A coach on and off camera

Denzel Washington goes long in 'Remember the Titans'

By Jodi Ross
CNN Correspondent

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington is at it again. His role in "Remember The Titans" is one he can add to his growing list of playing real-life, strong black men.

This time, he tackles the part of a football coach at an integrated Virginia high school in 1971.

The film, based on the real-life story of coach Herman Boone, is the first film under Jerry Bruckheimer's new Technical Black banner, created so that the producer of "Armageddon" (1998) and "Top Gun" (1996) can make smaller-budget movies.

The production also stars Will Patton and a cast of relative newcomers including Donald Faison, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Kip Pardue and Hayden Panettiere. "Remember the Titans" opens nationwide on Friday, September 29.

VIDEO Movie trailer 'Remember the Titans' Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO Denzel Washington on working with the 'Titan' cast 96K WAV sound

CNN Showbiz Today talked to Washington about coaching the cast and making a meaningful movie. And let us not forget about how much he loved blowing that whistle.

CNN: Any reluctance on your part to play real-life people? Do you ever hesitate?

Denzel Washington: I was hesitant at first, coming right off of "Hurricane" (1999). And this is no disrespect to Coach Boone -- it's really not about the coaches, it's about the kids. ... It's not about two old guys sitting around making speeches, and I say "old" because I played one of them.

CNN: Is it an important story to tell? You often tell important stories through your characters. Do you think about that when you look at a script?

Washington: This is a fun story, you know. And, sometimes when you say "important," that sounds like "Oh, it's not entertainment." This is a very entertaining picture. It's a fun, upbeat, rah-rah, make-you-feel-good, cry-a-little-bit kind of film, and I think that's a credit to Boaz (director Boaz Yakin) and to Jerry (Bruckheimer) and to (writer) Greg Howard for finding this story and following through on it.

CNN: The the boys in the film said they learned a lot from you. Did you learn anything from them?

Washington: One of the things I learned is, it's important to share what you know, because they were sitting around and they were hungry and they were asking me questions. I was coaching on and off the camera, in front of and behind the camera.

It's a different generation. These guys are 20 or 25, and I'm 45, so they want to know "How did you do this? What do you feel?" ... So it was sort of a parent, father-son relationship for me and them.

CNN: You've never played a bad guy -- a guy with a bad heart. Have you?

Washington: Well, I'm working on a picture now, but it's not a guy with a bad heart. But he takes over a hospital at gunpoint so that his son can get a heart transplant. But after that, I'm playing an undercover cop who's a murderer, drug dealer.

CNN: Do you think people want to see you play a bad guy?

Washington: I didn't say he was a bad guy; the wages of sin are death. And he goes out in a very violent way. He has a twisted point of view.

CNN: "Remember the Titans" cost about $20 million. That could be your salary on some films.

Washington: Not my films! I haven't gotten $20 million.

CNN: If the entire film costs that, everybody's taking a pay cut. What is it about this movie or any film that makes it OK to take a pay cut?

Washington: Well, first of all, I believe in the picture. And I think it was a good idea to make this picture for a smaller price tag because it is taking a risk, and now I think we've fashioned a good film. And the rewards can be even better. ... But I think they fashioned a wonderful film, Boaz and Jerry Bruckheimer. I think they're gonna make their money back.

CNN: What's the risk?

Washington: It's the story, ... a story about young blacks and whites coming together in 1971, (and) football: That that may not sound right to guys who are crunching numbers up in the big building. .... And I know Jerry had a hard time trying to raise the money because it is a tricky kind of a story. But I think they should never underestimate Jerry Bruckheimer.

CNN: It's hard to believe he ever has trouble raising money.

Washington: This was really in his heart. He really wanted to make this picture; he loves this story and he believes in it. I've made two pictures with him, and the other one was a bigger film -- "Crimson Tide" (1995) -- but he's a very passionate producer.

CNN: You like working with him?

Washington: Yes, absolutely.

CNN: You like working with all these guys, the cast?

Washington: I loved it. We're playing football. What's hard about that? I'm blowing whistles, they're doing what I say and we win.

CNN: What could be better?

Washington: Yeah, what's the hard part?

'Hurricane' dealing with storm of controversy
February 7, 2000

Remember the Titans

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