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Author Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas had constantly imagined Jennifer Lopez as Maya in the motion picture Second Act.
The thought for the film in which a 40-something-year-elderly person reevaluates herself began brooding with her and co-author Justin Zackman more than six years back.
“We concocted this anecdote about a lady who feels she never got a decent deal. In any case, at that point, she gets an astonishing chance, yet not by any stretch of the imagination truly, that makes a huge difference for her. She becomes acquainted with what life resembles when your fantasies work out,” says Zackman.
The pair pitched the idea to STX entertainment and a couple of drafts later, with Jennifer Lopez attached, director Peter Segal entered the picture and the rest, as they say, is history.
In this Q&A Jennifer talks about her role, acting alongside her friend Leah Remini, and second chances at life.
What was it about this project that drew you in and made you want to be involved?
Honestly, when I read a script I almost imagine myself doing it as I’m reading it. If that starts happening I know that I probably want to do it unless it sucks at the end and goes downhill. But if it holds up I finish it and go ‘OK’. There’s a relation to it immediately. It is almost right away like, ‘OK, I can do this’.
Second Act has a wonderful message. A lot of women and men reach their 40s and find themselves having to change career paths for various reasons.
I just loved the idea of being able, with every new day, having a chance to accomplish whatever you want to accomplish and the only thing holding you back is you. You just have to decide. I love this character. I related to her obviously very much. She is from the outer boroughs of New York. I grew up in the Bronx. She’s a Queens girl. She doesn’t have the education, but she has talent, drive and, again, the only thing holding her back was her. Once she kind of finds her way in she starts to realize all of the mistakes she made and the potential she has. The mistakes she made were not that bad and the potential is greater and she starts thinking about her life in a different way and having her own second act.
What is it like working on a movie with your friend Leah?
It was really great. We wound up drawing a lot from just us. I would say to her, ‘You know what this scene is like? Remember when you were in your garage four years ago and we were talking about this – a big conversation. She said, ‘Yes,’. I said, ‘That’s what this scene is’. She said, ‘OK. Let’s do that’. It would come very naturally.
You and Leah are hilarious together. How much of what we see on screen was scripted because it seemed like you guys did a lot of improv?
We have been friends for a long time. It was funny. A lot of things happened that were improv. Two of my favorite moments were things we talked about. It was as simple as there’s a scene we do in the kitchen and she unbuttoned her pants between scenes. I said, ‘You should do that in the scene?’ She said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘You should unbutton your pants in the scene’. She was like, ‘Really?’ I said, ‘Yeah’. She said, ‘OK’ so she unbuttoned it and it was one of the biggest laughs in the movie. Then when we did our slapping scene and she said, ‘Let’s do our Who’s the Champ thing’. I was like, ‘OK, let’s do it’. She said, ‘Let’s see where it goes’. We started doing it and they were two of my favorite things in the movie with her.
Your love interest in Second Act is played by Milo Ventimiglia. You specifically casted him in the role. Why did you want him to play Trey?
I was such a huge fan of This Is Us in its first season. When I read the first finished draft of this script I said this character has to be Milo. It has to be Milo. I can’t see anyone else doing it. He has that every good neighborhood guy type of feel. I thought he would fit in our New York world really well because that was important. I didn’t want someone who wasn’t from New York or didn’t have that feeling. I felt like he really had that feeling. When we put him in there with his cap and on a baseball field in Queens he looks like he belongs. It was great. I loved working with him. He was awesome.
This movie contrasts traditional education versus the education you pick up from the street. You also embody that and are an inspiration for others. How important is it for you to inspire others so they can be successful?
I think it is extremely imperative. Individuals need to know there isn’t only one route to a way to progress. There is many, a wide range of courses. That is the reason I cherish this motion picture since I experienced childhood in the Bronx and didn’t have a lot of an instruction. I went poorly school. Indeed, even with a move, I had no chance to get into the business. I didn’t know anyone who was in the big time or knew someone who was in the entertainment biz or had been to Hollywood. There was only no section point, yet you need to locate your own specific manner. It very well may be finished. I think you simply need to buckle down. Ideally, you have some ability and work your butt off. The key to my prosperity, I feel, is I work harder than any other individual. I don’t stop.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
