Chris Rock and Gabrielle Union Talk Working Collaboratively on Top Five
When an actor is both writing and directing his own film, it is usually expected that he calls all the shots. However, in the case of the Chris Rock-directed comedy Top Five, the cast was given creative freedom to make their respective characters their own.
Particularly, Rock's costar Gabrielle Union and the star of Being Mary Jane, who played his fiancée, Erica Long, in the film, appreciated this trust: "He's not driven by his way, so it's nice to have that collaborative effort and feel like I'm working with an artist," she said in an exclusive clip for the special features of the movie's upcoming DVD release.
Rock's appreciation for the cast comes easily as he tapped them all personally to be a part of the film as a favor to him. "It was great that I got to play with a cast of my friends," he said. "We didn't have a lot of money, so I needed favors. I called them all in."
Speaking on his hands-off approach to his cast's performance, Rock said, "When you cast an actor, I feel like you've got to hire your boss. They have to be in charge of their part. When the movie's over, if it's not their part, you hired the wrong person."
Top Five, which features performances from Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Sherri Shepherd and more, debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and VOD March 17, 2015, from Paramount Home Media Distribution. The film arrives two weeks early on Digital HD today, March 3.
Check out an exclusive clip from the DVD below:
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(Photo: Ali Paige Goldstein/Paramount Pictures)
