When it comes to his professional life, actor Will Smith keeps everything smooth and easy-going, may it be his performances in films, TV shows, or his early music career. His perseverance and construction on the criticism the people gave him are what made the star his fame and fortune in the Hollywood industry.
Being in front of the camera is no easy feat, but the star has an iron-clad work ethic that demands perfection from him in his performances. But one time, that professional attitude turned personal when his son Jaden Smith commented on his vocal performance in 2004’s Shark Tale for being goofy, which compelled him to redo the entire film.
Will Smith Re-Did His Entire Performance In Shark Tale Because Of His Son Jaden Smith
The iconic performances of Will Smith span the entirety of the entertainment industry. From his early music career as a hip-hop artist to his appearance as the lead star in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and eventually his superstardom as a Hollywood elite thanks to several blockbuster films in his career. All of his professional endeavors have been almost perfect every time.
But Shark Tale, in particular, proved to be a personal affair for him because his son Jaden Smith criticized his voice acting as Oscar in the film.
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In a past interview with Female First, the I Am Legend star talked about working on the animated feature when he was given the news that the lead character Oscar was made with him in mind. Therefore, while the project was not something that he was used to, he lent his voice to the character in the film with enthusiasm.
But when he showcased his performance to his son, Smith was criticized for having a goofy voice. Since this was a film made majorly for kids and the star was voice acting for the first time, he took this constructively and re-did the entire film from scratch. He said:
“So it’s great all around. My son thought my voice was too goofy. And I always listen to what he says. So I went back and re-recorded the whole film,”
Just goes to show how the star is not above taking criticism from his own family, which is part of the reason why his performances are so revered.
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What Was Shark Tale About?
This film didn’t just feature one big-name Hollywood star like Will Smith, but several other A-List celebrities such as Robert De Niro and Angelina Jolie to legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese voicing several characters in the movie.
Shark Tale tells the story of an underdog fish named Oscar, who wants to make a name for himself in the sea. His time comes when the leader of a mob, the Great White Shark named Frankie, dies by accident, and Oscar, with the help of Frankie’s peaceful brother Lenny, cooks up the story that he was the one who killed him. This heroic feat may have made him the top fish amongst his people, but also attracted the attention of Frankie’s Mob Boss father Don Lino, and not in a good way.
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Shark Tale, streaming on Prime Video.
