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WYCLEF PLAYS CAB DRIVER IN NEW FILM: Artist also freestyles his way onto the soundtrack.
*Wyclef Jean has been cast in the unique role of a “spiritual taxicab driver” in the film “One Last Thing…” which follows the final days of a teen who is terminally ill.
The film’s director, Alex Steyermark, sought out the Fugees member when considering actors who would fit the important role. He explained to MTV.com: "It's [based on] the mythical character of Charon, the ferryman who takes you across the river Styx to the other side. His role is really important, and I wanted it to be somebody who's really charismatic and very spiritual.
“I happened to be looking at the cast list we'd had up until that point, and I was listening to [Wyclef’s 2003 album] ‘The Preacher's Son,’ and I said, 'Wait a minute. I know Wyclef. I should just approach him about this.'"
Once Clef was sent the script, he connected immediately with the character, as his late father was also a cab driver. Once on the set, his creative energy in the role soon blossomed into impromptu freestyles about the storyline.
"We were on the beach filming something, and he was telling me about some soundtrack he was doing, and I was like, 'Wyclef, why don't you make a song for this movie? I bet it could be great,'" Angarano told MTV.com. "He was going, 'Oh man, I could make some ill sh*t for this.'
"He blurted out the first line to the song, and for two hours he was screaming this song at the top of his lungs, fixing it in his head, not writing it down, just freestyling and just picking up the words, and switching the verses and the choruses," the director said. "It was Tuesday, and he was like, 'All right, I'll have it to you by Friday.' He comes in on Friday with the song, and not only is it a beautiful, great song, but one of his best. It's so perfect for the movie, and it captures such an essence of life itself. It's a perfect fit."
The song, called “Heaven’s in New York,” was recorded by Wyclef and given to Steyermark on the last day of shooting.
“He showed up with a CD that had four different mixes,” said Steyermark. “He said, 'Here, I recorded this for you,' and it just blew us away. I think it's one of the best songs ever written for a movie, and it's a gift to the movie."
“One Last Thing…” is due in theaters on May 5.
