will smith fresh prince dad scene script

This film was the first movie he ever worked on, and this really helped him make the giant leap from being a TV actor to a film actor. Philip Banks There had been a lot of interest in an episode about Wills dad, according to Fresh Prince writer David Zuckerman, given that the entire premise of the show was based on Will being sent to live with his rich aunt and uncle because his mother, raising him alone, wants him out of their rough neighborhood. When my father got out of the Air Force, he started his own refrigeration business. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwas, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air. Will and his dad, Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., remained on good terms until he passed away in November 2016. Philip and Vivian Banks enter the living room to meet Will. [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves] And he told us that this was going to be our gig over the summer. But that specific episode? I might have been 12 and my brother 9 when one day he decided he wanted a new front wall at his shop. Looking for Disney, Game of Thrones, or Marvel movie casting calls? Classic Black sitcoms like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Living Single are finally streaming. eegyvudluk pootoogook / stacey and dave forsey net worth / will smith fresh prince dad scene script. It is Fresh Princes most iconic half-hour the moment in which Will, the goof who plays it cool, became human, and Smith became an actor. Lou Smith "I did not make the rules, but I do know how to play the game. Actually, this works out better for me, you know. The Fresh Princeis unbelievably silly, no doubt, with its oft-arch performances and willingness to surreally break the fourth wall ("How come we can't afford ceilings?" : That he heard Malcolm X, whom Will had deified earlier in the episode, speak in person. William 'Will' Smith He loves dancing, especially to Tom Jonesand theSugarhill Gang. Lou Smith The two were locked in that epic embrace when Avery doled out even more encouragement. Actually, this works out better for me, you know. The entire temperature of the room shifts. HD1080p WILL'S DAD EMOTIONAL SAD SCENE ON THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIRNEW 2013 OF. Will Smith is, like,sucha good actor. : Youwillcry at the acapella song the family sings over the credits. William 'Will' Smith : He was drawing from personal experience because his dad had left when he was a baby and when he became famous because of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air he turned up like nothing had happened. Filled with investments. Its fun to bash on Will Smiths career moves of late (After, ugh, Earth), but when he finds the right role, hes an excellent actor. Will Smith said he improvised his character's piano moment in the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" pilot. : Behind the scenes, the episode was also meant to showcase Smiths dramatic acting chops. He uses his emotions like an instrument, starting as strong as he can, until it can't help but fracture and fall. I just wasn't ready to be a father. He's now his own person, living in his new life, that he himself built this whole time. Regrettably,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airis full of fat-shaming jokes, particularly from Will toward Uncle Phil (and in one entire episode, they bring on royal guest starQueen Latifahjust to have her be a learning moment that overweight people have feelings too; Latifah and Smith sell the material, of course, but there's definitely a lack of depth in the exploration, which I guess means Mametwasright). I'ma get through college without him, I'ma get a great job without him, I'ma marry me a beautiful honey, and I'ma have me a whole bunch of kids. James Avery was relentlessly on me to elevate. We can talk about this another time. And, all of these qualities are challenged directly in "Blood Is Thicker Than Mud," a standout episode for Alfonso Ribeiro. After the following perfect take, which made it into the final episode, Avery whispered in Smith's ear during Will and Uncle Phil's hug, "That's fucking acting right there. But the audience sobbing that you can make out in the background? But Avery eventually calmed Smith down by telling him, Its already in there, you know what it is. William 'Will' Smith: You know what? Will Smith: What are you, Robo-Butler, man? : Posted by ; words for deep love in other languages; Geoffrey Butler approaches the door and lets Will in. And, thankfully, I don't think it's any big spoiler to reveal that Viola does come around and attend the wedding after all thanks to a wonderful speech delivered by Will to his mother, a representation of the hope of future generations changing established patterns and prejudices for the better. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air.Originally airing from 1990 to 1996 for six seasons, the sitcom broke Will Smith through to superstardom in a series of . Why did it take so long? Just cool down. Like, James Avery wouldnt give me a damn inch, the actor recalled on TIDALs Rap Radar podcast series. I love when classic multi-cam sitcoms feel like excuses to put classic theater on television for the masses, and this episode has a wondrous scene that vaults into this hallowed ground. But then, in an all-time line reading, Will simply asks his uncle, "How come he don't want me, man?" as a startling wake-up call, albeit one couched in comfort, comedy, and familiar class dynamics. The show wasn't afraid to tackle issues like drugs, sex, drunk driving, sexism, racism, and violence to teach us an important lesson or two about life. Following Avery's words, Smith pulled off the most iconic and emotional scene in the show's history. : [pause] For survival, please dont marry this man.". Lauderdale, Florida. During the episode, Will reunites with his father, Lou, who was absent from his life for 14 years. Whatever he needed, whether it was a pat on the head or a kick in the pants, I was there for him. He resorts to buying a gun himself, ostensibly for protection. Vivian Banks Look, why are you telling me this now? William 'Will' Smith : He's my father. Lou and Phillip get into a heated argument about Lou's responsibilities as a father with Lou again claiming he was scared to be a father, which Phillip rejects, claiming he too was scared to be a father, but unlike Lou, he didn't run out on his family, but rather remained present for his children's lives, as a good and responsible man is supposed to do. "Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. Washington Post Retrospective on the episode. : After more than a decade of being absent from his life, Will's father Lou (Ben Vereen) returns, eager to spend time with his son Will here in the fancy hills of Bel-Air. Home; About. You know what, Aunt Viv? Geoffrey Butler: Come with me, Master William. This remains, by my estimation, the single greatest example of a television sitcom getting real and I wouldn't be surprised if it continues to be for the rest of the medium's history (gritty reboots be damned). Hes a steady and positive figure in my life.. The slimmies of summer come to class wearing next to nothing, you know what I'm saying Philip Banks Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. Philip Banks Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse is the 24th episode of Season 4. You know, if there was something that l William 'Will' Smith The two later return to the Banks mansion, where Vivian is less than happy to see Lou, but maintains a civil presence around him for Will's sake. I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. Director Shelley Jensen describes this episode as a turning point in Smith's performance, noting his acting improved dramatically after it. Smith would even come out himself and hype up the audience. He also played Richard Williams, father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, in King Richard. Carlton's response comes not as a surprise, but as a well-practiced speech, something he's been having to reckon with his entire life. : Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. Smith was known for his clean lyrics, and his hits were . : Has this period, reactionary and transitory in intention, ended with an anticlimactic ellipses rather than an emphatic exclamation? Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. He might be leaving this Bel-Air home for good, but this is still the first half of his new life, his new identity. Phillip however, makes no effort to be civil towards Lou, showing downright hostility towards him, in questioning him over what possessed him to suddenly return, and why he isn't sending any money to his wife and child that he abandoned, when he's clearly making some with his profession as a truck driver. And I'm a different man now. In honor ofThe Fresh Prince's 30th anniversary, here are the 10 best times the sitcom got serious throughout its run, in chronological order. Lou Smith Yeah, whatever. William 'Will' Smith: [shouts] To hell with him! The most effective and illuminating emotional reaction to this doesn't orient around Will, however at least not directly. The episode title is a reference to the James Brown song. Boulware, who also wrote the episode of 227 in which a characters father pops back into the picture, drew from his own life experience for the script. Even if the performance wasnt real, it was real enough to be remembered 20 years later. Will Smith Explains The "Dad Episode" of Fresh Prince, According to episode co-writer David Zuckerman, this episode was written to showcase Will Smith's dramatic acting talents, following his recent turn in the dramedy, The initial script for this episode cast Lou as a pool shark breezing through town. Co-writer Bill Boulware based this episode on his own life experiences growing up with a single parent, noting he was always interested in shows about fathers due to his lack of one growing up. Will then, becoming a touch of a father figure himself, must set his cousin straight. Prior to 'Fresh Prince' both Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff were set on releasing albums. Who cares what you think? Really shows how good of an actor Will Smith is. Wisely, his apology tends to stay out of the socioeconomic implications of drugs, and more into the personal point of view of "I am a member of this family who has hurt another member of this family." Will William 'Will' Smith Smith said that he was originally supposed to sit at the bench and reflect on his uncle's words. What's up? This version of the character was received poorly by Will Smith at the initial table read, and so Lou was rewritten as a somewhat more sympathetic character, who at least had a legitimate job as a truck driver. You understand. Yeah, you did. He said, Now, dont you all ever tell me theres something you cant do. And he walked into the shop. As such, "Mistaken Identity" served (serves?) How Many Of These 90s One Hit Wonders Can You Name. William 'Will' Smith All this "Master William" stuff, I'm not down with that, make it sound like we back on the plantation or something, we like "Massa William, Massa William!" I'm sorry that everybody can't be as perfect as you, Uncle Phil, but if I can forgive him, how come you can't? The story behind the episode is almost as good as the episode itself. Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to be part of an upcoming music vid "Dad was tough but not tyrannical," Smith told Essence. Carlton is confidently, uniquely himself. Kim Kardashian Tackled to the Ground at Paris Fashion Event, Marvel's 'Ant-Man' Casting Call for Kids in Peachtree City, Georgia, NBA YoungBoy and Birdman Hire Director for 'Ballin Blocker 2', 'The Weeknd' To Star in a Movie He Co-Wrote and Produced, Michael B. Jordan Reunites with High School Reporter at 'Creed III' Premiere: 'I Was the Corny Kid, Right? They said, Rap? My mother graduated from Carnegie Mellon. Fearing for his safety his mother sent him out to Bel Air. But before all that, he was a sitcom star, someone who, it would not have been foolhardy to assume, couldnt handle more dramatic material. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - Will's Father leaves Charles Bentley 13.3K subscribers 381K 13M views 7 years ago There wasn't a good quality version of one of the most touching scenes in TV. TIL that during Will Smith's monologue about his father on Fresh Prince, it was so heart-wrenching that audience members can be heard crying after it is over. Uncle Phil, his characters influential father figure, is concerned and makes his disgust with Lou known. But this constant poking at Uncle Phil's weight comes to a serious head in "Home Is Where the Heart Attack Is," an episode that, as you might guess, gives Uncle Phil a weight-induced heart attack to suffer through. : He's joyful, performative, and cares not what others think about him. The true story behind one of the saddest scenes in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' History has finally been revealed. : The trend of very special anti-drug family sitcom episodes was inspired explicitly byNancy Reagan, to the point where she literally appeared in an episode ofDiff'rent Strokesto deliver her anti-drug screed, and the relationship between the Reagan administration, drugs, and the Black community is a vile one to study (making the interpolation of "Just Say No" as "Just Say Yo" feel particularly gross). Or remember that time Aunt Viv just really wanted to dance? I remember someDavid Mametquote that said it doesn't matter how good an actor is; if the script is good, the final product is good. James Avery was relentless on me to elevate. While the legend that Smith ad-libbed much of the scene based on his troubled relationship with his actual father is probably false, the sobbing was not. He just had that acting power that I wanted to have.. People were crying for a long time when it was over, doing their best not to make noise before the director said cut. I was ten years old. In reality, Smith's parents separated when he was 13 but his father remained a major figure in his life up to his death in 2016. Will seemingly understands, but he realizes that Lou's just trying to weasel his way out of the situation, and their trip isn't going to happen at all. Will, it's all right to be angry. William 'Will' Smith: I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. We were standing there thinking, There will never, ever, be a wall here again. Will assures Phillip he's grateful for everything Phillip has done for him, but he still needs to give his father a chance to be in his life, if he truly has changed. She then exits, but not without warning Lou that if he walks out now, he will not be welcome at the Banks mansion again. It was a formula that clearly worked, considering theres a good chance well be seeing more of the Tanners soon, but it was super-corny, especially when compared to another so-called kids show that was on the same time, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The latter is a secondary part (Whoopi . Find the latest movie casting calls, TV auditions, Modeling jobs, acting opportunities, acting tips, and entertainment news for the biggest movies and TV shows filming across the world. Lou Smith Those qualities are all self-weaponized, manifesting in self-destructive ways. : Oh yeah, I don't think so. The fatherhood episode was pivotal, Jensen added, because it marked Smiths arrival as a force to be reckoned with. [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. Everything I said, everything I did for James Avery was like nope, not good enough. Avery demanded absolute committed perfection from his young co-star, so when it came time to shoot the scene together, Im messing up the lines because I want it so bad, Smith recalled. That Will Smiths character was actually supposed to brush off the whole thing, but Wills father actually had left him when he was younger and he just fell apart on the set and the hug at the end was from one actor to another, not one character to another.". With Wednesday's press night under her belt and a standing ovation to . It was great seeing you, son. Will Smith described the scene where Will breaks down as one of his most difficult as a young actor, as he was unsure if he was able to properly convey the right emotions. : In the episode, Wills deadbeat father Lou (played by Broadway legend Ben Vereen) returns after a 14-year absence to spend time with his son. At 2:04 Will goes off script, so everything that happens after that is real. Ashleys first date with R&B princeling Tevin Campbell? The altercation purportedly began when the then neophyte actor felt a scene wasn't working on his sitcom, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and unilaterally made some changes to the script . Beyond its visceral, gut-punching thrills as a theatrical sequence, this moment is a stark reminder to Carlton, and to everyone watching: We can lose faith in systems that resort to violence, rightly so. However, Philadelphia is a large city and Smith is a common name worldwide. [takes out a small statue of a father sitting with his son on his lap]. : Wills delivery was so perfect it seems like it was in the moment.. 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When we started the series, Will was definitely not there, but he grew as a man and as an actor, he said. 2019 Ted Fund Donors