Page 59 - Sharp September 2023

MAN WORTH LISTENING TO
BUILDING A LEGACY
ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER ANTOINE FUQUA ON SHOOTING MUSIC VIDEOS, COLLABORATING WITH DENZEL WASHINGTON ON THE EQUALIZER 3, AND MAKING MORE SERIOUS FILMS
By Calum Marsh
TO MANY PEOPLE, ANTOINE FUQUA WILL ALWAYS BE THE DIRECTOR OF
Training Day. The 58-year-old filmmaker has helmed countless projects since breaking into the industry in the early 1990s, including critically acclaimed dramas, heavy-hitting documentaries, and a slew of blockbuster action hits. But it’s his 2001 masterpiece, starring Denzel Washington, that has become his cinematic calling card. Fuqua himself has never been fully satisfied with that reputation. While he is proud of his achievement — not blind to popular sentiment, he recognizes the movie’s stature and enduring legacy — he’s committed to proving that he is more than merely the director of one great film.
“You’re always sort of chasing that dragon,” he says, taking a break from postproduction to discuss his background and ongoing career. He’s gearing up to release The Equalizer 3, which finds him reuniting for a fifth time with Training Day’s Washington for a third instalment in the action-drama franchise. Following historical slavery drama Emancipation, the film stands testament to the breadth of Fuqua’s work. For, whether war flicks, medieval epics or electrifying paranoid thrillers, his films are among the most varied of any director of his generation, making him an auteur of singular unpredictability. It’s ironic, then, that he should continue to be associated with one movie. Because, if there’s one thing you can say about Fuqua, it’s that you truly never know what he’s going to make next.
The Equalizer is the only sequel either you or Denzel Washington have worked on. What is it about this material that was compelling enough to return to, and with The Equalizer 3, to return for a third time?
Speaking for myself, I love working with Denzel. That’s always the motivating factor. But I also love the character — he’s a working man’s hero, if you will. There’s no flying around or anything like that. It’s all about justice, and that’s very important to me. I think that dealing with a character who is dealing with his own demons, a guy who is relatable, is very satisfying for me as a director. The focus has always been to help people who can’t help themselves, in a grounded way — or as grounded as a Hollywood movie can be. I find that interesting. That’s part of who I am. I don’t like bullies.
At what point in the process did you begin think- ing about a sequel? Was that something you were interested in from the start?
I didn’t really think about it all, honestly. I was just trying to make the best film in front me with the material. Once it was a success, and considering the feedback from the fans, then I started thinking about it more. I had wanted to do something more international, that wasn’t in a small box, but the goal was always to open it up a little bit more, to make it a fish out of water. When I read the script, it seemed like the right thing to do.
SHARPMAGAZINE.COM
SEPTEMBER 2023 • GUIDE 59