It’s not everyday you get to chat it up with one of your all-time favorites; the extremely talented, also super famous, award winning singer/songwriter, Keri Hilson about her growing acting career and starring in David E. Talbert‘s upcoming holiday comedy, Almost Christmas alongside acting greats like Danny Glover, Gabrielle Union, Mo’Nique, Romany Malco, Kimberly Elise and more.
Playing Jasmine, ‘miss naiveté,’ the ‘incidental-‘ yet oddly enough, ‘likable home wrecker’; Keri Hilson most certainly deserves the award for ‘innocently setting off the biggest holiday dinner table brawl in a motion picture;’ causing all kinds of fire works, the bad kind.
Famously known for penning official hits for a slew of artists like Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, The Pussycat Dolls, Omarion and so many others; then debuting herself as a solo artist in 2009 with studio album In a Perfect World, Hilson is slowing adding a Hollywood actor notch to her belt too.
Already landing roles in box-office hit, romantic comedy Think Like a Man in 2012, and Riddick the following year, we laughed it up over the phone, talking about working with her amazing castmates and drawing from their artistry, best moments on set, what it was like working with David E. Talbert, other projects to follow, and a few other things.
How did you build on your character Jasmine, being the “dumb-bitch”?
KH: I gotta say, I got through it but it was such a challenge for me because I am so in control in real life. I’m a question-asker, and I really don’t get blindsided that much because I’m a pretty good judge of character. So it was definitely a challenge. I had to just tap into what it felt like when I was naïve, which was a very, very, very long time ago. I was making money from a very young age in this industry as songwriter, before anyone ever knew who I was, from 17; actually from 14 when I was in my first girl group.
So I went back to the 16, 17 year old who was just taking modeling gigs one summer, you know, trying to find her way in her girl group; when I was a waitress at a restaurant in Atlanta, Ga. I had to really go back to when I was pretty naïve, when guys could pull a fast one on me.
And you have to have a pretty good sense of humor too right, to play the part?
KH: That is true, that is true. Haha. And I do, I don’t take myself too seriously. I would describe myself as a ball of fun, I think a lot of people do enjoy being around me. I’m very light-hearted, quick-witted, I can’t resist a good dirty joke; I love life. And you’re right, it did take also that to play her well.
Can you speak on the being on the same stage with such great talent?
KH: Man, it was awesome. Just the fact that I’m at a scene sitting at a table, there were times where I was just completely embrawled by their greatness. I’m suppose to be in character but I had to jump out of my skin for a second, like ‘wow, this is surreal’. It was just really, really cool to be a sponge around those great creative geniuses that they are. I had my mental pen and pad, soaking it all up as a student again; which I live for opportunities to, not know it all, situations that would grow me. This was absolutely that for me.
And, I already shot another film, and was able to use what I learned in this film, in the next film. So I’m really grateful because it worked, I got better. I plan on getting better in each film. There’s something to take away from every film that you work on, every gig, every job you land has gotta grow you and this one did that for me.
What were some of your best moments on set? I can only imagine how difficult it might have been to keep some of your lines straight; you know, without cracking-up laughing at certain scenes, or takes.
KH: Oh my God. There were so many moments where I just couldn’t hold it together, but the greatest part was, neither could they. So we would have to cut for any of us at any given moment because one of us would just bust out laughing because a lot of people did unexpected improv.
But one time, this is my most fond memory of filming this film, and probably my most embarrassing as well. I had just taken a sip in this scene, I sipped some of my water, my character did trying to avoid something, so she used her water as a scapegoat in that moment. Gabrielle splirts out something in character; but was way too funny for me to handle with all this water in my mouth and I spit a mouthful of water into Danny Glovers face. People laughed. But he handled it, didn’t make me feel bad even though I did. He didn’t rub it in. He doesn’t bring it up every time I see him after.
They could make a whole new movie just off the bloopers alone. I really think they should put out an extended blooper version, I’m going to tell Will Packer that because there were way too many moments, way too many. Come on, between J.B. Smoove, Mo’Nique, D.C., Romany… Romany actually to me was the funniest on set. I gotta be honest, Romany made me laugh the most. His character was little more serious in the film, but he is hilarious.
Oh, and tell us about being on Family Feud with the cast the other day. It seemed like so much fun, like a real family.
KH: We really are. We became a family on set. When you spend those long hours, see people breaking down, getting tired, needing coffee, needing red bull. You gotta rough it out and weather the storm together, you do become a family. And when it cut, we were just as close as we probably appeared on screen. The chemistry was just there for all of us, the energy was set, I would say from David and Lyn Talbert and it just trickled on down; Mo’Nique is just her humbled self, “Baby,” and she’s just going to give you advice; Danny Glover is embracing you in his seasoned veteran way; making you feel like you can stand next to him in a scene and keep it up. I gotta say, I’m really, really grateful for the opportunity, it was really awesome place to be, especially at this moment in my life.
How was working with David E. Talbert on this film?
KH: David, ah man, he was so helpful. He cares about performance. Great directors, I think have a way of giving you the information you need and making sure they stay on top of that objective, but also letting you fly at the same time. So there’s a balance that they create where your objective is clear, but you are allowed a creative license. And that to me was just priceless, and it was how I was able to get the performance that I got. And I think, I’m proud of it.
It’s weird watching yourself, you’re like, “was that the best take, really?” “Was that the right choice?” And then you’re like, “ah, man, I should have stood taller”. And then you replay those moments, “I wish I did this, I wish I did that, I should have been more confident”. But at the end of the day, if they are happy, then I’m happy. And David doesn’t leave the set without getting what he wants. When he says, “good, good”; when he yells that out from behind the video village, then you know that he is pleased. I just had to sit back and trust them.
And rightfully so Keri.
Almost Christmas will be in theaters this Friday, Nov 11. I wouldn’t want to miss all the drama and laughs happening at that dinner table this Christmas.
[slideshow]Photo Credit: Exclusive Access