Jaafar Jackson spent two years preparing for his role as his uncle, Michael Jackson, in the film “Michael.” He made a list of goals, including wanting the movie to surpass “Bohemian Rhapsody” and earn $1 billion worldwide, which it ultimately achieved. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the biopic became the highest-grossing biopic ever, earning over $1 billion and surpassing “Oppenheimer.” Jaafar expressed that he felt emotional about the success and believed his uncle would have been proud of reaching such records.
To get ready for the role, Jaafar collected an archive of his uncle’s music, journals, performances, and rehearsals, spending every day studying them. He described the preparation as a full-time job. Jaafar worked with acting coach Angela Gibbs and explored various acting techniques from notable teachers like Stanislavski, Meisner, and Uta Hagen to find what suited him best.
Jaafar focused on developing his voice for the role. After he sent a voice note to producer Graham King, he was quickly offered coaching, which he saw as a significant turning point. Known for his exceptional dance skills, Michael Jackson’s legacy inspired Jaafar to practice tirelessly for the “Bad” sequence, rehearsing movements repeatedly until they felt natural. Jaafar found the dance move of rising onto his toes particularly challenging and painful, which gave him newfound respect for ballet dancers.
In the movie, Colman Domingo portrayed Jaafar’s grandfather, Joe Jackson, showing a stricter side of him that Jaafar had not experienced. His father, Jermaine Jackson, watched the film for the first time at the Berlin premiere and later praised Jaafar, noting how closely he resembled his brother in many scenes. Jaafar considered this feedback from his family to be the highest honor.
As he celebrates the success of his debut film, Jaafar recalls a note from his uncle with advice to stay present and appreciate the beauty in simple things. He felt that finding the note was a sign that he needed to hear that message. What are your thoughts on Jaafar’s preparation for such a significant role?
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Source: Amo Media