CheekyChicago

Rapper T.I. does double-duty as an actor and co-producer in the new heist movie Takers opening on August 27. The star-studded cast includes Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Chris Brown and Hayden Christensen and gives T.I. his biggest role to date. On the red carpet for the Chicago screening, T.I. revealed his role models, dream career and what makes our city cool.

Cheeky: Who are your role models?

T.I.: Ambassador Andrew Young, Barack Obama, Denzel, Will Smith and my uncle.

Cheeky: If you could pick one actor’s career that you would aspire to have, who would it be?

T.I.: Probably somewhere between Will Smith and Denzel.

Cheeky: What attracted you to the movie Takers?

T.I.: The action, the story and the opportunity to come onboard as an executive producer. Also the opportunity to work with such an ensemble cast of heavy-hitters and prestigious, methodical actors.

Cheeky: Who did you learn the most from in the cast?

T.I.: I’d say Idris (Elba).

Cheeky: What are your favorite things to do in Chicago?

T.I.: I’m asking you, what are your favorite things?

Cheeky: If you’re in Chicago, you have to eat!

T.I.: Of course! But in the summer the cast of festivals over by Lakeshore Drive are cool too.

Film producer Will Packer (Stomp The Yard and This Christmas) also stopped to chat with Cheeky about his road to Hollywood and bringing Takers to the big screen.

Cheeky: What’s your background? I read you started in electrical engineering…

Will Packer: Yep – electrical engineering. A funny thing happened on the way to Hollywood. I graduated magna cum laude in engineering.

Cheeky: Where did your passion for film develop?

WP: I’ve got to give a lot of credit to my business partner, a guy named Rob Hardy. He wanted to be the next Spike Lee. So it’s interesting how the next generation looks at the people before them and hopefully somebody will look at the work that I’m able to do, that Jason (co-producer) is able to do, the work that T.I. is able to do and say, “You know what, I want to do what they’re doing.  I want to be there.” And that will be the next generation of filmmakers. That’s what happened for Rob. He was inspired and said, “I want to go and be a film director” and I helped him start his dream and follow his passion and lo and behold, that’s what they call producing in Hollywood.

Cheeky: How did you choose this project?

WP: The script – we got a good script. It had been floating around for a while, I got it, sent it over to Grand Hustle (production company) and they were familiar with the project. And as they say, the rest is history. We got together a great cast and we were able to take this film and do something different than any of the other producers had been trying to do with it, and that was to put together a good-looking cast of young, hip actors. Dress them clean, dress them right and make it happen.

Cheeky: What’s your favorite movie?

WP: In terms of heist movies, I like the Oceans series and The Italian Job – those kind of films.

Cheeky: Which of the Oceans movies?

WP: Ocean’s Eleven – the first one is a classic.