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Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige confess their 'Precious' secrets
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Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige
The story of the movie "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" is one of triumph over adversity. And that applies to not only the tale of the title character, abused teenager Claireece "Precious" Jones (played by Gabourey Sidibe), but also to how the film got made, emerged from legal battle over distribution, and became well on its way to winning several awards.
The independently financed "Precious" (whose original title was "Push") had its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, where it became the first movie to win the festival’s grand jury prize and audience award in the U.S. dramatic field in the same year. Media powerhouses Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry then got involved by signing on as executive producers of "Precious." Then Lionsgate Films and the Weinstein Company fought over which company would distribute the film. (Lionsgate, which distributes Perry’s movies, emerged victorious.) "Precious" has since screened to high praise at numerous film festivals around the world, including the Cannes Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the New York Film Festival, and AFI Fest.
At a TIFF press conference to promote "Precious," Winfrey made her first highly publicized appearance on behalf of the film. Those who joined her on the panel included Perry, Sidibe, "Precious" director/producer Lee Daniels, Mariah Carey (who plays social worker Mrs. Weiss), Mary J. Blige (who performs "I Can See in Color," the theme song to "Precious"), Paula Patton (who plays Blu Rain, a teacher who has a powerful influence on Precious) and Sherri Shepherd (who has a role in the movie as a school administrator known only as Cornrows). It was a lively discussion that included some candid thoughts from members of the panel.
Lee, what did it take to make "Push" into a film?
Daniels: Faith, because when you read it, you think, "Can this ever be a movie?" It’s so hard, but I loved it so much. I slept with the book under my pillow. It just touched my soul, and I knew I had to tell the story. So it was faith, and I just kept on and I kept on and I kept on. Faith! Faith in God.
Sapphire, Oprah Winfrey and Lee Daniels at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Oprah and Tyler, what do you say to people who think, "I can’t watch that" when they hear the plot of the film?
Winfrey: I say, "It is so raw that it will suck the air out of the room at the end of the film — and that’s a very good thing." When I finished watching this film, the first thing I did was call Tyler so I could get Lee’s number and tell him how I was gasping for air. And so I think it’s a good thing that we are taken to that level of engagement with this film.
Perry: For anyone who has endured that kind of situation — and me being one of those people — it left me with hope. I think that if people really saw it and understood for what it is and understood the power of making it through that kind of situation. I don’t think it’s dark at all as much as what it leaves you with at the end, [which] is hope. She [Precious] walks away with her life, she walks away with her faith and her love for the first time for her children. It leaves me with hope, and I’m hoping that’s what people will walk away from that no matter what your situation, you can walk away feeling really good leaving this movie with the understanding that no matter what you go through, it’ll be OK.
Lee Daniels and Gabourey Sidibe at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Mariah and Gabby, can you talk about one of the most powerful scenes in the movie, the scene toward the end with your characters talking to Mo’Nique’s character, Precious’ abusive mother?
Carey: Well, first of all, just working with this young lady here [she touches Sidibe’s arm] was incredible, and then to add Mo’Nique, who is such a powerful in this film. I mean, she’s just so strong. And then to be in that scene, it really is the culmination of everything that’s gone on in the film. We come to know how long the abuse has been going on, what’s been happening. And my character is not really a likable person … but she does bring this to the surface.
I had to kind of really stay strong as an actor and I have to thank Lee for giving me that chance and really letting us really be free with that scene. He’d whisper stuff in her ear, and say, "Say this to her." And he was doing the same thing to me. It was a great chance for me to exercise and to work, and I feel like we connected on such a level. We were crying in between scenes. It was emotional; it was deep for us, I think.
Sidibe: That scene certainly was one of the harder scenes to film, just because it was the answer in a lot of ways. Maybe it wasn’t the greatest answer, but it was an answer to why Precious’ life was the way it was. And so it’s such an important scene. While we were filming it, we were crying and none of us was supposed to be crying, but it was so deep and so raw that we couldn’t help it. Cameramen were crying! It was such an important scene. It was amazing to film.
Oprah Winfrey at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Oprah, do you think that this film might inspire you to start a film club similar to your book club so that you could put a spotlight on important issues that are in movies?
Winfrey: Well, I would say I’m the biggest member of that film club right now. I don’t know, because a film like this comes along once in a time. I don’t think any of us has seen anything like this. But that’s a good thought: a film club. Thank you.
Oprah or Tyler, can you talk about getting distribution for "Precious"?
Perry: Lee [Daniels], Sarah [Siegel-Magness] and Gary [Magness, all producers of "Precious"]. The film was already done by the time I saw it. They had already put the financing together. They had already done an amazing film. Lee did a spectacular job directing, so when it came to me, it was a finished product. I go, "Ooh, great!" So it was already done. There was only one place that I knew that would do it justice. There was only one group of people that would give it the attention and the care that it needed — and that was Lionsgate. I’ve been with them for quite a while. I’m very excited that they’ve stepped up and made this thing really special.
Winfrey: I agree.
Daniels: What happens is that filmmakers like myself, we go around, we make these movies; they’re made with love, bubblegum and popsicle sticks. We then throw it out there and pray that Warner Bros. and Paramount and Lionsgate and Columbia, somebody buys our little piece of work. It’s very, very difficult. And I’m very blessed. And on top of that, I’m blessed to have two icons [Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry] behind me with the studio. It’s a unique situation.
Lee Daniels, Gabourey Sidibe and Xosha Roquemore on the set of "Precious"
How do you want people to react to "Precious," in terms of what they can do in society?
Winfrey: Can I answer that? When I finished watching that movie, I literally had to breathe. I didn’t cry until the card came up [at the movie’s end credits that said], "For Precious girls everywhere." And that hit a nerve. I recognized myself in that character. And most of all, I recognized that I have seen the Precious girls of the world, and they have been invisible to me. And the message of this film is that none of us who see that movie can now walk through the world and allow the Preciouses of the world to be visible to us again. That is the message.
Lee, you’ve said in interviews that your mother told you that she wished you could make more films like Tyler Perry films. Now that you’ve worked with Tyler Perry on "Precious," can you and Tyler comment on your collaboration?
Daniels: After "The Woodsman," which is about a pedophile, my mother said to me, "Miss Maybelle down at the church wants to figure out what I did to you, because … where did you come from? Why can’t you make movies like Tyler Perry?" I said, "Ma, I’m trying to." She said, "I need to feel good when I go to church and they talk about you." So I know for sure that my mother will love this film. And I’m so happy that [Tyler Perry] is a mouthpiece for this film, because it brings [it] open to an audience that’s my mother.
Perry: What I tried to do and what I wanted to do is that when you’ve been given a lot, a lot is required of you. I’ve just been really blessed and really fortunate to have a huge following. And any time something like this comes along and so many great people are attached to it, and they’ve done such an amazing job to bring this incredible film to people, and if I have a way to get people to see it, I have to be a part of it. I just wanted to step up and get everybody to see it, including [Lee Daniels’] mother, to come out and see "Precious," because it’s really, really phenomenal.
Tyler Perry and Mary J. Blige at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Mary, can you talk about the emotions you wanted to preach in performing the theme song to "Precious"?
Blige: When I saw the film, all I could think about was growing up in my neighborhood and knowing that girl Precious — and even that guy Precious — and actually living in those situations myself. Some of those situations that happened to Precious happened to me. And while those things happened to me, it seemed like from the time I was 5 to maybe my late 20s, I was seeing everything in black and white, because I had never dealt with the issues that Precious had to deal with.
I never dealt with the fact that I was molested as a child. I never dealt with the fact that I watched family members, young men, suffer the same exact thing that Precious suffered and died because they didn’t want to live in that situation anymore. For me, everything was in black and white.
And the reason why I named the song "I Can See in Color" is when I finally woke up or got to a point where I said, "I cannot live like this anymore," it seemed like everything turned to color. So for half of my life, seeing things in black and white, never seeing things as half-full, it was always empty, I wanted people to understand that it’s a very, very dark place and in order to be free, you’ve got to want to be free. That came from my own life experience, and I put lyrics to this song that best describe what the film is.
Oprah, you’ve given many positive messages over the years. How do you think those messages have affected people?
Winfrey: Well, I think that’s for other people to determine. Our show has been able to have a great impact on opening people’s eyes to any myriad of issues, including this film. I look forward to being able to have cast members on this show and to be able to introduce this film in such a way that I can bring in a different audience to allow Precious to be visible to them. That’s why I’m involved with this film. The moment I saw the film, I called Lee, and Lee happened to be on stage receiving an award at the Sundance Film Festival. He said, "I’m on stage receiving an award!" And I go, "Then you should turn off your cell phone!"
And because I feel that the Preciouses of the world, the Preciouses everywhere deserve to be heard and deserve a voice. And to be able to use my platform — the show, the magazine, myself, radio and whatever else I do — in a way that allows people to receive it, to make it palatable. That’s why I’m here to do that. Thank you for that question.
Gabourey Sidibe and Paula Patton in "Precious"
Oprah and Lee, in the beginning of the film, a quote is shown that says, "Everything is a gift from the universe." What does that mean to both of you?
Daniels: We take so much for granted. I take so much for granted. I take the fact that I can read for granted. I take the fact that I’m breathing for granted, that I’m healthy for granted. And I’m grateful. Precious’ story makes me grateful to be alive, because there are so many people who don’t have what I have. I’m always complaining about what I don’t have. So that’s what that [quote] is about.
Winfrey: What I thought that [quote] meant is that nothing is happening out of order with you. That everything comes into your life to help grow you to the next space, and that if you open yourself to the possibilities of your life, everything that you’re drawing into yourself can help lift you up and lift you out of wherever you are. And that’s the beautiful message of Miss Rain, [played by] the gorgeous Paula Patton. [She says jokingly] The only thing I’m trying to figure out is how did Miss Rain look that good every day working for Each One Teach One? Where did Miss Rain get those clothes from? [She says seriously] The message Miss Rain was trying to convey, wouldn’t you agree, Paula?
Paula Patton at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Patton: Yeah, absolutely. I and I think Miss Rain dresses the way that she does to set an example for the girls. She wants to show this is the way to be professional, and she needs to come to work as a professional, to set an example to those young girls, so they can go out and do their job interviews.
Winfrey: The whole point of Miss Rain is to teach the girls in that class the message of "Everything is a gift from the universe." Wouldn’t you agree?
Patton: It’s funny, Miss Rain teaches that but she’s not saying it out loud. She loves hard. She loves through discipline, because I think she understands that young girls like Precious and the other girls in the classroom have had a tough life. And if she’s too nice, they will take her kindness as weakness and walk all over her.
So she needed to establish that authority. And "Listen, I don’t take any BS," you know? But they listen because I come every day that I love then. They know because I expect the best out of them and I won’t settle for less. That is how I show them they’re loved. And I let them know that "This is your last chance in many ways. And education is your only way." And it still is.
I remember my father grew up in Mississippi the son of a sharecropper. [She gets emotional and chokes up] And still to this day, every black person knew that with an education, you can change your life. It might not be as easy as the person with more money or with different-colored skin, but you have a chance. Miss Rain was like, "Let’s start with the alphabet, and from there, you can conquer the world."
Is "Precious" a movie about race, and do you have any concerns about it stigmatizing the black community?
Patton: It’s a human story.
Daniels: It’s a universal story. I’m a black filmmaker, so it was told from a black perspective, and it happens to a black girl. But this story is universal. I’ve been around the world with the film, and I’m continually shocked and surprised at little women from Japan, Australia, that are 60, 70 and 80 years old feeling like they are Precious. So I found that it’s universal.
Gabourey Sidibe at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Gabby, how has "Precious" affected your life?
Sidibe: I was a psych student and a receptionist the day before I went to the audition. And afterwards, I’m an actress. And so it’s done so much. I’ve grown as a person. Not that I have a big head and "I’m an actress. I’m awesome now." I fully believe I was awesome then [before becoming an actress].
I’ve gotten so much education being on set, being around all these people that I absolutely admire, that are icons to me. It’s an education I absolutely wasn’t getting in college. And it’s an education I wasn’t getting as a receptionist. I’ve learned so much. That’s what’s really changed about me. I was a smart girl, but now I have a different knowledge of life and what life can be.
I was wrong: I didn’t think I had any business going to the audition. I didn’t think I could get an acting job with one audition. I wasn’t an acting student. I never wanted to act. The biggest thing learned was that I thought I could do. I thought I’d be a receptionist my whole life.
Daniels: I’ve seen Gabby change. Someone said, "She changes from the beginning of the film to the end of the film." And I can’t take credit for that, because her spirit changed. I watched her change from this receptionist to someone that just had so much self-pride and became beautiful inside. That was her own growth through this process.
Mariah Carey at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Mariah, can you talk about Precious’ fantasy sequences which resemble music videos?
Carey: As a fan of "Push," which now "Precious" — I’ve been a fan of this book, I don’t even want to say how long it was since the first time I read it — and it changed my life. Sapphire knows this, so just to be involved in this is just incredible for me. I don’t even know how I could’ve fathomed how this [book] could’ve turned into a film, after being such a fan of this book. I think I read it twice in a row immediately … and it was just overpowering.
But the fantasy sequences that were added to this [screenplay]. I just felt like … we needed those; we needed to be lifted with those … They enhanced what was already there on a level that you needed a little bit of something that was going to lift you up from what we were going through. Visually, in terms of what [music] videos do in terms of society, it’s escapism on some level, and it’s surreal on another level, but I just feel that what Geoffrey [Fletcher, the screenwriter of "Precious"] and Lee [Daniels] did collaboratively was just so amazing and took us to new heights with this really incredible book.
Daniels: We needed to breathe. I felt like if we stayed in that place of darkness, we would flatline. And so just when we thought we couldn’t take it any more, we pull back into a fantasy or we pull into laughter or we talk about Mariah’s [character’s] race. We continue to surprise you.
Sherri Shepherd and Tyler Perry at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Sherri, what was it like working with the other actors in "Precious"?
Shepherd: It was a lot of fun working with Paula and the other girls on the scenes. I have to say that when I came in and auditioned for this movie, and I improv-ed my scenes, [Lee Daniels] was cracking up and he was laughing, because I’m the funny girl. And I got on the set and he said, "I don’t want none of that, bitch! You not going to be funny. Bitch, you in pain!"
He gave me "Paris Is Burning" to watch. There would be so many times when he’d go, "Cut! Take the smile off your face, bitch!" So I got my fun from interacting with Paula before they said "Action!" I had my fun and laughter with the girls. But it was such a bonding with women — with Gabby and Paula and the other ladies. But I just have to thank Lee, because this is my first drama … for bringing out stuff that I didn’t know I had. Maybe it’s because you kept calling me "bitch."
Daniels: It seems to work.
Shepherd: The bonding with the women was amazing.
Sapphire and Oprah Winfrey at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Lee, can you talk about how you went about casting "Precious"?
Daniels: This is really bizarre, because a while ago, when I first optioned the book, when we didn’t have our money, I had gone to Oprah to play [Precious’] mother.
Winfrey: I heard nothing about that!
Daniels: She didn’t know. We went to her people. No one takes it seriously when you are in independent film without financing. I’m sure it’s one of a gazillion scripts that come to you. It’s weird that we’re back full circle.
So I went to Mo’Nique, whom I had already worked with before [on the film "Shadowboxer"], and then secured financing, and then I found Gabby amongst 500 girls. We auditioned 500 girls. I called an agency, ICM, and said, "I’m looking for a 400-pound African-American." And they went, "No, Lee." And that’s when we realized we had to have an open call.
Sidibe: I’m not 400 pounds.
Daniels: [He says while hugging Sidibe] She’s not 400 pounds, FYI. Helen Mirren was supposed to play Mariah’s role, and [Helen] got another job. Mariah called me that day. I had just finished working with her [in the movie "Tennessee"], and the lightblub went off there. I’m so happy that she did it, because it’s so unexpected, her performance.
Carey: Thank you.
Daniels: And the supporting group of girls there [in the alternative school], it was their first time acting, for the most part. And Lenny Kravitz is one of my best friends, and I wanted to strip him of his rock-star image. They were all angels that came together.
Where’s Mo’Nique today?
Daniels: Mo’Nique is at home, eating some potato chips with her kids.
Winfrey: No, she’s watching "Curious George."
Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige and "Precious" executive producer Lisa Cortes at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival press conference for "Precious"
Mariah and Sherri, how did it feel to de-glamorize yourselves for this movie role?
Carey: It’s a fright. You can thank Mr. Daniels. He had a very specific look.
Shepherd: I brought in all my wigs for the character and he was like, "No. It’s not happening." It really brought up what everybody was going through. It was not about [looking glamorous].
Daniels: I don’t like makeup.
Carey: But you put makeup underneath my eyes. And the overhead lighting was not my friend. And neither was the hair look, but you knew what you were doing to me, and you loved it!
Shepherd: Not an eyelash strip to be found!
Daniels: I was looking at Mariah in my peripheral vision, and I see her putting on blush.
Carey: It was a little bit.
Daniels: I said, "Mariah, what are you doing?" I said, "Forget about continuity. Bitch, what is this?" And she said, "Precious has makeup on!"
Carey: I was trying to give it a little something. Somebody who does makeup for me said, "This is a Mariah Carey nightmare. You have everything that you hate going on right now." But it was cool, because a lot of people tell me they don’t recognize me in the film; they don’t know it’s me. That was a great gift that [Lee Daniels] gave me: to be able to that far from who I am.
Daniels: And Paula too. Paula is very beautiful. We really stripped her …
Carey: But you gave her beautiful lighting. I’m in the overhead lighting. Let’s face it! Let’s be real. Keep it real! A hundred percent! She had the beauty lighting.
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Photo credits: Photos #1, 8, 12, 13: Getty Images. Photos #2, 3, 6, 11: AP. Photos #4, 9, 10: Reuters. Photos #5, 7: Lionsgate Films.
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