CNN
October 12, 1999

The following is an edited transcript of a chat with actor Taye Diggs, whose latest film "The Best Man," is due to be released on October 22 1999. Diggs joined our chat by telephone on October 12, 1999. CNN.com provided a typist for him.

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today Taye Diggs and welcome the chat room!

Taye Diggs: Hello everybody. Any questions?

Chat Moderator: How did you get started in acting?

Taye Diggs: OK, I went to a high school of performing arts in Rochester, N.Y. and found confidence through the performing arts. So I continued and it just made sense to follow that through in college. So all through college I was a music theatre major and then it just made sense to move to the city and pursue it as a career.

Comment from phoenix: Man, I think you are a wonderful actor and that you deserve all of the props you get.

Taye Diggs: Oh wow, thank you phoenix. I appreciate that.

Chat Moderator: You worked with some big-name actors in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" -- Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett -- and then with Omar Epps in "The Wood." First, did "Stella" change the kinds of roles you were getting -- do you see that as a turning point for your career?

Taye Diggs: To the latter of the two questions, yes, a definite turning point in that I was introduced to the film industry which is, in most cases, quite difficult. The first question, it was a complete blessing and an amazing learning experience.

Question from modie101: Taye how was it to kiss Angela Bassett?

Taye Diggs: I was kissing a ... she is a dramatic beautiful ball of talent.

Question from RedMenace: What was it like working with a rookie director? Did you have to teach him much?

Taye Diggs: He was in no way, by no means a rookie at directing itself. That movie was his first big studio feature but he had directed lots of TV prior to Stella, and I learned a lot from him as well. He ran a very tight ship.

Question from phoenix: In the Best Man, you are working with so many "big wigs", were there a lot of ego clashes, or was everyone like a big family?

Taye Diggs: Not one. Everyone was a big family and I think that translates in the movie. We were all very close. Every day was like a party.

Chat Moderator: In the movie, you play a best man who once slept with the bride-to-be. Was it a stretch to portray this character?

Taye Diggs: Hmm, the character himself was not a stretch for me. We had many similarities.

Taye Diggs: Some of the choices the character made I, as the person, would not agree with. That is where the stretch took place.

Question from Dave: How can you relate?

Taye Diggs: We were both the same age, we're both coming into success, we're both at the same place in our relationships. So, that helped with my relating to the character.

Chat Moderator: Do you think there are more, or fewer, opportunities for actors of color to get into the movie biz these days? And are the roles available to you good -- do you find them interesting, valuable?

Taye Diggs: Our situation is improving slowly. The roles are starting to show themselves, but nowhere near enough. Hopefully movies like The Best Man will open up these doors. People, both black and white, need to know that African-Americans have college educations, make money, are well dressed, get married, have relationships, etc.

Question from Dakota: How was it working with Terrence Howard?

Taye Diggs: Oh wow! He was all-together a challenge, a joy, amazing amounts of fun. Words can't describe Terrance Howard. I'm sure many were calling him brilliant. He brought a certain dynamic to his character that I believe we could not have found in anyone else. He steals a good portion of the scenes in this movie and deserves it.

Question from Dave: What was it like working on "Go"? Was it a big event for you working on such a popular movie, or is "Best Man" more of a thrill?

Taye Diggs: "Best Man" is more of a thrill. I learned a lot during "Go." I loved working with Doug Lymon, the director. And the other cats were cool. I'm in more of The Best Man, so obviously I have more of an investment in "The Best Man" because I AM the Best Man! LOL

Question from Dakota: Is the accent really yours?

Taye Diggs: NO... I had a fabulous voice dialect coach named Jerome Butler, yeah he helped me out.

Question from Mags: Taye, is that your real name or a stage name?

Taye Diggs: Its neither, it is a nickname that I've had since the beginning of college.

Question from RedMenace: What would be your ideal role/project...is there something in the back of your mind you'd really like to do?

Taye Diggs: Right now, after all the roles that I have played, and I feel very fortunate, I'm interested in doing an athletic movie, a movie based in sports, something of that nature.

Chat Moderator: And, if you could put together your own cast and crew for a movie of your choosing, who'd you like to work with?

Taye Diggs: OO a good one. Hmm... Casting crew... Morris Chestnut, Terrance Howard, Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Matt Damon, uh.. who else... Sanaa Lathan, a newcomer. I would like to do a movie with a bunch of different vignettes, each vignette being directed by a different director, Rob Reiner, Malcom Lee again. I like directors that deal with people movies… good dialog, I love good dialog, well-directed dialog. Yeah.

phoenix: I'd definitely be in the house for that production!!!! Front row seat

Taye Diggs: Thanks a lot phoenix!

Question from naty: Who are your influences...mentors...

Taye Diggs: Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., Denzel Washington, Cary Grant, Sean Penn, the list goes on.

Question from Mags: What audience is your new movie for?

Taye Diggs: All audiences, plain and simple.

Question from Mags: I'd like to know about the new movie.. what's the story line? What character do you play?

Taye Diggs: I play a writer who writes a book loosely based on my college experience. These characters in the book from my college life are all reuniting with me at my Best Friend's Wedding where I am the best man. Now the book that I’ve written gets out at the wedding. The college friends realize they are in the book, specific scandals are unveiled and the wedding is put in jeopardy.

Question from Free_Mumia: You positively portray African-Americans on-screen, what are you doing to advance the movement of the African-American causes OFF-screen?

Taye Diggs: I think it is one and the same. What I do on screen directly relates to situations that are occurring off screen, i.e. positive role models, black professionals, black men being confident, secure, respecting their women and being intelligent. All of the characters I have played have been these things, which to me, are of utmost importance to young black people in general.

Chat Moderator: What's coming up for you? Will you continue to act or are you looking for opportunities to direct, produce?

Taye Diggs: My next endeavor will be on the New York stage, a show called "The Wild Party." But before that, I'm in a Halloween film called "The House on Haunted Hill."

Chat Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts...

Taye Diggs: I'd just like to thank everybody for chattin’. If I were cool I would have my own computer and do this more often, but I still live in the dark ages and am too much a procrastinator. Bear with me I’ll get one soon. Peace. God bless! and one love!

Chat Moderator: Thank you Taye Diggs for joining us today!