Y NAME IS Kevin Hart and
I WORK HARD!!!” reads
Kevin Hart’s Twitter bio.
One would be hard-pressed
to find a more apt description
for the megastar actor, who seems to pop
up in blockbusters like Night School,
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and
Ride Along, at a superhuman rate.
Hart frequently interacts with his fan base
through social media, promoting positivity
and commitment to moving forward in one’s
life. This mindset was tested in December
2018 when he resigned from hosting the 2019
Oscars after past insensitive tweets from his
account drew public scrutiny. Still, Hart has
held fast to an unwavering belief in himself—a
trait that can be traced to his youth, during
which his mother, Nancy, championed the
perspective that enables one to do whatever
one puts one’s mind to. “She embedded that
in my head all through my teenage years,” he
says. “And since she passed away when I was
in my 20s, it’s something that I live by.”
Pivoting slightly from his usual studio
comedy roles, Hart can next be seen with
Bryan Cranston in Neil Burger’s The Upside. In
the film—a remake of the popular 2012 French
dramedy The Intouchables—Hart stars as ex-
con Dell, who’s tasked with caring for Phillip
(Cranston), a wealthy quadriplegic, and an
unlikely friendship between the two ensues.
As he shared his secrets to industry success
and life, we asked the Philadelphia native and
sports enthusiast whether the Eagles would
make the NFL playoffs. “Let’s make sure we
end this on a positive note. Just tell your read-
ers that Kevin Hart is a massive 5' 5". ” —C.H.
88 WINTER 2019 MOVIEMAKER.COM
M
MISTAKE IT
TO MAKE IT
Ten keys to walking the talk,
controlling the take, and allowing
yourself to screw up as you grow up
BY KEVIN HART,
AS TOLD TO CALEB HAMMOND
< MATT DILLON HANGS BEHIND THE SCENES OF WRITER-DIRECTOR LARS VON TRIER’S
THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, HIS 56TH FEATURETHINGS I’VE LEARNED
AS A MOVIEMAKER
COURTESY OF STXFILMS AND LANTERN ENTERTAINMENT- Don’t be a talker, be a maker. The successful
moviemakers of tomorrow are the ones who
are not just “creatives,” they’re the ones who
are taking those creative ideas and make
them reality. With any goal, of any size, you
need to follow through with the same high
level of want, need, and ambition.- Don’t digress—always go forward. Surround
yourself with cast and crewmembers who
can teach you how to make each project bet-
ter as you move from one to another. I love
to win. I love to succeed. The biggest thing
to look for in a collaborator is someone who
shares your passion about the profession. If
you can do that, you’re both going to get the
desired result. - Don’t step onto the set with any lingering
feelings of discomfort. All of those things
should always be worked out before. I don’t
think I can point to any problems with
any working relationship I’ve had, and
the reason why is because we go into each
project with a positive attitude and all the
kinks worked out. Remember that the best
way to get along with anybody is to just be
yourself. - An actor’s relationship with the director
should be another friendship. It should be
open, with a high level of communication,
without any insecurity. You’ve got to under-
stand and trust that the director has your
best interest in mind. That comfort level
has always been a major plus in my work
environment. I accept that my directors are
always giving me information that’s for the
betterment of the project. - The most important thing when approaching
a scene is control. Understand the subtext
of each scene. Ask: “What are we trying to
establish?” That way you’re not going into it
willy-nilly, all over the place. When you have
that kind of clear direction, it’s much easier
to get the result you’re after. - Even improv is about control. Directors can
see some truly amazing colors in your perfor-
mance when you embrace improv, but it has
to be there to make a scene better. It’s always
fun—as long as you smoothly transition back
into the story.- Some things are more important for oth-
ers than they are for you, but don’t look at
those things in a negative light. I’m not a big
rehearsal guy; I show up to set prepared and
I know the work that needs to be done. But
some people like to rehearse, and I under-
stand that it’s for the comfort of the director,
who wants to know that we’re going to get off
to a good start. Embrace it—understand the
reason behind it. - Stay high on life. As a working actor, un-
derstand that your life doesn’t have to be so
fortunate. Don’t be in down spirits about the
biggest blessing that you could possibly have.
My energy level is only where it’s supposed to
be because of my gratitude and appreciation. - In such a crowded industry, patience is of the
essence. Nothing will happen overnight, but
the light at the end of the tunnel is bright if
you’re willing to wait for it. The world never
hears from the ones who quit. You need to
stick with it. It may sound a cliché, but those
who are willing to stick with it are the ones
who come out on top. - If you could go back in time, don’t give
“early career you” any advice. The mistakes
you make ultimately help you become the
person that you’re supposed to be. Let “early
career you” follow the same road, do the
same things, make the same fuck-ups. MM
The Upside opened in theaters January
11, 2019, courtesy of STXfilms and Lantern
Entertainment.TRAINED ACTOR: KEVIN HART (L)
PREPARES FOR A SUBWAY-BOUND SCENE IN
THE UPSIDE WITH DIRECTOR NEIL BURGER (R)