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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Against the Ropes Press Conference Round Table with Omar Epps Omar Epps comes into the room quietly and shakes hands with each media person there. One person is late, and Epps is kind enough to wait a few minutes for this person to appear, who turns out, not to be a film critic, but a sports reporter. Epps is at ease here. He's been an actor for 12 years and says that God has truly blessed him in his career. Actually, _Against The Ropes_ was supposed to be released in April 2003, but when the Iraqi war began, the release date was set back several months. Omar Epps is in my town to promote his latest film also starring Meg Ryan and director/actor Charles S. Dutton. Epps, who worked out with martial arts, had one month to get in shape for the film, and trained several hours a day for the role. There would be boxing the first half and workouts in the last half. He wanted to build his body because there would be scenes when he would be hit in the ribs. Epps said he "...took a few shots to the head and gave a few, too." He didn't want to do any more sports films, because he thought he might be typecast, but this role came along, and it was also a chance to work with Dutton who is making his directorial debut here. Epps told the group that his favorite spectator sports are boxing and football. Dutton is also a boxing fan. The character of Luther Shaw in Against the Ropes isn't based on any one character, but a composite of several boxers. For example, Shaw's habit of going against the ropes was adapted from Jack Johnson, "who would always be on the ropes, and just look at you." In a pivotal scene with Meg Ryan, Luther Shaw has come a long way and now has a townhouse but has to admit to a woman that he doesn't know anything about taxes or mortgages. Epps said there weren't too many takes to get the scene. In this world, he and Ryan's character (Jackie Kallen) are on two separate planes and opposite sides of the fence. The message given is "be comfortable with yourself." He said Meg Ryan is a cool person and good spirit to work with. Omar Epps recently formed his own entertainment company called BKNY. He is familiar to television viewers from his stint as Dr. Dennis Gant on E.R. and has worked with Halle Berry and Claire Danes. Previous films have been Love and Basketball, Juice, Breakfast of Champions, and Major League 2. Future films will be Cursed directed by Wes Craven and Alfie with co-stars Jude Law and Susan Sarandon. Copyright 2004 Marie Asner
February 22, 2004
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