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Luke's
Lucky Day
By Ramona Prioleau
When
Denzel Washington presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Morgan
Freeman at the Acapulco Black Film Festival in 1998, he remarked
that as a young actor he was cast alongside Freeman in a Joseph Papp
Shakespeare Production. Washington went on to explain how he often
peered onstage from the wings to watch Freeman work, taking mental
notes all along in an effort to better his skill. Several years
later, Washington has turned in many a stellar performance and the
student becomes the teacher. With the lectern firmly in his grasp,
Washington demonstrates his storytelling skill in the critically
acclaimed Antwone Fisher and
imparts his acting wisdom to those that follow.
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© 2002 Fox Searchlight
Derek Luke in Antwone
Fisher
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One such aspirant is newcomer Derek Luke. And like
a sculptor with fresh clay, Washington's purposeful and skilled hand
directed the novice to an impressive debut, having plucked the eager
Luke from the multitudes vying for the lead role in Antwone Fisher.
While Luke can't profess that his discovery
occurred at a soda shop, his big break tale is no less engaging. It's
similar to the oft told from mailroom to CEO legend. But in Luke's
case, his journey had little to do with postage and more to do with
souvenirs.
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Prior to Antwone Fisher, Luke
supported his celluloid dreams by working at the Sony Pictures gift
shop in Los Angeles. As luck would have it, the Sony Pictures lot is
also where Antwone Quenton Fisher had a day job as a security guard
before a producer extended a hand of goodwill to help Fisher bring the
screenplay of his triumph over childhood abuse to life. It was on that
Hollywood film lot and in that gift shop where Luke received word that
a Jersey boy's dreams had finally come true. And Denzel personally
delivered Luke the news that he had beat out hundreds of hopefuls.
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"I was working at the gift shop,
folding clothes," Luke reminisced. "I saw Denzel and he
called me Antwone. I tried to play it off, but … I broke down, fell
on my knees crying, hugged him and expressed all types of joy."
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Still possessing a doe-eyed look of
innocence, Luke remains optimistic about the future impact of
receiving Denzel's stamp of approval. Acknowledging his current
blessings, Luke praises Washington for forcing him to bare his acting
soul and release his vulnerability. Doing so resulted in a performance
that has lead to glowing reviews and an IFP Independent Spirit Award
nomination for Best Male Lead. The irony of the latter is not lost on
the once struggling actor.
"I used to wait tables for the actors,"
he reflects in awe.
M
January 2003
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