By Darlene Donloe
When The Bough Breaks is an intense drama about
John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall respectively), a
professional couple who hire a young surrogate (Jaz Sinclair) after they find
out they are unable to conceive. Everything is wonderful – until it isn’t! Soon the young surrogate develops an
irrational fixation on the husband (Chestnut) that turns violent.
Morris
Chestnut (MC) and Regina Hall (RH) recently spoke about the film.
Q: Talk about
doing this movie. Are roles and movie
opportunities getting better for black actors?
MC: To me, I
just think, just to be able to be working in Hollywood for a sustained period
of time is just something whether you black, white, just Hollywood in general,
is just definitely a blessing. In particular for black Hollywood, I definitely
think the opportunities are – Hollywood in general, I think opportunities are
increasing. They’re improving in terms of television. I still feel that we
could be doing a little bit better in films in terms of opportunities, but
there are opportunities, nonetheless, in both.
Q: How do you
feel about doing this movie and how it fits in with opportunities getting
better?
MC: Just to be able to be working in Hollywood
for an extended period of time is a blessing. Hollywood in general is improving
in terms of television. We could be doing better in film.
RH: I agree with
Morris. It’s always a work in progress. It’s constantly evolving.
Q: The subject matter
of this film is heavy.
MC: This film
was challenging and an emotional film. It was challenging. Working with someone
like Regina, Jaz (Sinclair) and the director – it was like another day at the
office. Regina makes it fun every day.
RH: We were both
able to do something light after the film ended. When you’re working you’re in
the mode of the project being most important. The intensity is driving it. It’s
an emotional journey.
MC: When you do
a film like this it can take an emotional toll on you. To be in that space day
in and day out is draining. You have to be in that mental headspace. I was looking forward to doing something fun
afterward.
Q: Morris, you
are executive producing and starring in the movie. How was that experience?
MC: It wasn’t my
first time. It’s always a good experience. To not just be an actor in front of
the camera, but to work behind. To be able to have some type of input into the
overall process beyond just being an actor is something that I’ve been
continually trying to do more and more or each time out. It was cool.
Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall
Q: What was the attraction for doing this movie?
MC: It felt
different. It was unique in its voice.
Q: Was your
character naïve?
RH: I think that
her desire for a child – overrode anything else. Sometimes your sixth sense as
a woman sometimes doesn’t kick in. Human beings are complex. The movie explores
that. Sometimes life goes in a direction no one planned.
Q: Shooting in a
wonderful city like New Orleans. How does the city impact your character?
RH: New Orleans
felt like a character in the movie. What’s amazing about the city is the
cuisine and how they express themselves. It played an important part for both
of us.
Q: What was it
like working with Jaz Sinclair?
MC: I thought it was great. Watching Jaz and how
she approached the job at her age – if her character isn’t convincing, the
movie falls apart. Her professionalism –it was a great experience.
Jaz Sinclair
Q: Some actors
don’t like their movies being described as black films. What goes into your
decision to star in a particular film?
MC: I like to
start on the material, the script. Hollywood never starts out to make a bad
movie. It’s all about the execution. Black films and black projects – it is a
challenge. I wish they would just look at films for what they are. I wish it
didn’t have that label. That being said, I’m fortunate to work in Hollywood and
to do films.
Q: What has been
the key to your success?
RH: Looking for and
picking the right parts and working with great people and to pick material you
connect with – and doing the work.
MC: Longevity in
Hollywood. One of the things I feel is an element of success is - you have to
be courteous and respectful of people you work with. You sit around people for
14 hours a day, you don’t want tension or conflict.
Q: 25 years
since Boyz N The Hood. Best advice from
doing that film?
MC: It really
went so fast. No one really gave me advice. I would always ask Cube questions,
but it was questions about the industry. When we came out the trailer at the
same time he would go back in because I would ask him so many questions.
When The Bough Breaks is in theaters nationwide September 9.
Running time: 1h
47m, RATED: PG-13
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