Will Smith: talks about his new movie 'I, Robot,' his growth as an actor & why music is his first love

Jet, July 19, 2004 by Marti Yarbrough

Summertime and blockbuster movies go hand in hand, if you're Will Smith that is. The action hero is back on the big screen as Detective Del Spooner in 1, Robot, a new high-tech, sci-fi thriller that is sure to keep his blockbuster record intact.

Smith talks to JET about his new movie, his growth as an actor, and why music is still his first love.

I, Robot, based on the 1950s book of short stories by the late science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, takes place in Chicago during the year 2035. In the future humans still occupy the earth, but not without the aid of the trusted robots that have completely integrated into everyday society.

As Spooner, it is Smith's job to investigate a murder that may have been committed by one of these trusted machines--a discovery that could possibly threaten the human race.

Smith says he was lured to this innovative movie partly because of his addiction to high-tech gadgets.

"I'm a real science-fiction junky, so the concept of future technology is always interesting to me," he says. "I've got all the latest everything."

"What attracted me to this film is the concept that the robots aren't the problem. The technology is not the problem. It's the limits of human logic that are the problem, and essentially we are our own worst enemy."

"When you take something that has lived for a while, like the I, Robot series, there's a real powerful, intellectual, base to the material that gives you a great springboard."

Another thing that enticed Smith to the role was the idea of playing a troubled character.

"This character is much more serious than the characters that I've played [in the past]. Generally, most of the characters that I've played in my career have a pretty good emotional grip on the universe. But, this is a guy who just doesn't understand why things are the way they are."

Spooner has an aversion to technology and to robots. This detective, who yearns for the simpler times, is described by Smith as a robo-phobic who suffers from a psychological condition called survivors' guilt.

"This condition tends to manifest itself into paranoia," says Smith. "To dive in and understand paranoia was interesting because that is not me at all. So, it's a different twist for me."

To bring the world of robots to life visual effects were used to develop a new level of photo-realism, which created computer generated images (CGI) that merged seamlessly with practical set designs and human characters.

For the actual filming, real people who wore green special effects suits, were put in place of the robots. Visual effects artists later replaced the humans with the CGI robots that the audience sees on the silver screen.

I, Robot, directed by Alex Proyas, also stars Chi McBride, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell and Alan Tudyk. Smith praises the director for having the vision to combine a variety of movie styles flawlessly into one.

"I, Robot is a particularly interesting mix of genres," Smith says. "It's a high-tech action movie, a special effects film, a romantic drama, and a murder mystery. How Alex Proyas took the film back and forth through all of these different types of genres is brilliant. Alex is breaking genre rules and creating something that is going to be new and special."

Creating things that are new and special is something that Smith does well. During the '80s the young Philly rapper who called himself the Fresh Prince, teamed up with friend Jeff Townes, aka DJ Jazzy Jeff, to form DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. The duo became the first rap group to ever win a prestigious Grammy Award for their 1988 hit Parents Just Don't Understand.

Smith went on to win another Grammy with Jazzy Jeff for Summertime and two more as a solo artist for Men In Black, the theme song to the movie, and for Getting" Jiggy Wit It.

Since beginning his acting career in 1990 on the TV comedy "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," Smith has earned a reputation for drawing the crowds. After starring in the successful box-office hit movies Independence Day, Men In Black, Men In Black II, Bad Boys, Bad Boys II and All, he is reported to command an impressive $20 million per movie.

Smith, the actor, has honed his skill since his "Bel-Air" days taking on roles that have transformed him into a con artist, a cop, a special agent, a champion boxer, and even a cowboy.

"I guess that the growth that I've had has been in life experience and essentially in learning how to study more effectively," says Smith of his acting abilities. "The biggest discovery that I've had is that acting is essentially psychology. Whenever I get a script that I like, the first thing that I do is get a psychological breakdown of the character."

At the age of 35 Smith is in tip-top shape. At this stage in his career he believes that he has "a few more years of action movies" left in him.

"I'm taking advantage of that time right now while my body still works well, and while I can still take off my shirt and look sexy," he laughs. "As I start to get older, around 40, 42, I'm going to start settling down a little bit and discover that more intellectual and emotional side of myself in my work."