NBA star building new entertainment career
Baron Davis has long been a showman. During his NBA career, which lasted from 1999 to 2012, Davis was known as one of the flashiest stars in the league. His best-known play was a 2007 playoff dunk for the Golden State Warriors on the Utah Jazz’s Andrei Kirilenko, Baron Davis which was so instantly memorable that Davis didn’t bother arguing the technical foul he received for celebrating too vociferously. That has long been Davis: an over-the-top talent ready to entertain at a moment’s notice.
So it makes sense that Davis has long had a foothold in film and television. His interest in movies dates to his time at the private Southern California school Crossroads, which he attended on scholarship and which is known for educating many children of the Hollywood elite. There, Davis befriended future stars like Kate Hudson and became interested in performing. Davis formed his first production company in 2005, as he was entering the prime of his career. A move like this doesn’t surprise anyone now: several top stars, like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, have begun building entertainment empires. But in Davis’ day, it was rare. Since then, he has accrued dozens of credits, from producing the 2008 documentary “Crips and Bloods: Made in America” to voicing a part in “The Jungle Book 2.” Now, Davis is taking his most audacious leap yet, making his directorial debut with a film he also co-wrote, “Domino: Battle of the Bones,” featuring Snoop Dogg, David Arquette and a cameo from the filmmaker. The movie, opening Friday, tracks a Black competitive domino player’s relationship with his white step-grandson. It’s in your face and doesn’t take itself seriously. In other words, it’s a Baron Davis film. He said the movie was inspired by his love of Christopher Guest, known for mockumentaries like “Best in Show.” Although “Domino” isn’t a mockumentary, it is a satire. In a recent Zoom interview, Davis discussed his directing debut, ad his idea for “Space Jam 3,” Here are excerpts:
QIf I was in your living room and I opened up your TV and saw your three most recently watched films, what would they be?
AIt would be “Harlem Nights.” It would be “He Got Game.” What else? Damn, dude, that’s a good question. “Blacula” or “Coming to America.”
QGive me an example of something you did that was creative when you were young that had nothing to do with sports.
AI told everybody I had a kid when I was 13 years old. Because I was good at making up stories. I was bored. Somebody was just bothering me, and I was just like, “Dude, I ain’t got time, dude. I got a kid, I got to work on my kid.”