Cass:
How did you get involved in A Man Apart?
Larenz:
Vin is a friend of mine and he was already cast to be in this
movie. This was sort of his vehicle. Vin and the director, F. Gary Gray,
were looking for somebody who could play a guy who had a street edge to
him, but somebody who also had responsibilities, sensitivity, and was kind
of a compassionate person. They wanted me and Vin really campaigned to
put me in the movie. It was basically packaged with Vin, F. Gary Gray and
myself. So the combination of my friendship with Vin and Gary is
basically how I got the role.
Cass:
So you didn’t have to audition for the role of Demetrius Hicks
because this role was so tailor-made for you?
Larenz:
Right. There was no audition process because I was part of the
package. Sometimes in Hollywood, they try to figure out how they can sell
a movie. So they go and get Vin Diesel and Larenz Tate to play in this movie.
Cass:
That explains why your on screen chemistry with Vin is so genuine
and effortless, which is not like your typical buddy movie where the guys
are just running through their lines.
Larenz:
Yeah. It was simply taking a piece of our friendship and who we
really are and bringing it to the big screen. That was important because
we wanted to explore these undercover cops and make sure that they felt
like real people. People who make mistakes and have flaws. Not guys who
are super human, but people who are true to life. That’s what we wanted
to do for this movie. Now it’s okay to do super human stuff in other
movies, but in this one, it wasn’t designed for it. We have to be as
honest with the characters as possible.
Cass:
So the emotional part, especially in the scene where Vin asked
you, “What if that was your family?”
Larenz:
Right, right. When you’re dealing with the conflict that he and I
had, it’s coming from a real place. It had to build up and we had to set
that foundation with the good times and then when we hit the bad times or
the times of conflict amongst friends, the audience is then brought in too
and they are traveling with us, and so they feel it.
Cass:
What kind of research did you have to actually do because Menace
II Society and Dead Presidents were sort of an action genre, but this is
much more action filled.
Larenz:
Definitely. It’s much more of an action movie far bigger than
those.
We wanted to keep the edge to the movie, which was really important to me.
Cass:
With all the running and jumping, did you train?
Larenz:
I watched a lot of those action movies, but we also spent time
with a DEA agent who trained us. He made sure we had all the tactics down
as undercover agents. It was really important to have him there because
he is an active officer with the Sheriff’s Department. He spent time on
our set and served as a technical supervisor to add some authenticity to
roles of our characters. I also did some of research of my own. I have
family and friends who are on the force in Chicago’s Narcotics division,
and they were a tremendous help. Of course, the information I learned
from them is confidential and I only used it for my character. It defines
my character’s backstory. It was very helpful spending time with the DEA
in Chicago and I felt it was necessary for me to take it upon myself to go
and get my own information and find it out myself, since that’s what a cop
would do.
Cass:
Do you think if your character O’Dog from Menace II Society got
his act together, got on the right side of the law so to speak, could you
see him as agent Hicks?
Larenz:
I think O’Dog was so far gone because he was one of those guys who
was about staying true to the streets. It would be great to see O’Dog
turn his life around but it’s his street mentality that prevents him from
going straight. There are certain people on this earth who will never,
ever change. He may be subtle here and there, but O’Dog is just
crazy. My character Demetrius was once a bad guy as far as running with
the wrong crowd.
Cass:
That’s my point. I got that impression from how Demetrius was
dealing with guys like Big Sexy, and guys in his neighborhood click. So
he wasn’t as far gone as O’Dog might have been?
Larenz:
Well, these guys wanted to be a part of the solution as opposed to
being part of the problem in their inner city, which is what we wanted to
come across especially in the scene where I’m talking to a drug dealer,
Overdose, who basically, I’m about to either take him out or he’s going to
try and take me out. I have to make sure that Overdose doesn’t shot me or
my partner doesn’t kill him. We wanted to use our mind, as opposed to a
guy like O’Dog who would never use his mind, just his gun. I wanted my
character Demetrius to stay focused because if he would have killed
Overdose, we wouldn’t have gotten to the next place.
Cass:
Just say the first thing that pops into your head when you hear
these words:
Family
Larenz:
Unity and love
Cass:
Friendship
Larenz:
Loyalty
Cass:
Inspiration
Larenz:
GOD
Cass:
Hollywood
Larenz:
Unpredictable
Cass:
Larenz, it was a pleasure talking with you today, and thanks for taking
time out of your busy schedule to do this interview.
-----------------------------------
I’m hoping more
like lighting candles and praying -- to get a follow-up interview with
Larenz to discuss his overall career. So keep your fingers crossed that
my people will be able hook up with his people to make this a
reality]. One final note, the name Larenz is a variation of the name
Laurence/Lawrence, which means winner or victor. If you combine that with
his Virgo traits, I foresee a very bright future for this young brother.
-----------------------------------
