Why Denzel looks for excuses not to direct

With his affable smile and a mischievous look, Denzel Washington is recalling rehearsing for a tough balcony scene in the movie Out Of Time.

"It was much like doing the love scenes," he said. "It was painful in certain parts of the body."

The suspense movie has several scorching love scenes. In a way, the balcony scene was preparation for the love scenes, Washington, the two-time Oscar winning star, added with a broad smile.

Washington is in Toronto with director Carl Franklin at the Toronto International Film Festival to promote the MGM film, which opens in about 2,500 theatres in early October. Franklin and Washington had worked together about 10 years ago on Devil In A Blue Dress revolving around the enigmatic private eye Easy Rawlins created by respected novelist Walter Mosley.

In the new film, Washington plays the police chief of a small Florida town who is planning to run away with a woman he has always been in love with. But his life turns unexpectedly complicated and he has to fight hard to save himself and his soul from people who seem utterly amoral.

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"Playing a police officer meant nothing to me," he said. "It is really what happens to people that interest me, not so much their profession." 

Last year, he had brought Antwone Fisher to the TIFF. Washington, 49, who made his directorial debut with the sentimental film about a gifted young navy man who has to learn to deal with his ghosts, said he does not have immediate plans to direct another film. Antwone Fisher, made for $20 million, grossed an impressive $30 million and got Washington very good reviews.

"I am not good at spinning too many plates at one time," the actor said, adding that he has completed two films almost back to back in the past 12 months. The other one, Man On Fire, is directed by Tony Scott. It shows Washington as an ex-army officer living in Mexico who is slowly pushed into protecting a young boy.

Directing Antwone Fisher was almost forced on him, Washington said with a smile. There were several producers after him to direct a film for many years, he recalled. "But I was afraid," he continued. "I kept looking at excuses not to direct."

One of the producers who was convinced that Washington could make a fine director cornered him at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto during the premiere week of Training Day over two years ago and got him to sign on a paper napkin that he would direct Antwone Fisher.

How has his collaboration with his directors changed after Washington himself directed a film?

"I feel enormously for the directors now," he replied, grinning at Franklin. "Especially when I remember how much they have to deal with difficult actors."

Did he consult any of his favourite directors before he began shooting Antwone Fisher? "I did not call people. But I watched films of some of the directors I have worked with, including Norman Jewison and Carl Franklin. I tried to steal from them," he said, chuckling.

Has he seen many films at the TIFF? "I am not a movie fan," Washington confessed. "I am not a moviegoer. I see a few films in a year."

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The actor then paused for a moment. "I would leave it to them [what they want to do with their lives], I won't discourage them from joining the movies, but I won't encourage them either," he said.

Though he sees few films, Washington still has a lot of respect for film festivals, especially the Toronto event. "It is a non-competitive film festival," he said. "Which means there are no campaigns, no backbiting."

That keeps some "drama out", he admitted, but said he prefers it this way. At a festival, the film that cost $80,000 is just as important as an $80 million movie, he added.

Photo of Denzel Washington: Getty Images