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Although the film features a majority Hispanic cast, ("There's so many different
permutations of that," Singleton says), the producer normally associated with African
American themed films such as Hustle & Flow doesn't really see the ethnicity of the cast
as a stretch at all. The subject matter the movie focuses on is relatable to any urban
audience - regardless of color.
"I really set out to do with this Latino cast what I did with my other pictures, and
[that's] to pick new faces so after they see the movie they know that they're star-making
material," says Singleton. Singleton's Boyz N the Hood starred future Oscar winner
Cuba Gooding Jr. and rapper-turned-actor-turned-director/producer Ice Cube; Higher Learning definitely gave boosts to the careers of Omar Epps and model Tyra Banks;
Poetic Justice showcased the superior acting skills of Regina King, while showing a
softer side of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur; and 2001's Baby Boy was a springboard for
both Tyrese Gibson and Taraji P. Henson. Singleton feels that Hollywood is basically
ignoring the class of Latin people portrayed in the film, and believes he's tapped into an
audience that has made significant economic and cultural contributions.
As for taking on the role of producer more often, Singleton says: "I think it's necessary,
the whole business has changed in a sense that studios aren't really making pictures anymore, it's just people with money making
the films and releasing them through the
studios."
Singleton feels very fortunate to not have
to wait for his ideas to get the 'green light.'
"The experience of Hustle & Flow [was]
very good for me in retrospect, because it
let me know that I can just go out and make
the movie," he says, with a hint of pride. "I
don't have to sit around a bunch of folks
talking about why I want to make the movie
- I can just make the movie."
Not a man to rest on his laurels,
Singleton says he has plans to work with
both Craig Brewer and Franc Reyes again.
His next film with Brewer (working title:
Magdalene) is centered around country
music, and he and Reyes are in talks
about their prospective future projects. At
this point in his career, Singleton's having
fun. He remembers his early days, when
he was arguably the most prominent of a
crop of young, talented black filmmakers
considered the New Black Renaissance of
Hollywood, (a group that included the Hughes Brothers and Manny Rich, among
others). The young visionary of the early '90s, Singleton was motivated early on by the
belief that he had something to prove.
"I'm more confident about my abilities as a filmmaker [now]; I'm having a lot more
fun," he says. "When I was young, I was so serious - I just [wanted] to get put on
and be taken seriously as a filmmaker." Now having proven himself with a chain of
successes, the South Central L.A. native doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.
"Now I'm having fun with it. I'm doing [the] movies that I want to [do]; I'm not taking
any shorts."
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