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AJ there is an an interesting article on this very subject: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/will-smith-career-damage-post-slap-hollywood-execs-weigh-in-1235122660/ from two top executives 2 different points of view: Another longtime studio exec agrees there are still shoes to drop in how Smith manages going forward. If he could publicly reconcile with Chris Rock, for example, that might help bolster his image. But this top industry veteran is a bit more cautious, saying anyone casting Smith in a movie or series would have to weigh the challenge of trying to promote a project knowing that reporters inevitably would ask Smith and fellow castmembers about the incident. “I think [studios] would think twice — do they need the aggravation?” he says. “Everyone would do the equation, ‘I’ve got Will Smith, but now I’ve got this baggage and they’re going to reshow the slap. Do I need that, and is so-and-so available?’ The other side is, ‘I’ve got Will Smith, and he needs a comeback, and I’ll restore his luster.’ You would weigh factors — what the movie is, what the cost is. If [his reps] say, ‘Will really wants to do this and it’s important to him,’ there are ways for him to say, ‘I’m cutting my price but not [permanently] cutting it.'” and “He’s not kryptonite yet,” says one studio executive. “He has to sit in the penalty box for a bit. He’s going to do some interview with someone like Gayle King and it will kind of wash away.” Smith’s long history in the business will help, this person continues: “He has never been violent on set. He has been extra accommodating. And you read about what he did on the King Richard set.”

And it’s begun, Netflix has pulled out of Wills next movie. Add to that Bad Boys 4 is out on hold and I think Will is about to realise once Hollywood turns on you it will be very hard to land a movie role. Look at Mickey Rourke and thousands of others before him. full story here: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/will-smith-netflix-movie-1235123901-1235123901/

I'm excited they have 40 pages of the script done - which probably leaves about 20 to go. I'm just not sure we need a Bad Boys 4 tho? - I think Bad Boys 4 life kind of wrapped up the series for me - I'd rather it end on a high.

Some interesting quotes in this article: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/awards/oscars/will-smith-has-just-two-weeks-to-save-his-career-after-oscars/news-story/6406187e5477c3e6c5babca5dd2dc17d A source said: “Things are hanging in the balance. He will write an official letter to apologise, and effectively beg for their forgiveness. “He is also expected to hold a call with show bosses in the next 24 hours. April 18 is D-Day, though – he will find out if he still has an Oscar, and quite possibly, a career.” Question marks hang over Smith’s upcoming projects including Apple-funded slave escape drama Emancipation, with executives declining to comment on its planned release. He is also due to return to the Bad Boys franchise for a fourth instalment, though no start date has yet been set. The source explained: “Production executives and studio chiefs do not want to be seen picking a side too early.” Broadcaster and Sun columnist Piers Morgan, recently on Fox News, said: “Great to see Hollywood so incensed by Will Smith’s slap and preparing to severely punish him. “Just a reminder the same Hollywood gave paedophile fugitive Roman Polanski an Oscar and a standing ovation after his conviction, and continues to hire him and shower him with awards.” But sources believe The Academy is “leaning the other way”, adding: “They really feel they have to be seen to act. “It’s no wonder Will is seeking legal advice – he’s likely to need all the help he can get to avoid sanctions.”

Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage. “They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment,” Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.” This should be an interesting interview: https://apnews.com/article/oscars-chris-rock-jada-pinkett-smith-entertainment-los-angeles-74be8b61cd1b7225dbfa2a252b21550a

Jim, I get everything you are saying and I think a lot of people feel the same way. I think it is worth getting the audiobook of Will though - the first 10 chapters are all about the formation and success of JJFP and a lot of stuff we never knew about - I think as a music fan you would really enjoy that section of the book at least. Behind the scenes of summertime - the making of And in this corner etc, the return with Men In Black.

Jim I think the best tracks he did over the last few years was the freestyle which was a few years old, the Will remix and Freak accident. I think one of the producers who worked with him didn't like the new stuff he was doing either and said he wanted more Big Willie Style era - would have loved to hear that track. I don't think we need to hear anything like Get Lit but I bet he has some good tracks he has just never released.

Good to see you still around man!

My latest thoughts on this - including a damning video showing Jada laughing after the incident: http://www.jazzyjefffreshprince.com/2022/03/31/is-will-smiths-movie-career-over-after-slapping-chris-rock-at-the-oscars/

The Academy just released a statement: The fact that Will was asked to leave and refused is very bad. I have a feeling he is going to be expelled from the Academy and this could signal the end of Will's movie career. How many people in Hollywood would want to work with him now?

I think I kind of agree with both @DefCEM and @JumpinJack AJ on this. One, I think it could be some excellent therapy for Will to go into the studio and get his thoughts out. I do also agree, and maybe you haven't been following it closely enough but this isn't an isolated incident from Will - he's lost his discipline - have a look at Will's fitness TV show where he basically quit, read the last couple of chapters of Will's book, I definitely think he is on some kind of spiral and that is what ended in the slap. So @Lerkot as an isolated incident maybe it isn't a big deal but if you step back and look at the big picture Will has gone from an extremely disciplined person to someone who looks like he is crying out for help and confused.

Jada using Will's mental breakdown for some views on her red table talk I find extremely unsavoury. Wasn't the entanglement episode of that enough humiliation for Will? And now she is going to do it again with more of her psycho-babble? Not happy about this at all. Will get away from that toxicity and get back to being yourself.

Interesting take on Will's apology here: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/awards/oscars/will-smiths-oscars-apology-smacks-of-insincerity/news-story/19583b07a0208f557b2cf8724f69e094

Will has finally achieved his Oscar which he strived to get for 25 years. He's achieved all he wanted in movies. Is now the time for him to return to rap and put out another album? He would have a lot of things to say I'm sure.

I wish Will had done his apology as a video - it just reads like a PR statement cooked up by a publicist to me.

I I'm more with Def Cem on this. I will always be a JJFP fan but I really don't like justifying violence with love or protection. It just wasn't acceptable. I thought Chris Rock handled himself pretty unbelievably after the incident. You can hear my full thoughts on why I thought it happened on the podcast here:

Will Smith seems a little lost at the moment... at the end of Will's book he starts jumping out of helicoptors on dangerous bunjee jumps... starts doing halluigenic drugs and now he is assaulting people on live TV.. Will seems very lost right now... I hope he gets some help.

Loved this interview!

hey @maxfly & @dabrakes wanna do a podcast on episodes 4-6 this Sunday morning? I can setup the zoom if you are free.

Hey man - it may be a difference between US sales and overseas sales. Also the records shipped number VS units sold is differnt as well - Also when he refers to 60 million records sold that may include singles sales as well. From what I understand if you add up just the albums JJFP is about 6 million, then BWS would be 12 + willenium which I think is 5 and then adding in the others I think just album sales Will + JJFP I thought was about 30-32 million officially. So there is definitely a wide margin between what we know and what Will is talking about.

Awesome man - why don't we do one mid-season - I've now watched 3 episodes and I love the show - it's getting better and better!

Here’s my thoughts on the first 3 episodes:

Hey man - you need to join me for a podcast about this. I thought Jabari Banks was really well cast, and does a great job as Will. I’m definitely invested after one episode. It’s something completely different, but that’s why I like it.

So what do you think of Bel Air? The first 3 episodes dropped today.

Amazing Dave - enjoy Brand New Funk live and represent for the JJFP fans!