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The oldjoke is that every actor wants to
direct. But Paula Patton, who stars in
Outkast's musical drama "Idlewild,"
opening Friday, and this fall's "Deja Vu"
with Denzel Washington, flipped it around.
The Los Angeles-born Patton had been
working as a young filmmaker, with her work
featured on the Discovery Health Channel's
documentary series "Medical Diaries." When
that show ended, "I didn't know if what I really
wanted to do was become a director," says
Patton. "I remember sitting at my desk, trying
to thi~k of something to write. Then I thought, since I was a little girl, I've loved to act."
She followed through with acting lessons
and a cameo in "Hitch." But now Patton has
landed plum parts: as Andre Benjamin's love
in "Idlewild" and the woman Washington
travels back in time for in "Deja Vu."
Her lack of experience was a plus when
she auditioned for "Idlewild." "I just went in
and had fun," she says. "I didn't feel pres
sure because I didn't think I had a chance.
So I had a blast." And the Prohibition-era-set
movie from Benjamin and Antwan (Big Boi)
Patton (no relation) lived up to the fun. "Everything in the movie revolves around
a speakeasy, so there are great performance
numbers, although there are times when
Andre and Big Boi just sing to express a feel
ing," she says. "It's part musical and part
drama, part crime story and part love story. It
mixes a lot of emotions together."
So her decision to abandon life behind the
camera to go in front of one has paid off.
"When you choose your destiny in life, it's
amazing how the world helps you get it," she
says. "When I became unafraid, good things
happened." Michael Giltz en
direct. But Paula Patton, who stars in
Outkast's musical drama "Idlewild,"
opening Friday, and this fall's "Deja Vu"
with Denzel Washington, flipped it around.
The Los Angeles-born Patton had been
working as a young filmmaker, with her work
featured on the Discovery Health Channel's
documentary series "Medical Diaries." When
that show ended, "I didn't know if what I really
wanted to do was become a director," says
Patton. "I remember sitting at my desk, trying
to thi~k of something to write. Then I thought, since I was a little girl, I've loved to act."
She followed through with acting lessons
and a cameo in "Hitch." But now Patton has
landed plum parts: as Andre Benjamin's love
in "Idlewild" and the woman Washington
travels back in time for in "Deja Vu."
Her lack of experience was a plus when
she auditioned for "Idlewild." "I just went in
and had fun," she says. "I didn't feel pres
sure because I didn't think I had a chance.
So I had a blast." And the Prohibition-era-set
movie from Benjamin and Antwan (Big Boi)
Patton (no relation) lived up to the fun. "Everything in the movie revolves around
a speakeasy, so there are great performance
numbers, although there are times when
Andre and Big Boi just sing to express a feel
ing," she says. "It's part musical and part
drama, part crime story and part love story. It
mixes a lot of emotions together."
So her decision to abandon life behind the
camera to go in front of one has paid off.
"When you choose your destiny in life, it's
amazing how the world helps you get it," she
says. "When I became unafraid, good things
happened." Michael Giltz en