The Source Magazine sat down with Rock Star and Actor Lenny Kravitz and Academy Award Nominee Cuba Gooding Jr. about their roles in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” out today, August 16.

 

 

Kravitz and Gooding Jr. are hilarious as butlers, who also work at the White House alongside Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker).

Q: Why was this such an important film for you to be a part of?

Gooding Jr.: My sons are 16 and 18 now, going off college. And they see this movie and there’s things they just don’t know about the sit-ins and the freedom riders and what not. And you know our youth is the voice of change and we have to remember where we’ve come from as a people and I think that this story is so relevant for today and I think it’s an entertaining story but an informative story of strength that the whole world should know about.

Kravitz: It’s history, you know. It’s a great story and I grew up, even though I was a small child, I remember these times. I was born in ’64, you know, bi-racial. Had to deal with a lot of different things. I was around a lot of people that were involved with the Civil Rights Movement and it’s really important to remind people of what happened because people forget. And there are a lot of kids who don’t even know.

Q: Can you speak about collaborating with Lee on this project as a director?

Gooding Jr.: Well Lee, I did his first film, “Shadowboxer,” and I think he’s one of the strongest, new voices in film today. And his vision is all encompassing and he’s got some of the best tastes in scripts and in every aspect of filmmaking than any director I’ve ever worked with. And I think that his vision was realized through this story on an epic scale and I think this is the first time that he’s tackled something of this nature. I’m obviously a huge fan cause I look to continue to work with him but I think people will appreciate the story.

Q: Any highlights from set?

Kravitz: The whole thing was one big highlight. Honestly, we had fun every day. Great actors, and when you see the list, everyone’s in this movie except Charlton Heston and Ernest Borgnine.

Gooding Jr.: It was cool to meet Vanessa Redgrave… it was great.

Kravitz: And I got to hang out with Cuba. Every day!

Q: Also you’re a musician. Can you speak a little bit about how music has influenced you as an actor?

Kravitz: I think that it’s helped me because I see acting and music as the same almost in a way. It’s all about rhythm, and mood and execution. I think of it in musical terms.

“Lee Daniels’ The Butler’ is now playing!