Chris Rock is widely regarded as one of the funniest people in America and has steadily built his career from an unknown stand-up comedian to "Saturday Night Live" cast member to full-fledged movie star.
In his new movie, "Down to Earth," Rock plays a comedian whose life is taken by an angel a split second before he is actually supposed to die. Hence, he is given a second chance at life in the body of an old white millionaire.
Recently the New Mexico Daily Lobo had the chance, along with a group of college reporters from various schools, to interview Rock.
Q: What are your plans like, now that you're 36?
Rock: To stop this sham and do the drugs I want to do.
Q: Do you consider yourself a stand-up comedian still, or an actor?
Rock: I guess I consider myself a stand-up who has been successful enough to be able to act.
Q: How did your experience with "Down To Earth" differ from your involvement in "CB-4?"
Rock: Well, I'm 10 years older, and I kind of knew what I was doing this time. And I was way more involved in this movie than with "CB-4" and I didn't defer as much. In "CB-4" I just wrote jokes and thought, "OK, everybody else around me knows movies, and they'll handle the rest." But jokes don't make a movie.
Q: I heard that you're in the new Kevin Smith movie. What's that going to be like?
Rock: It's hard to explain because I only worked around a day on it, but it's a "Jay and Silent Bob" movie - as opposed to their other movies where they weren't the main characters. I mean, when you think about it and Silent Bob doesn't talk, it becomes Jay's movie.
Q: Do you ever meet any crazy fans? How do you deal with that?
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Rock: I really don't go out that much, but I do meet fans, and there are some who are more into it than others, but I'm in the house writing and in the studio trying to work on something new.
Q: Out of all the characters you've played, which one do you like the most?
Rock: "CB-4" was fun - I mean acting like a crazy rapper was a lot of fun. I liked doing "Nurse Betty," too. Basically, anything where I'm not me.
Q: So, is being a leading man something that you've been waiting for?
Rock: I never think in those terms when I'm making movies. When I was making "Lethal Weapon 4" I wasn't thinking I should be where Mel Gibson is. But I get to lead whenever I'm on stage. It was just with "Down to Earth" that I thought I should be the lead.
Q: Will we be seeing any more stand-up tours?
Rock: Yeah, actually I want to tour in the fall. I have to finish a movie and then I'll see how that goes.
Q: Are you interested in movies that are more than just straight comedy, such as "Nurse Betty" and "Dogma"?
Rock: Yeah, because I bore easily, so I am interested in dark humor more than most people.
Q: What's your biggest source for your material?
Rock: Newspapers, childhood . nothing special.
Q: Have you ever considered moving behind the camera?
Rock: Probably with the next movie. I would have directed "Down to Earth," but I had to go back to my show, so now that I don't have a show, probably the next thing I write I'll direct. I'm definitely ready.
Q: When did you actually feel like you made it in show business?
Rock: Probably when I was doing "Saturday Night Live," but you never make it. I mean, if Tom Cruise woke up with my career, he'd jump out the window.
