Will Smith stars opposite his son, Jaden, in the out-of-this-world sci-fi thriller. The cast landed in Manhattan Wednesday night for the film's debut. This is Will and Jaden's third big-screen collaboration.
And, as they did in "The Pursuit Of Happyness," they again play father and son in "After Earth."
Will says he's proud Jaden has chosen the family business, but knows it's important to help him navigate the often-crazy world of entertainment.
"In my mind, I'm a warrior and I'm teaching my son how to hunt," said Will. "And how else would I teach my son how to hunt other than bring him with me? I can't imagine what the other option is."
Will's philosophy is that by keeping his family close, and teaching them the ropes first hand, he can help minimize the risks that often come with working in Hollywood.
"The major risk of this particular business is strictly emotional," said Will. "The idea that the business has almost a narcotic quality. So it's almost as if you're introducing a narcotic into your kid's life. So for Jada and I, the most important thing is that they have to stay focused and grounded on the fact that they are giving.
"You don't make movies for your ego," Will said. "You make movies to transfer information, to bring joy, to add value to the world. And I think as long as people in this business can stay focused on -- you're giving, you're not doing this to receive, you're doing this to give -- I think that that mitigates a lot of the emotional risk."
"After Earth" is directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It's rated PG-13 and it's in theaters Friday.
