SOUTH AFRICA: NELSON MANDELA AND WILL SMITH ATTEND THE FILM PREMIERE OF "ALI"

Record ID: 392542

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: NELSON MANDELA AND WILL SMITH ATTEND THE FILM PREMIERE OF "ALI"
  • Date: 3rd March 2002
  • Summary: NU METRO CINEMA (MONTECASINO), JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (MARCH 03, 2002) (REUTERS) (EXTERIOR/NIGHT) WILL SMITH ARRIVING (WITH HIS SON JADEN) AS CROWD SHAKING HIS HANDS AND CHEERING (0.34) VARIOUS POSTER OF THE FILM "ALI" (INTERIOR) VARIOUS AUDIENCE CLAPPING (0.46) NELSON MANDELA BEING BROUGHT TO THE PODIUM BY SOUTH AFRICAN CO-PRODUCER ANANT SINGH (0.58) (SOUNDBITE) (English) NELSON MANDELA SAYING: "To move as he did, to float like a butterfly, and to sting like a bee was something that was realistic (Applause) I think he was the very first heavy weight to move on his feet" CUTAWAY OF AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NELSON MANDELA SAYING: "He brought a new kind of legend in boxing and I am very happy indeed to be here, to join you in paying tribute to my hero and the hero of millions right across the seas." CUTAWAY OF AUDIENCE MICHAEL MANN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MOVIE INTRODUCING WILL SMITH (SOUNDBITE) (English) WILL SMITH SAYING: "Thank-you. This film is a result of almost five years of dedication. This film is a result of passion on the part of thousands of people. Specifically like to thank the people of South Africa the majority of the crew that we worked with in Mozambique was a South African crew that helped us to film the final forty minutes of this picture. This film was a personal journey for me. I'll forever be changed. When you have the opportunity as Michael and I did to wear the robe of greatness - to define greatness, to study it, to understand what greatness is and for a few brief fleeting moments to actually live that greatness, to actually feel and become Muhammed Ali. it has a certain bitter sweet nature to it because it's a wonderful feeling to feel that greatness and to understand it but then afterwards to have to just take it off and go back to being Will Smith again." (3.42) CUTAWAY OF WILL SMITH'S SON JADEN SITTING ON MANDELA'S LAP LISTENING TO HIS FATHER SPEAKING. (3.46) (SOUNDBITE) (English) WILL SMITH SAYING: "As a tribute to Michael Mann, my experiences really mirrored those experiences of Muhammad Ali and I both grew up secluded in the boundaries of America, completely unaware of all that existed in Africa..." AUDIENCE APPLAUDING (4.31) VARIOUS OF PHOTO OF MANDELA AND MUHAMMED ALI BEING AUCTIONED (4.45) WILL SMITH BIDING FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND RAND AND EVENTUALLY BIDDING ONE MILLION RAND (5.06) AUDIENCE IN STANDING OVATION (5.11) A PAIR OF BOXING GLOVES BEING AUCTIONED (5.14) WILL SMITH PLAYING THE PART OF THE AUCTIONEER AS JOKING (5.23)
  • Embargoed: 18th March 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: General,Politics,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7QU102H08TW7EV2R71NVXAJBR
  • Story Text: Nelson Mandela and Will Smith have attended the South African premiere of Smith's latest knockout film, "Ali" , in Johannesburg.
    The film, in which Smith plays former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, premiered on Sunday (March 3).
    Also attending was the director, Michael Mann, South African film producer Anant Singh, and many cabinet ministers and local stars.
    Howard Bingham read a message from Ali himself in which he paid tribute to Mandela. With an Oscar nomination for "Ali"
    and the blockbuster "Men in Black II" poised for release, Smith is Hollywood's hottest property. He commands fees of more than $20-million a film.
    "Ali" is an epic drama about the most famous controversial international sports hero of all time, Muhammad Ali. I am very happy to be here to pay tribute, . to my hero." said the former South African president Mandela about his friend Ali.
    Mandela himself is a former boxer.
    Later, Smith bid one million rand ($88, 500) at a charity auction for a photo of Mandela throwing a left hook at Ali.
    The film has particular relevance for South Africans today, not only because Muhammad Ali shares a close relationship with Nelson Mandela, but also because it has been filmed largely in neighbouring Mozambique, where the film-makers used the skills of both local people and many South Africans. "Ali" has had mixed reviews and has had a relatively low take at the box office.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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