It's been almost two decades since 36 Chambers, but Wu-Tang Clan founder Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known simply as the RZA, hasn't skipped a beat. After two previous attempts to create the perfect martial arts film, the RZA's motion picture dreams have come true. Besides a current concert tour, he's had his hands full—er, should I say fists?—with writing, directing, starring in, and scoring the soundtrack for the latest Quentin Tarantino flick, The Man with the Iron Fists. In theaters November 2, the bloody Kung Fu joint was filmed over 150 days in and around Shanghai, China and features a tantalizing cast that includes Russell Crow, Rick Yune and Lucy Liu. And the cherry on top? The RZA teamed up with gorno director Eli Roth on the screenplay. I caught up with the rap icon turned filmmaker during his recent visit to Vegas...
You wrote, directed
and scored the soundtrack for The Man
with the Iron Fists. How does it feel to have completed your first film? How did you make it happen?
It feels really good to complete this film. It’s very
self-fulfilling and rewarding. Of course I’m still nervous until the rest of
the world sees it and weighs in on my work. That’s how it is with anything you
do, I guess. You want people to like it. I didn’t do it just for myself. But
yeah, this is a good moment for me right now. With
Wu Tang I saw the path. With this, I didn’t see the path, I found the path and
I was confident.
What do you have to say about your transition from purely making music to film making?
The transition for me was a natural one. It wasn’t strenuous, awkward or weird. But sometimes when you’re young you have a lot of negligence in you. Now I think that I’ve grown as a man, a gentleman and an artist. I've become a real man, like Daniel Craig/James Bond type of
man. That’s the kind of pristine man I’ve grown into.
Why did you decide to retain the Rza moniker in filmmaking?
Why did you decide to retain the Rza moniker in filmmaking?
I think I’ve identified myself already [as Rza], so I just remain to be me in the midst of this environment. I found myself and I’m going to remain myself.
What is your favorite
Kung Fu movie?
I can never say what my favorite is. But for people who want
to get into the genre, my suggestions are The
Five Deadly Venoms. That movie’s been one of the biggest inspirations for
me regarding the imagination and how far you can take this kind of a movie. Also Master Killers, which is also called 36 Chambers, is another great movie if
you’re breaking into the genre. Seven
Grand Masters—in that, you have a man who walks around the country,
traveling by foot to fight other men to prove he’s the best, and there are no
guns involved. This particular guy uses his hands. Even if his enemy’s got a
sword, he uses his hands. To me, that’s the epitome of a man. We live in a
world where, especially the neighborhood where I grew up, we use guns to settle
disputes. With a gun, you may not live to fight another day; and the person that
shoots you goes to jail. In a fair fight, the best man wins or you go home with
a butt-whooping and you get yourself better.
How did you and Eli Roth partner up?
We first met at Quentin Tarantino’s house in L.A. He shows
movies at his house and invites people over. One night he invited me and Eli
was there. We watched some movies together and talked about them and we just
got along. We’ve been friends for about eight years now.
What do you do when you’re in Vegas?
I’ve gotten in trouble here, but I’m not going to reveal
the crazy stories. Most people know Vegas for gambling, partying and strippers,
right? But there’s a lot of beauty here and I’m seeing a lot of art. Gza, my
cousin, he’s the one that told me to go see La
Reve. He was like, “Yo, the shit they’re doing is like martial arts mixed
with gymnastics mixed with some shit you can’t explain!” As far as arts &
entertainment, I think Vegas made its way into the top 10. I didn’t see The Lion King on Broadway. I saw it
here.
Be sure to check out The Man with the Iron Fists soundtrack, featuring Wu-Tang Clan, Wiz Khalifa, The Black Keys, Kanye West, Corrine Bailey Rae, Flatbush Zombies and more... yes, more...
~Meow~
Pennies
