By Stacey Chapman

How did you get involved with DIRTY?

Cuba Gooding Jr.: When I got the screen play it came with a two page letter detailing Chris Fisher's (the writer the director) frustration with the Rampart scandal in the media and in the print press. He went on to express that police officials are using almost military jargon describing the war on gang violence as if it were an "us" against "them" mentality. Ironically, the officials are the "them". That letter moved me. The director went on to say that I have been a good guy in my movies and I have this likable quality about me. The character I play, Salim Adel, started out as a gang member and became so reformed he became an undercover cop. Adel then gets pushed back into that gang member mentality. Fisher thought it would be nice to have that back story so that the actor wouldn't see this as a bad role. I never saw this as a bad role. I never judged this guy. When I read the script, I haven't seen a role with such a social relevance since BOYS IN THE HOOD.

So what did it take to prepare for this movie? You are a pretty nasty guy!

CGJ: The minute I judge a character that's when the audience is pulled out of the performance. I did the same preparation for RADIO, the same prep for JERRY MCQUIRE and the same prep for MEN OF HONOR. These specific characters, in a sense, are real people and it has to be an unbiased reflection of their lives. I can't judge these guys.

I thought it was really great that two minorities were the leads. It's so easy for a white guy to go "You're Nuts!"

CGJ: This movie is going to be compared to TRAINING DAY. In TRAINING DAY, Denzel Washington is being taken out by the Russians from out of nowhere. You also have the white cop in the movie surviving his time in "hell", becoming better for it and moving on. This is a cautionary tale that exists right now. These are Black and Hispanic cops who infiltrate the gang system, become gang members and find accountability for their actions at the end of the tale. There are no Russians saving the day in this situation. What's scarier is that in both TRAINING DAY and DIRTY there is an institution that breeds this mentality and it's continuing to some degree. I don't want it to look like I am bashing the LAPD. I am a huge supporter of the LAPD. I have participated in charity events and uplifted the military as my past films will show.

Can you talk about working with Clifton Collins, Jr.?

CGJ: Of course, I love Cliff. People talk about the elements of chemistry. He can listen and respond to you in a way that motivates you and keeps you in character. After the dialogue stopped we were going and going and going in those scenes. The director put scenes in the movies that were not in the script.

You've come a long way since BOYS IN THE HOOD. But things in Los Angeles haven't progressed or developed as much as they could have or should have. Can you connect the dots for me the social situation in LA of making that movie to this movie?

CGJ: Well, you think about the statements that need to be made with BOYS IN THE HOOD. There were gang members openly killing each other and civilians every weekend in Los Angeles. After BOYS IN THE HOOD and a progression of movies with similar themes the gang violence and the drive by shootings began to taper off. So that was positive. But the statement now, is as my undercover cop character says "We're the only gang that is alive". It's a social duty to voice our opinions on how people are suppose to protect and serve and how they go about their protocol.

Do you think this movie will contribute in a positive way enlightening people or might it have a negative effect?

CGJ: Maybe a little bit of both. I was as frustrated as everyone else about the Rampart scandal. I was twice as frustrated recently when one of the guys who was suspended back then just got caught doing some other dirty stuff. A little more accountability is all I'm saying and if this movie promotes that, then good.

You seem to like to play more and now these tougher characters like in SHADOWBOXER.

CGJ: The last movie that I just finished three weeks ago is with Anne Heche , Gina Gershon and Sean Astin. It's a romantic comedy. It's called WHAT LOVE IS. Mars Callahan wrote and directed it. He did POOLHALL JUNKIES. I'm so proud of that movie.

You got sick of playing the mean guys?

CGJ: I don't look at it that way. I got a character and whatever the situation the character's in he responds to it based on his personality and his reaction.

You were in JERRY MCGUIRE. Do you still keep in touch with Tom Cruise?

CGJ: I do.

What do you think of him and Katie as a couple?

CGJ: I heard they weren't a couple. Are they a couple or not? Good lawd. I showed him SHADOWBOXER.

You showed him SHADOWBOXER? What did he think of it?

CGJ: He loved it, he thought it was brilliant.

Is END GAME going straight to DVD?

CGJ: That is what I heard. In the last two years I did four movies. They are all independent risks and all under five million dollars. They were DIRTY, END GAME, SHADOW BOXER and WHAT LOVE IS. So, hopefully they will all make it to the theaters, but right now I know DIRTY is. I know SHADOWBOXER is May 12 and last I heard (END GAME) is going to video. Maybe with the hype of these movies that will change, but I don't know. I didn't do it with the understanding that that was going straight to video.

Why did you decide to go the independent route?

CGJ: That's where the roles were. I wasn't going to make another, although it was funny, BOAT TRIP. I wanted to make a statement movie and it was all in independent films.

How did winning an Oscar change you?

CGJ: It changed me for the better and for the worse. I think the better obviously because I will be an Academy Award winner forever, which is awesome. The stigma I had to overcome made me have to turn down a lot of roles and go without representation at all. I thought I was up here now and I can't do anything beneath me because I am going to be judged on this work. My advice to anyone is to keep working. Just do the work. After ten years I am a better actor for it.

After working with the Chris Fisher are you inclined to direct yourself?

CGJ: Of course, I am a director trapped in an actor's body.