Black Film Press conference recap Shall we dance?: USA 2004

By Wilson Morales:


Jennifer Lopez's
life has been topsy-turvy these last few years. If she isn't making
movies, she's doing music videos; and in between the movies and videos,
there's been a different boyfriend/ husband, and yet she manages to
keep focus and do her job. From the time she did "Gigli" and "Jersey
Girl", two films that starred her then boyfriend Ben Affleck, she
married Salsa singer Marc Anthony to the surprise of many. Her life is
of interest to many if you count the number of times she made the
cover of Star, Us, and People magazine. Hopefully her upcoming films
will bring in a positive light to her life as she will star along with
Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman in "An Unfinished Life", and with
Jane Fonda in "Monster-In-Law". In the meantime, Lopez is back on the
big screen in a supportive role as a ballroom dancer who teaches
Richard Gere the right moves in "Shall We Dance". At a recent press
conference to promote the film, Lopez talked about a number of issues,
including the dancing scenes, her upcoming music, her life after
"Gigli", and her life with Marc Anthony.

Was ballroom a little alien to you before making this movie?

JL:
It was as alien as it could be. I felt like I was from Mars. I mean
it was tough. Being a dance I was naturally able to do some things but
it's such a different art form. It's very technical and just different
from any type of movement I've ever done. I've done flamenco and jazz
and hip hop dancing and all kinds of stuff but this was really
challenging.






Did you take dance lessons when you started out in your career?

JL:I started when I was very young. I did ballet,
jazz and flamenco from when I was five years old. And my professional
career started with dancing in musicals.

---

This movie was shot around the same time
that "Gigli" came out. Did filming in Winnipeg offer you any
insularity from the media?

JL: Is there such a thing as insularity from the
media? I don't know. As much as I've tried I don't think I've ever
achieved that. I'm trying different tactics nowŠa new approach


But shooting in Winnipeg?

JL: Winnipeg was wonderful. It was very far from home but it didn't feel like I was on another planet.

---

The director said there weren't a lot of distractionsŠ

JL: No there wasn't. And I didn't get to see as
much of Winnipeg as I would have liked. Usually when I go on location I
get to travel around a bit but with this movie I had to shoot and
then I had to dance at night, because I came directly from shooting
another movieŠin Canada. So I had rehearsals before I got to the set,
after I got through shooting, during lighting set ups, whenever we
could fit it in. It was intense.

---

Richard was telling us yesterday that you
rehearsed with someone in Winnipeg and he rehearsed with someone in LA
and then you got together to dance for the first time on the day of
the shoot. Was there ever any fear that he would drop you or anything
like that?

JL: Luckily he didn't have to lift me. But he was
fantastic and it's true, because I was working on this other movie and
he was working with a teacher we didn't rehearse together. They
though I was going to be the ringer, but because I had never done it
before, I ended up rehearsing a lot. So it wasn't until the day that
we filmed the tango that we actually danced together.

---

And so how did it measure up?

JL: It was good. I'm sure I wasn't as
professional as his partner and he wasn't as professional as my
partner but we both somehow pulled it together. It was about what was
happening to the characters in the scene more than anything else. I
think it came off as sexy, but that's just the surface of it. What's
really happening is that those two people come alive for the first
time during that dance. She realizes he has to let go, that he has the
steps and knows the routine. It's all there but he has to live it, to
live in the moment and she takes him to a place where he can get that
passion going and live in the moment. What happens is that at the same
time it happens for her. She comes alive at the same moment.

---

Your fashion is so fantastic in this movie.
How much of a hand did you have in picking out the outfits? Why do
you think they worked so well for you? And what were your favorites?

JL: Sophie Carbonell is a really great costume
designer and she had a specific idea of colors - mauves and purples
and such. I have an idea of what looks good on me and honestly didn't
know if what she picked was going to work but she was right on. The
clothes were very feminine and of a classic kind of style. She stayed
away from a hard, modern edge and combined wit with soft make-up for
the character. It came from the dancer. It came from the idea of the
dancer as a classical performer not so much of a today modern dancer.

---

People are going to look at this movie and
see your role as a woman who's going through heartbreak and looking
for happiness and try to find parallels to your personal life. Was
that something you thought of as you were making it? Do you see it
that way now?

JL: When I'm making a movie it always seems that there is something about that time in your
life that works for you. This character is very introverted and kind
of turned off and given upon everything at that point in her life. And
for me I wasn't exactly at that point in my life but I can understand
it because of just having been through different difficulties. I
didn't have to draw on things happening at that point in my life but
I've had others points in my life when things weren't going well that I
could draw on. I can understand her passion for her art and what
happens when things don't work out and your faced with figuring out
were do you go from there. It happens to most people. Things don't
always turn out exactly the way you want them tobe and you feel
disappointed. You are not always going to be the winner. That's when
you have to stop and figure out why things happened the way they did
and what you can do to change them.

After "Gigli" did you feel you had to make those kinds of decisions about your film career?

JL: I don't look at "Gigli" the way the rest of the
world looks at "Gigli." I gauge my success on whether or not I have
done my job and how well I did it. And I can consider that movie a
success in that sense. I went in there with a certain amount of
material that I could work with and I did the best I could. When I
come away from a movie thinking I didn't do that and I could have done
that - which thank God I have never done, that's when I consider myself
a failure.

---

Given all the talents that you have what do
you consider the hardest thing that you've done? Is it dance? Is it
acting? Is it singing? What do you consider the toughest moment in
your career and what do you consider the greatest moment in your
career?

JL: I've always felt pretty good about my career
and the choices I have made and how I've challenge myself to do things
that are difficult at times, but I think the biggest challenge I've
faced over the past few years is keeping the image away from the
artist. You know what I mean? Separating the work from the actual
person. I used to think it was so much more sexy back in the day when
it wasn't so much about people's personal lives as it was about the
work that they do. It was controlled - I hate to say that in front of
the press - but it was more controlled by the studio system. There was
a mystery to our stars back then. That's' why we can look at them
still. Yeah, we find things out about them eventually - Elvis Presley
was really this - but it's OK because we had the illusion for a while.
When you watch their movies there is so much more impact because you
didn't know who they were dating or if they were married or if they
were walking around barefoot acting stupid. It doesn't matter to the
work, but it does now. And that's been the biggest challenge for me.

---

Of the many talents you have, what was the toughest to get good at?

JL: I think where I've had the most growth is in my
music career, from when I first started to where I am now with these
two new albums I'm just finishing - and English language one and a
Spanish language one that I'm so excited about.

---

Can you tell us more about these two albums?

JL: The English album is almost done - I've been
working on it since January - and it's pop music with the same R&B
and Latin flavor that have become sort of my thing. I added a little
more funk this time. I think people will hear that. I went a little
heavy on the drums, but its fun. I'm also thinking about doing my
first tour which I've been talking about for a long time. But because
of the movie thing I always get sidetracked. But this time I'm really
going to try and get out there especially because of the Spanish album.

---

Any idea when the albums will be out?

JL: The album will be out January 25. The single will be out sometime in the next month or so.

---

What is it called?

JL: I don't know yet. I never know until I have the
final master copy in my hands and I just listen to it for a few days.
I have some ideas, but nothing is set yet.

---

Is Marc going to be on any of the CDs?

JL: No. Well, he produced my Spanish Album.

---

But we're not going to hear any duets or anything?

JL: No. We did a duet on his last album.

---

Are you trying to avoid the limelight these
days? It certainly seems like that from our point of view. And if you
are, what are you doing to achieve that? Is taking a supporting role
in this movie part of that?

JL:
Taking the role in this movie was, frankly, more about it being a
really good script and a good role. I've always been open to whatever
comes my way that's good. It doesn't matter if it's a small role or a
big role as longs as it's a good role and is something that I will
actually enjoy doing. In terms of avoiding the limelight, I'm just
trying to get the focus back on what I do, what I do as an artist and
not what I do when I'm at home. I've always had this kind of attitude -
maybe it's the Bronx in me or whatever - where I've always been out
there. I'm very open. I'm a free spirit by nature so I didn't think
about what I was doing. But this business has changed me. I didn't want
it to but it changed me. It made me a much more reclusive, private
person. As you get older - and I've been in the business over 15 years
now - and as you experience and go through different things you
realize you have to set boundaries. You have to for your life. You
have to say this is OK and this is not OK. This is what I do for a
living and this is my life. It's the only one I get and so I have to
set boundaries. That's the approach I'm trying to take now, to get the
focus back on what I do. I'm a singer. I'm an actress. I'm a dancer.
That's what I do.

---

Do you feel burned by last year? Does this come form feeling overexposed?

JL: It definitely reached a fever pitch.
Absolutely. But I don't have to tell you guys that. I felt like there
was a time there - and not just last year but building up - where it
was out of control. What was this thing, this thing that had become
me? I didn't like it. I always dealt well with it but it came to a
point where, you know what? I'm at a different point in my life right
now. I'm a little but older and I like to think a little bit wiser and
more mature and I like to think I've learned from those experiences.
And that's where I'm at. I think that's going to be reflected in the
choices that I make.

---

There's a brief scene in the movie were you
are teaching children how to dance and I know that you have a
clothing line for kids. How do you like working with kids and being
around kids in general?

JL: I love kids. I'd like to think they make all of
thisŠwhen things get really crazy they are the best. When you meet a
little girl and she gets so excited - and when I say little I mean
form 4 or 5 years old to 18 - those are little girls to me now - it
makes it worthwhile. They're who I make my movies for and who I make
music for. I love kids. I always have.

---

How would you describe how dancing makes you feel?

JL: I think of all the things I do it's the one
where I am most confident and I can let go the most. I have to really
think when I'm acting or learn the part so well that I don't have to
think, but I have to put a lot of work into it. The same goes for
music. I always have to work hard to find a way to disconnect from the
thinking until it becomes second nature to me because that's where
you find the best moments. Dancing is like that for me all the time.
It makes me feel free.

---

What would you say you are most thankful for?

JL: There are so many things. I think my philosophy
on that is there isn't one thing. I'm grateful for everything I have.
I'm grateful for it all. I'm grateful for love most of all because I
have a lot of it in my life.

---

In terms of this movie what do you see as
the connection between dance and love? What do you think this movie
has to say about love?

JL: You know what I like about this movie? That
it's realistic in the fact that all marriages and relationships end up
falling into routines and things get boring sometimes. You go through
ups and downs and the film is truthful in that sense. And you have to
find the answer to whatever is wrong in yourself. It's not your
partner's job to do that. It's internal. It's personal. It's intimate.
You have to be happy within yourself to be good in a love
relationship. And I like that aspect of the movie. I like that Richard
Gere's character has a great life, but he's not happy. There no reason
anyone can point to for him not being happy, but he isn't because
there is something missing in him. He has to find a passion and a
reason to get up everyday beyond all the things he needs to do to keep
his life afloat. And that's very romantic, finding the love in
yourself.

---

You've done a lot of different genres of
movies in the past, including action and horror movies, but lately you
seem to be concentrating on romantic material. Is that something you
prefer to do or is it something that the studios want you to do?

JL: Well, it's all about the material. I respond to
material. In the beginning you do what they offer you or whatever you
can get. And that's still true now to an extent. I only get to look
at what they are willing to give me, but you get to a point where you
have the confidence to turns things down and wait for something
better.

---

Are there kinds of films that you haven't had a chance to do that you want to try?

JL: There are too many to mention. I just want to
keep growing and see what I'm capable of. Just because you've done a
lot of movies or made a few albums doesn't mean you've conquered it.
And that's the fun part of it.

---

You have a great solo dance in this movie
and to make that work and be so emotional is it a matter or learning
the steps so well that you can forget them and search for the
character and the emotions in that dance?

JL: That's it exactly. Working with the
choreographer for that scene he had me just walk around and do
whatever I felt. When he saw something he liked he made note of it.
That's how we built the dance and why it looks the way it does. It was
a lot of fun to do it that way because it came out of me as I became
that character. When it came to filming it was much more structured
because of lighting and camera angles and we had to work hard to find
that spontaneity.

---

Can you tell us more about why you've chosen not to tour with your music?

JL:
It's not that I've chosen not to tour. I can't tell you how many
times I've made plans and been set to head out and something has come
up. It's always been a scheduling problem. I know tours are a lot of
work. I did a music issue one time with Gwen Stefani and Sheryl Crowe
and they were kidding me, 'You never tour.' I told them I wanted to
and how much I love performing live, but it's a tough life and I think
I know that so when a movie comes up I chose the movie. But before it
is all said and done I will tour.

---

Is there any place you can just walk around and hang out, even it you have to wear a baseball cap?

JL: It's different on different days. I don't do it
that much. Usually I'll get into the car and only go exactly where I
need to go. I miss walking around so much. You don't know. When I get
in the car I hang my head out the window like a dog so the air will
hit me.

---

How has your music changed over the years?

JL: It's funny. I love the pop album that I'm doing
and I feel like it's going to be a great one and I can't wait for
people to hear it, but I feel that with the Spanish album I've
explored a different side of me, the side that's more of a real
singer. It's stuff that I don't get to do in English. The music has a
little more depth to it, it's a little more passionate. It's what I
imagined myself always doing when I first started. It lets me see that I
can transition into something different, something a little bit more
musical and deep. I don't know if I can do that sort of thing in
English, but I know I'll be able to do it in Spanish. I love music. I'll
always make music and I'll always make English music as well but I
think it will evolve into something else. We'll have to see. I always
go by what feels right.

---

I know you don't like to talk about your
personal life these days, but can you just say whether you are looking
forward to having children? And what is it about being a mom that you
are looking forward to?

JL: I've always wanted children and I feel God will
bless me when the time is right. I come from a very large, very
loving family and grew up very happily. So I miss that.

---

What would you say is the most humbling
experience that you've had and what is it that puts you back in line
when you feel you're getting tooŠ

JL: Big for my britches? That's the good thing
about having a family that does not give a hoot about anything to do
with fame. Hey will keep you in line. As for my most humbling
experienceŠI can't think of any one thing. Maybe it hasn't happened to
me yet professionally. I've been lucky enough that I can keep
creating opportunities for myself right now. Even when I go back to
"Gigli" it's about doing your best. People will see that. You have to
keep the focus on the work. It's not about what it did at the box
office or if people consider it a great movie or not. It's not about
anything else but doing your best.

---

Your life seems very intense under the
media glare. When things get too intense is there a higher power that
you look to or could you talk about your spirituality to the degree to
which you feel comfortable?

JL: I went to Catholic school for 12 years and went
to church every Sunday. I may not do that anymore but I think it gave
me a good basis. I've also explored things on my own different
philosophies and spiritual teachings and I use what works for me. I
know that there is a force in the world and an energy that you can put
out, and when you put out love it comes back to you. I think that's
my basic philosophy.

---

It seems like you're not talking too much
about Marc these days. Maybe I'm wrong, but if not, why not? Is that
part of your new strategy?

JL:
Don't think of it as a strategy. It's not a strategy. It's not a
thing where I'm trying to control how things are going to happen. It's
about my life and the quality of my life. What happens is that there
is all this energy focused on you and all these people after you and
you try to do what you can to keep it out of your life, but as much as
you try stuff still sneaks under the door and through the cracks.
It's an energy. It's not one specific thing or the other. It's having
this kind of thing in your life. It's destructive. It just is. It's
hard for people to understand and I get that. I do get that. I realize
people are interested and it's not about me saying they have no right
to know about my life. It's not about that. The reason I am in the
public eye is because of what I do. None of these people thought I was
an interesting person or wanted to know about my life before. It's
because I'm in a movie or because I do an album. And I just want to
get the focus back on that, on my career and not on my life. It isn't
fun to have the focus of everything be your personal life. It affects
everything. It affects the quality of your life and your
relationships. It affects the way you feel. It affects your family and
the way they feel. It's not fair. It's not good. It's not fun.

---

You say you spend more time at home. What do you do when you're home?

JL: Probably the same things you do. Sit and relax.
Have dinner. Watch TV. Nothing too crazy. There's no swinging form
the chandeliers or big parties at the house with all the rock stars
coming over. It's a very mellow, normal existence.

e Wilson Morales: traduction: nadioz. lovelylopez copyright

La vie de Jennifer Lopez a été sens dessus dessous ces dernières années, Lorsqu 'elle ne tourne pas de film elle tourne des clips et entre les film et les vidéo il y a eu différents boyfriend/mari, Depuis qu 'elle a tournée "Gigli" et "Jersey Girl", deux film ou elle avait pour partenaire son ex Ben Affleck elle c' est marié au chanteur Marc Anthnony à la surprise de tous. Ça vie intéresse tout le monde si vous comptez le nombre de fois qu 'elle a fait la couverture de Star, Us, et People magazine. Heureusement ses prochain film amène quelque point positif à sa vie. On va bientôt la découvrir au côté de Robert Redford et Morgan Freeman dans "An Unfinished Life", et avec Jane Fonda dans "Monster-In-Law". Entre temps, Lopez revient à l' écran dans un second rôle comme danseuse de salon qui apprend a Richard Gere les bons mouvement dans "Shall We Dance".


La danse de salon vous était étrangère avant de tourner ce film?

JL: Oui complètement, plus que jamais. Étant danseuse j' avais quelque facilité qui m' était naturel pour certain mouvement mais c' est une danse vraiment différente de toute celle que j' ai pratiqué avant. C' est très technique, j' ai fait du flamenco du Jazz et de la danse hip hop et plein d' autre type de danse, mais ça a représenté un vrai challenge.


Avez vous pris des cours de danse avant que votre carrière démarre?

JL: J' ai commencé très jeune. j' ai fait du ballet, jazz et flamenco dés mes 5 ans. J' ai commencé ma carrière professionnelle comme danseuse.



Richard Gere nous a dit que vous avez répété à Winnipeg ( Canada lieu de tournage du film) avec un prof et que lui répetait avec un autre prof à Los Angeles et aprés vous vous êtes retrouvez pour la 1ere fois le jour du tournage. Avez vous eu peur qu'il vous fasse tomber ou quelque chose comme ça

JL: Heuresement qu'il n'a pas eu à me porter. Mais il a été fantastique c'est vrai ! car je travaillais sur un autre film et lui traivailait avec un prof de danse, donc on a pas répété enssemble. Ils on pensé que je serais la meneuse, mais ça na pas été le cas je n'avais j'amais fait ça avant, j'ai fini par beaucoup m'entrainer. Donc nous n'avons pas dansé enssemble avant de tourner la scene du Tango.


Alors c' était à la hauteur de vos espérances ?

JL: C'etait bien . Je suis sûre que nous n' étions pas aussi bon que nos professeurs mais on à fait quelque chose de bien ensembles. C' est une scène sexy, mais seulement en surface, cette scène est là pour situer les personnages. Ce qui ce passe en réalité c' est que ces 2 personnes s' anime pour la première fois lors de cette danse. Elle comprend qu' il doit ce laisser aller qu' il a la technique et connais les pas, que tout est là mais qu' il doit la vivre (danse), la sentir en lui et elle l' enmene là ou il peu sentir la passion et vivre le moment présent. Ce qui passe c' est qu' au même moment elle le ressent aussi, elle s' anime aussi.



Votre look est magnifique dans ce film . Comment avez vous choisis les tenues ?

JL: Sophie Carbonell et une costumière fantastique et elle a une idée précise des couleur mauves, pourpre et autre. J' ai une idée de ce qui me va et honnêtement je ne savais pas si ce qu 'elle avait choisis pour moi était le bon choix mais finalement elle avait raison. Les vêtement était très féminin et très classique, elle c' est éloigné d' un style trop moderne et a combiné avec un maquillage léger. Comme les danseurs de l' époque



Les gens vont regarder ce film et vous voir dans le rôle d' une femme qui vie une séparation amoureuse et qui est à la recherche du bonheur et vont y trouver un liens avec votre vie personnel. Y avez vous pensé en tournant ce film ? le voyez vous comme ça maintenant ?

JL: Ce personnage est très introvertis, elle est démoralisé et triste à ce moment de sa vie .Et pour moi je ne vivais pas vraiment cela a ce moment là mais je peu le comprendre car je venais de vivre quelques moments difficile donc je pouvais m' y replonger pour comprendre le personnage. Je peu comprendre sa passion pour son art et ce qui ce passe lorsque les choses ne marche pas . Ça arrive à tout le monde. Les choses ne ce passe pas toujours comme on le voudrais et on se sent déçus. On ne peu pas toujours être le gagnant. C' est là qu' il faut arrêter et voir pourquoi les choses on fini comme ça et faire en sortes que ça n'arrive plus.


Après"Gigli" avez vous ressentis le besoin de faire ce genre de décision pour votre carrière cinématographique ?

JL: Je ne vois pas "Gigli" de la même manière que le reste du monde vois "Gigli". Je juge mon succès sur le fait d' avoir bien fait mon boulot ou pas. Et dans ce sens je considère ce film comme un succès . Je suis arrivé sur ce projet avec un certain baguage et j' ai fait du mieux que je pouvais .Si je ressort d' un tournage en pensent, je n' est pas fait ça ou j' aurais dus faire ça, ce qui dieu merci ne m' ai jamais arrivé, là je le ressentirais comme un échec.



Il y a une courte scène dans le film dans la quel vous apprenez à danser à des enfants et je sais que vous avez une ligne de vêtement pour enfants. Aimez vous travailler et être entouré d' enfants ?

JL: j' adore les enfants ! Quand les chose vont mal il sont les meilleur. Lorsque vous rencontrez une petite fille et qu 'elle est toute excité de vous rencontrer et quand je dit petite je veux dire 4 ou 5 ans jusqu' à 18 ans (ça c' est petite fille pour moi maintenant) ça en vos la peine ! C' est pour eux que je fait des films et que je fait de la musique, j'adore les enfants, ça a toujours été le cas.

Comment décrivez vous ce que vous ressentez lorsque vous dansez ?

JL: Je pense que de toute les choses que je fait la danse est celle avec qui je suis la plus confiante je me laisse facilement aller en dansant. Je dois vraiment réfléchir lorsque je joue la comédie, apprendre le texte.. c' est plus difficile de vider ça tête pareil pour la musique je dois vraiment faire un gros effort pour me laisser aller sans réfléchir car c' est là que l' on trouve les meilleur moment et pour la danse c' est toujours comme ça, je me sent libre tout le temps !

Qu' est ce que ce film nous apprends sur l' amour ?

JL: Vous savez ce que j' aime à propos de ce film ? C' est qu' il est réaliste dans le fait que dans tout mariage ou relation amoureuse on fini par s' ennuyer parfois. Vous rencontrez des hauts et des bas et le film est fidèle à ça. Et vous devez trouver les réponses à ce qui ne va pas chez vous. Ce n' est pas a votre partenaire de le faire. C' est personnel et intime. Vous devez être heureux avec vous même si vous voulez être bien dans vos relations amoureuse. Et j' aime la façon qu'a le film de le montrer . J' aime que le personnage de Richard Gere a une belle vie mais malgré ça il n' est pas heureux. Car il manque quelque chose en lui. Il doit trouver une passion une raison de ce lever tout les jours. C' est très romantique, trouver l' amour en soit.

Vous avez fait différents genres de films dans le passé, film d' action, film d' horreur, mais dernièrement vous semblez vous concentrer sur des films romantique. Ce sont des films que vous préférez faire ou est ce les studios qui veulent vous voir dans ce genre de film ?.

JL: Et bien je choisis en fonction du script, du réalisateur et toute ces chose qui font d' un film qu' il sera réussis ou pas ! que le film soit une comédie un thriller ou autres chose ce n' est pas le plus important.

Il y a une très belle scène dans le film oû vous dansez seul ! Comment avez vous travaillez pour préparer cette scène.

JL: J' ai travaillé avec le chorégraphe il ma juste dit de danser comme je le sentais. Quand il voyait quelque chose qui lui plaisait il en prenait note. C' est comme ça que nous avons réalisé cette scène. Ça a été vraiment sympas à faire. Quand nous devions la tourner ça a été beaucoup plus structuré, à cause des lumières et de l' angle de la caméra, et nous avons dus travailler dure pour retrouver cette spontanéité .


Vous pouvez nous en dire un peu plus sur votre choix de ne pas faire de tournée ?

JL: Je n' ais pas choisis de ne pas faire de tournée. Vous ne pouvez pas savoir combien de fois j' ai essayé d' en faire une, mais il y a toujours eu quelque chose qui m' en empêchais. Ça a toujours été un problème d' emplois du temps. Je sais qu 'une tournée c' est beaucoup de travail. J' ai fait une couverture de Magazine (Vanity Fair) avec Gwen Stefani et Sheryl Crowe elles avait du mal a me croire 'Tu n'a jamais fait de tournée?.'Je leur est dit que je voulais en faire une et que j' adorais chanter sur scène mais que mon emploi du temps m' en empêchais. Mais une fois que j' aurais fini les films que j' ai en cour je ferais une tournée !!