DETROIT — Whitney Houston was a warm and fun individual who became a mother figure on the set of her last movie, “Sparkle,” director Curtis Wallace said in an interview published Tuesday.
“Her spirit and energy were just great,” Wallace told The Detroit News of the tragic star. “She started to take on a mother-type role, especially with Jordin [Sparks] … She was spending time with her and giving her advice.”
He added, “I was surprised at how funny she was. I remember how much fun she was to be around on set. One night, like many, we were working late, it was 2:00am or 3:00am [local time] and she was making up songs, getting everyone laughing.”
“Sparkle” is a remake of the 1976 cult classic and follows the journey of three sisters who form a successful singing group but later must deal with the fallout from fame and drugs.
The movie is slated for US release Aug. 17, Wallace said.
Houston, who died in Los Angeles on Saturday at the age of 48, plays Emma, the girls’ mom. The ensemble cast includes Cee-Lo Green and “American Idol” winner Sparks.
The troubled singer, who was a huge fan of the original film, also was the remake’s executive producer.
“Sparkle” will be the first time Houston has been on the big screen since the 1996 film “The Preacher’s Wife.”
“I was in Los Angeles on Friday and saw the director’s cut of the film, and everyone was saying how great she looked on film and how impressive her performance was,” Wallace added.