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movie news
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Mon. 10 27. 2008 7:19 PM EDT
'Notorious' Stars Hope Biopic Makes Biggie's Crew Proud
'He banged the role out,' Lil' Cease says about Jamal 'Gravy' Woolard's portrayal of the Notorious B.I.G.
by
Shaheem Reid
Jamal "Gravy" Woolard as Notorious B.I.G. in "Notorious"
(
Phil Caruso
)
ATLANTA — Jamal "Gravy" Woolard was amazed to see the trailer for the film "Notorious." Now, the Brooklyn
MC-turned-actor can't wait to see the entire movie.
He said he feels great about his work as the Notorious B.I.G. in the much-anticipated biopic. "It was a great experience, working with [Lil'] Cease, showing me what to do," Woolard said last week. "Working with Derek Luke, him showing me what to do. And just being B.I., my home team, Brooklyn. We got a lot of characteristics that's the same. I can't wait to see the movie myself."
The extended trailer for the film shows Biggie's origins as a street hustler and the life-altering moment when he eludes serious jail time. Free to pursue his career, Big meets Puffy (played by Luke), who promises to make him a star. The trailer also references Biggie's marriage to Faith Evans and his alleged love affair with Lil' Kim.
Big's right-hand man, Lil' Cease, has given Woolard his co-sign. The Junior M.A.F.I.A. member was one of the people closest to Biggie on- and offstage.
"It's ill at first," Cease said about being on the set of the film. "There were some times when certain things that were shot, [Jamal] looked exactly like Big, the movements. He did the work. He banged the role out. He's got my love and support."
Luke also got an early thumbs-up from his the man he's playing in the film: Sean "Diddy" Combs.
"The co-sign is great," said Luke, whose next film, "Madea Goes to Jail," drops in February. "You still gotta do the work. I felt honored to be [playing] in that whole era that caused this era right now. Puff is a mogul in his own sense, and I wanted to learn from him."
"Notorious" hits theaters in January.
This report is from MTV News.
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