Check out our exclusive interview with Twitch from the upcoming “Magic Mike XXL.”
Magic Mike XXL follows Mike, Ken, Richie and Tarzan three years into future with the gang back for one ultimate blow out. Directed by Gregory Jacobs, Magic Mike XXL stars Channing Tatum, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Glover, Jada Pinkett Smith, Adam Rodriguez Matt Bomer, Amber Heard, Joe Manganiello and Stephen Boss. Stephen Boss’ character initially starts out as a rival, but joins the gang on their journey to the stripper convention in Myrtle Beach, bringing an all new flavor to the guys’ routine. Stephen Boss, more commonly referred by his dancer name “Twitch” spoke with The Source about his role in the movie, preparing to be a stripper and working with Childish Gambino. Check out our exclusive interview with Twitch below:
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Have you been dancing your whole life? Where did your passion for dancing come from?
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I’ve actually been dancing since my senior year of high school, I’ve just always loved dancing. I’ve always loved it, it’s my favorite thing to do. I was always picking up routines. When I was listening to music I always thought about dancing. It’s just always been there it’s one of those things that’s always been a part of me.
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Was this passion inspired by family or things you saw on television?
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It’s been a part of my culture for so long and also I’m a huge huge Michael Jackson/ Janet Jackson fan and I grew up in a time when their music videos used to have incredible incredible dance breaks.
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Did you ever expect that your love for dancing would take you to big screen or television for that matter?
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Yes, I always hoped. In a way the expectation was there because I really believed in my heart that I could do it.
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Would you ever act in a movie that doesn’t allow you to dance or doesn’t have to have choreography?
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Absolutely, absolutely I’d definitely do that. I plan on doing that sooner rather than later.
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Was it easy preparing for this role? Anything that surprised you?
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The preparation from learning the choreography – we had an awesome choreographer her name’s Alison Faulk, she prepared the music and the whole choreography – it was incredible, it was such a good time. The diet and workout plans, that was a difficult part of it, but all of the guys were doing it so there was solidarity in that.
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What was it like working with the director?
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Super cool. I never worked with him before. It was really interesting to see the way that they shot dance, the way that they view dance because you know I’ve been in Step Up films and Step Up franchises and I’ve been interested to see how each director views what a dance looks like as far as storytelling goes and it’s a really interesting perspective with each performance that happens in the movie, with each reveal.
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What was your favorite scene?
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The finale, easy.
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Any particular part of the finale, or the entire finale?
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The entire finale, even Jada’s dialogue in it as well.
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What was it like working with such a fun cast? What was the chemistry like on set?
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The chemistry on set was incredible. Everyone was very supportive of each other, which made for a really great working environment. So you could commit 100% percent and still feel supported and cared for.
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It looked like you guys had a lot fun on screen, behind the scenes did you guys pull pranks on each other?
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Nah, I don’t think so because when you have to stand out there in a thong, I think that’s prank enough.
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Are you a Childish Gambino fan? Was it fun working with him?
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Of course, it was incredible. He’s a super creative and cool cat. It was nice to be in the presence of an artist like that. It was great.
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Any upcoming projects you’d like us to know about ?
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I have season 12 of So You Think You Can Dance? which has already started and comes on Fox Monday nights. This season I’m the mentor for the street team. Myself and Travis Wall are mentors for the contestants and that’ll be coming on every Monday night. I’m there for the contestant’s morale to help them with notes, anything like basically coaching I’m there. Also my wife and I are co-founders of a company named CLI studios. We have classes online from world renown choreographers and teachers. We’re making the dance world a little bit smaller and also a little bit more accessible.
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The film hits theaters July 31.
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-Nishat Baig
