The cast of ‘King Richard’ emphasized the value of family during virtual press conference
(L-R) AUNJANUE ELLIS as Oracene “Brandy” Williams, MIKAYLA BARTHOLOMEW as Tunde Price, WILL SMITH as Richard Williams, SANIYYA SIDNEY as Venus Williams, DEMI SINGLETON as Serena Williams and DANIELE LAWSON as Isha Price in Warner Bros. Pictures’ inspiring drama “KING RICHARD,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.(Chiabella James/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)
World famous tennis star turned executive producer Venus Williams said that the main takeaway from her new movie, ‘King Richard’ is that, “as a family you can achieve anything.”
The new film starring Will Smith is based on the true story of Richard Williams, father of tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams. The movie takes audiences through the ends of the Williams family’s time in Compton, California. up to Venus’ first professional tennis match.
During a virtual press conference on Nov. 7, the cast stressed the emphasis of family in the film captured on camera and behind-the-scenes.
Serena and Venus Williams both served as executive producers for the film, along with sister Isha Price. who served as a producer. Price talked about how she only got on board with the idea of the film after seeing the persistence of producers Tim and Trevor White to tell her father’s story as “not one of vilification but to understand.”
White said despite the thousands of different ways that the story could have been told, they were “inspired by the family's relentless pursuit of this dream.” White also said it was the Williams family’s personal involvement in the film that “brought it to life,” giving audiences an “inside look” into their lives.
Price recalled that getting the rest of the family on board during a family meeting “took some time,” due to a level of distrust of the media. After finally agreeing on the film’s creation, Price took on the role of producer to make sure there were Williams family’s “footprints,” on set daily. “I had a responsibility to my family, to make sure this story was told right,” Price said.
Actress Demi Singleton, who plays a young Serena in the film, highlighted the importance of making sure everything was real while preparing for her role. “This is not our story, it is theirs,” Singleton said.
Singleton recalled meeting Serena when the star surprised them on set saying that they talked about everything but tennis, covering everything from their childhood to their romances. “It was fun to get to know that side of you,” Singleton said to Williams.
(L-R) WILL SMITH as Richard Williams, DEMI SINGLETON as Serena Williams and SANIYYA SIDNEY as Venus Williams in Warner Bros. Pictures’ inspiring drama “KING RICHARD,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
The movie’s portrayal of their mom as the foundation and heart of the family and an equal to their father was a major element of the story that the family wanted to ensure was done right. Actress Aunjanue Ellis who plays the tennis stars’ mother Oracene Price, said it would be “dishonest” for Oracene to not be portrayed as a “co-conspirator in the dream.”
Lead actor and executive producer Will Smith said he “fell in love,” with Richard Williams after seeing the father correct a reporter for what Williams felt was an aggressive line of questioning during a television interview with Venus as a child. “The interview changed my parenting,” Smith said.
When presented with the role, Smith said he re-visited that moment and wanted to play a father who protected his daughter in that way.
Producer Trevor White said the movie goes, “far beyond a coaching story,” calling it a story about a family and love, and how that keeps “the drive alive.”
When discussing what the cast would take away from their experiences, actress Saniyya Sidney, who plays Venus said she will remember the level of comfort, inclusion and love she felt on set. Sidney said this is her first time working on a movie of this size and that the cast “created a family,” that she learned a lot from.
In terms of what Sidney learned from her role, the actress said “being able to step into Venus’s shoes helped me grow as a young woman.”
The Wiliams sisters reflected on their feelings about their family’s portrayal on the big screen. She noted the family atmosphere on set, and how actresses Sidney and Singleton really acted like sisters. “I think it’s super emotional,” Venus said. “I’m just really proud of what everybody has accomplished. It’s really surreal.”
Serena seconded this feeling calling it a “well done, brilliant piece of work.” The tennis star hopes that kids learn to not be afraid to set high goals after watching the movie.
King Richard will be available in theaters and on the HBO Max ad-free plan on November 19.