Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett-Smith: MSN Interview

How did making Escape 2 Africa compare to the first Madagascar film?

Stiller: “I preferred this one more. Having seen the first movie, you kind of have an idea of what it’s gonna look like, whereas the first time round it’s just a few years of doing recordings and it’s hard cos you don’t know how it’s gonna come together. They say it’s gonna take three years, and you’re like ‘yeah okay’, and then it really is three years! It’s a long time.”

 

Rock: “Yeah, with the first one, you almost don’t believe it’s gonna be a movie, you’re doing it for so long. It’s almost like they’re filming a documentary about you!”

 

Is it easier doing voices rather than being on camera?
Stiller: “It’s different, but I wouldn’t say it’s easier. It’s a very different process because most of the time you’re alone. It definitely takes it out of you, because it’s just you. You don’t have any stimulate, any other characters, so you have to create it all in your own head.”

 

Rock: “Yeah, I’ve had four-hour voiceover sessions that have felt like a 10-hour movie day, so it can be hard.”

 

Smith: “It’s a completely different process. You reconnect to your imagination and you reconnect to your voice as an instrument. When you’re in front of the camera, you don’t have to worry about your voice. And I did get lonely. I was very upset to hear that Chris and Ben worked together in this process! [laughs] I worked by myself – I don’t know why I got left out of the party with Ben and Chris!”

 

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Chris and Ben – did you get competitive in the scene you recorded together? 

Rock: “I’m not competing with this guy!”

 

Stiller: “No, it’s acting. Acting’s not a competitive thing, it’s give and take, and that’s what’s fun about it, you know? But I did get competitive a little bit with Chris cos he’s so funny. We started the scene and I was like: ‘S***, he’s really funny!’

 

Rock: “I’m just trying to stay in the business!”

 

Stiller: “You’re doing well with that.”

How do you go about being a zebra, a lion or, for you Jada, an enormous hippo?

Smith: "To me it shows that it’s not about the exterior, it’s about what’s on the inside. Here’s a woman who loves her voluptuous self. And if you exude that self-love, people will be attracted to you. I think that’s a beautiful message for young women."

 

Rock: “For my character, I just overact all the time! Because it’s animated I figure I can get away with it. An in this new one, oh boy do I overact!"

 

Did you ever dream that you’d be voicing a cartoon animal when you first started out in show business?

Rock: “It’s weird, it’s in The Kit. I remember when I first got a little success in 1996, Jerry Seinfeld calls me up and he goes: ‘Well it’s gonna happen now, you’re gonna get 'The Kit', and I said ‘What’s The Kit?’ and he said, ‘Well you’re gonna get a book deal and you’re gonna host some awards shows and they’re gonna offer you some movies and you’ll probably do a TV show.’ You know, it’s The Kit for a successful funny person. And I’d say a part in the animated movie goes in The Kit.”

 

Talking of award shows, how about Ricky Gervais as the next Oscars host?

Rock: “It’d be amazing. I’m a humungous fan of Ricky.”

 

Stiller: “Who’s Ricky Gervais?! [laughs] No, I’m a huge fan and he’d be a great choice.

 

Rock: “I’d get a ticket and sit there with my popcorn. He knows what he’s doing; I think he’d be great. I hope that he does it. I hope that they get him.”

You all have young children – are they fans of Madagascar or do they prefer High School Musical?

Rock: “My kids are fans of Madagascar AND they prefer High School Musical.” [laughs]

 

Stiller: “My daughter really loves High School Musical and she also likes this movie a lot. Both my kids like it. This is the second movie my son’s ever sat through!”

 

Jada, how does it feel to be Karate Kid’s mother? (Jada and Will’s son, Jaden, has just signed on to star in a remake of the 1984 film)

Smith:  “It is cool being Karate Kid’s mum. I’m really proud of my son – he’s almost a junior black belt, and I’m very excited about this project for him.”

 

Were you concerned when your children expressed a desire to get into acting?

Smith: “Not really... I think because how Will and I handle our careers – it’s a business, it’s not our life – so they treat it as such. When your dad’s the biggest movie star in the world, it really keeps everyone else’s egos in check. Dad’s the big dog! [laughs] This is what we do as a family, it’s not who we are.”

 

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa hits cinemas nationwide on December 5

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