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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 24 January 2017
Q&A: Meet ‘Roxanne, Roxanne’

breakout Chante Adams

Actress Nia Long, from left, first film role in the antici- to shooting. How did you
Roxanne Shante, director pated pic about the life of prepare?
Michael Larnell and Chante hip-hop pioneer Roxanne ADAMS: Hours and hours of
Adams pose for a portrait Shante from director Mi- research.
to promote the film, “Rox-
anne Roxanne”, at the Music chael Larnell. “Roxanne, I’m pretty sure I’ve
Lodge during the Sundance Roxanne,” which co-stars watched very single video
Film Festival on Saturday, Jan. “Moonlight’s” Marhershala on the internet that exists of
21, 2017, in Park City, Utah. Ali and Nia Long, and pre- Roxanne Shante — every
Associated Press mieres Sunday at the Sun- interview, every music per-
LINDSEY BAHR dance Film Festival. formance, and just using
AP Film Writer --- that to get it down.
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Ac- AP: How familiar were you I met her once before we
tress Chante Adams had with Roxanne Shante? started filming, and that
just graduated from Carne- CHANTE ADAMS: Not very. was such an honor. I was so
gie Mellon University when I wasn’t born until ‘94! Her lucky to be able to do this
she got a call from a cast- era was definitely the ‘80s. biopic while she is still here
ing agent who wanted her I knew of her, I knew who so I can make sure I got it
to audition to be the lead she was. right.
in the Roxanne Shante bi- I had older siblings, and I AP: What did you talk
opic “Roxanne, Roxanne.” kind of knew her through about with Roxanne?
Adams had no feature them and the hip-hop mu- ADAMS: She was just telling
credits to her name and a sic they listened to. But I me about her life. It was me,
background in theater. didn’t know much about her, Nia Long and Michael.
But the agent saw some- her, so after I got the first She was giving me pointers
thing in her at CMU’s senior audition, I went straight on the voice, and she was
showcase, where students into research mode. I saw telling Nia about her mom.
perform in front of agents, the video for “Roxanne’s She told me she was going
managers and casting di- Revenge” and was like “Oh to be on set as much as
rectors, and sought her out. my God, we kind of look possible, but there’s some
Soon enough, what be- alike!” stuff that she won’t be on
gan as “oh, cool, my first AP: You only had a week set for because it’s a little
audition” became Adams’ and a half from being cast difficult to relive that. q

‘The Last Jedi’ revealed as

title for ‘Star Wars’ VIII

This image released by Lucasfilm shows a scene from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — “Star chronicled Daisy Ridley’s forward” and “minimalist.”
Wars: Episode VIII” finally Rey discovering her powers “They told us that when
has a title: “The Last Jedi.” with the Force, but ended we were making the mov-
The Walt Disney Co. an- ominously with a withdrawn ie and I said don’t tell me
nounced the title for the Luke Skywalker (Mark Ha- these things. I talk in my
next chapter in the Sky- mill) on a remote island. If sleep,” said Hamill. “They
walker saga on Monday. there’s to be just one Jedi have us so jacked up with
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” left, Luke’s days could be paranoia over leaks.”
will be released Dec. 15. numbered. Writer-director Rian John-
Speculation over just who In an interview Monday at son has previously said
the last Jedi is immediately the Sundance Film Festival, “Episode VIII” will start right
ran rampant on social me- Mark Hamill said he liked where “The Force Awak-
dia. “The Force Awakens” that the title was “straight- ens” left off.q