Words and Images by DeWayne Rogers
Mission One:
Redefining The Objective
There would be no press conference on this day. No exclusive magazine interview to make a major announcement. Like every other aspect of his career, Tyrese Gibson would handle this matter on his own terms. He wanted the world to know what was on his mind. Straight up … no chaser. As a man from the impoverished streets of Watts who rose to national prominence armed only with a steely determination, he was not about to let someone else dictate his agenda. This was his time to speak.
“I’m focused on taking my career to the next level,” he began as he readjusted his position in his seat, smoothing out his gray, pinstriped suit for the camera. Today was press day for Gibson’s new movie, Death Race, and the breathtaking beauty of San Diego was the backdrop for the occasion.
But why the suit? The interviews were being held outside in 80-degree weather, and the rest of his co-stars were dressed accordingly. Shorts. Tank tops. But not Gibson.
“I have this suit on because I want to always look the part,” he explains. “In order for me to reach certain goals, I always need to carry myself in a successful manner. So that means I need to look the part, speak the part, act the part, and then just work hard. I had gotten comfortable with my success, and I’ll admit that I had become a bit lazy. So I had to make a conscious decision that I was going to change my circumstances, and not let life pass me by. I hired a personal trainer, lost 46 pounds, and came in here and gave the best performance that I have ever done in my career. I think that once people see what I have done with this film, then even more roles should start coming my way. I have interviews all day today, and every person that I come in contact with will walk away knowing how serious I am about my career.”
Mission Two:
Being Daddy
“Walk down the sidewalk,
Staring at your feet,
Wishing my steps were longer,
So by your sides I could keep.
Hold your hand much bigger,
Never wanted mine to grow,
So I could always fit perfect,
Inside your palms just so.
No one loves me just like you do,
No one knows me just like you do,
No one can compare to the way my eyes fit in yours,
You’ll always be my father,
And I’ll always be your joy.”
–Chrisette Michele “Your Joy”
The interviews were close to wrapping up, and after a long day of patiently answering questions from press outlets spanning the globe, you could just look at his face and tell that Gibson was ready to call it a day. “He hasn’t eaten,” his personal trainer shared. “I need to get him a snack.” As he continued on with the interviews, this time addressing an outlet from Portugal, he glanced over at his team of confidants, his eyes beginning to sag a bit, and he just shook his head, intimating that he was running on fumes.
But then just as quickly as his energy seemed to leave him, a sudden jolt of electricity shot through his body, and his weary expression was replaced by a megawatt smile. Our small delegation turned around to see what the star’s eyes were fixed upon, and up walked his wife, Norma, holding the couple’s infant daughter.
“Oh, he sees his little baby now,” Norma laughed. “You see your daddy? He’s happy now.” She was right. As he continued on with his interview, Gibson had now shifted back in his chair, with his chest puffed out. His face read ‘proud dad.’ As soon as the final question was answered, he scooted over to his wife, gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, and focused his attention on his one and only daughter.
“Look at my little girl,” he grinned. “Are you happy to see daddy?” Oh, but she was. So much so, that when it was time for him to return to the set, she began to cry incessantly. She wanted to be with her father. And he wanted to be with her. That’s the bond that he always craved to have once he became a father.
“There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do for my daughter,” he later explained, when reflecting on the day’s events. “What’s crazy is that I didn’t want to put her down. But that’s what happens when you are trying to be both a father and a provider. There are times when she is going to have to realize that daddy has to go to work, and that he is doing all of this because he loves her and wants to provide a better life for her. But then, I have to make sure that when I’m not working, that I am being the best father that I can be.”
The adoring eyes of his daughter said it all. He was being a good father. And she was his joy.
Mission Three:
Expanding the Vision
“You know what’s wrong with us black men,” he said out of nowhere, almost as if it were something that he had been contemplating for a while.
“What?” I asked.
“We don’t network enough,” he continued. “Just like you and I are sitting here talking and building, more of us need to get together, pool our resources and mentor one another. I had gone too long trying to do things on my own without having a mentor. But once you have a person in your life that has already been down that road, and can help you along the way, it makes it that much easier to make it. So make sure you tell that to your readers. We need to build more.”
If you happen to see Tyrese, make sure you tell him that I kept my word.
