- 5 weeks ago
MBJ talks training for Creed II and his steamy Essence cover
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00:00How y'all doing?
00:02How y'all doing?
00:04Hi, welcome.
00:06What's up? What's up? What's up?
00:08Good to see you. Welcome, welcome.
00:10How you doing? I'm doing good. How you doing?
00:12Good news. Hey, how are you? Good to see you.
00:14Good to see you as well.
00:16How y'all doing?
00:18So Charlie, what's the story?
00:20I was going to tell you.
00:22I feel like I've known you even before
00:24the world knew you because my cousin
00:26is a teacher in the school district where you grew up.
00:28Haid, Casey, Mr. Zaire.
00:30Oh, for sure. Yeah, but I'll see you in the hall.
00:32Yeah, absolutely. And he always,
00:34I remember when you first started out and he would always
00:36be like, that's a good kid. Nah, he was really close
00:38friends with my family and my sister. He was a big mentor.
00:40Yeah, track coach. He got a lot of kids through
00:42college, so he's definitely an important staple.
00:44And he was a testament to your spirit
00:46and he was like, he's raised from the right stuff.
00:48He's a good kid. Hey, send him my love.
00:50That's like OG right there. Absolutely.
00:52So that's my first memory with Michael Bay.
00:54But wait, did you guys, when Michael
00:56brought up his family, do you remember when he shared
00:58that photo with all his family?
01:00I was like, everybody, remember there was like a
01:02Christmas photo? It was like Thanksgiving.
01:04Thanksgiving, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:06And everybody was like, wait, so everybody's fine?
01:08It was, that was actually the first holiday
01:12that me and my best friend Sterling, Sterling Brim,
01:14our families kind of did a joint
01:16Thanksgiving and Christmas.
01:18So it was a lot of fun. And Kwanzaa also.
01:20Wait, Sterling ran the Emmy Award winning Sterling Brim?
01:22Oh, Sterling Brim. Brim. Brim.
01:24Yeah, yeah, yeah. From Chicago.
01:26You know what I'm saying? Yeah. From Chicago.
01:28I was like, what is that backstory?
01:30Yeah. Oh my goodness.
01:32So, you know, you've had quite a year.
01:34Like the last couple of months.
01:36Like what's it been like to, you know,
01:38the fame has like shot to new levels now.
01:40What have you learned just like
01:42in the last 10 years also from The Wire to now?
01:44From the last 10 years?
01:46About fame and what has taught you about fame?
01:48Yeah. Um, hmm.
01:52I kind of gradually, you know,
01:54from small success to small success,
01:56I didn't get too much too fast.
01:58So doing, you know, movies like Hardball
02:00or doing episodics on, you know,
02:02Law and Order or CSI and stuff like that.
02:05I never, I was never like this child star.
02:08You know, so it was something that as I got older
02:10and I matured, I matured with my work.
02:12But after Black Panther came out, it was just another,
02:14it was another level of attention.
02:18And I'm getting used to it.
02:20I think the accessibility, you know what I'm saying?
02:24Like how much do you keep to yourself?
02:26How private do you want to be?
02:27Your personal life?
02:28It's been a lot.
02:30But at the same time you realize
02:31that you're affecting next generations.
02:32You know what I'm saying?
02:33Like the kids.
02:34When you really see these young people looking up to you
02:37or writing you and commenting to you
02:38and like sending you fan art and all that type of stuff.
02:40It's inspiring.
02:42You know what I'm saying?
02:43You know, you got to set a good example
02:45for the next generation to come.
02:46So there's a give and take of what I do
02:48as far as the whole fame.
02:49So it's a process.
02:51I'm learning.
02:52Can you run to the store for groceries ever again?
02:54No.
02:55Never happening.
02:56No, it's tough.
02:57Every now and again I try to like, you know,
02:59you know, sneak in somewhere.
03:01But it's been rough as of late.
03:03And then, you know, we got Creed II coming out in November.
03:05So that's going to be a whole other push.
03:08Yeah.
03:09I'm sure the cashier at the register is like,
03:11take him like two, three, four.
03:15Do you want plastic or paper?
03:17I'm pretty accessible.
03:18You know what I'm saying?
03:19Like when people ask me for pictures or like, you know,
03:20just to like, you know, chop it up.
03:22I'm pretty, I'm pretty easy.
03:23Wait, I just realized how many people are going to be
03:25Killmonger for Halloween.
03:26Yeah.
03:27That's going to be the cool part.
03:28I can't wait to see how many kids dress up for last Black Panther
03:32and, you know, and the Killmonger and stuff like that.
03:34So that's the, that's the fun part.
03:36That's the stuff that money can't buy, you know?
03:38Yeah, yeah.
03:39They're going to be so creative.
03:40I'm ready.
03:41They're going to be ready.
03:42The wigs will be out.
03:43Dreadlock wigs.
03:44It's going to be cool.
03:46So, Michael, we know that you don't love being, like,
03:49you know, the idea of you being a sex symbol.
03:50You're a serious actor and that's not always, you know,
03:53what you want to be labeled as.
03:55Your next few films are pretty serious.
03:57You have Bryan Stevenson and Just Mercy.
03:59Yep.
04:00Are you making a shift, like, in your career?
04:02Are you hoping to kind of shift to more serious roles or?
04:04I think, I think I'm always kind of.
04:07About Bryan Stevenson.
04:08Please.
04:09Yeah, Bryan Stevenson.
04:10I mean, he's an incredible defense attorney.
04:12He started the Equal Justice Initiative down in Alabama.
04:16He's, he won a Supreme Court justice case that pretty much,
04:20you're no longer allowed to trial minors as adults for the death
04:24pony.
04:25So, they're no longer allowed to get the death pony,
04:26which is incredible due to this, the mass incarceration
04:29and this wrongful lockup, locking up of our youth right now.
04:33So, he's an extremely important man today.
04:36I'm really honored to be, you know, portraying him and playing,
04:39playing him in his story.
04:41And, yeah, the shift, it's not an intentional shift.
04:46I think, for me, I've always kind of been back and forth between
04:49doing blockbusters and then doing small films that still remind
04:52people this is what, this is what I do.
04:54This is what I love to do.
04:55I love acting.
04:56I love trying to make people think.
04:57I want to, you know, do films that, you know, I don't know,
05:01provoke thought.
05:02Right.
05:03So, like from Fruitvale Station, you know, working with Ryan,
05:06all the way, appreciate that.
05:09All the way to doing Creed, then Black Panther.
05:12So, I've always tried to do like a bigger film and then do a
05:15smaller film.
05:16So, right now, I just had a nice little run with Creed and Black Panther.
05:20So, now, I want to get back to the basics and do something a
05:23little bit more serious.
05:24Absolutely.
05:25Yeah, so.
05:26After this wave of Black Panther, how are you staying grounded in
05:29all of this?
05:31My friends and family treat me like I ain't shit.
05:35They're like, oh, you, you can't.
05:37Everybody's talking about, like, why are you so humble?
05:39I was like, because everybody around me and shit, like.
05:43Oh, that's Mike.
05:44Get the fuck out of here.
05:45Like, whatever.
05:46Sorry.
05:47But it's like, yeah.
05:48They're like, get your own leg.
05:49Exactly.
05:50So, I have no yes-men around me whatsoever.
05:52Everybody's like super grounded and keep the, they're always
05:55telling me, you know, what my shit stinks, you know what I'm
05:57saying?
05:58And keep me in line.
05:59So, I think that's the main thing.
06:01And I've never really been somebody that's looking for
06:04attention, you know what I'm saying?
06:05Even for what I do, I always try to like, you know, I'm always
06:07playing the cut.
06:08Like, super laid back.
06:09So, that's just naturally kind of who I am.
06:11Yeah.
06:12Yeah.
06:13What I love most is really you and Ryan's relationship.
06:16That brotherhood, that you've stayed together, all these
06:19projects.
06:20Yeah.
06:21Tell me more about just like the love that you two share.
06:23I mean, that's a special dude.
06:26Honestly, meeting Ryan at a really, really early age, you know,
06:31so, so early in my career was a blessing.
06:33Usually actors don't find a director, like somebody that
06:36created counterpart that early.
06:38So, we just kind of clicked honestly.
06:40Fate would have it that I was looking for an independent
06:43film and he was looking for, you know, an actor to star in
06:46Fruitville and it just linked up.
06:49The shorthand's there.
06:50We're from the same place.
06:52He's from Richmond, Oakland.
06:53I'm from New York, New Jersey.
06:55Just that kind of relationship to like small.
06:57Yeah.
06:58Yeah.
06:59Yeah.
07:00I love it.
07:01But just that kind of relationship of being small city,
07:05you know what I'm saying?
07:06He's right next to San Francisco.
07:07I was next to New York City.
07:08Wow.
07:09You know, just that kind of, I don't know.
07:12Families are similar.
07:13We just, we just get each other.
07:14You know what I'm saying?
07:15Generationally speaking, we speak the same language and we're
07:17ready to, you know, to try to change the world what we do.
07:20Can you explain why he didn't do Creed II?
07:23Timing.
07:24Timing.
07:25Okay.
07:26You know what I mean?
07:27Honestly, it's like when you got so many other things that are
07:28in play with studios and timings and release dates and he was
07:31still finishing up Black Panther and Ryan, somebody who, when he's locked
07:34in or something, he's locked in.
07:35You know, like he doesn't really like to veer away from mission.
07:38He likes to stay on point.
07:39So honestly, the timing of it all just didn't work out.
07:41But he executive produced it.
07:42So he was still involved.
07:43Now the new director, Steven Capel.
07:45Who's amazing.
07:46I saw the land, y'all.
07:48Is there water anywhere?
07:49Can I get some water?
07:50Somebody get my water.
07:52Can't everybody get on the water.
07:56Can't everybody get on the water.
07:59We was partying last night just a little bit.
08:03We are.
08:04Oh man.
08:05Everybody was like, I'll get it.
08:08I'll get it.
08:09I'll get it.
08:11But I saw the land.
08:13And I'll tell you one thing.
08:14I'm not going to Cleveland.
08:17That movie, well, it's about Cleveland.
08:20Yeah.
08:21But it was amazing.
08:22Like this underbelly of Cleveland.
08:24It was a beautiful story.
08:26What did Steven bring to Creed II?
08:28I mean, honestly.
08:29Can you give us a preview of Creed II?
08:30Yeah.
08:31I mean, for Creed II.
08:32Oh man.
08:33I don't want to get run away.
08:36It's a, sequels are always the toughest film to do.
08:41You know, the second one.
08:42Because, you know, all the expectation, you know,
08:44from the first movie.
08:45And, you know, usually people want to,
08:47they want to make it bigger.
08:48You know what I'm saying?
08:49And like more action.
08:50And they kind of lose track of like the heart.
08:52Like the story.
08:54I think you found the right balance between the two.
08:58Of making it bigger.
08:59But at the same time, staying true to the characters.
09:02You know, relationships.
09:05Careers.
09:06How things progress.
09:08I think you guys are going to be happy with everything.
09:11Yeah.
09:12But Steven's a, he gives an indie kind of perspective.
09:14But still able to deliver commercially.
09:17So, it's a, yeah, yeah.
09:19Yeah, Steven.
09:20Steven's a really talented guy.
09:21Y'all, please.
09:22If you have not seen The Land, go watch The Land.
09:23It's an amazing film.
09:24Yeah, it's a good project.
09:25It's an amazing film.
09:26Yeah.
09:27Now, if Wakanda were real.
09:29And you were Michael B. Jordan.
09:31Okay.
09:32Would you be friends with T'Challa?
09:33If Wakanda was real.
09:34If Wakanda was real.
09:35And I was what?
09:36Me.
09:37That was just me.
09:38Not just Michael.
09:39I can't even think you were just Michael B. Jordan.
09:40Yeah, yeah.
09:41Like you were Michael Bay Jordan.
09:42And you newly arrived in Wakanda?
09:43Yes.
09:44Yeah.
09:45I think me and T'Challa would be cool.
09:46Yeah.
09:47Yeah.
09:48I think me and T'Challa would be cool.
09:49Yeah.
09:50Yeah.
09:51It would be cool, for sure.
09:52Would you live there?
09:53Like, would you get your permanent visa?
09:54I think I would definitely get my passport stamped in Wakanda, for sure.
09:58Yeah.
09:59Yeah.
10:00I'll be a dual citizen.
10:01So, my friend Rhonda, when she landed here in New Orleans, the pilot, well, the flight
10:06attendant said, welcome to Wakanda.
10:09That's funny.
10:10Which is quite accurate.
10:11It is quite accurate.
10:12It is quite accurate.
10:13My flight in here definitely looked like we were going to Wakanda, for sure.
10:15Yes.
10:16How are you feeling about Essence Fest?
10:17Yeah.
10:18I love it.
10:19Yeah.
10:20I mean, I was shooting Fantastic Four in Baton Rouge.
10:23It was my trainer, Corey.
10:24So, that's my guy right here.
10:25Anyway.
10:26Your name Corey, right?
10:27You're named Corey.
10:28He's from Baton Rouge.
10:29He's from Louisiana.
10:30So, this is like my way in to like here.
10:31But yeah, we always come down to New Orleans all the time.
10:34And I got a chance to come to a couple of Essence Festivals a couple years ago.
10:39So, I've always been here.
10:40So, it's been fun.
10:41I enjoy it.
10:42Yeah.
10:43We say it's like a, someone say it's like a hug.
10:44Candace said it last night.
10:46She was like, Essence Fest was like a big old hug for black people.
10:49No, without a doubt.
10:50It's like you don't see so many people.
10:51Everybody's like off working and doing their own thing.
10:53So, for everybody to kind of come together and drink, food, listen to music, party, have
10:57a good time.
10:58It's like a perfect kind of, it's like a family reunion and shit.
11:00Speaking of family, I remember on social media when you were like, everybody was like, oh,
11:05he lives with his parents.
11:06And you were like, no, my parents live with me.
11:08Let me set the record straight.
11:09And I love that.
11:10Talk to us a little bit about why you like to have them close.
11:13I mean, I mean, it's part of just being grounded.
11:14I guess the goal and the dream has always been, you know, shit, buy your mom a house
11:18one day.
11:19You know, like that's like every kid.
11:21Yeah.
11:22So, like as soon as the opportunity presented itself for me to move my family out of Newark
11:25and, you know, to L.A., where like, you know, the way of life is a little easier, you
11:30know, like, yeah.
11:32Like, it's a no brainer.
11:33It's like, I don't even know why that was even a thing.
11:35Like why is that a thing?
11:36I'm never there anywhere.
11:37I'm always like off working and stuff like that.
11:39So, yeah, you know, that's their house now.
11:42I'm moving out.
11:43You know what I'm saying?
11:44Yeah.
11:45So, I mean, it gets, it gets, it can get awkward sometimes.
11:47You know?
11:48It can get a little awkward.
11:49I mean, I got roommates that are my parents.
11:51So, like, that's cool too.
11:52So, it has ups and downs for sure.
11:54You found me in the kitchen.
11:55It's a fancy life.
11:56No, it's more like they get up a lot earlier than I do.
12:00So, it's like just being able to hear them is like, you know, you know, making the smoothies
12:04and doing whatever they're doing after retirement is, sometimes I can get out of him.
12:08But it's fun.
12:09It's fun.
12:10Honestly, life is so short.
12:12And, like, I know a lot of people, you know what I'm saying, are friends that don't have
12:15the luxury of having their parents around.
12:17So, I'm just trying to soak up as many memories as I can and just, like, you know, keep them
12:20close.
12:21You know what?
12:22When you talk about life is short.
12:25Yeah.
12:26In your Essence Magazine cover story for the June issue.
12:30Which we all remember.
12:31We all.
12:32Very well.
12:33But, no, seriously, you talked about the concept of live your dash.
12:36Yeah.
12:37I really love that.
12:38And, as editor of that story, I remember having to cut that down.
12:41But, something about it really spoke to me.
12:43Can you explain to us the live your dash?
12:45I mean, I just feel like, you know, you know, you were born in 1987.
12:49You got your dash and you got a question mark.
12:51Whenever you're going to leave this earth and in that middle, in between space, you just
12:56got to live life as, you know, to the fullest as best you can.
13:00And, you know, whether you're making an impact, you know, you're finding yourself, whatever
13:03it is, everybody has their own personal journey.
13:05So, for me, it's always been on, like, self-development, self-improvement.
13:09Constantly trying to grow, evolve through these crazy times, you know, and just doing a lifestyle
13:15that's not that normal.
13:16You know what I'm saying?
13:17There's no blueprint.
13:18There's no road map to, like, you know, the industry, so to speak.
13:22So, for me, it's just always been, like, just focusing on the now.
13:26Trying to, you know, just have no regrets.
13:28All that stuff wrapped up in one.
13:30Yeah.
13:31I love it.
13:32I'm going to give you a Yopro question.
13:33Which one?
13:34A Yopro.
13:35A Yopro?
13:36Okay, what's up?
13:37Talking.
13:38I got it.
13:39I love that you squinted your eyes.
13:40Let's talk, Michael.
13:41What's up?
13:42What's up?
13:43Yeah.
13:44I'm nervous now.
13:45I'm always, you know, we're always asking people in essence.
13:47What inspires you?
13:48What mantras do you live by on a daily basis?
13:52I don't think I have any, like, mantras, so to speak.
13:56But, you know, you wake up, meditate, you know what I'm saying?
14:00Just lay there for a minute.
14:01You meditate, y'all.
14:02You know what I mean?
14:03Take notes.
14:04And that's a work in progress.
14:05You know what I'm saying?
14:06I think, you know, it's like you think about it, but do you actually sit down and do it?
14:10You know?
14:11If I can do two, three times, three times a week, that's winning.
14:15You know, for me, just kind of like sit still and get yourself in order.
14:19I'm a firm believer, like, sending your energy into a room before you actually get there.
14:23So it does the work for you.
14:24So by the time you actually walk into the room, everything's already set.
14:27You know what I mean?
14:28Like, so that's something that I've always kind of done or thought about my parents.
14:32You know what I mean?
14:33Like, you know, growing up in church, you know, a lot of advisors, you know what I'm saying?
14:37People around you takes a village, you know what I'm saying, to raise somebody.
14:40A lot of good people around me that's always kind of giving me the tools to kind of be prepared
14:43and just be protected, like walking around in this, you know what I'm saying, this crazy world
14:47or whatnot.
14:48So for me, I don't have any real mantras, but just try to, you know what I'm saying,
14:51believe in karma, energy, you know what I'm saying, and just be a good person.
14:55I think that's the, at the core.
14:57Yeah.
14:58That's what it's about.
14:59We can tell that you're loyal to your friends, obviously your family, all that.
15:02You have a tight spot.
15:04Who gets you the most?
15:06Like, Michael?
15:07In my squad?
15:08The family?
15:09I mean, my mom.
15:10I mean, my mother's connection is like crazy.
15:12So me and my mom are like super, super tight.
15:15Like I can think about her like hard enough and she'll call me, you know what I'm saying,
15:18or text me or vice versa.
15:19So me and her are like super close.
15:21But, I mean, probably Sterling.
15:25Sterling, like my best friend.
15:26Like he's known me the longest.
15:27I was about 11.
15:28So I think out of my crew, he really knows me.
15:31But then, you know, I got, you know, me and Corey, you know, we're like brothers now
15:35because we spend so much time together, you know, in such a short amount.
15:37Like the last five, six years, like literally constantly being together all the time.
15:41So for me, I have a lot of real deep connections with all my friends and family around me.
15:48So just to answer your question bluntly, like my mom and probably Sterling.
15:53And then a mixture of other people that definitely get me too.
15:56Speaking of your mom, who, and I know you love her.
15:59I mean, we all love our mamas, but you really love your mama.
16:02And I love, as a man, I love to see that you love her and your mama the way you do.
16:06Who else are some of your biggest sheroes?
16:08Um, sheroes.
16:12I'm constantly inspired by like, like women today in general.
16:19You know, I think, um, just the evolution of growth.
16:23You know, the, um, Maxine Waters is somebody that I really dig.
16:30You know what I'm saying?
16:31What she stands for, you know, um, just being a part of that constant conversation.
16:36You know what I'm saying?
16:37Of growth and, um, and, and, and that fight, you know what I'm saying?
16:40I think is, uh, is extremely important to somebody that I kind of look up to.
16:44Um, trying to think, I mean, Oprah, somebody that I've gotten to know over the years,
16:49who's like super dope and that's crazy.
16:51It's like Oprah, you know what I mean?
16:52Like, and she's super important to the, you know what I'm saying?
16:55To the culture and just like, you know, women in general.
16:57So, I mean, my grandmother, I got, I got a lot of strong women in my family
17:02and like in my circle that kind of, you know, that kind of look after me
17:05and stuff like that.
17:06So, I got a, I got a huge appreciation for her.
17:08Your grandma might hit you with a switch.
17:10Of course.
17:11I mean, I used to pick the switch.
17:12You know what I'm saying?
17:13Yeah.
17:14Yeah.
17:15Without a doubt.
17:16I definitely got my ass whipped a lot.
17:17So, like, uh.
17:18You didn't know whether to get the little one?
17:19No, no.
17:20You definitely get the little one at first.
17:21Yeah, for sure.
17:22You definitely get the weakest one.
17:23Yeah, for sure.
17:24Like, out there to get the other one.
17:25Yeah.
17:26Not big enough.
17:27Yeah, exactly.
17:28That is so real.
17:29You know when you talk about growing up in the church,
17:30I was thinking about vacation Bible school.
17:31I don't know if anybody remembers that.
17:33Yeah.
17:34In the summertime.
17:35Nah, I missed that one.
17:36Oh, this is summer camp.
17:37Summer camp.
17:38Yeah, yeah, yeah.
17:39Then you just drop your kids off at the church.
17:40Okay, got it.
17:41And you got Kool-Aid and scriptures.
17:43Y'all know what I'm talking about.
17:44You said you got Kool-Aid and scriptures.
17:46I did.
17:47Did you ever think you'd be this rich?
17:50No.
17:51I'm rich.
17:52Oh, man.
17:53Oh, man.
17:54Oh, man.
17:55But no, seriously.
17:56Did you ever, like, sometimes, you know when you're going through your career and you have
18:00that moment that you're like, oh, shit, I made it.
18:04How many times has that happened to you?
18:06Oh, man.
18:07See, what y'all don't know about me is, like, I'm very, um, up until recently I've always
18:17been like, oh, this can go away.
18:18I've always treated every day, every movie as it were to be my last.
18:22You know what I'm saying?
18:23I never really felt comfortable in, like, in, like, my spot in the industry or just period.
18:28Because everything, like, it's seasonal.
18:30You know what I'm saying?
18:31Like, people come in for moments.
18:32You know what I'm saying?
18:33You're not there.
18:34So I always try to manage my expectations, but at the same time, believe in yourself
18:38as well.
18:39It's a fine balance between not getting too high on your own.
18:43You know what I'm saying?
18:44On your own stuff.
18:45And kind of, like, just keeping yourself level.
18:48So for me, you know, I mean, honestly, moments like this.
18:52People showing up, you know what I mean?
18:53After a night of the party and just to, like, you know what I'm saying?
18:55I had this conversation to, like, listen.
18:56What I got to say is, like, still, like, mind-blowing me sometimes.
18:59on me sometimes, so I appreciate everybody that came out to say, so I'm just, I'm talking.
19:03Good job here.
19:05Michael good joy and appreciate you.
19:07Yeah, real stuff.
19:08Nah, y'all important.
19:10No.
19:11But it's always been, like, a constant, I don't know, I'm always, like, I'm never satisfied.
19:15I'm always, like, you know, trying to, like, level up and, like, grow and what's the next,
19:19like, accomplishment, what's the next goal that I'm trying to knock off my list, so
19:22it's always been a constant grind, so, yeah.
19:26Ron Coogler said that, too, someone asked him that recently, and he said, I approach
19:30each film like it's my last.
19:32Yeah.
19:33And it kind of spoke to the fact that each film of his got bigger and better and better,
19:36so.
19:37Yeah, so it's a, you find ways to kind of, like, leave your imprint so you're never really
19:42dependent on one thing, so, like, the producing, for me, is, like, is a big deal, you know,
19:46like, for me, I was looking up to kind of find my way, you know what I'm saying, to have
19:49my lane, but now I was, like, okay, there's so many other talented people out there that
19:53just don't get a shot, you know, like, why is that?
19:55Because there's not a lot out there, you know what I'm saying, of, like, quality to
19:59really give them a shot at, like, being whatever they want to be, and it's not just in front
20:03of the camera, you know what I mean?
20:04The real decision makers are behind the camera.
20:06That's what really, like, that's how you really change the game, so, for me, it's always
20:09been about getting in a position to control my narrative and everybody else's if I needed
20:14to be, you know?
20:15So, that's kind of how I approach things now.
20:18So, from a production standpoint, it's been just trying to build as much as I can and
20:23give people the lanes to kind of do whatever they want to do.
20:26And we applaud you for your inclusion, right?
20:29Absolutely, yeah, absolutely.
20:30I was also going to say, you know, right now on SANS, we have our happiness issues.
20:34Okay.
20:35Which is all about, right?
20:36Reclaiming our joy.
20:37Who's the cousin?
20:38Janet.
20:39Okay, all right.
20:40Janet.
20:41Janet, the queen.
20:42And I want to know, what makes you happy outside of acting?
20:44Because, you know, that's what we really want to explore.
20:46Sometimes it's the smallest thing.
20:48Food.
20:49Food.
20:50Food.
20:51Food.
20:52Yeah, I love eating.
20:53Food.
20:54Yeah, food for sure.
20:55For me, like, I grew up in the kitchen.
20:56Like, my parents had, like, a home catering business when we grew up.
20:59So, like, I started cooking at a really, really early age.
21:02So, for me, it's like, I'm real comfortable in the kitchen.
21:05I love eating.
21:06It's a universal language.
21:09Yeah.
21:10Confidently.
21:11Confidently.
21:12Confidently.
21:13Yeah, yeah.
21:14I love cooking.
21:15Speaking of food.
21:16That's a word.
21:17This is one of my questions.
21:18Look.
21:19How many of y'all saw Michael B. Jordan eating chicken wings on Hot Wings?
21:23Yeah.
21:24That was out of control.
21:27Oh, man.
21:28What I love, you really tried to man up.
21:30Yeah, I did.
21:31I did.
21:32I'm competitive.
21:33You were looking like, where is the water?
21:34And it was in front of you, be like, I can't.
21:36I can't.
21:37So, after that, Google that, y'all.
21:39So, watch The Land and then go watch Hot Wings with Michael B. Jordan.
21:43It's such a cool concept for an interview because it's an icebreaker off top
21:47and you're not even really focused on, I mean, after a while the wings are so hot.
21:51You're not even really focused on what he has to say.
21:53I'm like, I'm not even here right now.
21:55What?
21:56But you definitely get a lot of honest responses.
22:00You know what I'm saying?
22:01You don't really have a lot of time to, like, process.
22:03Like, okay, what's the politically correct thing to say?
22:04Like, you just spit that shit out.
22:06Yeah.
22:07I love the one with Kevin Hart because he came in all cool with his glasses.
22:10Uh-huh.
22:11And I think by the third wing he had to take the glasses off and he's crying.
22:16And he started doing the same thing you did.
22:18He started looking around like, oh, shit.
22:21Yeah.
22:22You're looking for help.
22:23That's why.
22:24You know what I'm thinking?
22:25You're in a picture black room but you know all your reps and everybody else is sitting
22:28behind the camera and they're just sitting there just watching you sweat.
22:31And ain't nobody going, yeah, can't nobody help you.
22:34You're out there by yourself.
22:35So, yeah.
22:36So, my question is, what will you never eat on camera?
22:40Again.
22:41Never eat on camera?
22:43I don't know, man.
22:45See, I'm a fat boy.
22:46I love food.
22:47So, it's like, I don't think there's anything I won't eat on camera.
22:50I mean, anything on Fear Factor.
22:52I ain't messing with it.
22:53You know what I'm saying?
22:54Nothing, nothing.
22:55Nothing super crazy.
22:56But for the most part, I mean, I'm dyna.
22:58I'm pretty comfortable in front of the camera.
22:59So, it's whatever.
23:00So, are you with us?
23:01You come to New Orleans and your stomach leads your steps?
23:02Yes.
23:03Like, you know exactly where you're going to eat?
23:04Not so much here.
23:05Here we go.
23:06Went to.
23:07Oh.
23:08Is that somebody?
23:09Oh.
23:10As long as somebody ain't faint, we good.
23:11I think we went to Jeans.
23:12Yeah, Jeans.
23:13Jeans?
23:14Yeah, we went to Jeans, like, this morning.
23:17Which is pretty good.
23:18It was cool.
23:19It was cool.
23:20You know what I mean?
23:22It was all right.
23:23Nah, I don't think I went to the right spot.
23:25I don't think I went to the right spot.
23:27You know what I'm saying?
23:28But, shrimp po' boy, fried oyster po' boy, that's like my staple.
23:32So, I need to find a good spot to go to, actually.
23:34Wait, I have a question for your trainer.
23:36Seriously, does bread really hurt you?
23:39Come on, Cory, give me the tea.
23:42It all depends.
23:44I think Cory needs a microphone.
23:46Yeah.
23:47Get Cory a mic.
23:48Cory is a trainer.
23:49Cory's fine.
23:50I know that.
23:51Wait, what did she say?
23:52She said Cory is fine.
23:53I think you can admire a man.
23:54It doesn't mean anything.
23:55Cory's fine.
23:56Absolutely.
23:57You're married, not fine.
23:58I mean fine.
24:00But Cory, we all, like we were saying earlier, women love his abs, too.
24:06Can we take a little bit about how to get our man's abs in order?
24:10Come on up here.
24:11We can give you the microphone.
24:12Please give him the mic.
24:13And say your full name.
24:14We want to know.
24:15Come on up on stage, Colt.
24:16Don't be shy now.
24:17Come on.
24:18Come on up here.
24:19Come on.
24:20Come on.
24:21Come on.
24:22Come on up here.
24:23You guys are working on that.
24:24We ain't sharing no sito.
24:25Yeah, yeah.
24:26So we can follow.
24:27Don't be shy.
24:28That's what people call me.
24:29We need to know.
24:30We need answers.
24:31The mic is hanging on me.
24:34Oh, there you go.
24:35There you go.
24:36Nah, I'm Cory Calle.
24:37I trained.
24:38I created this.
24:39Right.
24:40We did it.
24:41So.
24:43Can we have questions?
24:45We can thank you.
24:47Where should we get to work?
24:50Nah, but seriously.
24:51Seriously.
24:52Seriously.
24:53I mean, first of all, you have to work out.
24:55How many people work out?
24:56How many people actually work out?
24:58How many people really work out?
25:00This is my habit.
25:01Nah, honestly, man, I tell everybody all the time, you know, we work out?
25:07Are we done?
25:08All right, cool.
25:09Nah, seriously though, you know, adapting to a healthy lifestyle.
25:13Eating healthy, you know, a workout regimen.
25:16Just making healthy choices.
25:17Living in New Orleans is really hard.
25:20I mean, I had to move away.
25:23You know what I'm saying?
25:24I'm here every year.
25:25Got it, got it.
25:26But, I mean, if you make healthy choices and you work out consistently, it's not hard.
25:30You know what I'm saying?
25:31You have to really control yourself.
25:32In order that, you know what?
25:33We can get in shape.
25:34You can eat right.
25:35You know, working out.
25:36Cardio.
25:37Whatever you choose to do, but don't do something when you're going to quit.
25:40That's the main thing.
25:41If people try to start working out and want to do CrossFit and do these crazy things that run your way.
25:46Do something that you're going to like and enjoy.
25:48My biggest thing is, you know, having fun and fitness.
25:50Have fun and fitness, and I guarantee you, you will get a body you want, you will live healthier, and you will feel good.
25:56And you can still eat a cheat meal.
25:57You can still get a cheat meal.
25:58Yeah, you get a cheat meal.
25:59It's cool.
26:00You get a cheat day.
26:01He's a real fat boy.
26:02Yeah, yeah, yeah.
26:03I didn't get to get my summer body together, but I'm working on my winter body.
26:06You know how they say summer body start in the winter?
26:08So I'm working on the winter body.
26:09Come see me.
26:10I'll get you.
26:11I'm a transformer.
26:12I got a legit question, though.
26:13What's up?
26:14We're in New Orleans.
26:15That was legit?
26:16I know.
26:17I know.
26:18But I'm thinking, you know what I mean?
26:19Because I'm so hungry right now.
26:20I'm so hungry right now, and my cousin got some hush puppies for me.
26:23Where they at?
26:24But seriously, the bread.
26:26My cousin right there.
26:27The bread.
26:28Seriously, tell me about the bread.
26:29Can I have?
26:30I love a bagel.
26:31So this is my thing about bread.
26:32Tell me.
26:33All right.
26:34You know we grew up on bunny bread in New Orleans.
26:36You know what I'm saying?
26:37Y'all know about that.
26:38What's bunny bread?
26:39I have no idea what that is.
26:40It's bunny bread.
26:41Everybody from New Orleans know what bunny bread is.
26:43If the one is bread and all that.
26:44Corn bread?
26:45No, it's regular bread.
26:46It's regular white bread.
26:47Regular white bread.
26:48Okay.
26:49White bread, run from it.
26:50All right?
26:51Stay away from it.
26:52Too much starch.
26:53Stay away from that, Rice.
26:54I mean, you can have carbohydrates sometimes.
26:55You got to know when to eat them.
26:57Carbohydrates are used to help you be few.
26:59It makes the metabolism speed up.
27:01It's not for 3 o'clock in the morning after coming from a club, you're going to get a
27:05sandwich because you'd be hungry.
27:07That's what we wanted to do.
27:08So that's when you got to fight it.
27:11Text me when you're about to do it.
27:12Just text me.
27:13And I'm going to send you some crazy stuff back.
27:15Like, sit your ass down.
27:17Yeah, he's been known to slap food out your hand a couple times.
27:21He gets you ready fast, right?
27:22Like, y'all, do you call him, like, all right, I got this role and work?
27:26No, we always together.
27:27Yeah, I mean, we pretty much kind of, like, got the year mapped out for the most part.
27:31There's, like, films, like, here and there that, like, right now I'm coming down a little
27:35bit just so I can, like, play Brian because he wasn't, like, crazy ripped or whatever.
27:40No disrespect, Brian.
27:41So I'll get whenever he sees this.
27:43So I'm trying to, like, I got to come down a little bit.
27:47But then for my project right after that, I got to kind of, like, start working out again.
27:50So I'll get back on the regiment and start getting a little bit bigger.
27:53Appreciate it.
27:54Corey gives you one cheat day?
27:55Just one?
27:56Yeah, just one cheat meal.
27:57I mean, we gradually.
27:58Shut up.
27:59We lie.
28:00All right.
28:01Let's see what happens.
28:02We gradually.
28:03He lies.
28:04He's lying.
28:05Gradually.
28:06When I leave, somebody will sneak him something.
28:09And then the next day I'll be like this.
28:11What is that?
28:14No, honestly, it's like one thing about him is like.
28:17Hello?
28:18Like what?
28:19All right.
28:20Cool.
28:21There is no.
28:22We have a routine, but it constantly evolves depending on, like, how your body's changing.
28:26You know what I'm saying?
28:27How much time do we have?
28:28Like, what scene are we getting ready to do, like, next week?
28:30It's like we're always, like, planning out.
28:32Because, like, being on camera and being, like, ripped the entire time is extremely hard.
28:36So you have to kind of, like, pace out when you're going to actually, like, you know, cut the water.
28:40You know what I'm saying?
28:41Like, cut the salt.
28:42Cut the sugar.
28:43You have to put water?
28:44Yeah.
28:45Yeah, yeah.
28:46So, like, when you see stuff on screen, it's like, it looks super crazy.
28:49But you do need water to live.
28:50You don't need that much.
28:51But it's one of those things where, like, it's really hard to walk around like that 24-7.
28:56It's really, really tough.
28:57So you've got to, like, pick and choose your moments when you're going to look amazing.
29:00Like, for the cover shoot, it's like, okay, cool.
29:02I know I've got this cover shoot lens.
29:03All right.
29:04So I'm going to stop eating this.
29:05I'm going to stop eating that.
29:06And then, you know what I'm saying?
29:07We do the shoot.
29:08And then I'll get back on a more still strict diet, but not as crazy.
29:13So.
29:14Another question about being in New Orleans.
29:16You know, New Orleans loves a cocktail.
29:18Right.
29:19Red, cocktails, all of it.
29:22What can we drink?
29:23What's best to drink?
29:25Empty calories.
29:26Even I know that.
29:27All right.
29:28So I do drink.
29:29I do drink.
29:30I do.
29:31I mean, I got drunk last night.
29:33It's all right.
29:36I drink tequila.
29:38Tequila, vodka, water, you know.
29:41Tequila.
29:42Tequila.
29:43Keep it clear, you know.
29:44Less sugar.
29:45You're down, you know.
29:47I mean, I think.
29:48I'm sorry.
29:49Don't text me.
29:50Never mind.
29:52I don't want to be friends.
29:54I mean, alcohol, I mean, you got to drink socially.
29:56So it's like, it's that question like, you know, I'm going to drink.
30:01Stay hydrated.
30:02So you have a drink, have some water.
30:04Have a drink, have some water.
30:05There you go.
30:06And drink some water.
30:07How often, like how long are you two working out for a day?
30:11Like how many hours?
30:12It all depends on the schedule.
30:15Wow.
30:16So sometimes it's long.
30:17Like sometimes it's two hours.
30:19Sometimes it's like a couple times a day.
30:21We like, we live down the street from each other.
30:23So.
30:24That's the best day for real.
30:25Yeah.
30:26We all the same neighborhood.
30:27He took me out the hood.
30:28Aww.
30:29I love that.
30:30But, uh, yeah.
30:32I love that girl.
30:33Wait, I got one more question before you go.
30:39Sorry?
30:40Okay.
30:41You need a training session.
30:42Let's do it.
30:43It's not for me.
30:44I'm going to make everybody get up.
30:45But I'm going to, how do men get that, you know, that cut, that face?
30:50He likes to call it the deep V.
30:51The deep V.
30:52I don't know if that's a thing.
30:53What is it?
30:54It's D'Angelo.
30:55It's very nice.
30:56First of all, you know, it's true.
30:58The D'Angelo.
30:59How does it feel?
31:00He going to remake that video.
31:03We're going to make it do that.
31:04That moves to me.
31:05That's great.
31:06Exactly.
31:07Appreciate it.
31:08Abs are really made in the kitchen.
31:10Yeah.
31:11So, everybody who thinks you can do a hundred thousand sit-ups and crunches and run, that's
31:16not going to get it.
31:18We thought that too.
31:19He thought that too.
31:20I did.
31:21Really?
31:22Yeah.
31:23I mean, at first, when you don't know, it's like, all right, cool.
31:24I'm just going to do a few sit-ups and I'll run and I'll be good.
31:27It's the kitchen.
31:28It's the diet.
31:29Yeah.
31:30Because once you start eating right and working out at the same time, the difference
31:35is like night and day.
31:38But leg raises, to answer your question, doing leg raises.
31:40Okay.
31:41You know, that's going to get it.
31:42So, if you start doing leg raises and a good, well-balanced diet, I mean, you could
31:46get it.
31:47Or you could just hire me.
31:48I don't think you're talking about her.
31:49We're not talking about her.
31:50We're not talking about her.
31:51We're going to pass it on.
31:52We're going to pass it on.
31:53You're going to pass it on?
31:54Yeah.
31:55Okay.
31:56When I'm going away, you keep looking at my midsection.
31:57Listen, listen.
31:58I'm a trainer first.
32:00So, I'm looking.
32:01You ask, I'm like, okay, what you want me to do?
32:03Well, thank you.
32:04Thank you so much.
32:05You need this more than we do it.
32:06No, is it?
32:07Yeah.
32:08Yeah, yeah, yeah.
32:09Michael, I have a really, really serious question.
32:10Because, you know, we had a lot of job applications, you know, for a baby oil lady.
32:25So, when do we file the applications?
32:28You can send it to any one of these gentlemen right here.
32:31Corey, Kay, Royce in the back.
32:33You can send them back there.
32:35Say hi, Royce.
32:36Does anybody remember what he, you started it.
32:38You know you started it.
32:39No, I know, man.
32:40It was like, because sometimes like the captions, like, you know, for y'all who don't know,
32:44all right, sometimes they send you, you know, the cover and they're like, all right, this is the preferred caption.
32:48I'm like, I don't even sound like me.
32:49So, you got to kind of like change it up a little bit.
32:51So, I want to do something a little fun because, like, the picture is so, like.
32:55Meanwhile, you invented a new job.
32:56I know.
32:57People were like, that is what I want to be in, like, Michael B. Jordan's baby oil.
33:01For my next, like, shirtless cover shoot, I'll probably, like, put out a competition or something like that.
33:08I don't know why not.
33:09On the internet?
33:10With a fan or something like that?
33:11I'll probably do that on Twitter or something.
33:13I mean, we're so proud of you, Michael.
33:15We are, Ron.
33:16We've watched.
33:18Yeah, I'm really proud of you.
33:20Thank y'all.
33:21And I want to really quickly, I really do mean it.
33:24When all that noise came out about the inclusion and you stood up.
33:27Yeah.
33:28And said, not with, not here.
33:30Yeah.
33:31Not with my company.
33:32Not with Outlier.
33:33We do applaud you for that.
33:34Appreciate it.
33:38I mean, it's one of those things, like, to everybody else, it's like a thing.
33:40But that was something that I would do without thinking anyway.
33:43Like, you know, for people of color, you know what I'm saying?
33:46We don't think about, I mean, it's, we're naturally, we're naturally thinking about inclusion.
33:52Yeah.
33:53You know what I'm saying?
33:54Because we're always from the outside, you know, looking in most of the time.
33:56So, when you get your own company, it's like, yeah, of course I'm gonna have, like, women,
34:00people with disabilities and, you know, gays or whoever.
34:03It's like, whoever's the best person for the job and creating opportunities for everybody
34:07is something that we do on a daily.
34:08So, that's...
34:09And talk a little bit about the head of your production company.
34:11Oh, Alana Mayo.
34:12She's, uh, she's amazing.
34:14Um, she's, uh, Lena Waithe is her wife now.
34:18So, yeah, that's amazing.
34:19Um, what?
34:20I think you're engaged.
34:21Engaged?
34:22Yeah.
34:23Oh, sorry.
34:24Yeah, yeah, yeah.
34:25No, no, no.
34:26Sorry.
34:27I...
34:28Yeah.
34:29Engaged.
34:30Yeah.
34:31Um, no, she's amazing.
34:33She's super smart.
34:34You know, she was, uh, had to fight off a lot of companies, a lot, a lot of companies
34:38to get her.
34:39And, um, she's just young.
34:40She's smart.
34:41You know, she's, uh, really creative.
34:42And she gets my taste.
34:43You know?
34:44So, like, when I'm off working and I'm not able to kind of, like, keep my eye on everything,
34:47she's making sure the ship's running, you know what I'm saying, running smoothly and,
34:50uh, developing projects.
34:51And we got a big year coming up, uh, from the production side.
34:54So, TV and film.
34:56I got a show over on Netflix called Raising Dion that I'm producing.
34:59That's, uh, pretty cool.
35:00It's gonna be good.
35:01I think you guys are really gonna enjoy that one.
35:03Um, and I got another show with Terrell McCraney called David Makes Man, uh, over on
35:08network with, uh, with Oprah.
35:09So, that's another one that's gonna be pretty cool.
35:11Uh, yeah.
35:12And a couple films, a couple movies coming out.
35:14So, it's gonna be good.
35:15Critical work, as Susan Taylor likes to say.
35:17Yes.
35:18Yeah.
35:19Doing the critical work.
35:20Love it.
35:21Yeah, it's all good stuff, so.
35:22Yeah.
35:23Thank you so much.
35:24Thank you for having me.
35:26Appreciate you guys.
35:27Yup, no problem.
35:28That's me.
35:29No problem.
35:30No problem.
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