Shannon Renee had the opportunity to sit down with the star of the new Aretha Franklin biopic 'Respect', Jennifer Hudson, and the film's director, Liesl Tommy!
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00:00I had the opportunity to see the film last week, which was absolutely amazing.
00:04I hope everyone gets to check it out.
00:06And I know that I learned several things about Aretha that I didn't know.
00:09Wow.
00:10For you, either performing at her funeral, having conversations with her or, you know,
00:15doing the film, is there something that you learned about Aretha that you did not know that was very interesting?
00:19I didn't realize how present she was in activism and to see how close her and Dr. King were,
00:27which ended up helping me in the film to deliver those things, you know,
00:31because it just gave it more subtext and undertone for me to be able to deliver those things.
00:38That was definitely something for me as well.
00:40Yes.
00:41What is your favorite Aretha song to perform in? Is it your favorite Aretha song?
00:45Is it?
00:46Yeah.
00:47Oh, there's no such a thing as it.
00:48There's so many, right?
00:50My favorite, that's the hardest question to answer, but I love Ain't No Way.
00:56I don't ever want to just pick one.
00:58I love Amazing Grace.
00:59I love All The King's Horses, which is not in the film.
01:02I love Oh Me, Oh My, which I got the sing for her on my 30th birthday in tribute,
01:06and I could go on and on, but I'm going to try to stop it.
01:08That's amazing.
01:09So there's a point in the film where you forget that Jennifer Hudson is playing Aretha,
01:14and you really buy into the character.
01:17And for me, I think if you're in a position where you have to pick up the pieces in any part of your life,
01:21you can absolutely connect in a lot of the scenes to that.
01:24Where did you go to become Aretha for the character?
01:27Wow.
01:28You know what?
01:29I didn't try to go anywhere.
01:30I just tried to live in that moment and tap into, like, I wanted to experience it as she did in her life in real time there.
01:40And what I mean by that, like, when she was learning Ain't No Way, for example, like I just said, I'm a fan.
01:45So Jennifer Hudson knows the songs.
01:47Well, in this moment, Aretha does it.
01:49Uh-huh.
01:50She's learning the song.
01:51So to experience it in that way, like she did.
01:53You know, so, or the Amazing Grace scene.
01:56Uh-huh.
01:57It's church.
01:58Yeah.
01:59She did it live.
02:00Okay, well, let's do it live.
02:01Let's feel it like she felt it, you know?
02:02That's amazing.
02:03Yeah.
02:04That's awesome.
02:05And then Liesl, was it difficult to find or to pick locations to shoot in Detroit for the film?
02:09We actually shot in New York and Atlanta.
02:11Okay.
02:12And, you know, Atlanta actually has a lot of architecture that's very similar to Detroit.
02:16Uh-huh.
02:17You know, so wanting this film to be as glamorous and as sophisticated, as aspirational as possible
02:25in terms of the costumes, in terms of the set design, the shots, you know, we were really
02:31meticulous about finding those spots.
02:33It really was amazing.
02:34I love the scene where everyone's in the house and, you know, young Aretha singing and it's amazing.
02:39And what do you hope that everyone takes away from the film?
02:41I wanted this film to be a true tribute to her.
02:47I wanted her legacy to be up there in a major motion picture in a way that would make her undeniable
02:54to the people who know and love her and to the people who are just learning about her.
02:58A film is forever.
03:00And the images of her story up there, people will understand how great she was and what an enormous influence she had on music and on culture in the world, not just America, but the world.
03:13Yeah, she was great.
03:14I got a couple opportunities to work with her.
03:15I think she's just such an amazing woman.
03:17Yeah.
03:18And then I want to have some fun now.
03:19Oh, yay.
03:20Fun.
03:21You have quite a female characters that are attractive.
03:24And so my co-host Zaney Kay usually does this segment with our other guests.
03:31So we want to know how fine is he?
03:33So like Marlon Wayans, is he funny fine?
03:36Like something like that.
03:37Marlon is charmingly fine.
03:39He's charmingly fine.
03:40Yes.
03:41And, but very silly, but mature at the same time.
03:46Like I forget how old he is at times.
03:49Marlon is like the whole package fine.
03:51Yeah.
03:52You know, cause you know, we like a funny man too.
03:57Yeah.
03:58He's so sensitive.
03:59I mean, he took care of her so much on that set.
04:01It was really cute to watch.
04:02I usually, I think I've used to see him in funny roles.
04:04The same in a serious role like that was great to see.
04:07Good.
04:08How about Albert Jones?
04:09Albert Jones.
04:10Albert Jones.
04:11Cunningham.
04:12Yes.
04:13I mean, I think Albert Jones is muscly fine.
04:16I'll let you take that one.
04:21And he's also an exquisite actor.
04:23He's just like, also the whole package.
04:25He was really great.
04:26Yeah.
04:27And how about Forrest Whitaker?
04:29Classically fine.
04:30Yes.
04:31Like seasoned on another level.
04:34Yeah.
04:35On another level fine.
04:36That's right, Jennifer.
04:37Yes.
04:38He's got to work with.
04:39And obviously you guys, I'm sure that they feel the same way about you.
04:42Yes.
04:43So thank you ladies so much for the opportunity.
04:45It's a pleasure.
04:46It is in theaters on August 13th.
04:47And I hope everyone gets an opportunity to see it because I absolutely love the movie.
04:50I actually cried during the movie too.
04:51Wonderful.
04:52I was hoping my co-host didn't see it because he probably would make fun of me, but I hope
04:55everybody gets to see it.
04:56It's an amazing film.
04:57Awesome.
04:58Thank you so much.
05:00Thanks for listening.