With each generation in the entertainment business there are some faces that hover just below the radar and then make their sudden appearance. In the 90’s there was Larenz Tate who made his mark with The Inkwell and Dead Presidents; just to name a few; and made a much needed return with his small screen role on Rescue Me. Now the film world needs to make way for the next young black actor who’s not a novice to the game. Having a resume that includes The Wire and All My Children, Michael B. Jordan kicks off the Next:AMMO series with his new role on Teen Nick’s The Assistants and in Red Tails; a film about the historic Tuskegee Airman.
1. What’s your AMMO? (What inspires you daily)?
My inspiration comes from my family. My parents instilled in me at a young age that without family you have nothing. Friends, money, girls come and go but family is forever. [My family] motivates me to try and be the best; give all I can at life in general. Watching bad acting also inspires me. (LOL) I see a huge gap between generations in the entertainment field and I see myself and some other black actors right now filling the void.
2. You’ve been acting since you were a child, how has that affected your growth into a young man?
Well I’ve been acting since I was 12, and I’m 22 now. Ten years of experience at any age makes you a professional. Growing up along side other professionals gave me a certain level of maturity. I’m an old ass man! (LOL) As a child actor, I feel like if you get too much fame too fast the public doesn’t give you a chance to grow out of that image; making it extremely hard to cross over from child actor to a relevant adult actor. When you grow up on set around adults as a kid you have no choice but to adapt and grow up as well, or your always being looked at as a kid. I’m an old soul.
3. Homeroom Heroes? What was your involvement and inspiration?
Homeroom Heroes is a four part book series that Rahfeal Gordon and myself are writing to help bridge the gaps between the youth, education, and life experiences. Rahfeal is a motivational speaker and entrepreneur who share similar goals in trying to improve our community. It seems like the youth doesn’t care as much about furthering their education, as they should. They identify more with music, TV, and entertainment than they do their academics and the pursuit of higher education. So since I have access to the “entertainment industry”, which is what they seem to idolize, why not use that as a way to promote education and self-awareness? Why not show them that they can do whatever they want to do in life regardless of their background and upbringing by making learning and school cool again?
4. To go from the gritty role on The Wire to the comedic role on The Assistants shows a range in talent. How do you manage to relate to your characters?
The role of Wallace on The Wire wasn’t really hard to play. I grew up in NEWARK, NJ. The hood was my environment so playing a drug dealer wasn’t a real stretch, ya know? I’ve always done drama; I love it. It’s something about getting the audience to feel exactly what I’m feeling if only for that one second. But when we talk comedy we’re talking about an entirely different beast; it’s more about timing and beats. Tisha Campbell taught me a little something about that and really helped me with that transition. I never thought I was that funny but my family always did. Now that I had the chance to do comedy I feel like I have that under my belt as well. I can add that skill to the rest of my tools on my utility belt.
5. The team of assistants on the show seems pretty eager to please and the shows centers around all the crazy things that you all have to do to get ahead in the business. What is one of the most outrageous things you have ever done to get a leg up on the competition?
Yea Nate is willing to do pretty much anything to get to the top. I can’t say I’ve done anything outrageous but I have gone to the maximum to make sure the producers know I’m taking the audition seriously. I remember auditioning for a role where the character was good in basketball and other sports. So my partner in crime, Actor Sterling Brim, got a camera and recorded me making 30 plus free throws in a row and sent it in to the casting director. I wouldn’t say that that was “outrageous”, but I can put money on the fact that no one else did it.
6. On the show your character is trying to be a producer. Do you have any plans on working on the other side of the camera?
Yea, I love creating and coming up with Ideas for films and television shows. I can’t wait to start producing my own shows. Every job I get and every set I work on I learn something new. Whether it’s from the DP or the Key Grip; I learn something about this machine that makes this product that everyone gets to enjoy. You have to keep learning because time keeps moving forward along with technology and techniques. In order to stay relevant and be on top you have to keep up with the evolution of the business. I’m working on a cartoon right now that I hope to get finished within the next year… It’s one of my babies!
7. You have been in the game for a while. As of right now, what do you think the film industry is doing best and what do you think it is currently lacking the most?
I think the industry is making films that the majority of the public wants to see, and using the same familiar faces over and over. There isn’t anything wrong with that but sometimes I have a problem with someone who is 30 plus playing 18. There are plenty of actors who are talented enough and deserving of those roles rather than just going with the familiar face because they know the seats will get filled. However, from a producer’s point of view it makes perfect sense. You’re investing in a project so they want names behind it so it has the best possible chance to make the money back. But for me and other actors like me, who are on our way up and are waiting for our opportunities to shake the game up in a positive way, we need those roles. The producers, who care about ACTING and using actors who can actually act as opposed to just creating a popularity contest, are the ones I think the industry are lacking. I think the industry lacks on giving screen honest moments and that’s where I come in. I like to give honest moments in my performances. It gives people something to relate to no matter what the character is.
8. You will be appearing in an upcoming movie about the Tuskegee Airman called Red Tails. Tell us about your character “Bumps.”
Maurice “Bumps” Wilson is a new recruit fresh out of Tuskegee who still has a lot of growing up to do when it comes to war but is surrounded by veteran pilots who take him in as family. He is a lovable character that the audience will enjoy…I don’t want to spoil it for you so I won’t reveal too much about it but I’m sure everyone will love Red Tails.
9. How much research was involved for your character?
A lot! We actually got a chance to spend a few days with the actual Tuskegee airmen. We talked with them; got to know quite a bit about them. That was so important for us to learn who these men were and making sure we portrayed them the right way. I watched countless DVD’s and documentaries on them. I read manuals on P51’s. We co-piloted P51’s and simulated dogfights in the air. That was an exhilarating experience to really know what it feels like to be in a dogfight going 300 plus miles per hour in a plane. We also went through a week of intense boot camp in the Czech Republic, which really made all of the actors close as brothers. This movie has been an experience that I will never forget for as long as I live.
10. There are some music artists included in the cast. Recently, Actress and industry vet Nia Long has commented that the film industry is more focused on looks and popularity rather than on talent. What are your thoughts on the subject? Is it still a talent-based industry?
I think the Industry is still very much based on popularity, but that’s the nature of the beast in a way. Sometimes I feel like they will go with the face and the name over the talent any day, but when I get blessed with a role like Bumps; which could have easily gone to another actor with a more recognizable face; it makes me think that it’s slowly changing. We just have to do more to make a bigger impact so more actors can see a difference. I vow that once I get to a position where I can make decisions that will help the industry be more about honest moments and genuine talent, I will. For right now though I’m a piece on this game board.
11. Being that you started your career so young, what actors were your inspirations?
Well when I first started acting I was so young I didn’t really pay attention, I was just doing what I thought was fun. When I turned 14-15 I started to take acting more seriously and I found myself studying Laurence Fishburne a lot. The way he carries himself on and off screen is so honorable. He embodies his characters but yet he brings himself to the table as well…he balances it to a tee.
12. You have had numerous roles on primetime TV, appearing on shows like Without A Trace, Cold Case Files, Burn Notice, as well as a fair share of film debuts. Which of the two do you prefer; television or film?
I love making films because the characters have a beginning and an end; it gets a message out. It gives the actor a chance to take the audience on a ride throughout the film, the ups the downs, just being able to find the arc for a character is the fun part for me. Once the film is finished you can move on to a different character and a different film. With television I think actors love the comfort factor of having a secured job for a period of time. So for that I love it…90% of actors are unemployed, so when you get a project you are working on for a period of time you love it. Creatively though, if you have the opportunity to input on a television show I think it’s the perfect opportunity to do good work with the hopes of in the off season you can slide a film or two in. The best of both worlds, is an actors dream…well mine anyway.
14. If you weren’t an actor what other career would you want to pursue?
I would probably be a chef. If anyone knows anything about me they know I love FOOD, whether it’s cooking in the kitchen or sitting down and clearing plates. My family is big on food. The two best cooks I know are my mom and dad. They are the ones I can say taught me everything I know about food…them and the Food Network.
You can catch Michael B. Jordan on NBC’s Friday Night Lights this Fall and in Red Tails in theaters soon.
Photo Credit: Ashley Nguyen Photography
– Crystal Hines
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