F. Gary Gray: Being a Fan and Director Was ‘Tough’

Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray recently took the time to chat with BackstageOL’s Dave Morales about the film, which focuses on the history of hip-hop group N.W.A. The biographical drama illustrates the rise and fall of the group.

F. Gary Gray, who has previously worked with Ice Cube for 1995’s Friday and some of his music videos, is also known for directing 2003’s The Italian Job, 1998’s The Negotiator, and 1996’s Set It Off. Directing Straight Outta Compton proved to be a slightly different experience for him since he had to balance his job as a director and being a fan of N.W.A.

When asked how he separates being a fan and being the director, Gray replied that it’s “very hard.”

“I’ve known these guys for over twenty years,” he said. “I’m a huge fan of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and N.W.A. So to wear these different hats, and be friends with them…I’m the director, I’m the producer, all these things…It was tough, but it was worth it.”

“It was worth it, but it was tough,” he added.

Straight Outta Compton arrives in theaters on August 14, 2015, and stars O’Shea Jackson, Jr. Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Aldis Hodge, Neil Brown, Jr., and Paul Giamatti.

Watch the complete interview below: