The Tamesis
For any rising actor and singer, playing a pop icon like Michael Jackson on the big screen can be daunting, but later this month it becomes even more personal for 29-year-old star Jafar Jackson, who plays his uncle in Antoine Fuqua’s film musical Michael. “This has been the honor of a lifetime. It’s definitely an experience I’ll never forget,” Jackson said. He is the son of Jermaine Jackson, one of Michael’s brothers and a former member of the Jackson 5. “I’m extremely proud and grateful to be able to tell Michael’s story in a cinematic way.”
The film will tell the story of Michael’s growth from Jackson’s five days to the global “King of Pop”, and also marks Jackson’s first acting role –no pressure! To prepare for the buzzy project, Jackson spent two years researching and training for the role. He spent quality time with Michael as a youngster, but he had some gaps to fill, especially early in his career. “It was important to me to go back to the Jackson 5’s roots from the beginning and make sure I understood Michael’s perspective from those early days all the way into adulthood,” Jackson said. “When I got to the set, I did a lot to prepare myself. It was a lot of preparation, starting with dissecting a lot of archival video, listening to his music, and then immersing myself in his personal writings.”
Of course, the most important thing is to master Michael’s unique choreography and singing. To bring out her full character, the star collaborated with respected choreographers Rich + Tone Talauega. “They were Michael’s real choreographers on the ‘History’ tour,” said Jackson, who spent months learning his signature moves. “I started absorbing all of Michael’s tours and collecting all the videos I could find of him dancing. I literally started studying every day and practicing in front of the mirror for hours a day. It took me a few years before I felt confident with my dance moves.”
Also unforgettable for Jackson during filming were the stunning theatrical costumes he wore in his role, brought to life by costume designer Marci Rodgers – inspired by his iconic work thriller clothing, as well as his famous line of military jackets. “It’s been a really fun process for me, being able to try out the whole wardrobe and also be able to perform in those iconic costumes,” Jackson said. “Seeing the costumes come to life made me realize how specific and detailed Michael was about how he wanted to look when he was dancing on stage.” Some of his favorite personal costumes? “One of my favorite things I’ve ever had the chance to wear is thriller Look, there are billie jane View from Motown 25. “
Meanwhile, this month, Jackson wore different stylish outfits at a press conference for the film. He collaborated with stylist Ilaria Urbinati to create a stylish and modern press look while paying homage to MJ’s style ethos. Call it a subtle approach to dressing. “It was a really fun process, especially because it was my first time going through this,” Jackson said. “I’m excited to wear something that makes me feel my best while paying a subtle tribute to Michael.”
