Vivica A. Fox

An Interview of Vivica A. Fox by Mali Elfman

Mali Elfman: How do you feel you were able to relate to your character of the strong-willed girlfriend in the upcoming film, Cover?

Vivica A. Fox: Well you know, she kept it real. And I think that the reasons why I’ve had longevity and success in my career is that I’ve played the sister girl that will keep it real with you, that hasn’t left the community, that hasn’t gotten so caught up that I don’t forget to remember my home base. And when I say that, I always make sure that out of two or three projects a year, one of them is African American because it’s important for good stories and quality projects to be told to our people.

ME: Why did Aunjanue Ellis play the main role in Cover instead of you, who is the bigger star?

VAF: I think, at the time, my schedule didn’t permit. I shot my part in two weeks and I think she was available for the whole shooting schedule. I would love to play a gritty character like that, but I’m glad she did it. She did a great job. When I saw her, I believed her and that meant that that was the role for her.

ME: How do you feel about the message that Cover portrays about HIV and AIDS?

VAF: The main reason I got involved with this project is because the stats that Bill Dukes [the director] informed me of–that one out of seven men in DC have HIV, and 70% of the new cases that are reported every year are African American Women. Those numbers are staggering. Bill wanted to make sure that this project was a PG-13 project so that everyone could go and see this. So there is not a lot of cussing and no gratuitous sex. More importantly, he just wanted to remind us not to forget about HIV and AIDS. It’s a disease that we like to think is someone else’s problem, but it’s effecting our community more than anything else.

ME: What were the challenges of shooting on location in Philadelphia?

VAF: I just know one day in that car it was real cold. And I was like, okay, we’re gonna work with the snow. It wasn’t supposed to be snowing in that scene, but we just go, go. That’s part of independent film making. If something happens, then you just roll with it.

ME: Do you prefer darker roles like the one you play in Cover, or more comedic roles?

VAF: Well, I think, as an actor, that you get your popcorn movies and then they you get your independent films where you probably get to play a little bit grittier roles that aren’t available to you in your popcorn movies, and it’s okay. It’s just the nature of the business. You get the higher end and the lower end. I believe versatility is the key to longevity. Everything is not going to be the 20 million, the 100 million dollar films. If you believe in a project and you have love as an actor for the project, then it shouldn’t be based on money.

ME: What is your role in your upcoming film, Major Movie Star, with Jessica Simpson?

VAF: I play first Sergeant Morally, and I am the drill sergeant from hell. I watched An Officer and A Gentlemen my whole way down to Shreveport, Louisiana. It was great! I got to torture Jessica Simpson for a month. And when I tell you I tortured her, I did–I was so mean. Then they’d yell “Cut” and we’d go talk about a Louis Vuitton bag. Jessica gets such a hard time in the press and it’s just unfortunate because she’s such a sweet girl. And for this movie, she really, really dedicated herself. She did 95% of the stunts and everything you see. She got in the swamp water, which I would have been like, “Oh hell no…cut!” But she did it. She’s getting so much flack with her movies, but this one is perfectly suited for her. It was basically a Goldie Hawn type of character–the Hollywood starlet. She did a really good job. We shot that movie in Shreveport, Louisiana and it was 105 degrees with 100% humidity every day, and she never complained.

ME: Recently you have produced nine films. Do you enjoy working behind the camera?

VAF: Sure, because I’m more involved with the choices in the finished product that I present to my audience. Someone can’t tell me what my people are like or how we talk and behave with one another. I have fought very hard to show [audiences] some positive images [of African Americans]. We all ain’t gang bangers and rappers; we’re doctors, lawyers, husbands, wives, productive members…and I fight very hard for things from the wardrobe to the dialogue to the locations, everything. I’m a hands-on producer. I drive them nuts sometimes.

ME: How do you feel that Will Smith is one of the biggest stars at the box office right now?

VAF: Well, that’s because he’s Will Smith. Will Smith has become colorless to people–he’s my role model. Will does movies for the sci-fi crowd, and the sci-fi crowd, if it’s a good project, they don’t see color–they don’t care.

ME: Is there a genre that you prefer?

VAF: I just like working. I do…as long as it’s a quality project and I can help to produce and have a good time with it. Samuel Jackson gave me wonderful advice that I use. He showed up and he did a couple of lines in Kill Bill. I asked him what he was doing there and he said, “I’m playing the piano player.” I said that there was no piano player and he said, “I invented the role. I told Quentin you wasn’t gonna have this many pretty bitches in a movie and I wasn’t gonna be up in here somewhere.” So Quentin asked him to look at the script and create something. So if you look at Kill Bill and Kill Bill 2, he’s the piano player, and I think he says maybe one or two things and then he gets shot and he keels over. He told me, “Viv, you’re an actor. Always do the work. It’s good to have your name associated with good projects. You’re an actor first, do the work, don’t get caught up on the being a star crap.” I like that he taught me that.

ME: Recently you just performed on stage. How was that?

VAF: Yes, I starred in and produced Whatever She Wants. That was very difficult. You do eight shows a week. It’s not the glamorous life. I came back after four months of being on the road and I had high blood pressure, because being a producer and the star of the play, I became momma hen. Every day there was something I had to deal with regarding the temperature of the building, to the lighting, to the music, to the this and that. I’ve just never had to answer so many questions in my life. Also, I was in 9 out of the 11 scenes in the production, with heavy dialogue and lots of dialogue. But I was just glad that when I came back, I had a movie waiting on me: Miss Nobody.

ME: You say you had high blood pressure-how has that affected you?

VAF: Now, in my life, I try not to be so stressful, but the reason why I had it was because I cared. It was my project, and if people weren’t delivering, I’m a producer–you’re waiting my time, my money right now.

ME: You seem to be doing it all right now. How do you manage?

VAF: I’m learning. I’m a very Type A personality and I like perfection. I’m a Leo. So now you know why you like to shine. And you know what? When you do plays, those tickets are $25, $40 and, you know, these are people in small states and that’s their hard-earned money. I have always respected that.

ME: Where do you think your drive comes from?

VAF: I love what I do. The business has changed in the last three or four years with the paparazzi, the Internet and TMZ. I just believe that’s the work of Satan. It’s toxic that people love to look at the bad instead of the good, but it is what it is. So you have to have thick skin and you’ve got to take the good with the bad. And what I learned is that when I show up, I’m gonna give you Fox. But when I go home, I’m Auntie Fox from 38th and Emerson. I have real people around me, I live a real life, I love to go to the grocery store, wash my clothes, wash my car, go get me some Popeye’s chicken every once in a while and keep it real. But when I am Vivica Fox, I try to be the best that I can. And I love for people to say, “I saw your movies,” or “I saw you on Dancing with the Stars,” or “I saw something and you moved me,” and that’s fulfilling for me.

Be sure to check out Mali Elfman at LA Cityzine.