How Jaafar Jackson Mastered Michael Jackson’s Speaking Voice
(warm rhythmic music) (audience cheering) – Oh! (audience continues cheering and applauding) No pressure, man, you’re just playin’ Michael Jackson. (everyone laughing) Congrats on the movie, to both of you! – [Juliano] Thank you. – What an interesting dynamic too, to be in a movie and you’re both playing the same character.
I don’t think that happens a lot for people, it’s such a special thing as well. But I’m so excited for it. What was the audition process like? – Oh, it was- – Was yours harder? (Jaafar laughing) It seems more difficult that you’re in the family, I feel like that’s more added pressure. Right? – Well, for me, it was better, honestly, because it just helped me hone it on preparation.
It made me more focused. And it was a process that was almost two years, of just the auditioning, and that’s before I even knew I was really gonna play him. Then after that, I had like another year and a half to really hone in on the little details and nuances, and with that confidence, knowing that I have the role.
– Yeah. – But, the auditioning process was very, very challenging, but it really helped me to shape what I needed to before going into “Michael.” – Yeah, that’s kinda cool ’cause by the time you do that, you feel way more comfortable and confident probably at that point. – Oh, absolutely. – Yeah. By the way, you have such a beautiful smile.
– Thank you. (audience laughing) – You smile when you talk, that’s really special. That’s really cool. – Thank you. – You’re cute too, I love you. (everyone laughing) I wanna take you home, but that’s called kidnapping. (everyone laughing) So wait, so I have to ask, what was your audition process like? You’re so young, like, did you know Michael that well, like his music as well? – Yeah, so before I got the role, I knew a lot about Michael Jackson, and I practiced his dancing.
But when I got the role, they told me to practice young Michael Jackson, and so I started watching his videos. And like Jaafar, the audition process was very long. – [Kelly] Yeah. (Juliano laughing) – And I’m just incredibly grateful that I’ve gotten chosen to be playing young Michael Jackson. – Yeah. It’s so interesting too.
(audience applauding) I didn’t realize, I never really thought about it, it’s actually a different performance, like very different, like the young Michael, and then what the older Michael was. Like, it’s just very different choreography, just different energy. So that’s kind of interesting too. You’re playing the same person, but it’s kind of like a dual thing going on, dual personality, yeah.
(Juliano and Jaafar laughing) – Yeah, like, ’cause I remember just seeing him sometimes in the rehearsal process. Like he’d be on one stage rehearsing, I’d be on another stage, and we’d run into each other. – Yeah. (laughing) – And I’d be like, “So how’s it workin’ on those moves?” ‘Cause I’ve seen him do the later-year Michael movement, and I know it was probably challenging to go back to the formative years.
when he was doing the Jackson Five. – [Kelly] It’s different – [Kelly And Juliano] Yeah. – But you said that you studied other actors too before doing this, right? Not just Michael, but you studied other actors, who? – Oh, yeah. Well, I didn’t know anything about acting, but I’ve always been a fan of films. And I started off doing music, and producing, and songwriting.
But in the process, in the beginning, it was like, what is acting? So I started to look at films that I was inspired by, by actors that are in there, like Daniel Day-Lewis- – [Kelly] Yeah. Oh, they’re in it, yeah. – Joaquin Phoenix, and Christian Bale, just how they transform and really- – They almost get lost in it.
– They disappear in the roles, and that was very inspired by that, so I wanted to see what was their work ethic like when they embody a character. So that really inspired me to really study that, and then apply that and see what worked for me. – [Kelly And Jaafar] Yeah. – Speaking of transformations, I mean, how long did it take to nail…
You have a very different speaking voice than your uncle. Like, how long did it take to master that? It’s very particular. – It was interesting. ‘Cause at first, it was very silly to my own ears, you know, when I was tryna do that. So I really read a lot of books in his voice and each book, I got better basically at it.
You know, you get more used to it. And sometimes, I’d be out like in a grocery store and I’d be talking to someone, but I’d naturally respond and I’d be like, “Wait, that sounded kinda like Michael.” But I wasn’t trying to do it intentionally. So I wanted to get to that place where I wasn’t thinkin’ about it, like putting it on, it would just come out naturally.
– Yeah, from the repetition. – And it took a lotta time. – It’s very particular. – It took a lotta time. – [Kelly And Jaafar] Yeah. – For sure. You have such an amazing cast that y’all are working with. We love Coleman Domingo so much here. Nia Long is incredible, Miles Teller. Like how was it, working with them? – It’s an honor to work with people that have been in such big movies, especially like people like Nia Long, and Coleman Domingo.
And me and Jaafar are incredibly grateful that we got to work with such a talented cast, because it’s not every day that you get to do that, right? – [Kelly And Juliano] Yeah. – People that have been doin’ it for years, you’re off to a good start, sir. Yeah, yeah. (everyone laughing) Way to peak. (laughing) Like, that’s amazing, that’s awesome.
– We were surrounded by incredible talent. And I remember first seeing Coleman in the hair and makeup, when I was doing- – [Kelly] The transformation, yeah. – Yeah, rehearsal for camera. At the end of the performance, he was on the side of the stage. And it was my first time seeing him as Joseph, and I just had to really stop and take it all in.
And (laughing) he approached me, we hugged. He did some mannerisms and gestures so similar to Joseph that it was surreal for me to see that. – That’s gotta be so weird, man, that they’re playing your grandparents. – Right. – Like, these people are playing your grandparents, that’s not normal for people, you know what I’m sayin’? – (laughing) No.
– Like, most people don’t even know people’s grandparents. Like, that’s a crazy dynamic. And it’d be really funny, I hope you were funny enough to go over and be like, “So that’s not how they are. (everyone laughing) So actually, what you could work on is”… I’m just kidding. I’m interested because obviously, he’s family, Michael’s family, he’s your uncle, what did you learn about him that you maybe didn’t know? Like, ya know, diving deep into this character you’re trying to honor.
– Through the process, what surprised me most, I would say, is I was allowed access to a lot of his personal notes. And I realized that he would do mantras, affirmations. And his belief in manifestation was incredible. And I didn’t realize that about him until I really dived into it. And he would write everything he wanted to achieve.
He’d write it down, he would repeat it. He’d even meditate for 30 minutes and just look at those mantras, and repeat it back-to-back. He’d put it on mirrors, he’d put it on the ceiling, so he could see it every day. And it really was like his pursuit to greatness. So I applied that same work ethic and that same belief with how I was preparing, going towards shooting.
And it was very incredible, just to see what those notes were saying. – Yeah. – [Jaafar] Yeah. – And I don’t think everyone’s family, like my family, it’s hard to get things out sometimes. Even with my mother, I’m like, “Wait, what?” I’m like, “When were you gonna tell me that?” Ya know? (Juliano laughing) Sometimes with family, you don’t get to dive into that.
So I think it’s kinda special that it’s your family and you get to do that. I heard that also, I didn’t know this about him, but he loved to draw, and you love to draw. And it actually got you back into that, is that true? – Oh, yeah. No, I grew up drawing here and there, I wouldn’t say I was the best. But as I got older, I saw some drawings of Michael’s, and paintings, and I was blown away by how incredible he was.
And I always thought like, how much time did he have to even do that? He was so busy with music and these other things. – Well, it’s therapeutic maybe. – Oh, I’m sure. – Yeah. – Yeah, so I realized that he was doin’ that to have some form of escapism. – Mm-hmm. – So as I got deeper into the role, I started to do some drawings myself, and I got better and better.
Even on set, when I had some side time, I’d do some little doodling, drawing, and it was fun. – But speaking of that, playing and having fun, what do y’all like to do outside of work, when you’re not working? What do you like to do, you like a video game kid or anything? – Yeah. – [Kelly] Yeah, yeah? (audience laughing) – I like to play video games, and I like to play basketball.
And just to throw it out there, my favorite video game right now is “Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker.” I like to play on my mom’s computer. – Oh my God! (audience laughing) – Yeah. (laughing) – That’s a great one. – Is that because you were doing this, or that just happened? – Yeah! – Oh, that’s cool. – So, I would watch YouTube videos of like Michael Jackson games, and a person would play “Moonwalker,” and he would just get through all the levels.
And I just was like, “Oh my gosh, I wanna play that, but I don’t have the machine.” And so I searched it up on my mom’s computer, and it was right there, and (laughing) you know. – That’s what my son does, he’s like, “Look what I found, that you can buy me.” (everyone laughing) How handy. Yes, go ahead. No, that’s awesome.
I love playing games. I’m like the mom that totally plays games with my kid. He probably doesn’t want me to anymore. (Juliano and audience laughing) But what about you, what do you love to do? – I’m pretty similar to Juliano, I’ve played a lotta video games. Other than video games, I like drawing, I like being around nature.
– [Kelly] Me too. – I have two dogs at home that I love. – (gasping) What kinda dogs? – German Shepherd, German Shepherds. – Oh, I love German Shepherds! – Whoa! – One’s mixed with a Chow Chow. – I didn’t even know that. – You didn’t know that? – (laughing) No. – I love dogs, more than people sometimes, they’re just awesome.
(everyone laughing) Do you still have the moves, like that you did in the show, Juliano? You still got some of those? – Okay, yeah. – Yeah! (audience cheering and applauding) (upbeat rhythmic music) Come on, man! Here we go, here we go. Oh! (audience continues cheering and applauding) (upbeat rhythmic music continues) Oh my gosh, awesome! Oh my God! (upbeat rhythmic music ending) Awesome, I love it! Everybody, give it up for Jaafar Jackson and Juliano Valdi! (audience cheering and applauding) You can see them in the new movie, “Michael,”
it’s in theaters Friday.
