What is it that makes you, YOU? This Christmas day, Pixar Animation Studios’ released the feature film Soul. Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) – a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions. Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter (Inside Out, Up), co-directed by Kemp Powers (One Night in Miami) and produced by Academy Award nominee Dana Murray, p.g.a. (Pixar short Lou), Disney and Pixar’s Soul can be streamed directly on Disney+. STRIPLV sat down with Foxx to discuss the new movie and his work on the Netflix series “Project Power.”
STRIPLV: How would you describe the story of Soul? FOXX: How would I describe the story of Soul? The story of Soul is an animated journey of Joe Gardner, who is an ex-jazz musician who has turned into a middle school music teacher whose dream is still burning his passion is still burning that one day he will have that opportunity to become an incredible jazz musician. When he gets the opportunity, things go a little array. In Disney and Pixar fashion, we go on a journey of finding out where souls come from. And when you think about it, soul is in everything in our life. Who is your soulmate? Soul Food, “Soul Train,” but this is that wonderful journey of finding out the origin of the soul. He is happily stuck in a job where he is teaching jazz, sort of a throwback as a trade as a musician. He is teaching jazz to these little kids at school. And, he still has hopes and dreams of finally becoming that great jazz musician. There is this big gig coming up, and he wants to go play for it. He finally goes and auditions. He gets lost, and for musicians or anybody out there, when you get lost in your trade, he is just in it doing his thing no nerves. He just went for it. And, they said wow, you are great you will have the gig finally your life will be right. And he runs out the door like everything is great, and as soon as he runs out the door, he falls into a manhole, and his whole life and afterlife changes. STRIPLV: Tell us about Tina Fey’s character 22. FOXX: 22 is what I would say for the lack of a better word is cynical but doesn’t really like to see a reason to enjoy this Earth thing. And, so she is a person that needs to be convinced. She’s been stuck in this delightful limbo for a while and hasn’t met the right person to tell her the right things to help her understand how life on earth could be. She’s a tough cookie played by Tina Fey. You’ve got the talented Tina Fey who is just, you know, come on. Her mind and the way she works is just amazing. Plus, she is a writer. She started out as a writer on “Saturday Night Live.” So just to be able to go back and forth even if we weren’t in the same room as each other. We were only in the same room a couple of times but just to be in her presence elevated it. STRIPLV: Why did you want to take part in this project? FOXX: I wanted to take part in this project because my daughter, who is twelve now but ten at the time, was like Dad, you are going to be in Pixar films? And, I was like yeah, and then she says you finally made it. You are finally famous. And I was like, what about all this other stuff I’ve done? And she was like, nah, this is it. She was right because being in a Disney Pixar film is something that, as an actor, you are just like, wow, I hope I get the opportunity to be in something like that. And be in something that is absolutely great, and also an added tidbit, which is something that is so fantastic to be one of the first African American lead in a Pixar film. I mean, that is really high grass that’s a high mark. So, that among a lot of other artistic, beautiful things is why I wanted to be a part of this film. STRIPLV: You may have already touched on this, but who is Joe Gardner, and what is his passion? FOXX: Joe Gardner is a jazz musician in New York City and whose passion runs high when it comes to his music, but he is a teacher, an educator, he has a music school, and he is teaching kids the power of music and the importance of jazz. And, while doing that, he is still pursuing his passion, and when he finally gets that opportunity to capitalize on his artistic wares, something magical happens. STRIPLV: How do you personally relate to Joe? FOXX: How do I personally relate to Joe? How do I personally relate to Joe Gardner? I am a dreamer. I constantly dream. I love daydreaming about what I can still become, and even though I’ve had some success in this business that we are in. I am still an artist I still dream about finding that next song, finding that next joke, finding that next movie or TV opportunity, to wow and impress, whether it be my fans or my peers. STRIPLV: Describe the relationship of Joe between him and soul 22. FOXX: The relationship between Joe and the new soul 22 was almost mirroring what he was doing back on earth. He was teaching kids a reason to live, a reason to play music, and a reason to have joy. So, that’s what he took; his special skill set was not just his music but his ability to empower. That’s what he is doing with 22 empowering 22, giving 22 the power to understand that life is worth living. STRIPLV: Describe working with director Pete Doctor, co-director Kemp Powers, and producer Dana Murray in creating this film. FOXX: The process of working with Kemp Powers, Dana Murray and Pete Doctor on this film was amazing. First of all, I came in a little nervous, and I came in hot. I came in trying to do all these facial expressions like ho-hum he ho haha. And they were like, Jamie, we appreciate that, but we are not going to see you. We just have to have your voice. And Kemp was like, “Hey man, I dig that, but let’s hear the voice.” So, it was this incredible collective of artistic expression of what we were trying to and finding the animation voice to go with these wonderful characters. You know what was great about them? It was the way they complimented each other. As we were going through the script, they were like, try this and try that. There was no like it has to be this way. It was very complimentary. They had a great hold on everything. And you know, it was quite a thing to get this thing animated. And Dana and just everybody all chipped in to make sure that we would achieve magic. And that we did. STRIPLV: Did the story of this film affect how you receive life’s little gifts? FOXX: Did the story affect me on how I receive life’s little gifts? Yes, it did. I was always a glass half full type guy, but this filled mine to the brim with optimism. And I was also enjoying the moment. I would always say, “Don’t waste your blink.” Where I come from, they say life is a blink of the eye. So, I just say don’t waste your blink this just empowers that phrase. Walking away from this film, you will be charged up and come away with fun emotions. And also, your mind will be thinking, yo I am gonna get up the next day and go for it.
STRIPLV: Soul celebrates jazz music and may introduce it to a new generation. What does that mean to you personally? FOXX: The music in Soul is jazz. Will that affect the young generation? I am hoping it will because jazz is something that is in the DNA of all music. It is artistic freedom, your expression of what you feel musically. If you think about 90’s hip hop, it is all layered with jazz. For kids to get a huge dose of jazz, I think that is just going to make the world sweeter. STRIPLV: What was it like working with Pixar? FOXX: Man, you know it’s the amazing, incredible Disney Pixar when you think of all the films before this one. The way they are able to think the way they four or five or six dimensional. What they did with these types of subject matter, it really opens up your head. STRIPLV: What makes Soul special? FOXX: What makes Soul special is Disney Pixar’s Kemp Powers, Dana Murray, and Pete Doctor. They live in a hierarchy of animation. And when they tackle these incredible and when they put their minds together and tackle these topics, they are able to achieve magic. And what is special about Soul, in particular, is the time that we are in. We are in a challenging time when it comes to humanity. Our joy is very important, and I think that this beautiful gift that Disney Pixar gave us will allow us to hold on to that and reach for the joy in all of us because it is so desperately needed. STRIPLV: So let’s change gears entirely and talk about “Project Power.” FOXX: The drug is called power. It’s on the street, so that’s the part that you can actually understand, but the fact that it has this supernatural quality to it and a great question when you are like promoting is if you had a chance have any superhero power for just five minutes what that super-power would be? STRIPLV: You give a lot of life advice to Robin in this movie. What do you hope people will be inspired by when they watch “Project Power?” FOXX: You know what I think? At this time, they just get inspired to watch, escape, and have a good time. You’ve got young actors like Dominque Fishback that blow everybody away. And just have a good time. There are a couple of life lessons in there, like the power is always with you. The fact that the power when it is misused it can get weird. I just hope that you enjoy it. It also features Joseph Gordon Levitt and Machine Gun Kelly. Just enjoy, get your popcorn. I bought a popcorn popper for this specifically. I got the one like at that movie theaters. STRIPLV: That’s essential (laughing) FOXX: Yeah, I turn the lights down in my home just so I can go. (Squinting like he is looking for his seat at the theater). STRIPLV: What power would you want if the power pill existed, and what ability do you currently have? FOXX: The power of love. I would be love man to spread all the love to everyone. That’s my symbol (making a heart shape on his chest) right there. Love man, love man, where are you, love man. You have to sing that in order for me to come. I already possess some of those attributes. It’s all about love. STRIPLV: What was it like working with the directors? FOXX: The youth of them and the things you wanted to do. You know, when you are working with young directors on their first couple of movies, they are hungry. And these guys were hungry. They were up against a huge challenge. This was a big undertaking, and just to see the light that they had in their eyes. The passion of even if we had to stay on one scene for two or three hours, they did not let up. They didn’t sacrifice their art for their time schedule. They said they were going to get what they needed. I think what they did is just fantastic because they turned in a great project. I am looking forward to working with them again; their future is really bright. STRIPLV: What was it like working with Joseph Gordon Levitt? FOXX: Joseph Gordon Levitt is a light. This young man has been working since he was six years old. When I told people I was working with him, it’s the stamp of professional approval. The movies that he’s been in and have done, it’s just his look, and then to be on the set with him to be in that police car. There was this one cool thing to let you know how great our business can be. Also, how personal it can be. I know that he hadn’t worked on purpose for a while taking care of his kids and things. He looked over to me, and he said: “Man, I haven’t been on a set in a long time, and I just have to tell you I am having a great time and I am happy for this.” I am an emotional dude, that hit me right in my tear box. I was like, you know what? I am glad you are here to dawg. Those are what you call the good guys. He is definitely the good guy.