Evan and "Big Boi" in the ATL

It's got to be a trip to be the youngest son of music legend Diana Ross. 17-year-old Evan Ross not only has a famous mom but his dad Arne Naess is a wealthy shipping magnate so the pressure to succeed was on for the young actor in his debut film role as an Atlanta homeboy on the edge of a life of crime in the film ATL. Pressure was added for Evan when he had several scenes opposite another legend, Antwan Patton aka Big Boi of OutKast. "Big" portrays a tough crime boss out to turn Evan's character into one of his gofers.

When we spoke with the unlikely duo in L.A. recently, it was all friendship, respect and a tight big bro, little bro vibe. Both men are new to movies and supported each other during filming. We got Evan to chat about the pressure and loving backup he got from his famous mom's set visits and Big to fill us in on his next film Idlewild, a musical set in the Prohibition era South in which he co-stars with his OutKast buddy Andre.

Let's paint the picture; Evan in light purple sweater over blue shirt with blazer and big-ish diamond earring.. he does look a bit like mom. Big in larger earring, cammo cap, more bling, a white print t-shirt and Lacoste blazer.

TeenHollywood: Evan, are you joining the crowd with that earring?

Evan: Well, I wore it before I got the part. It's my little hip-hopness that I had before.

TeenHollywood: Big. How did you come to do the film?

Big: This was my second one. Idlewild hasn't been released yet. After I finished that one, I was in the studio working on my music to finish the soundtrack for that movie. Dallas Austin [producer] is a close friend of mine, he called me and was like, 'They're looking for you. They want you to play this role in the movie.' I was like, 'I don't know if I can do it, because I have to finish this Outkast album so our film can come out'. So like a couple of days later, I got a call back. And they were like, 'Will Smith [also a producer on the film] called and could you do him a favor?' I was like, 'Alright.' I went to the production office and it was like, 'You're Marcus.' 'Okay.' That's how it came about. It was good.

TeenHollywood: And, Evan, working not only on your first film but with a first time director?

Evan: I think it was a blessing because we both were able to learn together. Most people in the movie we got to have a kind of closeness and we all got together and got to feed off one another. Which made it an easier process for everyone. It was a big deal for me. We were all so passionate about the project because of that too.

TeenHollywood: Were you all brought together early to bond as a cast?

Evan: We did. Chris Robinson [the director], he really wanted that a lot. So we all met at his place actually and would sit down. We would just go over things. We all became so close, just being with each other every day.

TeenHollywood: The friends skate at a local rink. Your character doesn't, Evan. Did you still get to skate for fun?

Evan: I wasn't skating in the movie, but I still went to the skating rink and hung out with them. I skated then too. I think that made the movie a lot better because you can see those relationships, that realness in the movie.

TeenHollywood: Are you also into music like your mom and Big here?

Evan: Yeah. I sing. I am doing it all. But, right now both actually. I am working on my music and hopefully someday will work with Big and that's all part of the goals.

TeenHollywood: Big, how fun was it to be in the scenes where you were intimidating Evan and vice versa?

Big: It was fun. I was the good guy in Idewild. And this one I was the bad guy role, so I was having fun with it. Most of the scenes, all of them just about were freestyle -- there were no script lines or nothing. Chris would be like, 'OK, this would be like the parameters that you are doing. You do your thing. I want to see something organic come away from it.' [Me and Evan] we'd be sitting around in the trailer. We'd be talking about, 'Okay, I'll do this to you. This is how we do it. This is like, we're going to react like that.' And it was fun, man. We had fun. He's like a little brother to me the whole time.

Evan: Yeah, it was funny because a lot of times I wouldn't even know some of the stuff he'd do. Like you saw the milk scene [Big scares Evan and he drops a carton of milk]. He really scared me. Sometimes I didn't know the little things he would do. When that happened, I jumped.

TeenHollywood: Wasn't there a rough scene in which Big shoots Evan and there's a lot of blood? They cut that, right?

Big: It was the ending scene when I shot the gun. They had a scene where he had chocolate milk and blood. He was all locking up, like shaking.

Evan: They were like, 'Yeah, we're not going to have you bleeding on the floor this time.' We had actually done that shoot here in LA. You know it was supposed to be in the heat, so I was in shorts and a t-shirt and I'm laying on the freezing cold, wet floor just not long ago. It was freezing and it was at night. I was shaking on the floor cuz I was freezing!

TeenHollywood: Big, is it nice to just act and not have to sing too?

Big: Yeah, it was fun. Like not having to perform. You're just sitting around and thinking about what you need to do. It's easier, actually. You don't have to worry about, 'Hey, I'm gonna get on the stage and I'm gonna make up some moves'. It was like, 'Okay, I'm just going to learn the script.' Actually, just learn my character and go with myself in that so when I go onscreen it'll come across correctly. It's smart. I can see how you can catch the acting bug. It's fun to be somebody that you're not.

TeenHollywood: What impressed you about each other?

Evan: For me, I had no idea that he was so good. I know he's great at freestyling and doing his own thing. We didn't know who was playing Marcus for a while -- I had envisioned this character. And when he came to do it, when we were reading together, he was the person I thought it would be. I feel like every scene he had was just so spot on. I'm a big fan of his.

Big: He's taking himself seriously as an actor. It was like, basically, 'This is what I want to do. I'm doing music too, but I'm going to do this. My mom won't like that, but she'll be alright. I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna be an actor.' He was just serious about it. To see a young cat like this come up in the environment he came up in and be just ready to take this like, 'I want my own life, my own identity.' I was like, 'wow'. He got his head on straight.

TeenHollywood: Did your mom visit the set?

Evan: She did and it actually was the day me and T.I. were fighting. You know what? She was being such a mom. She had missed me because I'm usually always with her. I had been away for awhile. She sat on set. You know that scene where T.I.'s pushing me, hitting me in the head. And my mom was like, 'Come here.' After I'd come over there she'd be like, 'He hitting you in the ear? Don't let him hit you in the ear.' I'm like, 'Mom, it's fine. I gotta keep my rep.'

TeenHollywood: Was she there during your love scene in the car?

Evan: No, but I was making sure, I was like, 'Listen, do not come to set.' My mother was like, 'Let me come. Let me come. I want to see who the girl is.' I'm like, 'Okay, she can come.' But, I really didn't want --

TeenHollywood: Didn't want it to affect your performance?

Evan: Exactly. You know, I'm laying in the back of a car on top of this girl for like, a while. Sheesh.

TeenHollywood: Big, what's happening with Idlewild? Wasn't it supposed to be out this month?

Big: What happened was it takes me and Dre a couple of years to get the music right. So when we first started the movie, we didn't really have a whole lot of the music then. We had a couple songs, but now, rather than rush it and try to put out something that's not complete, we chose to wait. It was supposed to come out this month. They [the studio execs] were like 'Okay, well you won't be on the maximum number of screens if you come out now. You can be on 1,200 screens now or you can wait till August to be on 2,500 screens. 'We're like, Okay, we'll wait'. And being that we waited, the music is incredible now. Me and Dre are both pleased with it. We're 95 percent done with it. I think the world's going to be shocked.

TeenHollywood: Is it all new music?

Big: There were a few new songs done in the movie. And there were some songs from "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" that were performed in the movie. So really, you're only getting maybe about four or five new songs in the movie. And the majority of them are in the record. It's crazy.

TeenHollywood: So Evan, what's next?

Evan: I got actually a movie on the way that I'm about to start working n. But I'm not going to talk about that because I don't want to jinx it. I'll just say that you'll see me soon. Music as well. I'm really starting to get serious about the music. That has always been a passion of mine and a dream of mine. It was something that I had to set up properly, just the way it should be done. With the music, I feel that there is kind of this expectation that I want to make sure that I do right on. I'm R&B ... I'm all R&B, maybe a little pop too because I dance.

TeenHollywood: But, you are putting your all into acting now?

Evan: If there's something I want, I feel like -- I never do just a little. My mom would say, 'Don't go into anything not ready. Always be ready.' It was one of those things that I took a lot of time to make sure that I was prepared to go in there. It was a big deal. I've taken classes. I've been able to take the time to actually work on my acting skills. I feel like I've learned so much more just being on set. I think at the end there's just been a growth. So I'm excited about my next film.

TeenHollywood: What's the connection between music and acting that so many musicians are successful in both fields?

Big: I think part of music, especially like when you're doing videos, there's an actor aspect of things when you play different characters. It's going on 12 years we've been doing videos over and over again. It's just like I guess a natural progression, if that's something you want to do. For me, I was like music is my first love, and I first did the first movie and now I'm doing this film, I'm like, 'Ah, I can see how people can get addicted to it'.

Evan: I feel the same way. I think both are ways of expressing feelings and emotions. I'm sure he'll tell you, you're used to sitting in the studio if you're rapping or singing. You're putting off a feeling. You're not just singing words, so there's a feeling that's coming across. Just like with acting, there's meaning to everything you say. You add color to what you are saying. So I feel like there's a realness with that. I feel like that's how music and acting are so alike. I feel like that's how my mom was so good in her movies. You can see those feelings. When she's singing 'Lady Sings The Blues,' there is just so much emotion that's behind the song.

TeenHollywood: Do you think it's easier for you to be mom's son instead of a daughter because there would be less comparisons?

Evan: My sister Tracee is in the business and she's got a great TV Show and she's very talented. I don't think so. Both ways I don't think it's an issue. I think sometimes people will say, 'Did you have it easier?' But, no one is going to put you in a movie because of who your mom is. I feel like who she is is just an inspiration and someone who, being in the business so long, can give you advice and at the same time just be a mom. She's such an incredible mom.

Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.