Diallo Thompson – Barbershop: The Next Cut

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) Please tell us about the premise for Barbershop: The Next Cut and about your character Kenny.

A) Well, my character is named Kenny Smith. I play the son of Rashad who is played by Common. Kenny is from New York and coming to live with his dad. I’m kind of a troubled kid and Rashad is trying to help me be a better person. We live in Chicago though, which is a rough area so I’m getting under the influence of gangs. I play the best friend of Calvin’s son and we’re both in it together. The film picks up where we left off with Barbershop 2, but now it is also a salon as well as a barbershop. Some of the old people left, but there are new favorites and some old favorites around. Since it does take place in Chicago, we know this is a very violent time there so they are just trying to deal with it in a movie that says anyone (no matter who you are) can help the community to come together and make it less violent.

Q) What were you originally given as a backstory for Kenny?

A) My character’s backstory is that I lived with my mother in New York where I was a troubled kid in school. I get kicked out for fighting so she sends me to my father who lives in Chicago. My character deep inside you can tell is a good kid, but he is effected by his surroundings because they think he needs to be hard and stand up to everyone so he can fit in. That’s why he gets into the gang life and is influenced by these thugs. In reality, he’s actually a good kid. He comes to Chicago and by meeting everyone in the shop, he realizes he doesn’t need to be that type of person to be happy.

Q) Was there anything you added that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) The director wanted me to think about my own backstory and where I came from. He wanted me to think about what my character has gone through up to the point where the movie actually starts. So, I definitely did that and the fact that maybe I was bullying kids at school and things like that added to kind of develop my character. At the same time, I had to look inside him to see that there was a deeper person. I had to realize that even if I was doing bad things or angry, I knew deep down I was a good kid despite how I acted in the movie.

Q) Is there a specific scene you are most looking forward to fans seeing?

A) In my scenes in particular, there are a lot of intense moments. I worked with some great actors and Tyga and Michael Rainey, Jr. I think the intent of the scene I’m looking forward to seeing on screen because when I was in the moment I felt the intensity while doing it. I really hope it comes off on screen and that people can really see the danger in those moments. I am looking forward to them seeing the funny moments as well and what happens in the barbershop. I didn’t get to stay and see the different scenes in the barbershop so I’m looking forward to seeing those. I think it is going to be really funny based off what I heard at the table-read.

Q) What was it like working with director Malcolm D. Lee?

A) Malcolm, to me, is a really great director because I could tell he really connects with the script and the movie. Each and every character, he will dig deep into them and make you realize where you are, what you are doing and why you are doing it. So, if you are doing a scene and he really thinks there should be a specific intent he will go through extra steps to pull it out of you. He’ll repeat it with you until you actually feel in the moment. He just cares so much about the characters that he really wanted to make sure he brought the best out of each and every person on screen. There was a scene where I had to be really intense and upset so he would make Michael and I run up and down the driveway, do pushups and suicides to make a scene more tired and more intense. Everyone was laughing at us, but it really helped! That’s what I loved about Malcolm, he really thought outside the box.

Q) The film is filled with great comedic actors. Do you think comedic timing is something that comes natural or is it something you work at?

A) Comedic timing to me is something you have to study as well as it coming natural. Of course, there are people who are just naturally funny, but for you to make each and every take funny at the same time you have to already know how to do it and what to do. You can’t be naturally funny and it show on screen. I love comedic movies, but I realized if you want to be funny you need to know how comedic timing works. If you don’t do it the first time, you have to do it the second take. I definitely worked on that when I realized I was going to be in the Barbershop I looked at the other movies and how the actors did their comedy, pauses and facial expressions. I made sure if I had to be in funny in a scene I would bring my own flavor to it and the formula to make sure I did it right on screen.

Q) What was it like for you working with Common?

A) First of all, Common is actually one of the nicest guys I have ever met in my life. At first I was a little nervous to meet him because I’ve listened to him a lot. I’ve always listened to his music and heard a lot about him. I remember when I walked in the first day for the table-read the first thing he said to me was, “Haven’t I seen you before? Have we worked together before?” I was like, “No, I would have definitely remembered if I worked with you before.” He was just so down to Earth and cool. He was such a mentor to me that he actually felt like my second father on set, not only on screen, but off screen as well to help me with my scenes and understand how everything worked. He was always so supportive. He said, “After this movie, be ready to do a bunch more movies. This is the first of many.” I remember he invited my father and I over to his hotel to watch a Heat game and just talk. He was just a great guy and I enjoyed working with him.

Q) What do you hope viewers take away from watching the movie?

A) First of all, I’m hoping that younger audiences are introduced to such a legendary and classic franchise such as Barbershop. I remember watching it as a kid and I loved it. Ice Cube said the reason the movie was made was to show how the violence and crime in Chicago needs to find a solution. There needs to be a stop to it. I hope the movie brings that awareness to the masses and the people of Chicago realize that we all need to help. Also, any inner city crime can be stopped because it starts with people in the city and works outward. You can do anything, even something small, as long as you’re helping. I hope that people walk out of the theater remembering that and bring that into their lives.