Tyrese Gibson – An “Open Invitation” to “Fast Five” and a Teddy Pendergrass Biopic on the Horizon

Pictured: Tyrese Gibson (left) and Vin Diesel (right) in a scene from "Fast Five."

Tyrese Gibson is not an actor posing as a singer or a singer posing as an actor. He wants his fans to know that he’s both and will deliver solidly for each of his projects.

“A lot going on out there,” he acknowledges. “Got a Fast Five DVD and Blu-ray unleashed – and in less than 30 days I’ve got my new album coming out. It’s called Open Invitation and I cannot wait to share it with the world.”

There are plenty of fun extras on that Fast Five disc and Gibson claims viewers will see a side of filmmaking they’re usually not privy to.

“There is a lot of behind-the-scenes and making-of that’s funny as Hell,” he assures. “There is also the commentary with the director and the producer talking about all the different scenes and they also got something called Paul Walker TV and Tyrese TV, where the cameras is following us behind the scenes. You’re able to get a sense of the movies being created and made through our eyes, which is a lot of fun.”

Gibson knows his fans are crucial to his success and he’s hitting the social media hard to get his message out there.

“I don’t want your support, I need your supported on this album,” he pleads with his audience. “I appreciate you.”

He produced his new CD on his own and is making it available on iTunes and other outlets worldwide. And though he did it this his way, he is relying on traditional marketing from his label to get the disc in stories.

And he won’t be sitting around waiting for his next project. Gibson is set to star in the drama Ruby McCollum, where an educated black woman is railroaded into a death sentence after the murder of a prominent white physician.

“It’s heavy and deep,” he adds.

He’s also set to play Teddy Pendergrass in a biopic based on the famed R&B singer’s life. And though he appears too young to have enjoyed Pendergrass’s music, Gibson confesses he was indoctrinated at an early age.

“I’m 32 so my mother and my family listened to Teddy Pendergrass all day, everyday when I was growing up as a kid so the seeds were planted early on,” he recalls. “I never thought in my lifetime that I would grow up and end up playing Teddy Pendergrass in a movie one day, but I’m just going to do my best and try to do right by him, representing him and put down my best performance. It’ll be my first time singing in a movie.”

Whether it’s music or film, Gibson shows no signs of slowing down. He’s seizing opportunities as they arise and believes it’s important to jump in no matter how full his schedule is.

“It’s America, baby. We love it that way,” he says. “Love to stay busy and keep it moving. We’re robbing ourselves if we don’t take advantage of each opportunity. The fact that we have access to do so many different things and add a bunch of slices to the side of your name as far as career, why limit yourself to just doing one thing.”

It helps if you can do all those different things well and apparently Gibson has tapped into the secret know-how of that.