job without ever asking if I could act

Who is your favorite rapper, Will?

Me!

Do you have a web page we could go to?

WillSmith.net

Who were Will's favorite artists growing up?

Run DMC were my favorite performers of all time

I saw you receive your E award. You looked like you were at a loss for words. Were
you impressed, or did you think it was a waste of your time?

I always like to have fun with those things. I was pretending to be at a loss for
words. It was a lame attempt at humor

Are you going to continue making new songs, and making new CDs? Or, are you going
to just do movies?

If enough people buy this CD, that might inspire me to make some more!

Did you go to college? If so, where?

No, I didn't. I released my first record in June, 1986 and I started traveling with my
partner, Jazzy, during the last month of my high school year.

Will, what's your favorite song on Big Willie Style, and can I have online *kiss*?

I have a couple of favorites on Bug Willie Style. Jigghy, Chasin' Forever, Just the
Two of Us, Miami, and Don't Say Nuthin' and if I give an online kiss it might be a problem
'cause my kisses are kinda wet and I don't wanna electrocute you

Hi Will. I would like to know how you and Jada Pinkett are always so in tune that you
go out matching? That is so cute, you guys dress so nice. I love it.

Well, Jada handles all of the wardrobe. She's actually sitting right here. Let me let
her answer that. Jada, I ask you what you're going to wear and what color you're going to wear
and I pick your outfit out and I pick mine out in the same color!

So what made you wear the suit in the Gettin Jiggy With It video?

The director, Hype Williams, picked all of those clothes. So, if you love 'em, it's
something I thought was incredible but if you hate 'em, then I hated the idea from the beginning

Hello. What are you gonna do for Christmas? What are you gonna eat?

The Thanksgiving and Xmas meals are my favorite. I generally go with stuffing,
candied yams, macaroni & cheese, string beans, turkey, cranberry sauce and some special
homemade rolls

Who was your idol growing up?? Rachael in PA

My dad, he's the man that I always want to be.

Do you having any brothers or sisters, and if you do, how old are they?

I have a younger brother & sister that are twins, they're 26. I have an older sister
that just turned 34.

What are the best and worst gifts you've ever given or received?

I guess, the best gift I've given lately -- not ever -- on Jada's birthday, I had her
awakened by a Mariachi band at 6am, 'cause she had to go to work, and they were playing
Amore! And I don't know about the worst. Psychologically, I've blocked those out.

Who taught you how to dance?

I don't think anyone ever really taught me. It's all digital work in the videos. I can't
really dance.

What is Will's favorite type of music besides rap?

I enjoy lots of different types of music. If I'm not going to listen to rap, I prefer
something really mellow, kinda laid back, so I can bring out my soft, sensitive, side. hahahaha!

Will, my 7-year-old daughter Anastasia says to tell you that she liked when the baby
threw up on you in Men in Black. What was that stuff? Anastasia 7 in NY

It was kind of a mixture of milk and flour and all things that are edible. And it was
actually kind of tasty!

Do you have a favorite baseball team?

The Philadelphia Phillies!

Will, is it true there is going to be a Bad Boys 2

We're looking at possibly doing one next year but we're in the process of getting a
script together. In order for me to make a sequel for any movie that I've ever made, it's gotta be
better than the first one

In the show Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, who was your favorite co -star to work with?

We really had a great family chemistry. Carlton and I comedically blended the best
but we had great family chemistry and it was the best working experience I've ever had working
with everyone

What was it like working with Tommy Lee Jones?

Tommy Lee is hilarious. He has a really hard appearance but he's really funny and
light and we had a great time making MiB

Did you play any sports in high school? if so, what sports and do you think you could
have gone pro in any of them?

I played a little basketball but I don't think I coulda been pro at anything. I've
always been kinda goofy just now -- I'm 29 -- am starting to get a real sense of my body. There's
a Big Willie dexterity that's developing

What is your favorite food?

I guess all deserts.

Acting-wise, who would you like to work with in the future? Kita

There's a lot of people I'd like to work with like Jada Pinkett. Oh, excuse me, Jada
Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and then there's more directors than particular actors. Martin Scorcese, I
love the way he makes films. I'd love to work with Barry Sonnenfeld (MiB) again. My bigger
concern is good material more than specific people I want to work with

Would you ever give up all the fame to just to have a regular life?

It would be great to be able to turn it on and off. Sometimes, certain things like
going to an amusement park, is no longer a part of my life but if I had to pick "on" or "off", I'd
pick on

It's Christmas Eve tomorrow. What would you like for Christmas?

My big enjoyment of Xmas is making other people happy so my biggest wish is for
my family to have a good Xmas and for Jada and my son to have a wonderful time.

What's your proudest moment?

I have many proud moments. I guess the one that comes to mind most frequently is
my high school graduation. I guess it was more a time of pride for my parents, but I felt that it
made me feel good and it made me feel proud.

Do you believe in extra-terrestrial life or men in black?

I believe that the MiB are ABSOLUTELY real. Exactly what their job is might be
questionable but I absolutely believe that there are people in black suits that investigate
extra-terrestrial activity

What are your resolutions for the New Year?

I generally don't make New Year resolutions. I live every day of my life towards
personal excellence

I have got to know, what does "gettin jiggy with it" mean?

Jiggy is the next level beyond cool. Jiggy is when you're cool times 10, like in the
50s, the Fonz woulda been Jiggy. Some people are cool, some people are kinda hot. Some
people are kinda sexy. Some people mix all that in one. Not many people can reach that plateau
that we call Jiggy-ness

When you are on stage, like at the MTV Awards, do you get nervous?

I'm usually not nervous on stage, it's that 5 seconds when you're hearing them
announce your name, thinking if you're gonna trip or mess your words up. But once you get out
on stage, that disappears.

What was it that made you want to be in show business?

It kind of developed for me naturally. I started out rapping as a hobby and
everything developed from that hobby. I never made a conscious decision that I wanted to be in
show business. I was there, I was prepared, and it presented itself.

Will, this is Anna in Baltimore. When and where did you and Jada meet?

Jada and I met in Los Angeles. Young Hollywood is really a small community so
everyone really knows everyone. I don't remember a specific meeting so you just hang out and
kind of know everyone

JADA: We met one time when I auditioned for Fresh Prince but that's not when we
met and hooked up

Will you every do TV again or stick with movies?

I enjoy making movies and albums. The experience I had in TV was great, working
with a group of people that I can't imagine ever having any better experience. So I don't think
that TV is in my near future. Maybe 15 or 20 years from now.

What do you predict for the New Year -- in music, movies, and in general?

I predict another year of Big Willie mania on all fronts. It's part of Big Willie
mania!

Do you think it's hard for your son to have a famous father?

At this point he's 5, and I think it's a huge amount of fun. Imagine being in
kindergarten and your dad is "The Man in Black." That goes over pretty well.

You could say that would be pretty cool.

Hi Will, this is Kellie in Texas. What kind of roles would you like to act as that you
haven't done already?

The concept for me to play Muhammed Ali came up. I'd love to do that story but I'd
have to see a wonderful script.

What's your favorite song you ever made and why?

I think "Just the Two of Us" from the Big Willie Style album 'cause it's the most
emotion I've ever put into a record of mine

Here's a question for Jada, since she's with you:

How's Jada? Did She like doing Scream 2? Did she meet any cool people, like maybe
Jamie Kennedy? -Erin & Meghan

JADA: I loved making Scream 2. Wes Craven is a director that I had yet to work
with. Neve Campbell is just the sweetest girl.

Do you like the Spice Girls? If so which is your fave one?

I guess it's a good thing that there's five of them 'cause you could have a different
one every day and after that much Spicem, you'd need to rest on the weekend

Question: I heard you were doing a western of some sort. What is it called and when is it
coming out?

I haven't begun shooting that yet. I start in April. It's called the Wild Wild West. It's
an action comedy and it's taken from the one from the 60s

What did you like most about the special effects in Independence Day?

I liked that the special effects didn't outshine the performances even though people
were excited about seeing the White House getting blown up and seeing space ships. People
still got to enjoy the performances of the great cast

What's your secret to making all your dreams become reality?

I guess that I worked like a madman. It may seem as though all of my dreams come
true but I'm really shooting about 60% right now. But if you dream big -- if you shoot for the
moon, you're liable to get a star or something like that

How much of what is said in the movies is from the script, and how much is
improvised?

Well, for the most part, the characters that I've played have been a huge chunk of
my creation and generally, writers give you a script as a guideline, and the actors and directors
fill in around it. For the most part, the slang and the delivery is developed by me. And once in a
while, I'll throw in a whole line or create a whole scene.

Hey, Will, were you popular in high school?

I think the popular terminology for what I was in High School was DORK. But my
record came out my last month of my senior year so I had one month of actually being cool.

I just want to thank everyone for taking this time with me. Don't forget get to get Big
Willie Style, my brand new record. It's Blazing!! I'll catch you later! Peace!!