When you were filming on location in Memphis, did you face any challenges while shooting at any of the historical locations?
Not particularly. I just wanted to try and capture as much as I could. The studio didn't really want to shoot in Memphis. They thought it was too expensive to move the whole crew, but I was like, "We got to do it. That's the city we're saying the guys are from. That's where Stax music is from." So I wanted to capture as much as I could that was picturesque and had some historical significance. That's why you see a scene shot at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was shot. Even though it's a bad memory, it is historic and it needs to be remembered.
Well, I am happy that the studio let you do what you knew what right to do, because Soul Men definitely feels authentic. Even the characters feel real, and Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson had great chemistry on the set. Is there a particular scene with the two actors that holds a special place in your heart?
The scene that we beat up, the scene where they first meet in Lewis' (Samuel L. Jackson's) apartment. In the first week of shooting, I knew that I had to get right. We all had to get right. That scene was the whole foundation for the movie. I told everyone, "If that scene's not right, nobody will care. It's not going to work. But if it does, if they do care, then we're going to be fine. It's going to be a hit. If it's not a hit, the camera will see it and won't come on the screen right in a major way." It's a very funny scene, very telling of who their characters were and are. It's a great scene that I was very happy to shoot.
I can only imagine. That was a great scene and definitely showcased Bernie Mac at his finest. When he was out in the hallway—ranting and raving—for a solid minute, that was very funny.
Yeah, that was all Bernie. All I had to do was put the camera at the end of the hallway and let him do his thing.
Well, the scene was pulled off perfectly. Another one of my favorite scenes is when Cleo (Sharon Leal) performed "Comfort Me" in the living room. How important was music placement in setting the right mood for that scene and how did you come about choosing that particular song?
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