00:00Michael B. Jordan, Icon Award.
00:03Yeah.
00:04That's how I'm being introduced now?
00:05Okay, cool.
00:06That's great.
00:07I mean, I feel like I can follow you around
00:08and interview me like introducing Icon, Michael B.
00:12I'm not mad at that.
00:13That's actually not a bad idea.
00:15Who was an icon for you growing up?
00:16Oh, man.
00:17Besides my parents?
00:21Man, Denzel, man.
00:23Honestly, just watching a lot of his work.
00:24But the way he kind of seamlessly blends into his roles
00:31and has a presence of a leading man
00:33that makes you want to watch him on screen,
00:35that was definitely an icon in my eyes for sure.
00:39You, by the way, this run has been incredible to watch.
00:42I've seen you get some awards already, the American Cinematheque,
00:45and you've had to have gotten good at taking compliments
00:48because it's just a lot of compliments coming your way.
00:51How is that for you to feel, and how do you take that in?
00:54Man, I had just got back from filming Thomas Crown Affair
00:59for the past year and some change,
01:01so that was kind of like a coming-home party for me in a big way.
01:04It was the first time I was around my family and friends
01:06all in one space together,
01:08and it was a bit overwhelming in the best way possible.
01:12So it feels good, and it feels surreal in a way.
01:19Even this award tonight feels honored to actually be recognized in this way
01:27amongst so many other talented, amazing actors
01:30and great performers throughout this year.
01:33Tell me about Thomas Crown.
01:34I know this is a huge movie, multiple continents.
01:37You're directing, you're in a lot of almost every scene.
01:39This is a big production.
01:42So how are you not crumbling?
01:44I mean, first of all, you're Michael B. Jordan.
01:45You're not crumbling, but it's a lot.
01:47It is.
01:48I mean, it's one of my favorite films growing up.
01:50You know, Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo
01:53and going back and watching McQueen and Faye Dunaway
01:56and me giving my own interpretation,
02:00reimagination of the film.
02:02And it's a lot, man.
02:04It's a big movie.
02:06It's international.
02:07It's sexy.
02:08It's a lot of fun, a lot of twists and turns,
02:10and I think it's going to have some things
02:12that I think audiences won't be expecting
02:14that I think might be a nice treat for them.
02:17And then I've got to ask you about Sinners.
02:19You guys have been sort of the crown jewel
02:20that propelled Warner Brothers
02:24to this really incredible year.
02:27And it's a studio that is for sale right now.
02:29I'm just curious how you're feeling about that
02:31from a business perspective,
02:32like this home for this movie
02:34could be bought by Netflix.
02:36I mean, I think as long as, you know,
02:39the care of film and cinema
02:42is a priority at the forefront,
02:47as a filmmaker, as an actor,
02:49that's what I feel is most important right now
02:52as an actor, as a director.
02:56You know, movies need to be seen on a big screen.
03:00You know, and that communal experience,
03:02what makes Sinners so great,
03:04One Battle After Another so great,
03:06you know, Marty Supreme so great,
03:07all these movies so great,
03:09is that you get a chance to go to the theater
03:11with people and watch it
03:12and have a moment to laugh together,
03:14to cry together, to cheer together.
03:16And that's why I love going to movies.
03:17It's for those storytelling experiences.
03:20So, you know, if that's the priority,
03:21that's retained,
03:23then all the other business stuff,
03:24you know, is a little bit beyond me.
03:26You mentioned it, the originality of vision,
03:28and that's something you and Coogler
03:30pulled off with this.
03:31How does that influence what you want to do next
03:33or how you structure your deals now?
03:36I think originality, I mean,
03:37is really important.
03:38You think, you know,
03:40IP is amazing and great,
03:41and we've seen them done that,
03:42but giving filmmakers and storytellers
03:45an opportunity to tell what original stories
03:48and ideas in their head,
03:49I think you'll get a lot of amazing results.
03:52So the bigger the swings that, you know,
03:54studios and platforms can give the filmmakers,
03:57can give the artists,
03:58I think the better off we'll be.
04:01You know, nine times out of ten.
04:03You know, but that's something that I'm rooting for,
04:05and I hope to see more and more original projects.
04:08I forgot to say Happy New Year.
04:09Are you a New Year's resolution person?
04:13I am, but I'm not.
04:14I'm always trying to set goals
04:15to kind of self-improve.
04:16I mean, for me this year is to,
04:20I don't know, man,
04:20always lead with my best foot forward
04:22and continue to be kind
04:24and show empathy to people.
04:26You know, I think empathy is something
04:28that we lose a lot of,
04:29and I think the world needs more of nowadays,
04:32and that's what I'm championing this year.
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