Will regales journalists at Taipei After Earth junket

MANILA, Philippines - If fans find Will Smith funny on screen, they will be pleasantly surprised to discover that he’s even funnier off it as he regaled Asian journalists during the recent junket in Taipei for his and son Jaden’s new movie, After Earth (showing nationwide starting on Wednesday, June 5).

Father and son sat together onstage during the Q&A conducted by the host who asked the duo in English and then translated their answers to Chinese. At one point, when a waiter sneaked in to serve Will another bottle of mineral water, Will jokingly screamed, “Watch out!!!,” and startled not only the emcee but also the media guys who broke into laughter. Later, while asking another question, it was the emcee’s turn to “shock” Will by also screaming “Watch out!!!” at him. True to form, Will reacted by playing limp-wristed, laughing at himself.

At the end of the 30-minute press con, the Taipei host presented gifts to the AE stars — a handcrafted aboriginal machete (Paiwan) that symbolizes power and authority for Will, and a handmade animal-skin crown (also from a Taiwanese aboriginal tribe) for Jaden.

Then, Will swang the machete over Jaden’s crowned head as if to empower him, and then making like he was going to stab somebody with the sword, drawing hearty applause from the audience.

(Note: For more on Will Smith and Jaden, watch this afternoon’s edition of Startalk on GMA, after Eat, Bulaga!, and check out Conversations with Ricky Lo in The STAR tomorrow, June 2.)