Will Smith on unorthodox parenting, Oscars and Independence Day 2

Way back in April Yahoo! Movies had an audience with Will Smith while the megastar was on promotional duties for ‘After Earth’ in Mexico.

The film sees Smith co-star with son Jaden in M. Night Shyamalan’s sci-fi adventure.

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During our one-on-one chat and the press conference, the smiley superstar discussed all sorts, from Oscars, to ‘Independence Day 2’, to some unorthodox parenting advice. Here’s Big Willie on…

…why he made ‘After Earth’

“The big inspiration was being able to work with my son.  You just can’t beat that. He was 13 years old. We got to travel around the world.”
  
…how ‘After Earth’ mirrors real life

“For Jaden and I, there were really interesting dynamics because [my character] Cypher Raige is this commanding general and the greatest warrior that has ever lived, and he has a teenage son who is coming up in that shadow demanding to be outside of it.  So it's very similar for Jaden and I, in dealing with our real life relationship: I mean, your father's the biggest movie star in the world, you're struggling for your little piece, your little piece of dignity in this extreme shadow.” (we think he was joking here).

…future career

“I'm 44 and I'm in somewhat of a transitional period in my life.  I was raised in a military household, my father was in the Air Force.  So, you know, we had to put hospital corners on the bed and all of that.  And there was a very serious focus on military precision.  So that's how I began in my career and in my life, “We're going to put that flag at the top of that hill,” you know.  There is a certain obsessiveness to my career and to the things I was trying to accomplish that didn't leave as much room for the kind of emotional connections that ‘After Earth’ demanded me to have with my son."

...exposing Jaden to danger on set

“So there was a scene when a snake wrangler came over and he said, ‘you know the tree that Jaden's about to do the shot in?’ He said, ‘You know, we got about, uh, a few snakes.’ I said, ‘Well, like, two?’  He said, ‘we got probably...Maybe five today’. I was like, ‘Ooo, wow’. But Jaden comes on the set and he walks up, and I was like, ‘Well, let's just roll, we're here.’  There were certain moments that were difficult, difficult parenting moments and decisions.  But [turning to Jaden] you had the rubber suit on, you never felt in danger did you?”

…loosening up since ‘Karate Kid’

“[‘After Earth’] was a very distinct shift from ‘The Karate kid’.  When we were making ‘The Karate kid’ I was in my dictator mode, and Jaden was up for the task, but making the transition to a deep concern, and making the success of the project become secondary to the advancement of our emotional relationship.

“I was making the shift from having to be number one, and shifting into a mindset of “I want this to be an experience that my son grows, and that he has fond memories of our interacting on this movie,” and it was about relationship building more than about conquering and accomplishment.”

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…unorthodox parenting skills

“You know, as a parent Jada and I are very serious about the idea that we don't own our children.  That this is Jaden's life, you know.  I'm here to help Jaden with his life.  We generally don't believe in punishment.  From the time Jaden was five or six years old we would sit him down, and all he has to do is be able to explain why what he did was the right thing for his life.  I think it's a much more difficult question to ask someone 'Why was that right?' than to try to show them why it was wrong.  So I'll say to Jaden, “Why was that the right thing to do for your life,” and if he can explain why kicking his sister in the chest was the right thing to do for his life.

“Our children have to be able to think on their own. Kids have to be able to think for themselves.  So what we try to do is lump as much responsibility for their lives on them as they can possibly handle, and give them the right to say 'No,' and the right to disagree, and it's not a dictatorship, it's an absolute partnership in which he is in command of his life.”

…Oscars

“Awards are not really what turn me on. For me there’s nothing like Friday night in a movie theatre and people having to go and pay their money to me is the ultimate award. For me everything other than global box office is a small award. Specifically the second weekend of box office, that tells you whether people are appreciating your material. You know you done good!”

 …'Independence Day 2'

“I am currently not making ‘Independence Day 2’, but if Roland [Emmerich - who directed the first movie] presents something exciting, then who knows? He’s good at that.”

‘After Earth’ is released in the UK on 7 June.