Published by: CBS4.com.com
Written by: CBS4.com
Posted: November 17, 2008

Actor Will Smith hit South Miami Monday for a charity event/premiere of his new film, “Seven Pounds.” The red carpet gala began at 7:00 p.m. at the Shops of Sunset Place.

Hundreds of people began lining up as early as 11:00 Monday morning for a chance to catch a glimpse of Will Smith. Most brought canned food in order to get into the event. Smith and Dawson brought 300 turkeys to give out. All of the proceeds will go to the Florida Marlins Community Foundation.

In “Seven Pounds,” Will Smith is Ben Thomas, a man who has gone through a terrible tragedy and sets out to redeem himself by changing the lives of seven people. CBS4 Entertainment Reporter Lisa Petrillo got a chance to sit down to talk to Smith and one of his co–stars, Rosario Dawson.

For Smith, making this film was something he felt he needed and wanted to do. "I′m at a point in my life where I want all of the work that I do to mean something, you know? I want there to be ideas and concepts and lessons about things that I believe in."

The movie truly means a lot to Smith, who has his eyes on the box office for more than one reason. "My son has a film coming out the week before. If he his movie doesn′t beat mine, it′ll be a good Christmas for the Smiths," he chuckled, "If he wins, he′s on punishment!" Smith is Hollywood′s Golden Boy. Every movie he makes rakes in millions. On and off the set, he′s smart and likeable.

Actress Rosario Dawson plays Emily, one of the strangers Smith′s character will choose to help. In turn, she will help him. To help the movie, she forged a connection with Smith on and off the set. "I love him so much, he′s so amazing," she told Petrillo. "He′s very particular about… "I′m going to do things that I′m passionate about and care about and I never want to find myself in a situation where I don′t want to be there."

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