Chris Brown Interview, Stomp the Yard

Movies Online recently caught up with Chris Brown at the Los Angeles Press Day for Stomp the Yard directed by award-winning music video and commercial director Sylvain White who brings his innovative visual style and explosive energy to the production. Stomp the Yard is a compelling drama about the quest for individuality and the power of fraternity. It features some of the most original and exhilarating dance performances ever filmed.

When an urban dance battle ends in violence, champion street dancer DJ Williams (Columbus Short) travels from the underground clubs of inner city Los Angeles to the moneyed precincts of Atlanta’s prestigious, historically black Truth University. Although his athleticism and ambition have made him a top competitor in the gritty world of street dancing, DJ feels out of place at Truth, with its elite fraternities and expectations of professional success.

It is in this alien environment that DJ discovers the world of stepping. An African-American tradition that has evolved form the centuries-old African Boot Dance, it combines precise dance steps with chants and percussive hand and foot movements. At Truth, it also plays a pivotal role in the longstanding rivalry between two campus fraternities.

When DJ shows off his dance skills at a local club, he attracts the attention of Truth’s top fraternities and campus beauty April (Meagan Good), setting off a vicious feud with April’s boyfriend Grant (Darrin Henson) – who also happens to be a star stepper for Mu Gamma Xi.

Chris Brown who plays DJ’s younger brother, Duran, comes to the entertainment industry fully loaded, as a talented vocalist, a versatile songwriter, an amazing dancer, an emerging actor and a blossoming young businessman. Brown is a Jive Records recording artist with a newly minted platinum album. He enjoys a rousing game of basketball, and despite his demanding career, he may still be a lot like the boy who lives next door to you. In his brief career, Brown has already won the Outstanding New Artist Award at the 2006 NAACP Awards, Best New Artist at the 2006 Soul Train Awards, and Best New R&B/Soul Artist at the 2006 BET Awards.

Chris is a sensational artist and a fabulous guy and we really appreciated his time. Here’s what he had to tell us about his budding career and his new movie, Stomp the Yard:

Question: You seem like a natural on screen.

Chris Brown: Oh, thank you. I appreciate it. I was just waiting for everybody to respond like ‘He can’t act, he can’t act.’ (Laughs) A few good words. I appreciate it.

Question: Have you been getting reaction yet for your appearance on ‘The O.C.’?

CB: Actually, the people that are around me, called me and said, ‘Yo, you really did a good job.’ I actually saw it last night ‘cause I missed it. I was on a plane when it first aired. I saw the first episode I did and, personally, I think I did a great job, especially for my first time acting on a big TV show as a different character.

Q: How much longer are you on there?

CB: I’ve got two more episodes. I was going to do the rest of the season, but with my schedule -- I’m doing a new movie, and then I’m doing my album.

Q: And then, the show was cancelled.

CB: Not my fault.

Q: What’s the movie you’re doing?

CB: The movie is called ‘This Christmas.’ Columbus Short is actually in it, as well as Nia Long, Mekhi Phifer, Lauren London, Regina King, Loretta Devine, everybody under the sun. It’s going to be a great, great movie.

Q: What role do you play?

CB: I play Baby. Everybody’s the star of the movie. There’s not just one main character that it focuses on. It focuses on everybody’s life. I’m the one that sneaks off. I’m 17, 18 years old, but I’ve got a lot of girls. And, I ride a motorcycle. He’s a young rebel teenager, but it’s also a comedy.

Q: Are you dancing in it?

CB: No, I’m not dancing. I’m singing, though.

Q: Can you rank dancing, acting and singing for you?

CB: Singing, 100. Dancing, 100. Acting, 99. I would say that because acting is something new that I’m getting into and starting to love. I can’t compare dancing and singing because I do them both, together. That’s both of my passions. If I’m not dancing, I’m going to sing. If I’m not singing, I’m going to dance.

Q: How are you handling the weight of being a role model?

CB: Just trying to be positive, man. And, I just focus on not getting sidetracked. It’s easy to get sidetracked, especially with girls. I get sidetracked sometimes, of course, but I just focus on what’s at hand and what not to do to let people down. I don’t want to let anybody down. As far as my younger fans, I have a wide range of audience from maybe 3 to maybe 40, so it’s great to just know that I have those people that look up to me, and that means that I have a bigger job and a bigger calling that God has sent me, so I know what to do.

Q: When you got this part, did you know that you wanted to continue acting?

CB: When I got the role, they called me when I was on tour, so I only had two days of rehearsal for all the dancing stuff, and then I had maybe a day of rehearsal for the lines. I was already focused on acting. I was like, "I’m ready to do whatever movies y’all got for me.” But, it’s not like people say it is, when they say that artists and rappers get roles easier because of who they are. Yes, you get roles because of your status, but at the same time, you have to prove to the director and the producer that you can do it, otherwise you don’t get the role. They’re going to consider you because of what you do, but then, they have to see if you can really pull it off. So, if you can’t pull it off, they’re not going to use you. There’s still a test for even the top stars.

Q: How are you preparing yourself, as an actor?

CB: For the movie, I just went with raw talent. I hope it’s raw talent. I just went out there. I remembered the lines and I just took the character into my own hands and was like, "Okay, this is how we do it. I’ve got a brother, so I have to interact with [Columbus] like he’s my brother.” Now, I always see that you can better yourself by always doing something, like practicing. I’ve got an acting coach now for certain roles that I’m looking at. As far as this movie ‘This Christmas,’ it’s another role that I haven’t had acting training for. On the set, I’ll probably have an acting coach practice with me before I do the scenes, just so I can get the whole feel of my character, Baby.It’s going to be good.

Q: Did you stay on set to watch some of the college scenes being filmed?

CB: Yeah. I actually looked at some of them, yeah.

Q: Did that inspire you? Is that something you think you might want to do?

CB: Me, personally, since I already know my schedule, I know that I’m obviously not going to be able to go to a college campus and join a fraternity. But, at the same time, I can do college courses, and stuff like that. But, I think watching it inspires the youth. I’m a 12th grader, so everybody from middle school, all the way up to 12th grade, that have ambitions to go to college, they can see that. Nowadays, kids are starting to get bored in class. I think they can focus on something other than just their school. They can go to college and do their schoolwork, and do great in what they do, but at the same time, focus on something else that’s going to interest them, and that’s also positive.

Q: Were you disappointed not to be able to do some of the step dancing?

CB: I was, but then, at the same time, I was like, "I’m going to let them have that, and let them just do their thing.” I love the fact that there’s not a lot of #1 star actors in the movie. It’s just something that all of us -- me, Columbus, Ne-Yo, Meagan Good, Darrin Henson, everybody -- can just call our own. Everybody played an important role in this movie. Everybody has a meaning. I didn’t want to be like, "Nah, I don’t want that part of Duron. I actually just want to be a stepper.” [My fans] already know I can dance, and I showed them that, in the beginning, so I didn’t want to just be like, "Okay, I’m going to step,” because they’re just going to be waiting for me to dance.

Q: You said that you’re a 12th grader. Are you actually going to regular school?

CB: I wish I could, but I actually have online courses. I was actually upstairs doing school before I came down here. [Laughs] So, I do school and maintain my grades, and try to do everything. Being a role model, [I want to show] kids that it’s cool to get an education.

Q: How do you focus with all this stuff going on?

CB: I don’t even know. [Laughs] The #1 thing that takes me away from my focus is girls, I’m going to be honest. If I see a room full of girls, I’m not going to be focused on the next thing that they need me to do. I’m going to go in the room and be like, "Hey, how y’all doing,” and just chill with them. But, it’s different for me because, being young, I know in the back of my mind what’s right, and I know what’s wrong. Sometimes, you get lead in the wrong direction, but at the same time, you still know when to come back and be like, "Okay, this is what I need to do.” It’s not hard to be focused, especially when you love something. When I love my music, I’m in the studio writing and trying to make music, and whatever I can do to sing. When it comes to acting, I’m studying lines and trying to get the next role, in whatever movie it is. And then, when it comes to dancing, I’m just dancing at all times.You might see me dancing in the airport, or anywhere.

Q: Are you still excited about the Grammys?

CB: I just found out that I’m performing on the Grammys now, so that’s going to be one of the most incredible [things]. I’m just going to let y’all know right now, that’s going to be one of the hottest performances. [Laughs]

Q: What song are you going to do?

CB: I’m actually going to do ‘Run It!,’ but we’re taking Stomp the Yard’s idea to ‘Run It!’ We’re going to really put forth that 100% effort to go hard and really show y’all a different side of everything y’all have seen -- any of the other performances I’ve done -- whether it’s the BET Awards, Vibe or Soul Train. It’s just going to be something different this time, and something where y’all can see my growth for the next album.

Q: Are you maybe going to bring some of the college steppers up for that?

CB: Yeah, something like that. It’s going to be something like that. We’re going to have a quick little dance break where we break it down.

Q: Who is your main inspiration, in terms of dancing? And, were you influenced, at all, by James Brown?

CB: James Brown was definitely one of my influences because Michael Jackson was influenced by James Brown. Michael Jackson would be my creator. I would say he’s my creator because, without him, I wouldn’t be dancing or singing. When I was two or three years old, I was watching everything [he did]. I knew the whole routines when I was younger. So, I was like, "Okay, that’s who I want to be like.” So then, when I actually got my chance to do it, I just went for it. I still portray myself, and try to do my own style, but at the same time, I’m influenced by him. And, James Brown was another one that paved the way first.

Q: How do you stay focused when you do these tours and you’ve not only got girls screaming for you, but you’ve got their moms screaming for you too?

CB: [Laughs] That’s what drives me during a show. If I do a show, whether it’s the Scream tour, or whether it’s the Up Close and Personal tour, or any radio shows, or any tour that I’m on, that’s what I love. I love attention. I go out there and I just jump on stage. If I see a gang of girls, that makes me dance more. It’s like, when you’re in the mall with your boys, and you’re trying to be flier than all the boys, so you can get a girl. Or, you’re at a basketball game and you see the cheerleaders, or the girls in the bleachers, and you’re on the team, so you’re going to try to show off a little bit on the court. So, when you’re on stage, that makes me show off a little bit more and do my dances a little bit harder, and just go at it 110%.

Q: How do you stay out of trouble?

CB: It’s hard. I’m gonna be honest, sometimes you get into trouble, but at the same time, you have to be smart about it. You just be yourself and have the right people around you. Just have the right team around you to make sure you’re on the right path, and you’re not straying away from what you were put here to do.

Q: Do you have a parent that travels with you?

CB: My mom traveled with me for the first two years. When I first came out with ‘Run It!,’ a lot of people thought I was 16 because it said it in the record, but when ‘Run It!’ actually came out, I was 15. So, by the time May 5th hit, I turned 16 and ‘Run It!’ was already #1. I was 15, so my mom was around for a minute, putting the regulations down. Now that I’m about to be 18, I’m getting more mature as it comes, and she’s just letting me be a man and, at least, make mistakes for myself, if I am going to make them, and just find out the hard way. But, I don’t think I’m going to make no mistakes.

Q: How do you want the next album to go?

CB: I want to beat ‘Thriller,’ I’m gonna be honest with you. I don’t think the first album was ‘Off the Wall,’ but I think it could have been like Usher’s ‘My Way.’ Not to compare all these albums together, but I think it was a good first album, especially being young, to capture everybody’s attention. Now, the next album is supposed to really hit them in the mouth.

Q: When does that come out?

CB: I actually wanted to schedule it for May 5th, on my birthday, for me to be 18, but now we have so many producers to work with. I’ve only worked with Eric Hudson, so far, and the Underdogs. Eric Hudson produced ‘Entourage’ for Omarion. So, I did a couple joints, and I wrote a lot of songs with him, as well as the Underdogs. I still have Will.I.Am (from the Black Eyed Peas), Kanye [West], Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, Pharrell [Williams], Scott Storch, Andre ??, Brian Cox. I have so many producers to work with. That’s why I’m saying I want it to be a ‘Thriller’ album. I want to bring all the hits in one. I don’t want to just have you on three songs, and then you turn the album off. I want you to play it from top to bottom, and just love every song.

Q: Have you met and talked to Michael Jackson? Does he know how much he inspired you?

CB: Yeah. I actually did the World Music Awards with him in London. I performed ‘Thriller’ for him, and I actually got a chance to meet him. When I met him, I was trying to keep my manly composure, but I was like, "Dude, I love you, man!” [Laughs] It was like that. It was an honor just to meet somebody who influenced me, in doing my music. We talked about doing a record. I talked to my manager and his manager, and we’re trying to put that together and see if we can do a record, if not for his album, for my album. That would be a dream come true for me.

Q: How did working on a film with Ne-Yo influence you?

CB: I knew Ne-Yo before he was signed because my manager signed him to Def Jam, and then, when she became my manager, she was about to sign me to Def Jam. He’s down-to-earth. Him being on the movie, a lot of people didn’t know he could dance. I already knew he could dance. I kept telling him, "Ne-Yo, you need to dance when you’re in TV. Show ‘em you can dance.” He was like, "Man, I’m going to let you do that. I just sing. I might dance a little bit, but I ain’t going to dance a lot.” When they see the movie, they’re going to realize he can dance, and he got flips in him. He can do anything. And, he’s a great actor. He did an incredible job on this movie. People are going to see that they didn’t just put two singers in a movie because they were popular at the time. We’ve really got our acting on in this movie.

Q: You say that you’re looking for more acting roles. Do you want scripts where you can dance and sing, or are you looking for movies where you can just act?

CB: The Chris Brown in music is somebody I want to keep away from the Christopher Brown in acting. With acting, I want to take challenging roles, like the Samuel L. Jackson movie ‘Home of the Brave,’ Denzel Washington’s ‘The Great Debaters,’ as well as other movies. I just want to do parts that people wouldn’t normally see me in. When I’m on ‘The O.C.,’ I’m playing a whole different part than Chris Brown. I want to do something that strays away from my music, but I can still do movies like that. [I’d like to do] action flicks. I’m good at martial arts and boxing, so I’m very physically fit to do action films. I just want to do everything.

Q: Do you tell your agent certain types of films that you’re looking for?

CB: I just say, "Yo, give me anything.” I wouldn’t even care about the cast. I love it if the cast is big, but at the same time, it’s good to just have new, fresh, raw talent from anybody, like Columbus. He’s an incredible actor, and he’s fresh on the scene. That’s great, for me.

Q: How did you get on the soundtrack? Did they just ask you to contribute a song?

CB: Well, the song ‘Poppin’ was on my album. I came to them, and they were going to pay for the video and everything ‘cause I direct most of my videos. I said, "I’ve got this crazy concept that’s going to bring steppin’, Columbus, Ne-Yo and Meagan into the video.” And then, we had a remix with Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana. We were going to incorporate that video into the movie. It was going to be incredible. It was going to be a nine-minute video. But, at the same time, it was so difficult with the budgets and stuff. And then, they switched the whole production of the soundtrack, so they ended up not doing the video, but they kept the song. I was like, "Y’all can just keep the song for the movie.” If we had done a video, it would have showcased why we picked ‘Poppin’.’

Q: This movie has a through line about manhood and who you’re going to be, as you grow up. Aside from music and dance, who would you say has been one of the most influential men in your life?

CB: Harry Belafonte, probably. What he’s done in his career, as far as longevity, and helping out and giving back, that’s one inspirational person. At the same time, you always have your people that don’t get recognized, like the choreographers that help you out, as well as my father. I don’t mention my father sometimes, but my father is very heavily in my life. Every guy that’s really on their grind and is really positive about what they do [influences me].

Q: Are you surprised at all by your success?

CB: Definitely. That’s why I’m happy, every day. It’s never like, "Yeah, I knew this was comin’.” I had an idea that it might, but I didn’t know what my potential was, at all, and I didn’t know if people were going to believe in me, as an artist and an actor. I definitely just look at it like, "Okay, it’s a blessing, so don’t mess it up, or God will take it away.”

Q: I just want to ask about your sweatshirt?

CB: I’m always on the line. I got this from Up Against the Wall. I’ve got a Wolverine one, and this is Spider-Man. I’m still young, so I like all the comic book stuff, and the loud shirts, and everything. Me and a couple other guys made up my style. It’s called Rebel Hip-Hop. It’s me, a couple of my dancers, as well as Juelz and Lil Wayne. It’s not rock and roll and not skateboard and not hip-hop, but it’s a blend of it, like the skull heads and glitter belts and nice sneakers with the nice Antik Denim jeans and nice hoodies, and stuff like that. We keep it young, but keep it in the price range where the kids can get it.

Q: Do you want your own fashion line?

CB: Definitely, like at Target or Wal-Mart. And, at the same time, have a higher priced line for the ballers, or whatever. But, as far as the kids, I really want to have something at Target, or somewhere. Most of the people are middle class. And, I was poor. I wasn’t even middle class. So, I know how people are when they go shopping. If they can see me rocking something, dancing and having fun, then if they can rock it, and it’s just as cheap, then that’s good for them, so they can rock what they want to rock, and be like, "Yo, Chris Brown had it on.”

Q: Who do you call friends?

CB: I meet so many people. I’m very friendly. I’m an outspoken person, all the time. If I meet you, I might click with you. I’ve got a lot of friends out here that I met on video sets. I’ve got a best friend, named Lil Mijo, who’s a krump dancer. His situation at home is real bad, so he came out and stayed with me, the whole two weeks I had off for Christmas break. He just came and chilled with me at my house. I’ve got a couple friends out here. I have my old friends, back at home, from high school, that I used to go to high school with. They just my homies, so I chill with them, every time I’m back home. I call them, and everything. I don’t try to call ex-girlfriends as much ‘cause that’s why they’ve got the title ex-girlfriends. I meet so many different people. Even artists, today, are some of my friends. Omarion’s one of my closest friends, even though people like to compare the dancing thing and make us go against each other. I support him. I bought his album. That’s my homie. Ne-Yo is definitely one of my friends. Columbus is one of my friends. Bow Wow and I did a record together, but we were friends prior to that. I just build a lot of friendships. That’s what I think is the key, just having a lot of friends.

Q: You have a lot of confidence in your music. What was the feeling like the first day you walked onto the set to act, which was something you’d never done before?

CB: I was nervous ‘cause I didn’t know if everybody was going to be 100% nice. You hear stories about people saying things like, "He yelled at me and kicked me off the set.” In my mind, I just thought they were going to be like, "Get your line right! Get out of here!” I thought they were going to really be over the edge. But, when I got there, everybody was like a family. Everybody was happy and everybody was cool, chilling. So, I was like, "Cool, I’m here.”

Q: Did you do the dancing first, or did you do a scene first?

CB: We split it up. One day, we would do certain acting scenes, and then, the next day, we would go and do the dancing, and then, go back to the acting. I think we knocked out all the acting scenes in the first three days. But, with the dancing stuff, it was real battles. It wasn’t like, "Okay, the script says we’re supposed to win, so we win.” The losing team that actually lost, they really wanted to beat us, so it wasn’t like, "Okay, we’re going to lose because the script says we lose.” It was like, "No, we’re going to show y’all won ‘cause the script says y’all won.” [Laughs] So, when you see the movie, you can tell by the intensity. And, when you get the DVD, there will be a lot of bonus footage of us dancing and you can see the interactions. We were really doing stuff that wasn’t choreographed, that was really a battle. We had fun and it was really intense. It was just fun. I even had fun with the extras. When they’d say, "Cut!,” I’d jump off the stage and just go chill with the extras and see what they were doing, especially the girls. [Laughs]

"Stomp the Yard” opens in theaters on January 12^th. I invite you to read my interviews with the other members of the cast.