Interview: Denzel Washington’s Difference of Opinion With Harvey Weinstein on ‘The Great Debaters’

I interviewed actor and director Denzel Washington on Dec. 6 on the topic of “The Great Debaters,” which is the second film he has directed. “The Great Debaters” opens on Christmas.

We spoke about the difference between what he wants for his films and what the studio wants. Specifically, we discussed why Harvey Weinstein at the Weinstein Company required Washington to act in “The Great Debaters” along with the other debate films of 2007.

Denzel Washington in “The Great Debaters”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Adam Fendelman: Some directors put themselves in their films as an actor and some don’t. I spoke to Alison Eastwood on “Rails & Ties,” for example, and why she didn’t.

So you’ve done two now (“The Great Debaters” in 2007 and “Antwone Fisher” in 2002) where you’ve put yourself in the films. What’s your feeling on that in terms of just strictly directing or also putting yourself in it?

Denzel Washington: It’s strictly business. I didn’t want to be in either film. It was strictly to get the money. Basically, the studio said: “If you’re not in the film, your budget is this. If you’re in the film, this is your budget.”

They sort of back you into a corner. They give you a budget they know you can’t make the movie for, and two or three years after you’ve been working on it, I said: “OK. I’ll play a small role in it.”

That still wasn’t enough money to make the kind of picture I wanted to make. It’s not a big-budget film. We spent $25 million, but basically, the number was going to be more like $10 or $12 million.

To make a film for that (which is a lot of money) was going to be very difficult for a period film. I am not interested in being in the films I direct at all. Did I make that clear?

Adam Fendelman: Yeah, and now that you’ve been on both sides of the lens (obviously a lot more on the acting side), which do you prefer?

Denzel Washington: Well, it’s not an either/or. Right now, this is new and exciting at this point in my life, so I’m passionate about directing. I have no plans to direct another film right now.

I’m going back in front of the camera probably for the next couple years until my twins graduate from high school. I do have some ideas for films I want to direct. Clint Eastwood is my hero. I want to do both (acting and directing).

Adam Fendelman: Have you seen the film “Rocket Science”?

Denzel Washington: No. I haven’t.

Adam Fendelman: It came out in 2007. It’s about debate.

Denzel Washington: There was another one I heard about called “Resolved”. I heard about them, but in a way, I didn’t want to see it. I didn’t want to be influenced. The debate now is a completely different style.