12BB AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP WEDNESDAY , JUNE 13 , 2018
Actor Trevor Jackson Takes Leap as Leading Man in “ Superfly ” Remake
By Russell Motley
Trevor Jackson is one “ bad mutha … shut-yo-mouth .”
At 21 , he ’ s not old enough to recall firsthand the popular ‘ 70s catch phrase . However , Jackson – best known as Aaron in ABC ’ s “ Grown-ish ” – now tackles a more challenging role that offers a modern spin on the 1972 cult classic “ Super Fly .”
“ I really just tried to find someone that I thought was very cool , but who I was also very afraid of ,” said Jackson , describing his character Youngblood Priest , a drug dealer trying to score one last big deal before calling it quits . “ He follows his own rules . He doesn ’ t like to kill . He ’ s never intentionally hurt anybody . He only retaliates when he feels disrespected . He treats everyone with respect and carries himself like a king in this film .”
The remake ( spelled “ Superfly ”) opens the 22nd Annual American Black Film Festival on June 13 . The film differs from the original in several ways . For starters , it ’ s set in Atlanta , Georgia instead of Harlem , New York . The remake also introduces a younger protagonist , which Jackson said initially worked against his chances of landing the role . Jackson recalled auditioning twice , only to be told he was too young for the part . Then he received a call from “ Superfly ” producer Joel Silver ( The Matrix trilogy , Die Hard ) that changed his life .
“ Joel invited me to his house and I thought I was going to have to audition again , so I brought my script ,” Jackson told MIA magazine in a phone interview from Los Angeles , where he resides . “ As soon as I walked in he asked , ‘ Do you want to do this movie with us ?’” Jackson said he cried all the way home . After all , it would mark his first leading role in a major release . For the last 14 years , Jackson said he ’ s been preparing for this moment , first launching his career on Broadway as Young Simba in Disney ’ s
“ The Lion King ,” then later moving to Los Angeles where he appeared in TV shows including “ Criminal Minds ” and “ American Crime .” Directing remake of Blaxploitation classic Jackson isn ’ t the only one making a career leap . “ Superfly ” also marks the first feature film for Director X , who built a career directing music videos for top artists such as Drake , Justin Bieber , and Nicki Minaj .
Director X said he felt a responsibility to do justice to the legacy of the original , which starred Ron O ’ Neal . “ I directed a film that builds on the special elements of the original and evolves them for 2018 ,” Director X said in a statement . “ The story , fashion , cars , hair , and music all have added relevance for today with an extra twist of style .”
Jackson ’ s hair in the film takes on a life of its own – a straightened bouffant
Trevor Jackson plays career criminal Youngblood Priest who wants out of the Atlanta drug scene , but one little slip up threatens to bring the whole operation down before he can make his exit .
that only someone who is super fly , literally , could pull off .
“ I really wanted it to be straight to capture the essence of the first [ movie ],” said Jackson , who went back and forth with Joel and Director X about how to wear his hair . “ It ’ s part of his uniform . It ’ s part of his aesthetic .”
Super fly soundtrack With ATL as the backdrop comes a new-school soundtrack produced by native son Future . He appears on 10 of the 13 tracks , which features artists such as PARTYNEXTDOOR , Miquel , Lil Wayne , and 21 Savage . The album pumps mostly dope-boy rap tracks with a few tender ballads – solid , yet worlds apart from Curtis Mayfield ’ s legendary “ Super Fly ” soundtrack .
“ The reason why I think Future is so essential to the making of this movie is because he ’ s the voice of the new generation and what these kids are listening to … what they turn up to ,” said Jackson . “ It embodies the essence of where this movie was shot and what it represents .”
Jackson is a crooner himself . He recorded music for the “ Superfly ” soundtrack , however , it didn ’ t make the cut . Jackson ’ s latest musical 15-track project is titled “ Rough Drafts , Pt . 1 ,” which he penned . He expects to release new music in September .
For now , Jackson said he ’ s looking forward to attending the ABFF for the first time .
“ I don ’ t know what to expect ,” he said . “ Just trying to keep my head on straight because I know Miami Beach is a great place to be .”
“ Superfly ” ABFF Opening Night Film
June 13 , 8 p . m ., Fillmore Miami Beach Hits theaters June 13 .
12BB
AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018
Actor Trevor Jackson Takes Leap as Leading Man in “Superfly” Remake
By Russell Motley
Trevor Jackson is one “bad
audition again, so I brought my script,”
Director X said he felt a responsibility to
native son Future. He appears on 10 of
mutha…shut-yo-mouth.”
Jackson told MIA magazine in a phone
do justice to the legacy of the original,
the 13 tracks, which features artists such
At 21, he’s not old enough to recall
interview from Los Angeles, where he
which starred Ron O’Neal.
as PARTYNEXTDOOR, Miquel, Lil
firsthand the popular ‘70s catch phrase.
resides. “As soon as I walked in he asked,
“I directed a film that builds on the
Wayne, and 21 Savage. The album pumps
However, Jackson – best known as Aaron
‘Do you want to do this movie with us?’”
special elements of the original and
mostly dope-boy rap tracks with a few
in ABC’s “Grown-ish” – now tackles a
Jackson said he cried all the way
evolves them for 2018,” Director X said
tender ballads – solid, yet worlds apart
more challenging role that offers a
home. After all, it would mark his first
in a statement. “The story, fashion, cars,
from Curtis Mayfield’s legendary “Super
modern spin on the 1972 cult classic
leading role in a major release. For the last
hair, and music all have added relevance
Fly” soundtrack.
“Super Fly.”
14 years, Jackson said he’s been preparing
for today with an extra twist of style.”
“The reason why I think Future is so
“I really just tried to find someone
for this moment, first launching his career
Jackson’s hair in the film takes on a
essential to the making of this movie is
that I thought was very cool, but who I
on Broadway as Young Simba in Disney’s
life of its own – a straightened bouffant
because he’s the voice of the new
was also very afraid
generation and what
of,” said Jackson,
these kids are
describing his
listening to…what
character
they turn up to,”
Youngblood Priest, a
said Jackson. “It
drug dealer trying to
embodies the essence
score one last big
of where this movie
deal before calling it
was shot and what it
quits. “He follows
represents.”
his own rules. He
Jackson is a
doesn’t like to kill.
crooner himself. He
He’s never
recorded music for
intentionally hurt
the “Superfly”
anybody. He only
soundtrack, however,
retaliates when he
it didn’t make the
feels disrespected. He
cut. Jackson’s latest
treats everyone with
musical 15-track
respect and carries
project is titled
himself like a king in
“Rough Drafts, Pt.
this film.”
1,” which he penned.
The remake
He expects to release
(spelled “Superfly”)
new music in
opens the 22nd
September.
Annual American
For now, Jackson
Black Film Festival
said he’s looking
on June 13. The film
forward to attending
Trevor Jackson plays career criminal Youngblood Priest who wants out of the Atlanta drug scene, but one little slip up
differs from the
the ABFF for the
threatens to bring the whole operation down before he can make his exit.
original in several
first time.
ways. For starters, it’s
“I don’t know
set in Atlanta, Georgia instead of Harlem,
“The Lion King,” then later moving to
that only someone who is super fly,
what to expect,” he said. “Just trying to
New York. The remake also introduces a
Los Angeles where he appeared in TV
literally, could pull off.
keep my head on straight because I know
younger protagonist, which Jackson said
shows including “Criminal Minds” and
“I really wanted it to be straight to
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