By tayyib smith  |  Send to Friend

Yes, if you're asking, I was an extra in Mark Webber's new film, Explicit Ills. Essentially, it was eight hours of waiting around for an epic two-second cameo, with no lines -- but for Webber, I'd do most anything. I can't remember where it was that we first met a few years ago, probably at a party or a recording session for The Roots' Game Theory album in Philly. Since then, we've been trading ideas and dialogue on facebook/twitter and ending up at the same parties. In that way, it was sort of destined that I'd end up talking to him first for my series of "Interviews with Influencers," after all, Webber's one of the only things I like that ever came out of Fishtown (shout out to one of the others,  Sweeney).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is you're  profession, how do you make a living?
I'm an actor/director/writer/producer. That's how I pay the bills ... when I pay the bills.

What is the best experience you've had in recent memory?
The home birth of my son. 100% all natural. Just me, my girl and our midwife. Born right in the living room. The most incredible feeling ever.

What award, project or  accomplishment are you most proud of?
Right now it would have to be Explicit Ills, my directorial debut. I wrote it,  produced, directed it and did what is becoming more and more impossible now a days, got it in theaters. Really proud of that. But pride is a deadly trap, so I don't stay stuck on that "I'm the fucking man" feeling for too long.

If you could apologize for a past misdeed, wrong doing, sin, or error, right here for the world to see what would it be and to whom?
I would like to apologize to Chestnut Hill. I was a teenager. I was broke. I'm sorry.

What was your most recent epiphany?
I am nothing and everything at the exact same time.

Give me a quick a dirty synopsis of how the film went from your initial idea to the release this week?
I started writing down ideas of things I would like to see in a film. Then I personalized it. Molding characters from my life experiences. Writing scenes for specific locations in Philly. I finished the script in about three months and then started sending it off to the actors I wanted involved, one of the first being Tariq Trotter. I actually wrote the part of "Kaleef" for him. I was honored when he agreed to be a part of the film because of how much THE ROOTS music impacts my life. I was able to bypass a lot of bullshit because of my friendships with the actors I reached out to. Rosario Dawson has been a friend since we did a film called Chelsea Walls together. Paul Dano has been a friend since we did Weapons together. Etc.

Then I took the script with these cast attachments to my friend Jim Jarmusch, I got him to read it, he loved it and agreed to be my executive producer. Now I had a pretty solid "package" as the industry calls it. I got my friends Sol Tryon, Seth Scher and Liz Destro to help me produce. After about another three months of blood, sweat and tears we had a million bucks in the bank and were on our way to Philly to shoot. The shoot was the most rewarding and hardest thing I have ever done in my artistic lifetime. Edited with the incredible Jay Rabinowitz. Got into SXSW. Won the audience award and best cinematography. Got some great reviews. Got a big buzz. Got distribution offers. Negotiated a good deal with an awesome company called Peace Arch. Now: it's coming to a theater near you!

First came Friendster, than myspace, now Facebook and Twitter: Which social networks do you frequent, how often, and how do  you feel it adds value to your life?
Twitter and Facebook way too much. Gotta chill. Helps with getting the word out about your endeavors. But it can be very consuming and a tad too self important at times. Check me out at: http://twitter.com/likemark !!!! See? Damn.

What are your top three favorite brands and why?
Sun Warrior: The best raw vegan protein powder. American Apparel: sweatshop-free staples. Apple: best computers.

Which artist, musicians, writers, philosophers, or icons have been most influential in shaping your aesthetic reasoning?
No one in particular pops up in my head. So ... everyone I have ever met in my life.

What is your earliest memory from childhood?
The smell of my mother's hair.

If the world were ending tomorrow and you could have one last feast, what and where would you eat, and who would you dine with?
In an empty lot somewhere off 5th Street, handing out food to people in need.

You are flying from LAX to Honolulu, and end up trapped on a uncharted island with a really annoying group of people for three months, with a broken iPod that only plays three albums. If you could choose said albums, which would you choose and why?
THE ROOTS: Do you want more?! ( yes I do ... forever) NAS: "Illmatic" (you know why) BRIGHT EYES: "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning." ( Nice and depressing ).

Now that you are a producer/director, what projects or endeavors can we expect from you in 2009 and beyond?
I'm working on my next screenplay. It's way too young to talk about. It's needs to grow up a bit more. I'm off to Toronto for five months to star in a film with Michael Cera called Scott Pilgrim vs The World. Based on the graphic novel. It's sick.

A lot of our mutual acquaintances from Philly  have become very successful: Grammy nominations, awards, TV shows etc. What do you attribute that energy too?
Pretzels and Water Ice.

Last question: What were the places/bars, spaces, parties, DJs, etc you remember most fondly from the time in Philly the movie captures?
NOPE, DASAR, MEAK, ZENER, ESPO, NEMEL, DERO, RAKAN, PROPER, SPEED,AIA, KMD, 514, PRK.HOPE ST. 5TH ST. SCHMIDT'S BREWERY.

www.explicitillsthemovie.com