Morris Chestnut FULL EPISODE | EPISODE 11 | CLUB SHAY SHAY

Hello, welcome to another edition of. Club Shay. I am your host and the. proprietor of Club Shay, Shannon Sharp. And the guy that's coming by to have a. drink and talk today really needs no. introduction, but I'll introduce him. anyway. He's actor, producer, author, 30. years in the movie game. Some people. know him as Ricky. I know him as Mo. Morris Chestnut. All my life been grinding all my life. Sacrifice. Hustle paid the price. Want a. slice. Got to roll the dice. That's why.

All my life I've been grinding all my. life. All my life. Been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice. Hustle. Paid the price. Want a slice. Got to roll a dice. That's. why. All my life I've been grinding all. my life. Mo. What's going on, bro? Man. Man, 30 years. See, I got in it. when I was two. So, I'm 32 right now. But yeah, I'm getting old, man. I'm getting old. But you Hey, but you're still in the. game, though. I'm still in the game, man. It's been a. blessing. It's definitely been a. blessing.

So, how have you been? What's been going. on? What's What have you been up to the. last couple of months? I know the pand. is great. I'm gonna run down a whole. bunch of stuff. So, um well, one, I just. had a movie. I produced a movie that. came out on streaming uh two weeks ago. called Spell. It was with Hardwick and. Loretta Devine. That's a project I'm. really excited about. Right now I'm uh. I'm in Atlanta uh doing the second. season of The Resident. I only came on. for for one season, but because of the. pandemic, you know, things got a little. messed up and so I came back to wrap up.

the character and um so that that's been. fun. And I have one of the most the. projects that I'm most excited about. I. have this uh this podcast coming out. called uh Jesus versus Big Joe. Okay. And uh it's about it's about a a. high school football player who was you. know he was one of the best linemen in. the country recruited by Bobby Bowen Lou. Holtz everything. He got caught up went. to went to USC got caught up in some. medical stuff had 18 surgeries and. amputation. Um it's a faith-based. project and uh he um it's about how he.

overcomes all that adversity uh to find. God. So I'm really I'm excited about. that one as well. back to what you're. working on the uh the uh the movie that. you produce. It's called Spelling Omar. Hedwick and Hardwick Loretta Divine. Yeah. What what made you go in this genre? So what happened was so the producer I'd. worked with the producer Gordon Gray uh. before on another project and. he asked me he called me into the.

office, hey can you read this script? And he wanted me to do this movie. So. when I read this script uh the script. that he had, it kind of really wasn't. what I wanted to do. Okay. And so um and so I called my manager. said, "Listen, you know, I'm not, you. know, I want to do it." He says, "Well, let's talk to Gordon about this." So we. pitched him another concept of a movie. and uh it was this one. It was it was. Spell. Um so we we pitched him the. concept. He was into it. We found the. writers, wrote the script. the writers. wrote the script and um Kurt Whmer who's.

a who's a great writer wrote the script. Now I had some you know I had some uh. you know everything in the movie wasn't. as I wanted it to be but uh that's. that's movie making. So that so you went from pro possibly. starring in the movie to help writing. and co-producing the movie. Right. So it was so when the producer. gave me the script it was something. completely different. Right. Um and it's not it wasn't something that. I wanted to do. So my writer my manager. was like my Brian Brian my manager Brian. Wilkins he was like listen let's pitch.

him you know this concept and we that he. that Brian and I had already previously. discussed. so you had already been working on this. Yeah. So my manager and I we talk about. concepts all the time for. shows for movies for podcast. Matter of. fact. you're gonna be in the call for me soon. because I have a concept for a sitcom. with you in mind. Okay. That's what I'm talking about. You. know what I always did want to do a. sitcom. I always wanted to be be on TV. full time and have a sitcom. Amen. Hey, don't just talk about I'm. telling you. I mean, you saying that now. on the camera on Club Shay Shay, you'll.

get that call from the network. Hey, Shannon, you're available. So, hey, watch out now. Oh, I definitely be I'll definitely be. available. I'll make myself available. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So, I'll talk to you. about that because uh I have a couple of. concepts and one and I'll talk to you. about it. But uh but yeah, so my manager. and I So, my manager was um you know, we. were talking about this concept and we. pitched it to Gordon. Gordon liked it. Uh, so that's when we got it was. nothing. It was nothing. Just concept. between my manager and I, right? And we got the writer and Kurt Whmer,

who's an incredible writer. I mean, he. he got the you we met with a few. writers. Kurt came in, he immediately. got the story and he turned the script. around really quick and uh and it went. into production. A matter of fact, when. I I was on this show when it started. going in production, but initially I was. intending to star in. So, let me ask you. So it's because of. uh I noticed a lot of people are doing. streaming, a lot of people are doing. like Netflix, not the big not the other. big budget. Is that because of COVID? Have you had to find a different way to.

still do your craft? It's I can't say it's just because of. COVID. Okay. Um you know, even the movies that are. released now is normally if they're like. the big Marvel blockbusters, you know, it's very rare that the that the that. the that the lowbudget independent can. find an audience. And so the great thing. about streaming you know with the. Netflix and Amazon's is you know you get. global exposure and you get a platform. so you know whatever you produce you. know it gives people opportunity to see. what you do.

right. you know back in the day I know people. who've made independent movies for 5060. million dollars and they're sitting on a. shelf somewhere nobody saw this was. before streaming even streaming even you. know right you know took over the game. right so do you think streaming is is. like how do I say this is what we're. going to see more and more of until we. come out of this pandemic. I think until we come out of the. pandemic, yes. However, you know, like I. said, I'm have a couple other movies. that uh that I'm I'm I'm actively.

producing and I really want them to go. to the theater because to me there's. nothing like, you know, I have a comedy. theater experience experience. You know, everybody's there sharing the same thing. and you the laughter, the feeling. There's nothing like that experience. So, I can't wait. I can't wait for it to. come back. The smell of the popcorn, you know, that. the the people talking in the. background, you know, it's like. for me, I mean, I I I'm a movie guy, but. I just find myself if I'm watching a. movie at home, I'm like, I wonder what.

else is on television where if I'm at. the movie, I I can't I can't just flip. that. I can't just get up and I'm gonna. stay. very It's a very captive audience. That's why, you know, for a long time, you know, when you have when you have. people as quoteunquote movie stars. because you go into this you go into. this this theater is blacked out and. you're just so captivated on that screen. for, right, you know, two and a half. hours. That's why it's, you know, as an. artist sometimes, you know, we're very. responsive about about, you know, the.

messages that we send because people. really absorbing absorbing those. messages. So, you also doing the resonance. You. said you were only going to do one. season, but you came back because of the. pandemic. You came back fulfilled an. obligation. So, are you done after this. season or are you going to have a. reoccurring role? Well, so um you know, things are always. fluid. I mean, you never know what's. going to happen. Uh I love Listen, I. love the cast. I love the producers. I. love the environment, you know, here. Um.

tell the people about your character. Tell the people you're a neurosurgeon. Yes, I play a neurosurgeon. And what. attracted me to this character? So, I. play a neurosurgeon that's based off of. a real life person or I say a couple of. people. Please don't say it's Ben Carson. No, no, no, no, not Ben Carson. But, uh, no, I. wasn't gonna say something I was gonna. say. Um, no. So, it's based off the. character. And so, the one thing I. really want the one of the reasons why I. really wanted to play this character. because it's completely different than.

anything I' I've played before, right? And this character, out of probably. everything that I've done, the the the. response when I'm in public is most. passionate about this character. Really. in a negative way. Yeah. Yeah. Because I play I play a. doctor, right, who. is uh a neurosurgeon who is basically. he's more concerned about the bottom. line of the hospital instead of the. health of the patient. Right. So, you.

come in and I see that you you don't. need this evasive surgery, invasive. surgery, but is good for the bottom line. of the hospital. I'm going to recommend. that you get that. Well, you sound like a real doctor to. me. Well, I mean, what's the problem? No, no, no, man. That's supposed to be. for the well-being of the patient. Yeah. So, but I I remember you on on a. far you did a Fox show called Rosewood. Yes. Where you were a forensic guy. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. This. You you like playing these doctor's.

roles. Well, you know, one thing I love one. thing I do love about playing doctors. because it does they do they convey a. certain amount of intelligence. Um, you know, they make me sound smarter. than I am with all that dialogue. I have. to rehearse that dialogue all night, but. I get it down. Yeah. But yeah, so the one thing about. Rosewood, the one thing that really drew. me to this character because Ro the. Rosewood character was extremely. optimistic about every single situation, right? This character is not so much. So, it's. playing a doctor in a in a in a. different light.

When you played when you played. Rosewood, did you meet with any forensic. guys to understand what they do, how. they do it, how they go about their. business? Did you meet with anybody to. to learn how to better play that role? Yes. Yeah. We had a technical adviser on. set all the time and um asking, you. know, I was always asking him a ton of. questions about it. It's a very it's a. very interesting job. But one of my I. mean my favorite shows I I mean if I'm. not watching sports I'm either watching. for forensic files or the datine. Yeah.

You know so those so rosewood was right. up my alley in that sense. It was a. humor. There was a light lot of humor to. it. But Rosewood was right up in my. alley. And being able to talk to that. for forensic um forensic um. uh professional it was a very uh. it's a very I I definitely couldn't do. it in real life. I'll just say that. You were basically a black Quincy. I. don't know if you are you old enough to. remember Quincy. Oh, come on, man. Of course I'm on that. Yeah, I definitely remember Quincy.

Yeah. You you mentioned your faith your. faith-based podcast, Jesus and Big Joe, and it's based loosely on um. a USC former USC football player. What made you decide what made you. decide to go this route? So, okay. So, I'm always looking for. something because I did a movie with uh. TD Jake called Not Easily Broken about a. number of years ago, right? And um that was one of the. projects. It was basically a project. about uh this married couple who his. wife got into an accident and their.

relation their marriage was being tested. financially, emotionally, sexually and. she had one of her you know her mother. was in the house with her. So it was. about you know the the the um their. marriage vows being tested not easily. broken. And it is one of the projects. like I say people come up to me for. various projects. that project. People. really come up, you know, brothers come. up to me all the time, man, you know. what? I was going through some a. situation just like that. And I saw that. movie, my wife and I watched that movie,

and we kept the faith. We kept the. faith. So, I always knew I wanted to get. back to doing something faith-based. I I. I recent before everything came out um I. guess about two years ago, I saw I heard. the podcast Gladiator. I don't know if. you Hernandez podcast. Oh, yes. Okay. Yeah. Yes. And I didn't know all the information. So, I'm listening to this podcast and. I'm hearing the story. I said, "Man, I. really enjoyed that podcast." Okay. So, I met this uh this young, passionate. uh very very talented producer named Cal.

Hogan. Um and he uh we sat down at lunch. and he told me the story of of Big Joe. And that's why that project is Jesus. versus Big Joe. And it was something. that I it was a space that I always. wanted to get back into. Okay. And when. I heard the passion of Kyle, I met Big. Joe and I said, "This is it. This is the. one I want to do.". Speaking of USC football players, you. play a role in the Hood Classic. Now, it. say Mount Rushmore in the Hood.

Boys in the Hood, Friday, maybe House. Party. I don't know. I don't know the. other guy, but I know those three is. going to be on everybody's Mount. Rushmore. Uh. when I mentioned Boys in the Hood and. and and Ricky, your first feature role, what's what goes through your mind? Oh man, you know, uh it's uh first. honestly now uh you know, John. Singleton, you know, uh rest your soul. I mean, he gave me an opportunity. Uh so.

I it's it's it's uh it's it's sad in. that regard, but I always go back to uh. you know, just when I was just starting. out. I was just starting out and I just. wanted to to be involved in a project. that that people would see and people. would see me and recognize me for and he. gave me an opportunity and you know the. one thing I just love you knowh about. being involved in that project I mean. you know to this day Nia Fishburn Regina. Cuba you know everybody is still Angela.

everybody's still going and uh it was a. special special project obviously it's. my first my first big screen um first. real movie actually. Um and it's it's. something I'm always gonna hold dear. How did you land the role? Yeah. So, uh I I I just got an agent and. actually it was it was a little bit of. uh I got a little bit lucky for the. role, of course. Okay. But but here's. where the luck is. So, I um when I was. coming up as an actress, I uh I started. my after I graduated from high school, I.

started acting and I was taking uh. acting classes at this junior college in. Long Beach, Long Beach City Junior. College. And I said, "Okay." So, I was. getting some pretty good feedback. So, I. said, "You know what? I want to go to. Hollywood and and and take an acting. class there and see what people think.". Now, at that time, uh, Mara Gibbs, who. was on, uh, the Jefferson's 227. 227, she had an acting studio right in L. Mer Park. It was right right in the. hood. And so I said, and she But her.

acting studio, the people from the. Jeffersons and 227, they would come. teaching a class. So I said, I want to. get in front of the people who um do it. Exactly. And so I I went there. And so, cut to my agent gives me the the uh the. information to go to this audition for. this movie, Boys in the Hood. I get. excited. I go meet the cast director, Jackie Brown. Get the call back is John. Singleton's in the call back. So, I'm. like, "Oh, man. This cat, he's my age.". And I got this young cat. So, that was a. little bit easier then. But then after.

the second meeting when I met John, uh. my agent calls me like, "Listen, you. have a screen test." And I'm like, "Oh.". So back then, Hollywood screen test, you. go down to the studio, they have all the. cameras and all the crew and everything. just for a screen test. So I'm like, man, this is my first big Hollywood. screen test. So I'm getting all excited. I had a pager back then and I was. excited and stuff. And so I'm try I. said, "Okay, so where is it?" And I'm. thinking he's gonna say Colombia, uh, Warner Brothers, somewhere like that. He.

says it's at um, uh, Crossroads Academy, L Mer Park. I'm like, L Mer Park, that's. the acting school. That's that's that's. where a screen test is. And uh and he's. like, yeah, that's where it is. And so, you know, John wanted to keep everything. in South Central. But where that played. into my favor is because when I had to. go for the screen test, I was already in. a comfortable environment. I had already. been school. I was already comfortable. there. And so that played into me. getting the part.

Did you know it would turn out to be. what it is? And here we are. 30 years. later and people are still talking about. that movie. I'm sure that's one of the. first thing when people meet you that's. one of the first thing they talk about. Man, I remember you and the boy in the. hood boy. You were great. Yeah. You know what it it it's two. things. So it's one of the movies that. people from I people literally from. around the world say they learned. English from watching Boys and Hood. Okay. One movie and they see that. But. at the time I didn't. I was literally on.

set. I'll never forget I was absorbing. everything at the time. You know, Cube. had an album. You know, Fishburn, he. wasn't Fish at the time. You know, he. had worked and Cuba had been in a few. holding deals at some studios, but he. hadn't been on a show that last long. So, I'm like, so I'm looking around. like, okay, you know, it's a movie. I'm a lead in the movie. Nobody knows me. I didn't think the. movie was going to do anything. You. know, I thought it would be, you know, I. thought we were making a good movie, but. there's no way I thought it was going to. be to the magnitude that it it turned.

out to be. You mentioned the names Kuba Gooding. Jr., Ice Cube, Lawrence Fishburn, Neil. Long, Regina King, Angela Basset. Yeah. And as you mentioned earlier, the. majority of these are still going. strong. Regina, I think Regina ish has a. uh a show on HBO. She has a show. She has a movie. She. directed a movie. Yes. Yes. Won an Oscar. Won an Oscar. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We have. three. So, uh, Cub, uh, Cuba was. nominated, Fishburn was nominated, I. think Angela won, and Regina won,

right? So, you got Hey, so what's up? I. mean, what what's up, Rob? I mean, you know what, man? It was one of those. things, you know. Exactly. It was It was. one of those things I I was I did go. through a point to I was like, man, I. gota I gotta get I gotta get right. When. that movie came, when we did that movie, I was crazy green, you know? I was. someone that was just happy to be on set. and you know walking around and being. around all these experienced actors and.

um and it's one of those things man yeah. they all got nominated. I've never gone. for that. I would love to have an. opportunity for a role like that to to. be nominated but I'm just to be honest. I'm just happy to still be here and. still be kicking you know. Are you I mean you think about your. first role and it's a movie like that. Now obviously at the time you don't know. it's going to be a movie like that. right? How does that make you feel now. to know that man I did that? I haven't I can say I haven't really.

reflected on it that way. Okay. Um you know I just when when people like. when you ask me about the movie the. things that I think about like I'll. never forget when I think about how. green I was because I never had a mentor. anybody in this industry. As a matter of. fact, you know, we talk about an Oscar. I literally after I did Boys in the. Hood, it was one of the biggest movies, you know, out. I literally went from. that to a sitcom. And back then, you.

didn't do that back then. It was either. you were either in movies or on. television show, but that's how much. guidance I didn't have. I wish I had. somebody, but I think back there's a. This is how green I was. My agent called. me. the movie was uh was performing. well. I mean, the movie was finished and. he said, "Hey, your movie is gonna go to. the Khan Film Festival." I was like, "Chan," I said, "How come they're not. gonna release it here?" You know, and that's just how green I was at the.

time, you know. Um, and not knowing that. that was, you know, it was a it was a. great response over there and and that. was a a catapult globally for the film. You mentioned that back then, you know, you you w you know, you did the movie. and then you did a sitcom. Do you regret. doing the sitcom or would do you wish. you had just stuck with movies? Why why. did you bring that up? Uh because it was it was a when I look. back, like I said, I've never really had. a mentor in the industry. Like I had an.

agent at that time to um an agent at. that time who just wanted me just to do. another job. Right. Right. So, when I talk about that, obviously, if I had to go back and do. things all over again, there's a lot of. things I would do differently. Um, but I. always like to bring that up because a. lot of times people come up to me, u. especi especially in LA, I'm at the gym. working out or playing ball. Hey man, you know, I want to get put on what I. have to do. I was like, all right, man.

So I always say like you know at that. time I wish I would have been I never. really I was in acting classes but I. wasn't really acting. I was just kind of. just going for the money, right? So I wish I would have studied more and. then when my agent pushed me towards. that so I have the experience in the. industry. to where when people come up to me I can. give them some pretty good guidance. because I've been around for a minute. Right. So you could give them sound. advice that you didn't get when you were. coming up. Without a doubt. And and without a. doubt. And I always like to go back to.

those things to tell them, hey, this is. what I went through. But, you know, most. of the time it falls on deaf ears. because a lot of people who come to LA, they kind of just they want to get. discovered on the street corner or they. want to, you know, they want to just go. to the party and, you know, get. discovered at a party and it it doesn't. work like that. That that's only in the movies that. they're not going to be in. Exactly. So, let me ask you this. If I. were to say, "Okay, Mo, give me your. your top five hood classic movies of all.

time, whether you've been in them or. not. Your top five.". Top five. Okay. All right. So, I'm a. little biased with Boys in the Hood, but. Okay. Uh, I'll go back to I don't know, you may be too young, too young for. this, but High was a classic. I remember Koolie High. Koulie High was a classic. Okay. Um, you know what? I have to say uh one. of my favorites. uh was Dead Presidents, you know, at. that time. the news brothers, they put it down with.

Dead President. Uh man, Love New Jack. Love New Jack City, right? Uh and then of course, you know, Friday. was is always going to be up there. Yes. So, I would have to Is that four or. five? How many is that? That's five. That's five. Okay. Yeah, that's five. It's It's hard. It's hard. because you leave you leave house party. out. Oh, yeah. Like you said, we I go back I go back to. penitentiary. Oh, right. Right. Right. That's right.

Right. Right. It is it is hard, you. know, and and I think I think the thing. is that I think it's the the thing that. that most affects people like like when. I look back, you know, in in. High, I really felt the motion just as. watching that movie. Um, you know, House. Part was funny. I love House Party, too. You know, maybe dance, but you know, I. really I really enjoyed. thinking back Dead Presidents, Loren. Tates, a friend of mine, performance. and Allan and and the Hughes brothers. I.

mean, they they put together a really. good piece. And. Chris Tucker in that movie was, you. know, he had a dramatic side to that. movie, which is good. So, there were a. lot lot of nice elements to that movie. Do is there do you do you wish there was. a movie that there could have been a. sequel to that you did in your career? Uh, let me see. I wish I, you know, I do, even though I wouldn't have been in it, I wish it would have been a sequel to. Boys in the Hood. A prequel. Let's do a prequel. Uh, yeah. I think I think Boys, I wish Boys, we.

could have done a We could have done a. sequel. Uh, we did a sequel to The Best. Man, which was cool. And we, you know, we may be doing something there again. soon. Okay. That franchise. Um, but. yeah, that that would be it. What what do you remember about your. first audition? My first audition since Okay, so that's. a tough one. So, what happened when I. was starting out? Uh they used to have. this thing called the drama log. It.

would come out every every Thursday. You. get in there, you find out, you know, who's you know who's looking. You submit. your picture. So, I would send my. picture out. So, I had auditions for. student films. I had auditions for films. that never even made it. Um, as a matter. of fact, you mentioned Penitentiary. One. of the films that I, one of my first big. auditions was for Penitentiary and one. of my other first big auditions. Yeah, it was an open call for 227.

Okay. So, uh, not penitent, it was it wasn't. it wasn't penitentiary. It was I think. it was penitentiary 2 who got the I. forgot the uh the director. I think it. was the same director. So, that's. So, is there a role that you turn down. that you that you wish you hadn't or. there's a role that man man I wish I'd. have got an opportunity to play that? Oh, yeah. There's there's always those. But there was I could I can say this. There was a role that uh there was a. role that I had an audition for and I'll.

tell you what it was in a minute. But at. the time after Boys in the Hood came. out, obviously, you know, Cuba and I we. had some attention. I was very green. I. had a long way to go in my development. as an actor. Cuba was already there. Cuba has always been on point, right? And so, uh, so we get auditioned for a. lot of lot of lot of the same roles. And. so, like even for Boys in the Hood, everyone when they first came in, they. read for the lead character and then. they placed me as Ricky, right? Um, but uh there was a role Cuba did it.

and Jerry Magcguire that he got. nominated for. It was a football player. and it was fun and I thought I was like, man, I I really worked on that script. I. really worked on it. It was a Tom Cruz. movie. I really worked on the script and. I went in there and I I thought I. thought I did a really good job in that. reading. Right. Yeah. When I saw the movie, I didn't have a. chance because it was just Cuba just. knocked it out the park, you know, with.

his choices. uh his choices. He was just incredible. So, you know, that happens that h that's. happened a couple of times actually to. where, you know, if I read for something. and uh because sometimes, you know, that's the one thing that I've learned. and I try to tell young actors because, you know, you have these roles to where. you figure it's going to be like a. lifechanging gamechanging role and then. you don't get it. But the thing about. this industry is as long as you work. hard and you do the work, what's for you.

is for you. You know, what's for you is. for you and nobody's going to be able to. take that away. Jerry Magcguire wasn't. for me. You know, that was for Cuba. When I mentioned you worked along Omar. Els, Tay Diggs, Jamie Fox, Terren. Howard, Kevin Hart, Lawrence Fishburn. Yeah. Of those guys, who brings out the best. Morris Chestnut on camera? Wow. Wow. That is uh that is a tough. one. I would have to say uh.

this is a true story. So. the one name one name you didn't mention. was Anthony Anderson from Black. Oh yeah. Okay. Yeah. So Anthony I work with Anthony Anderson. on the show. Now Anthony is hard working. with comedians and Anthony not a. comedian. As Anthony is a really funny. actor, very talented actor who can be. funny, right? Uh Kevin can be funny. They kind. of go on these riffs, right? I'll never forget I was doing a movie. with Anthony and the studio exec uh he. came down. He didn't always come to the.

set, but he came down this day and we. were doing a scene in the movie Two Can. That Game and Anthony was doing his. thing, you know. I'm like, "Okay, all. right, cool." And I thought I was doing. my thing, you know. They said, "Cut.". They're going to do my coverage. The the. studio executive pulled me to the side. and says, "You know what? Uh he he's. he's killing you in the scene. Anthony. is killing you in the scene. I was like, "What?" And uh and right then and there. So I got up and it was one of the best. scenes in the movie. So Anthony brings.

out a lot. You know what? I can say this. though. I did work with Robert Dairo. Okay. Working with Robert Dairo was something. that I always wanted to do. I wouldn't. have done this movie unless it was. unless it was with Robert Dairo. Okay. And um and that was the one time out of. all the people I've worked with uh uh. The Rock, Dei Moore, uh John Travolta, he was the He was the He was the only. person that I've ever worked with that.

I'm literally like sitting in the scene. I'm like and I'm like, man, that's. that's Robert Dairo. you know, you know, that was the only time ever that I've. ever been starruck with with Dro. As I mentioned in readin, you your your. career spans 30 years, 90s, 2010. Here. we are in 2020. What era. does Morris Chestnut says, okay, that's. the best era.

in terms of uh my stuff or just terms of. just the industry period? Yeah. your you your stuff. for me it was a it was a it was the. 2000s. It was 2000. That was that was a. that was a good time because I think the. best man came out in like 99. and then uh I had a I had I had a pretty. good run in the 2000s, you know, couple. took a couple chances on a few things. didn't work and then actually, you know, so then for the 2000s it was good and.

then we kind of hit DVDs went down, right? Netflix came up, DVDs went down and they. kind of stopped making certain movies, right? they wouldn't get the DVD. revenue, but I would say 2000s. Of all the movies you've done, all of. them from 90s to here we are today. What's your favorite movie? Wow. Now, that's a tough one because. whenever whenever someone asks me about. a movie, I know the person's asking me about the.

movie that they saw, right? But when I think about the movies, I. think about my experience on set. Okay? Um because it's really hard for me. to watch a movie over and over and over. again and it's it's really hard for me. to watch anything with myself because. I'm always cringing worrying about the. choices that I made. So I'm never. relaxed, right? So I always relate it back to the. experiences and I would say um I would. say. the best man was one of my favorite uh. experiences ever. I mean the movies are.

all kind of like my kids. I I love. everything about all of them because. it's a part of me. It's a part of my. experience in the industry. Um, but the. best man I had the best experience. Do you ever watch a movie with yourself. and like I should have done that. different. I should. not There's not There is not That's why. I can't do it. It's It's really hard. There's not There's not one thing that. I've ever done that I said, "Okay, cool. Let me let me drop the mic." Not one.

Not one. even, you know, I cringe when I. watch some of the stuff now because of. the choices that I make. But, uh, but. yeah, you know, it's, you know, like I. say, it's just I'm just fortunate. It's. just a blessing to to, you know, to to. uh to to haven't been able to do this. for such a long time. All right. I'm going some of your movies. and you tell me the first thing that. comes to your mind. Okay. A story. Okay. Higher learning. Higher learning. John Singleton, Omar. Eps, Ice Cube. I I like that movie.

because we got to work we actually. worked with a track coach. Okay. And one of the things that I love just. about being an actor is because we. always get to work with technical. adviserss for whatever we're doing, right? And um and I got a couple of workouts. from him at that time. So I I I remember. I remember working with the track coach, the rehearsals, the Ernest Green story. Wow. Wow. Oh, you want to take me back. there, huh? The Ernest Green story. Interestingly enough, the Ernest Green.

story um I had a great time in in. Arkansas, but I go back Eric Lannavville. who directed that movie. It was at the. start of my career and I've done some. real estate stuff. What I remember most. about that movie, I say it's always about the experience. outside of the movie or the show is Eric. Lavville at that time, uh he said, "Listen, you know, you're just starting. your career." Um he says, "Buy yourself. a duplex. Live in one half of the. duplex, rent out the other duplex. you'll always have a place to stay. So, I just remember his uh his sage real.

estate advice on the show. Uh, two can play that game. Two can play that game. Anthony Anderson. and I had a had a had a really good time. on that movie. Just laughing and having. fun with Anthony. Anthony, that was my. that was my first time working with. Anthony. And I knew right up in the at. the very beginning of the rehearsals. that this man will say anything. You. know, there's nothing that will. embarrass him that he can say about me,

himself, or anybody. So, uh I I I enjoy. working with her. And I love working. with Viv. I mean, at that time, Viva and. I had done a a television show together. prior to that movie. And so, when we. came together there, she was just uh. she's an incredible actress, actually. Think like a man. Think. think like a man. Now that experience. was uh I just think about Taraj Taj and. I had worked together prior to that. movie and just playing that role.

opposite her. Um the one thing that I. Taraji Henson I mean she is one she is. one of the and I know everybody knows. this but the finest actresses that I've. ever worked with. Um I matter of fact. when she she was in Not Easily Broken. She played my wife and at the time she I. think she had done Baby Boy and I forgot. what the other film that she had done. was everybody knew her from and I said. listen I want you to you know I you know. brought her in after to play my wife in.

this movie because I knew that she had. such a high level. So I really I really. appreciate even just in that short time. in that movie all of her talent. What about Girls Trip? That's one of my. favorite movies too. Girls Trip. girl. strip, you know. So, uh, uh, Tiffany. Hattish, she is she's. that's her breakout role. That's her breakout roles. I worked with. Tiffany. I did a stage play with Tiffany. and uh, in the stage play was one of the. touring plays that I did with her. Her.

character was, she killed it every. single night. She has some stuff in the. bag that nobody's seen yet. And when she. breaks it out, it's is is it's going to. be something. Do you feel you've played a role that. maybe you should have gotten nominated. for an Oscar, or you waiting for that role? Um, let me see. I I can say this. I can say that.

I've had some I can't really say. nominate for an Oscar. I mean, I I think. that I've had some I' I've played a. role, and I won't say what it is because. I want people coming at me, but I think. I played a role to where I've exhibited. a range of a range of emotion. And um I. think it should have gotten recognized. as something, but again, it's not really. I've never really. my goal has never been to get nominated. because that's always something that, you know, as an actor. that's objective that that's out of your. control.

It's out of my control. So, my thing is. I just want to just keep doing what I'm. doing. Whatever job I get, do it to the. best of my ability and keep it moving. Uh, who's on your Mount Rushmore of. black actors? Mount Rushmore. Well, one person who is just I mean, he can. take the whole the whole the whole. piece. And that's uh that's Denzel. Denzel. Denzel. It's hands down. And so what. people don't realize what people don't. realize about Denzel is for a for him to.

do what he's done for so long. fact it's it's it's incredible but. what's the most challenging thing as an. actor most actors at his level they're. either get the critical acclaim or they. get the box office acclaim right. Washington movies they're either making. a hund00 million dollars or they're. getting nominated every time they do. something. Dizel does both. His films go. past $100 million all the time and he's.

always getting nominated and he's done. it for 30 plus years. You know, I never. forget Denzel did he did a movie because. my mother was a an educator in uh Los. South Central Los Angeles. Um and he did. a a movie of the week uh George McKinn. story about her high school and I was in. I was in high school at that time. So. he's been doing being a leading man for. a long time. That's why it always kind. of bothered me when when people not. bother me, but people always say, "Ah,

he's just Denzel. He's just being. Denzel." First of all, people don't. understand. You know what I'm saying? People don't understand. the challenge of of being in front of a. camera. They think, "Oh, they can just. go in front of the camera and be. themselves." They don't because they. don't see the 30 million crew people. around you. They don't see the technical. aspect of it. Right. And uh Denzel makes great choices. He's. always entertaining to watch. So Denzel. is up there. Denzel's he's it. Yeah. Cuz Denzel convinced you that he's.

actually the person the character that. he's playing. He he he his mannerisms. was Malcolm X. His mannerisms were was. hurricane. His mannerisms are such that. you like, damn, he really that dude. But no, no, no. He just pretending to be. Right. And. to to you said to your point to being. subjective, I'll never forget. So, uh, when Training Day came out, man, I was like, Denzel, he did it. again. I I would always back then I would.

always run home and get online to see. what people were saying about the movie, right? And I literally went training day. I. would I ran home, got online, and people. were trying to knock his performance. and and ultimately obviously of course. he won the Academy of Award for it but. it's just like you say it's just so. subjective you can't please you you. can't please people. right just um speaking of if you could. give any advice to any upandcoming young.

black actors what would your advice be. my advice would something I wish I would. have done a long time ago but so the. thing about acting and I've been around. a long time I've seen a lot of people. come I've seen a lot of people go um. I've seen you know, people get their. shot and I've seen people not get their. shot. What I truly believe in my heart. of hearts and I I I just truly believe. this and I tell them when they come up. to me they're in the gym or wherever I. said, "Are you in an acting class?".

Because the one thing that I've seen is. when you're good and you and you focus. on your craft, you're going to get a. shot, right? You are gonna get a shot. It may be next. week. It may be next year. It may be in. the next five years, but you're gonna. you're gonna get your shot. You look at. somebody, you know, who I think is I. also think is talented. Um, Idris Ela. Have you seen Luther? Yes. He smashed Luther, but he was around in.

The Wire, you know, he really didn't get. his breakout role. He did The Wire, didn't get his breakout role till later. He's a supreme supremely talent talented. actor. So, you know, as long as you're. good, just keep focused on your craft. and keep your eye on the main thing. Speaking of legacy, uh, how do you think. Chadwick Boseman, we lost a a great a. great one a couple of months ago. What. do you think his legacy will be? How do. you think he will be remembered? I think he will be remembered from uh. from Black Panther. I mean, he he's.

played a lot of legends. Um, I I. personally believe, talk about. nominated. Have you seen Did you see him. in James Brown? I did. He was unbelievable. H. How did he not get nominated for James. Brown? You know, Jackie Robinson story. He was. unbelievable in the Jackie Robinson. story. In the Jackie Robinson story. So, you. know, um I think Black Panther and James. Brown for me, those are my signature. movies for him. I to be honest with you. the the the the sad part about it uh you.

know and I don't want to say selfishly. but just as an admirer of his work. I still think he had a lot a lot a lot. ahead of him you know and I would have. loved to have seen whatever he had. upcoming. you you know what you play a lot of. athletes and you I look at boys in the. hood the best man all this game. playing. what is it what is it I mean obviously. you have the physique you can pull it. off because people you seem like belie. some guys are like man they couldn't be.

no football player it couldn't be no. athlete but you pull off do you get do. you really enjoy playing those roles. I do I do I do because you know I you. know I wanted to be an athlete you know. when I was coming up and you know um and. I that's and the thing about also is you. know you somewhat get typ cast me that's. how people see me you know that's how. the uh the powers that be see me as an. athlete and and I mind that, you know, people always come up to me, you you get. tired of being type cash, you get tired. of this, tired of that, you get tired of. people calling you Ricky? And the answer.

is no, because I don't get tired of. cashing them checks. Well, if you go if you go to work, if. you go to work every day for 25 years, do you get tired of going to work? No, I. get I don't get tired of making this. money. Exactly. That and you know, when I I I. never forget when I first started out. And I was always, man, if I could just. do something that people will recognize. me for so I can get my next job. If I.

could just do something that people will. see. And I've never forgotten that. When So, how long does it take you to. get I mean, obviously you talk about you. work out, you hoop. Yeah. How long does it take you to get in. shape or are they like, "Okay, I'm good. You just keep doing what you're doing.". Does it really take you four weeks, six. weeks, eight weeks to get in shape for a. movie? It depends on So, you know, I've. seen your Instagram. I've seen your. diet. I've seen your oatmeals and all. that stuff. I've been checking you out, you know, and I do that, but I I I have. a a bad bad sweet tooth, right? And so,

um, so I need I just need a I need a. heads up before like the shirtless. scenes. I just need a heads up before those. Being in LA, born and raised in LA, Lakers winning the championship. Yep. It's uh man uh you know it's it's. uh excuse me it's it's bittersweet you. know because Kobe wasn't there you know. and I you know I I literally saw Kobe. two weeks before he passed.

but uh I'm glad we were able to do it. for for for Kobe. I'm glad we were able. to do it again. You know I know you're a. big LeBron James fan and and of course. I'm glad we have LeBron and and uh. hopefully we can get another one. Give. me your top five Lakers all time since. you know the Lakers. You've been in LA. your whole life. So you you go you go. way back. I go way back. Magic. I mean Magic has. to be uh I love Kobe. I love Shaq. But.

that magic and that magic those Showtime. days. I mean just the the the energy. We. had energy with Kobe and Shaq and even. with Kobe with the but it was nothing. like the Showtime energy and what Magic. was doing and Magic playing center and. so I'd have to say my top three. You. said top three. Top five. Top five. Yeah. Magic uh. uh recency bias with with with Kobe and. Shaq. Okay. I put uh. Kareem of course.

Okay. And uh and Worthy. That's not a bad list. I mean, anytime. you leave off Chamberlain, uh uh uh the. logo Jerry West. before, listen, I never used to I never. used to watch basketball until really. Magic and Showtime got me interested in. basketball. I've always loved football. So, going back to to Jerry West and. Chamberlain and cast that I've never. seen play live because this is the thing. for me, it's something about seeing. somebody playing live. Yes. In that.

moment, right? We can go back and look. at the tapes, but it's not going to be. the same with the game on the line down. by one. You need a bucket with that. emotion there. So, that's that's the. only reason why I left off Chamberlain. and uh logo. There's nothing wrong with that. So, rappers, you you like you like music. Give me your top Give me your top. rappers. So, okay. So, I'm a little I'm a little. biased. I think the uh the best lyricist.

is Ice Cube. I mean, okay. People gotta go back and and and. and look at some of listen look at. Cube's lyrics. He was writing for NWA. and uh so I like you know Cube of course. Pac Biggie uh and and and and Jay. uh. yeah there's a lot of cats out there. that are doing it though, you know. Uh. you know I'll say I'll say another one. that you know he had one album that was. my favorite my favorite I should say. tape. My favorite cassette tape was DJ.

Quick for a long time, right? So DJ Quick was a local boy. Are you surprised? I mean, actors want to be want to be athletes. Athletes want to be rappers. Rappers. want to be entertainers, right? What's the What's the appeal? What's the. crossover appeal? That's interesting. I think it's uh I. think part of it I think to do what I do. to do what you've done you know you need. to have that ambition that ambition.

first and foremost and when you're. ambitious I think that you just look at. opportunities you know and if you and if. you have if you have something that you. feel is secure you're looking for the. next opportunity right. you know you always want what you can't. have you know so uh I feel it's just. just ambitious people who uh who who. wanna to search for more opportunities. A 30 I'mma wrap it up with this one. A 30-year. movie career, a 15-year NFL career, or.

20 or or a 20 year music career. If you. had to do a movie, I'm talking to a. 18-year-old Morris Chestnut. Wow. You know what's crazy is an. 18year-old Morris Chestnut. I would have. I would have wanted to be a football. player over everything because 18 I. wouldn't think about no acting. I was. thinking entering I would want to be. then was that would have been the. shortest career career all.

it did because you said hold on I'm 33 I. can get into acting now. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. And that's the. thing but at 18 you're not realizing. that you're not thinking that way. You. know what you want and you're going. after what you want, you know. Bro, Mo, I really appreciate the time, man. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it, man. And we gonna be watching you. Thank you, man. Let me just plug Can I. just plug uh. Go ahead. Plug it. GSC Life on Instagram and um Instagram,

Twitter uh for uh Facebook for the for. the podcast. The resident comes out. January 6th. And uh and uh yeah, check. out Spell. We're gonna be watching you, bro. Thank you. I appreciate you. Thank you, man. Thank you. Appreciate. you. Thank you. Have a good one. Grinding all my life. Sacrifice hustle. paid the price. Want a slice. Got to. roll the dice. That's why all my life. I've been grinding all my life. All my. life been grinding all my life.

Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price. Want. a slice. Got to roll a dice. That's why. all my life I've been grinding all my. life. [Music]. You know what to do. Hit the subscribe. button to become an official member of. Club Shay, where we always do something. before two.