The Equalizer–which just made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival–marks a reunion for director Antoine Fuqua with several key artisans, most notably Denzel Washington. Their prior feature collaboration, Training Day, earned Washington the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role back in 2002.
The opportunity to again work with Washington was too good to pass up, affirmed Fuqua. “Mr. Washington called me about The Equalizer. Right then and there, I was on board,” recalled Fuqua. “Then I read the script and that just confirmed it for me.”
One of the Toronto Festival’s Gala presentations, The Equalizer is the big-screen adaptation of the cult 1980s’ CBS TV series that centered on Robert McCall, a former government secret agent turned pro-bono provider of justice, a.k.a. The Equalizer, for those who have been victimized and have no one else to turn to for help. Washington is in the title role, heading a cast which also includes Marton Csokas, Chloe Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Bill Pullman and Melissa Leo.
Fuqua described Washington as being “a great reminder as to why I wanted to be a director in the first place. He’s the kind of talent that gives you the inspiration to keep making movies. Great actors make life easier. They enable you to be more creative with your work. They elevate your work. You know as a performer that he’s going to bring it and that you have to be at the top of your game. And there’s a rhythm to working with a great actor. It’s like being jazz musicians; you do a musical riff and you understand each other, you pick up on what the other person is doing. You get in there and you create.”
In addition to Washington, The Equalizer gave Fuqua the chance to again team with DP Mauro Fiore, ASC, and editor John Refoua. Fiore shot Training Day and two years later lensed the Fuqua-directed Tears of the Sun starring Bruce Willis. Beyond those feature collaborations, Fuqua has directed several commercials which Fiore has shot. Fuqua helms commercials and branded content via production house Wondros. (Incidentally, cinematographer Fiore also directs select commercials through production company Independent Media.)
In 2010, Fiore won the Best Achievement in Cinematography Oscar for the James Cameron-directed Avatar. “Mauro is a great cinematographer. He does more than provide beautiful visuals. He is a great collaborator,” assessed Fuqua. “We talk technique and story a lot. And in the world of commercials, we first work on certain new technologies which we bring to our feature work without taking away from the narrative.”
It was through Avatar and Fiore that Fuqua discovered Refoua. In tandem with Cameron and Steven E. Rivkin, Refoua earned a Best Editing Oscar nomination for Avatar. Director Fuqua turned to Refoua to edit the 2013 release Olympus Has Fallen and now The Equalizer.
“John provides a very steady hand as far as an editor goes. He’s a filmmaker. And it’s always nice to have another filmmaker in the room,” said Fuqua. “He’s not just cutting pictures. He helps in development of characters and story. He also understands my rhythm, which is a different kind of pacing. When I’m shooting, I like to edit at the same time. I had John on location with me most of the time.”
As for what’s next, Fuqua said he is attached to an ambitious remake of The Magnificent Seven. He also recently directed a feature titled Southpaw, which is currently in post. The story of a boxer’s professional and personal life, Southpaw was also shot by Fiore and features a cast which includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker and Naomie Harris.
Fuqua’s feature credits also include Brooklyn’s Finest (2009) and Shooter (2007). His filmography additionally spans music videos (for such performers as Arrested Development, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, Coolio, Heavy D & the Boyz) and commercials (Miller Genuine Draft, Reebok, Toyota, Armani, Big Star Jeans).
