Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua team up for the fifth time in \u201cThe Equalizer 3,\u201d which ties Fuqua with the late Tony Scott as Washington\u2019s most frequent director collaborator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington says there are many reasons why he looks forward to reteaming with Fuqua: \u201cHis spiritual maturity, his collaboration, his humility, his eye,\u201d says the actor. \u201cThere was never a question about his talent, his experience. We\u2019re brothers \u2013 I trust him completely, he trusts me, and I’m excited about our future together. The deeper he goes, the higher he\u2019ll go, and I’m not talking about movies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fuqua returns the compliment: \u201cDenzel constantly surprises me because the environment changes. He\u2019s like an athlete,\u201d says Fuqua of Washington. \u201cIf Michael Jordan is playing against the Celtics, it\u2019s one game. If he\u2019s playing against the Lakers, it\u2019s another game. Each situation Denzel is in, he\u2019s so much in the moment of the character, that there\u2019s times I\u2019m discovering constantly, \u2018What\u2019s he going to do?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watching Washington be \u201cin the moment\u201d of his character, in Fuqua\u2019s words, is a unique experience. \u201cI\u2019ll go to Denzel to give him a note about something he did, and he\u2019ll literally ask, \u2018What did I do? What did I say?\u2019 He\u2019s so in the moment,\u201d shares Fuqua. \u201cSo I tell other actors that they have to be in the moment with Denzel. Your instinct has to be heightened and you have to really listen. You can\u2019t come in with preconceived ideas, because that won\u2019t work. It\u2019s just like a dance \u2013 Denzel will stick to the intention of the scene, but you must move with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n