USA: It's a family affair for actor Will Smith at the premiere of "The Pursuit of Happyness"

Record ID: 220555

  • Title: USA: It's a family affair for actor Will Smith at the premiere of "The Pursuit of Happyness"
  • Date: 14th December 2006
  • Summary: JADEN SMITH ON THE RED CARPET
  • Embargoed: 29th December 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Communications
  • Reuters ID: LVAF4QJG6HKCOZVPI1AQWL99FEJ1
  • Story Text: Actor Will Smith was joined by his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, son and co-star Jaden Smith, and the real-life inspiration behind "The Pursuit of Happyness" at the film's premiere in Los Angeles on Thursday (Decemebr 7) .
    The film is based on the memoirs of Chris Gardner, who struggled to raise his son in poverty during the recession-hit 1980s before hitting it big as a self-made millionaire and CEO of a Chicago-based brokerage firm. Gardner was on hand during the making of the film to make sure it was as true to life as possible, and also to act as a mentor to Smith in his research for the role:
    "Oh absolutely, I''ve always had mentors and people there to guide me at those crucial moments, and that's what's so amazing to me about Chris Gardner's story. This is a man who almost had nobody, it was almost completely by himself, he and his son against the world, and what he was able to create inside of him, and the idea or the dream, whatever you want to call it, that he was able to hold on to and to command that the universe be what he wants it to be, it's a wonderfully mythologically powerful story," said "The Pursuit of Happyness" star Will Smith.
    Set in San Francisco, Gardner is a bright young salesman, who is struggling to make ends meet. After landing an internship with a prestigious stock brokerage firm, Gardner finds himself and his five-year-old son Christopher, played by Smith's real son Jaden Smith, evicted from their San Francisco apartment. Without family or a place to go, he and his son become homeless, spending nights in shelters, while pursuing the dream of a better life. Gardner still can't believe where he's gotten since his days in poverty, and can't imagine any other person but Will Smith portraying him in the movie of his life:
    "Oh absolutely, I''ve always had mentors and people there to guide me at those crucial moments, and that's what's so amazing to me about Chris Gardner's story. This is a man who almost had nobody, it was almost completely by himself, he and his son against the world, and what he was able to create inside of him, and the idea or the dream, whatever you want to call it, that he was able to hold on to and to command that the universe be what he wants it to be, it's a wonderfully mythologically powerful story," says "The Pursuit of Happyness" author and real-life inspiration for the film Chris Gardner.
    Filming the project took Gardner back to the San Francisco he faced during his hard times. The film was shot in Chinatown, as well as the financial district, and the city's Tenderloin district -- long regarded as the underbelly of the city, where many homeless and drug addicts still live today. But it wasn't just the grittiness of the story or the bond between Gardner and Smith that brings the story to life on-screen.
    In his acting debut, Jaden Smith gives a wonderfully endearing performance, his rawness and sincerity cementing the father-son story.
    Mother Jada Pinkett-Smith recalls the auditions that her son had to endure before finally winning the role, and offers her support to Jaden should he decide to follow his parents career-wise:
    "I mean, it's really up to him, I mean, he decided that he wanted to audition for this particular role and he got it, and it seems like it's something that he wants to continue to do, I mean for Will and I, this is what we do, this is what we know, this is where we can be most helpful, so by all means it would sure do us some good if it's something that he wants to do. So I don't mind it at all," says actress and wife of Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
    Will Smith says at the beginning there were some concerns that as Jaden's father, he might have trouble focusing in some scenes. But, he says, the reality is that working with his son was a wonderful experience that made depicting Gardner's story that much easier. Some are already touting the performance as Smith's best to date, and if his luck is as good as the character that he plays, perhaps there will be some awards in store for him this-coming season.
    The Pursuit of Happyness opens in theaters on December 15th.
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