We The Party may be a teenage comedy/drama, but in reality, it’s more like a family affair. Written and directed by veteran actor and film-maker Mario Van Peebles, the movie also stars a total of seven Van Peebles, including a cameo by the legendary family patriarch, Melvin. Much of the film is based upon the sense and style that Mario learned from his own children, as he explored their world to discover the realities of today’s youth. AllHipHop.com chopped it up with Mario and his son, Mandela, who plays the movie’s lead character, about how the father and son were able to relate and work together to make this film: AllHipHop.com: I sometimes have a hard time understanding the new style and sound of today’s generation. I heard that you got a crash course from your children about this generation’s sense of style in order to make this movie. Mario Van Peebles: I spoke to Snoop Dogg about this, because he rolled through with his kids. I actually went to a club with my children, dressed “incog-negro,” as if I was their security. I looked like the world’s oldest teenager. It was real cool because I saw a side that most parents don’t get to see, because they don’t want to see or just don’t notice. I made a deal with my kids. I told them that I would go, but I wanted them to act and talk like they normally would without me there. That’s kind of the way that I made We The Party. I wanted them to be real, but in the context of being real, we could still have conversations and move them forward. Society started these conversations of hyper-materialism and sexuality. Let’s have that conversation and see where it leads. In the movie, we get in to some heavier stuff even though people might think that this is just a party flick. AllHipHop.com: I know you have a Hip-Hop background, but even with that didn’t you have some culture shock about today’s style and attitude? Mario Van Peebles: Yeah! To see kids on the dance floor, it was like “safe sex on the dance floor.” The last time I danced like that, I had a kid [laughter]. AllHipHop.com: We had “freak” dancing back in our time, though. Mario Van Peebles: Totally! Even with Psychedelic funk era there were some wild songs back then, but the stuff that they’re saying now, like one of the characters in the movie says, “You have to have a condom on just to listen to the radio.” [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9DrACbrIKs&w=560&h=315] AllHipHop.com: How much of a challenge was it to direct your own children in this movie? Mario Van Peebles: I think what’s cool of them is that they are bilingual. They know how dad talks on the set, and they know how I am in our other life [At this point, Mario calls for his son Mandela to join the conversation]. He’s asking me about directing you in this movie. Mandela Van Peebles: It’s an interesting thing because he’s been directing me for 18 years! Honestly, it’s a blessing, because I know that whatever he says, comes from a place of love. He wants to see me do my best. I know that when he gives me criticism, it’s more like advice. AllHipHop.com: Weren’t you frustrated at some point, Mandela? Mandela Van Peebles: Yes, but who isn’t? He wants what’s best for me. If he tells me that he wants the scene done a certain way, he genuinely thinks that it would be better for my performance. Plus with him being the director, I don’t want people to think that there’s nepotism going on. One of the things that I made an effort to do was to be on the set early 30 minutes before my call time. I made it a point to be ready and to know my lines. I wanted to set a good example for the other actors, so that I wouldn’t look like the lazy son that received special treatment or that I only got the job because he’s my father. At the same time it’s a symbiotic relationship, because while he’s telling me what lines I need to say, I’m suggesting certain lines to be twisted to match what kids are really saying. I’m trying to keep the dialogue “fresh,” and I think it all worked out pretty well. AllHipHop.com: Your dad went to the club with you disguised as your security. When I was your age, I don’t know if I could have acted the same in a scenario like that if my dad was around. Mandela Van Peebles: He’s a pretty chill guy. The thing is, it’s not me who didn’t want him to go to the club. I have no problem with it. He’s the homie. But the question was would the other kids in the club act the same, know that he’s there. I could have fun with my grandma. Our whole family is fun. We disguised him, and it went well. The movie came from it. AllHipHop.com: Mario, were you harder on your son than your father was on you when you had parts in his films? Mario Van Peebles: I think I’m easier. My dad is loving but he’s more of a paternal fascist. The fight that he had to get his films done were more difficult than mine. They were trying to shoot him when he made Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. There were no Blacks, Hispanics or Asians in the unions, to speak of. When he tried to integrate the unions, they wanted to kill him. When my father, Melvin Van Peebles, said that he wanted to make a film with a team of integrated folks and to get them in the union, they didn’t like that. He had a much tougher fight, so he had to be more of an aggressive character to get things done. My battle was different. I came in after he broke the […]