Rah Digga – Interview [2001]

Investigating Thirteen Ghosts with Rah Digga!
Thirteen Ghosts is a remake of the classic William Castle horror film about a family that inherits a spectacular old house from an eccentric uncle. There’s just one problem: the house seems to have a dangerous agenda all its own. Trapped in their new home by strangely shifting walls, the family encounters powerful and vengeful entities that threaten to annihilate anyone in their path. Soon an offbeat ghost hunter who is determined to free the spirits imprisoned in the house joins the family. Caught in a race to save themselves before it is too late, they soon realize the house is a riddle which contains the key to getting out or not.

It’s been a long time since I last had a chance to speak with you, but at that time you were promoting your solo record, now a movie with Thirteen Ghosts. How did you go from one to the other?

I spent some time in LA going on casting calls and looking for agents. I came to LA for one role in particular. So I went to a reading at the very last minute, which was the Thirteen Ghosts. I went in and I wasn’t prepared and I fumbled, and I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t doing very good so I went and improvised the whole reading. Next thing I know I got a call saying I may have the part, and then before I knew it I had the part and I was in Vancouver. I don’t know (laughs) how I decided I wanted to do movies. I was drawn to it for whatever reason. I never considered movies an option and gave it a shot.

How did you get prepared for the role?

I had an acting coach, and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve worked with her. Once I got the role it was a little sudden for everybody, so she came to Vancouver for a few days and we worked on the script. But really, it was all just natural, I didn’t have a method for the role. Day by day I worked out the kinks.

I think people believe that acting is easy. Did you go in with that perception, or did you know it wasn’t going to be easy?

I didn’t think it would be easy or impossible. But I know people also look at music and rappers and think ‘I can make up a rhyme’ and it seems easy, but it takes a lot of work. I think we are underestimated in the amount of work and effort we put in. When you have to jump into the mindset of another person, it’s difficult. I think it takes a lot of discipline, so it’s not as easy as it looks. There is a reason why actors get paid tens of millions of dollars.

Are you a fan of scary movies?

I’m a big fan of scary movies. I’m more drawn to scary movies than anything else. I like anything fast-paced.

When you need to act out a scene with the ghosts are you acting to air?

There were a few instances when the ghosts were on the set with us. There weren’t many scenes where we are in the same frame as the ghost. We’d be shot on our own in front of the blue screen. A lot of the shots were us on our own. They were definitely sitting around on the set and placed for eye level. But Matthew Lillard was the biggest help when it came to getting the fear and excitement out of me. We’d be doing jumping jacks right before the director said ‘action’ when we were running down the hall and stuff. It was a real test of my ability.

Is it easier when you work with the cast rather than a scene alone?

Yes, because you know in your mind that it’s not focused on you.

Did you find yourself going through the scenes going ‘I’ve seen this happen before?’

Yes! Like in one scene when the family splits up and it’s ‘you go this way and I go that way.’ I was like, ‘Oh no, here we go!’ (laughs)

When did you make this?

From September to December of 2000.

Were you still able to work on music?

I found a great studio in Vancouver, and a lot of time when I’d wrap at night or have down time I’d head to the studio.

So you still kept your skills in check.

Definitely. Music is my first-born. I have to stay with the music, because without the music everything and anything else won’t be there.

It seems like a lot of artists are crossing over to films, why do you see this happening so much?

I think a lot of people are being drawn to acting because rapping isn’t something you can do the rest of your life. It isn’t a long-term thing unless you get into production. It’s not something you want to limit your career to. I think a lot of people are securing their plan b’s. People realize that they can work off of their careers and fame to get the jobs now and want to take advantage of their name and fame.

+ charlie craine