http://www.wetpaint.com/movies/articles/2014-10-23-alexandra-shipp-drumline-sequel-encompassing
Alexandra Shipp on Drumline Sequel and Encompassing Aaliyah For Lifetime Biopic Exclusive!
Actress Alexandra Shipp has got a lot on her hands these days. Not only has this gal joined the Drumline franchise by playing the lead role in its sequel, Drumline: A New Beat, she also took on the titular role of Aaliyah in the controversial Lifetime biopic of the late singer. So, how did Alex balance it all? And what does she think of her new TV movies? Well, when Wetpaint Entertainment caught up with the actress, she gave us the scoop!
Wetpaint Entertainment: Can you tell us about Drumline: A New Beat?
Alexandra Shipp: This new Drumline is exactly the way that its titled, its a new beat. Its following these kids through going through the first year of college and there showing you all of this world through the music that theyre playing.
What can you tell us about your character, Danielle?
I play a girl, Danielle Raymond, who wants to be the first female section leader of her college marching band. She is one of the boys, and yet not. Shes a fun character to play because not only is she a hard worker, but shes kind of a girly girl. She can get down in the mud, swinging, and playing and marching and then get all dolled up and look pretty.
Whats it like being part of a movie franchise?
Its nerve-wrecking, Im going to be honest with you. Its fun, but its nerve-wracking you know. This movie had a huge following in the beginning and we just had to live up to their expectations, but its also not a sequel since it definitely is more of an outlook on Drumline 12 years later.
Youve been pretty busy this year with Drumline: A New Beat and Aaliyah: Princess of R&B! Can you tell us what it was like landing the titular role of Aaliyah?
It was exciting! For me, I saw it as an opportunity to encompass one of my favorite artists and a person who really inspires me to better myself as an artist as well. Aaliyah was a huge part of a lot of peoples lives growing up and her music played a huge role in my life, so I was really excited to play her. Also There are also a lot of young, female black leads and I was like Man, this is an opportunity for me to showcase my talent in a leading role. So I was just over the moon when I heard about the project and when I was offered it I was like um, yes!
I mean, there was a little trepidation about it in the beginning with all the controversy surrounding it, but Im thick-skinned. And, when it comes to people having opinions, everyone has them. And if I allowed what people said to affect what I did in my day-to-day life, I wouldnt be where Im at.
What was it like to get into the part of Aaliyah?
It was all technical. I wanted to be sure that if anyone was a fan of Aaliyah, theyd be like, yeah, thats her signature look or thats her signature smile. I really wanted people to be able to recognize Aaliyah in the movie. Also, I wanted to show to people who have no idea who Aaliyah is because they were born after she passed I wanted them to see the beautiful woman that she was behind the curtain a little bit.
What was crazy, was looking in the mirror and seeing Aaliyah. I didnt see my face. And wed watch scenes back and it didnt seem like me, you know? It didnt look like me. I didnt sound like me, it didnt walk like me. I was trying 100 percent to encompass this woman whenever that little red light turned on. It was really fun. We would be on set and people would get chills because it would be eerie looking at myself or looking at the scenes and being like, wow, shes here.
We know the movie has stirred quite a bit of controversy, including the fact that it will feature Aaliyahs short-lived marriage to R. Kelly. Whats your take on that?
I think its great. That was a part of her life. But he was also in her life for two years. It was a moment we had to touch on, because without using her first album, Age [Aint Nothing But a Number], it wouldve been a lot different. It wouldve been a different story. So we talk about R.Kelly, we talk about the marriage, but this is Lifetime. Were making a movie to celebrate a womans life. We werent turning it into some kind of drama or never-been-seen moment. Because, as any adult knows, your relationship is between you and one other person. And since Aaliyahs passed on and R. Kellys not talking about their relationship, theres only so much that can be said about the situation.
Do you sing any of Aaliyahs music in the film?
I do, I sing all of the songs. It was a lot of un. it was very technical. For me, I wanted every single line of the song to sound like Aaliyah. I didnt want it to necessarily sound like me in any way, shape, or form. I wanted to 100 percent, fully encompass, so I listened to her songs over and over again, and listened to the song when she was younger. I created an arc of maturity, not only within her as a woman, but within her music, because that was the thing. You saw her look like a woman and you saw her sound like a woman. And she was completely different at 22, so I tried to do a little bit or a lot of bit of Aaliyah.
Whats your favorite Aaliyah song?
Try Again everytime time I hear that song, it just brings a smile to your face. When youre feeling like crap and you hear Dust yourself off and try again, it kind just puts you in a different mindset, 100 percent. Because we all have problems in our lives, but she took something as simple as that little phrase and made it uplifting. Its not an easy thing to do.
Co-Executive Producer Wendy Williams said Aaliyahs family would be proud of the film. Do you agree?
I cant necessarily speak for the family, but Im just hoping that when they watch the movie, they understand why we made it and they understand a little of where we were coming from because we wanted to make a movie to really celebrate and showcase this beautiful womans life.
[Aaliyah] affected so many people, its almost impossible to say that no one will make a movie about her, you know? So for me, hopefully they will really love this movie, and they will really love how beautifully we made this movie. I mean, everyone in this movie are huge fans of Aaliyah. All of the actors really did their homework on every single role
even while were working, were discovering more about this beautiful womans life and her family. It was a great process. I know for a fact they will at least like the movie.
And what should fans of Aaliyah or those who didnt know her expect to see about her in this film?
You should expect to see Aaliyah in a completely different light in this movie. Its not focused on her music, because she wasnt just her music. So what we wanted to do with this movie is just show people that she was a normal girl who has this light inside of her that no one could deny and no one could turn away from and you really see that in this movie. I really do hope fans see her light. I encompassed it as much as I could.
Drumline: A New Beat airs on Monday, October 27 at 9 p.m. on VH1 and Aaliyah: Princess of R&B airs on Saturday, November 15 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
