In this engaging conversation, the Mike Hill and Ephraim Salaam are joined by actor Jordan L. Jones. They discuss the journey of navigating different worlds, particularly in the context of acting and personal growth.
They delve into Jordan's audition process for Bel-air, the reboot of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They explore the challenges and surprises Jordan faced as he took on the role of Jazz. The discussion also touches on character development, audience reception, and the ethical dilemmas presented in relationships, providing a reflective perspective on the complexities of life and art.
Mike reflects on the complexities of relationships in the entertainment industry. The group discusses personal growth through challenging environments, and the importance of staying true to oneself. Jordan and Ephraim share experiences from their upbringing in Englewood, California.
The guys speak on the challenges of code-switching in different social settings. The discussion also highlights the significance of respect for all roles in the industry and the joy of working with good people, emphasizing that true success comes from passion and authenticity.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Y'all.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the reflection collective father for us, a connected, reflective, real,
live perspective, perspective, defensive sh shat no captain's big facts
of kick back.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Here for stunning there ben, Hey, welcome back. I'm your host,
Ephraim Salim and this is done. There been that, And
of course I got my main man, my partner in crime,
my brother Mike Hill.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
What was happening? What was happening?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Thank you for subscribing, Thank you for watching, or please
continue to hit that notification button. We appreciate all the
love and support that you've given us so far. I
wanted to talk today about navigating different worlds. Okay, we
both come from humble beginnings and whatnot, and we've been
able to navigate in different worlds outside of the norm,
outside of our hoods, whatever, and how we've been able
to do that. We want to pass along some of
(00:48):
the lessons because we got a special guest in the
house who's actually kind of done that.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Yeah, done that.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
He's a dope young man, tremendous, tremendous at his aft
as an actor, a Thesbian thespian, and that's Jordan Jones,
Jordan my man.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Yes, I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Now, for those of you who don't know what you've
been doing.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
If you don't know, Jordan has taken on the Jazz
role and the reboot of the Fresh Prince of bel
Air just called bel Air.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yes, yes, all right, and.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yes, phenomenal show or not just because we're a part
of it. I'm one of the writers on it. But
but Jordan has taken a character that was a novelty, right,
a little punchline, and added such depth to it. And
(01:49):
tell me about the beginning of this process for you, right,
like when you when you heard about the show and
you went out for an audition.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Well, you know, I've told this story so many times, man,
it feels like unreal. But actually, when I first got
the audition, I remember I was, I was in Englewood,
and I actually turned it down. I turned the audition
down because Fresh Prince it's one of my favorite shows
still all the time, and because you know, as actors,
sometimes we get the character breakdown, sometimes we don't get
(02:20):
the script. And so my ages and managers call me like, yo,
we have audition for you to be the new Jazz
and the new Freshman's Bell a reboot and I was
like like, fuck no, like I'm not going just because
of the you know, just the stereotype and kind of
stipulation of reboots. It's like, you know, they don't work,
(02:42):
not like that, you know, And that's just the truth usually,
and people just always have these preconceived notions so they
don't give it a chance. Regardless. I know that it's
a sitcom Will Smith. I still watch Fresh Prints all
the time, you know, at the time. Now I kind
of tone it down a little bit. I watched it
every night to go to sleep that in Martin, and
(03:03):
it was just like, I don't want to if this
is a sitcom, that show is still relevant Will Smith
is you know, you can't even find another Will Smith.
It's just why are they even doing this? And so
I told people like, nah, I'm not gonna do it.
And the weird part about it is usually when you
talk to your reps about like an audition, you guys
(03:24):
can go back and forth that day like I want
you to do it, okay, whatever I'm not doing Okay, fine,
I'll do it. But that is that day. Once you
guys hang up that phone, like they don't ask you
about it again. Dude, The next day, they called me
back and my manager was like, dude, I can't let
you pass up unless audition. I'm gonna give you a script.
So I was like, okay, like fine. I told my
mom about it. She was like, you'd be a great jazz.
(03:45):
I'm like, yeah, that sounds great. That sounds great, but
like whatever. I read the script and I'm like, okay,
this is different. This is different. And they sent me
a link to Morgan's like twenty nineteen Kailer. I had
completely forgot about that. I saw that and it was like, Yo,
this is dope, but then like forgot about it, didn't
know that I was correlated at all. And when I
(04:06):
saw that clip, I was like, oh my god, wait,
this is what I saw years ago, you know what,
Like I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. So
fast forward. I do the audition and what I do
with auditions because as an actor, this is like the
profession of no. So it's like if you sit there
and do one audition when you know they audition five
hundred and six hundred people or whatever the number is,
(04:27):
and you're just holding on to it like that, it's
just not healthy. So I did the audition left, I
went to Atlanta and then my reps called me. They
were like, yo, you got a callback, but like chemistry,
and I'm like, oh, and I could have done it
there on my iPad, son, I need to fly back.
So I flew back that night and I went and
I did the audition. It was a chemistry with Jabbari
and Morgan. And the funniest thing about this is that
(04:50):
I do the first scene and Morgan is like, okay, cool.
At first, I'm talking with Jabbari just bantered like congratulations
because he made that whole video about how he got
the wrong So I'm doing it hi him like in
grass Bro like he was cool, and we're doing. The
audition was two scenes. And did the first scene and
(05:10):
then Morgan's like, okay, cool, next scene, And right there
in my brain I was like I didn't get it,
Like I didn't get it because I I had already
done another show before and the director made me do
it over and over and over and over again. At
that time, I thought I didn't get it because I'm like,
he making me do it over again, that means I'm
not doing it right. So he ended up telling me, oh,
we do that to make sure you can take direction
all this stuff. Yeah, you goat like you're coachable. I'm like, okay,
(05:32):
so now I think I get it. Everybody has their
different method of madness. And so I do the second
scene and he's like, okay, great Jordan, and I'm like, okay, well,
thank you guys for having me. And you know whoopy
woop hung up the hung up the zoom. Call my
mom immediate Mom, I didn't get the row. What happened?
You messed up? Like, oh my god, son, what you do?
I'm like, I just no, I didn't get it there
(05:54):
and asked me nothing. I get a call the next
day that I got pinned for. So I'm like, oh wow,
this is crazy. I had to wait a whole weekend.
And so now after you do the chemistry reading stuff,
now I'm attached to it. I'm like, man, no, I'm
jazz right, and I think it was a Jewish holiday
on Monday there was like Ramadan or something, and so
(06:14):
like there was no answer till like.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
Tuesday, you're in front of me something I think.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
On the show.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
Yeah, my FA was crazy lucky.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
What are you doing? We've had these conversas.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
Yeah, you're in front of me, You're talking to Jordan's
So I had to wait till like Tuesday, and I
finally like get the role. It was crazy. I was
like crying. It was crazy. And so we shoot the
first uh scene and then we have me and have
lunch from Morgan. It's Morgan is like, yo, so how'd
(07:01):
you feel like when you got it? And I was like, well,
I didn't think I fucking got it at all. I
thought I was. I thought I was like done for
you didn't ask me nothing, and he goes, He goes, Dude,
right when you came on the screen, I just knew
it was you, so we'dn't have to waste more time.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
And that just made me, you know, realize that everybody
is different. You just go in and you do the
best that you can. Don't assume anything, you know, because
my mama said, when you assume, you make an ass
out of you and me. So it's like I'm thinking, like, oh, man,
like I didn't get it, and I look stupid because
I actually got it right then, and I'm thinking, all
I didn't get it. I was in my head for
a whole day. It was crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
That made it so much better man. You know, I
got to give you a pross man.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Because this adaptation of Jazz is so much different than
the original.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Obviously, it's not punchline. You got depth.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
It's a character that you root for, somebody that's a
deep brother, man, and you and you have it down,
pat Man. The fact that you didn't think you was
gonna get it and got it, that's a blessing in itself.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Man, Well, let me before you finished, let me ask
you this, are you team Jazz or team the market?
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I'm definitely I'm definitely team Jazz. Never't like that, dude,
you know the big.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Question, you know, because here's the thing. I feel like,
I feel like I'm more Jazz than you're. You're the athlete,
the guy that comes in always gets the girls.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah, you're the Marcus. We're the athlete that comes in
and gets the girl.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Because she's saying it and bro, So you got to
watch if you haven't seen bell there, you got to
watch it because there is a situation that's going on
that's like this little triangle that's happening right now between you, uh,
Hillary and in the markets whatnot. But to my point, man,
I was talking about like when did you know, Like,
because you talked about at first you didn't even want
the part, then you get the part, you're invested in
(08:41):
the part.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
When did you know you guys had a hit on
your hand? And when did you know that?
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Man, this jazz is a huge part of this show
and not just like I said, a throwaway punchline.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
Man, so kind of too answer to your question, I
knew that we were going to have a hit when
the first trailer came out, because of course we're shooting it,
and a lot of people don't know that, like just
cause I'm shooting it, I ain't seen it like right
now seeing these episodes first time. So even though we're
shooting it, yeah I'm in that scene, I don't see
how it looked. Look Like we've done so many takes.
(09:12):
I don't see which take they're going to use. How
did a funny take out of the serious one? I
don't know actually how it's gonna, you know, pan out,
so as kind of like little things pop out, like okay,
a new series, beiler are coming this whatever, no trailer
come out? You know you see the comments all this
bull like, yeah, I gotta like, man, I ain't watching
this shit ye all type of stuff, and I was like,
I ain't seen it either, Like you know, I believed
(09:33):
in us. I know that we're doing good work, but
I haven't. You have to visually, you know, see it.
And when we saw that first episode and they brought
us in before I think we were shooting like episode
six or something. In the shoot watch episode one, and
like some of us was in tears, and just because
I was a part of something, I was like, this
is fucking good, Like this is actually really good. And
(09:55):
the day we dropped that trailer through my phone went insane,
like friends, family, bro.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
I didn't know it was gonna be there.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
I got insane, like just that new show.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I'm like, yeah, what what I'm going now?
Speaker 5 (10:22):
But I think to the second party that question, Man,
I just really I really credit the writers. How I
knew that, Like I was really in stride. It's like
one of the things that like, you know, I'm just
so grateful for Like I knew that when I got
the role of Jazz, that Jazz was there's no like
real order because we're all important, but like being realistic,
like the show is about Will Smith, right and can
(10:44):
the show is about really like Will Smith and Carlton
and then then after that, like the show is about
Will Smith and Carlton, but like the Banks family as
a whole. And I knew what jazz was, so I'm like, good,
I can come in and like do my thing. People
will love me. That's great, you know, but I didn't
expect the reception that I would get about you know,
through the first three episodes, I'm seeing people like where's jazz,
(11:05):
like ja jazz, and I'm like, really, like, I'm just
really just doing my job, and you know, E recognized that.
The writers recognize that. So I'm seeing slowly but surely.
I'm like, oh, I'm getting I'm getting more lines. I'm
doing like you know what I'm saying. I'm in depth,
like you know, like we're really having real deep, deep scenes.
And I didn't ask I didn't ask for that at all,
like you know. So I think that that helped me
(11:27):
kind of get into my character, because it's not like
I'm just like, y'all pop up when Will is there
and just like yo, what's good man? Give some advice
and pop out.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Now.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
It's like and I think that is why in season two,
me and he had a conversation because you know, now
I'm starting to make certain choices that I'm like, man,
I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't do that, Like come on,
I like, how am I declared my car declined at
dinner in season two and I bring up LaMarcus Like
me as a human, I would never do that. Like
if I feel insecure about somebody, I'm not gonna tell
(11:57):
my girl that. I might tell my friends my mom,
but in front of her and I'm like, how y'all
gonna have me saying like, yo, if it was the market,
you she woulda let him try again. I'm like, man,
that is not what I would do. And they were like, exactly,
that's not you. You're Jazz, And I was like, oh
my god, you're right. I was like, oh wait, you're right,
this isn't me. And so just honing into that and
(12:19):
just accepting that has made me so much more like
appreciative of the script because then when I see other stuff,
I'm like, oh, that's why I did that. I didn't
see that was coming, but that's exactly why I did that.
And now this makes more sense because I did that.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It happened. So Jordan has always been inquisitive Okay, not
as much.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
As I'm about to say.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Ali plays our calty. Thanks.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
He will sneak into the writers to see what's up
on the board, to see what's going on, and to
be like what you doing? And I tell you a secret.
We knew he was coming in one day, right. We
weren't gonna let him get all the way into the
writer's room. But I wrote on the board so he
can see from the hallway. Episode six, Carlton ods.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
So as we're out.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
There laughing and talking and hobnob and I see him
look and then he's just like yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
And he was just like wait what.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
And I was like, see, stop being stop being in
people's business. But Jordan would come just like in season
two this year in season three he was like, yo,
for those who haven't seen seen it, I'm not going
to ruin it. But as a hospital involved, and he
was like, well, I wouldn't do that, Like why would
(13:46):
I do that? And I said, hey, man, look let
me tell you something. Man, come on over here, let me.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Let me talk to you.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
Man.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
You got to understand what we're doing here. We're telling
the story, and a story can't be told in one scene,
not when You're an important part of the sum of
the season, right.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
The show our jazz character.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
And the reason, going back to what you said earlier,
was like first three episodes, everybody said, whe's jazz?
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Where's jazz?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
What we do as writers and as producers for any
young up and coming actors out there, who are you know,
guest starring on the show or whatever, that is when
we turn the cameras on and we start shooting these
scenes and doing these takes, and we're looking and I'm like, oh,
(14:42):
oh no, he's got it.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
He's got it. This is it.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
And so we go back and we talk about it. Oh,
we got to do more, We got to do more. Okay,
So how okay, how can we build this out?
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (14:57):
How our cast is so dynamic and so great it's
hard to stand out.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
It is everybody standing out.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
But you have always been one of those characters to embrace,
right the role. You put some swaggers, some flare to it, right,
and and it just brought a different type of energy
that people saw from the original.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
What you have to hone in.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
That's why it's grown, and that's why it's like your's
your world out there.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
You know what I mean, everybody plays a great part.
Everybody's a great job. Man, it's a great ensemble cast.
Not to give things away, so I'm not going to
give away. So if you have not seen and y'all
tripping season three yet, he has like just in the
original episode, he has a theme for Hillary and Hillary
and Jazz and kind of go back and forth whatever whatnot.
(15:53):
I'm not going to give it away. But in season three,
you had a line episode two. I think I just
watched the episode. It was an episode two at the
end where he said something like you're gonna run away
from that. That was episode that blew me a while, Like.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Yeah, that was right there.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
So there's a scenario. There is.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
And once again, if you haven't seen it, please just
turn turn away the podcast, go back and see it.
So here's the thing. So you get with Hillary, you've
been with Hillary, you go back and forth. LaMarcus is
her ex boyfriend who comes back in her life. He's
the star football player and now they're about to get
married or got engaged whatever. And so after they got engaged,
(16:40):
I think it's episode three. You you guys have a kiss, right,
this is after.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
It was actually the first episode coming back that's when.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
She gets engaged or have an argument.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Because I told her about herself and she was.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Like, you did tell her off?
Speaker 5 (16:54):
Man, Yeah, tell everybody right now? So then y'all kiss second.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
So so so with all that being said, this is
the done.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
There have been that podcast where we talk about scenarios
that we've all been in since you know this was
you know, fiction was written.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
By e all those guys.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
There's a situation where you and Hillary kiss after she's
engaged whatever. Now there's a dilemma after episode three whether
she should tell her fiance or not. If you were
in that situation and you had a fiance and your
ex comes up and you guys embracing kiss, how would.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
You handle it? Oh?
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Like would I tell her?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah? Would you tell?
Speaker 5 (17:35):
Actually? It's crazy. I think the best part is, like
I say, even though we read each script, you know,
at the end, I kind of forget like half the stuff.
So I'm watching I was actually last night I was watching
five and six. I'm looking at like, oh my god,
this is crazy.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I haven't even seen.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Nuts, Like I never because I haven't seen it before
and I.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Forgot because even in that sage on vivis kind of
going back and forth with dilemma.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Obviously Uncle Phil kissed an X of his Ye. So
you you guys want to know. You guys want to
know what you guys are referring to. Well, that's called excellence.
That is paralleling story.
Speaker 7 (18:16):
Yes, okay, that's the key too, Right, there's no siloed stories.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Right, How many relationships you'll up?
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I'm I want to because people are about all these
these discussions that.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Were conversation.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Uh Viv and Uncle Phil had in episode five the
reason that's episode I wrote, by the way, So if
you don't watch any of them, watch that one. That's
a conversation I want couples to watch and then talk about.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Right, has that ever happened to you? Have you been
attracted to somebody?
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Like?
Speaker 3 (18:59):
I want to open up dialogue because that's rue. These
are conversations my wife and I have had, Right, These
are real conversations that couples need to be comfortable having.
So you said it ain't no way in hell I was.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
I was actually watching it like brand new. I'm so
right now in the I'm on episode see right now,
So mad Ashley act, I tell you, I'm like state mono,
Damn every she is, so she is really gritty this season.
I love it him she is, That's what I love her.
But she's like, basically, you know whatever, I actually don't
(19:36):
care if you ain't seen it your faults. Hillary is
like Hillary is like Ashley like one. She's like, well,
if you tell him, I'm not gonna tell him. I'm
like your sister, I'll kill you and my little sister.
It's like, Okay, I didn't mean anything if it truly
like you know, if it truly didn't mean anything or whatever.
It was just something that kind of happened in the
moment nobody saw like I don't have to tell him.
(19:58):
You know what I'm saying, I don't have to tell
if it don't mean nothing. And now she's like, well,
you need to go tell him, and it's like, no,
I don't. And she's like, well, I'm gonna tell him
if you don't, like, I'll strangle you watching it, Like
what are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Actually watch as a few Even.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
Though I'm jazz, I'm like, do not tell that. Do
not tell Themarcus what Wow?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
That is great?
Speaker 3 (20:24):
So like we get he said he tell by the
way he would tell this wife. So I've been with
my wife twenty one years. We've been married eighteen. The
thing I know that you don't know yet is things
somehow always come.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Out watch right.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
So I know is if I'm the Uncle Phil in
the situation and Erica kisses me and this is an
ex girlfriend of mine, we're working together. The number one
thing I'm gonna do me personally is be like, hey,
that's not it, and we can't.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Work together anymore.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Then I'm going directly home and being like, yo, I
need to talk to you and explain the situation, but
then follow that up with and we are no longer
working together.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
So my vision about it, it happened.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
I've done the work to six a situation because if
you hold on like.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Uncle Phil did, it's coming back. It's gone.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Yeah, and it's gonna be worse if she gets it
from somebody else.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
You don't know that yet.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
But the thing is, the situation with Uncle Phil and
them is a little different than Jackson Hillary. It is
they haven't been through I don't west with you together.
She would really never find out. That is kind of
conflict ofdventures because it's like, we literally work together, So
it's gonna look like I've been cheating, really sleeping with
this late nights.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
It's gonna we we are we in here fucking and
how much? How much are you not telling? And that's
the next question because she's probably had questions before. And
also what you're forgetting about? And I know about this stories.
I love this, this, this, this, this, this series. He
needed her at that particular time because he was starting
something new. You needed that business at that particular time,
(22:15):
so he was kind of in that conflict.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
This is money. I know he made a lot of
money before.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
He was happy wife, happy life, get everything. I'm saying
I'd rather not my ass.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Look at home.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
It's because she she's going to be like, okay, you're
telling me this, what else happened?
Speaker 1 (22:31):
And plus they had a pass it happened. What is if?
TV is not good unless it's messages? All right? And
we we have messy, we have excellence, we.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Have it all. But I want to talk about you.
All right, where'd you grow up?
Speaker 5 (22:53):
I grew up in Inglewood Conference.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Inglewood, Woo woo. I grew up in six diff in
West Boulevard. All right, I want to buy Long Elementary.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
Oh okay, all.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Right, ya you call somebody grow up? In that part. Okay, okay,
it's like instant, right, but.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
You got a chance to step out of that, right,
go to private school, change your environment.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Right? What was that?
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Like? Uh?
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Man?
Speaker 5 (23:28):
That was funny because I realized a lot of a
lot of black stuff I was doing, like wasn't cool
white people. So, like, you know, you know, growing up
with a single mother. My mom's one of the strongest
people that I know for real, And one of the
things she taught me is like, you know, you always
can adapt to certain things, but don't you ever change
for nobody. So now I'm going from a public school
(23:50):
that is all black people. I have one white homie
in my class named Philip. It was like two hundred
of us, it was one white dude named Philip, and
then switching now it's like me my homiek to this
day and homie Jeffrey Brash. That was like literally the
only three people that are that were like black in
the whole class. Right. So there was certain stuff that
like you know, public school can't get away with, like anything,
(24:11):
you know, like throwing stuff or whatever. Settle down instead
of like, oh now you're in trouble, go see the principal.
There was one time I got in trouble. My mom
gonna hate I tell this story. But one time I
got in trouble because me and the homie were talking
about kind of bragging about, like but what's the worst
whooping that you got? And so I'm like, what, like,
hold on, man, what time whoop?
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Me?
Speaker 5 (24:32):
And man? I fell asleep and he was like, that's nothing, bro.
One time I got two whoops at the same time.
I'm like my white classmates overhear that tell the principle, like,
oh yeah, he's being abused at home. So now my
mom come up to the things, and now I get
in trouble for getting at home. Like she was like,
(24:53):
you totally white people, that almost being you. I said, no,
I didn't bragging, Like, man, that ain't nothing, bro, Like
what my mom got better hands than your mom. I'm
but like stuff like that. To adapt to that, because
that's normal, Like there's nothing wrong with that, Like to me,
the way I was brought up, you know, I turned
out pretty fun. But like just adapting to that and
(25:18):
just the different rooms that I'm in, the different you know,
I'm now I'm with Jack Nicholson kids and Magic Johnson's
kids and Michael Jackson's kids and all these things that
I kind of took for granted because I'm just like,
these are just my friends. And then like, oh my god,
I know that was your dad and doing all these things,
and you know, my mom sacrificed a lot, so I
didn't see that I was living in Inglewood and even
(25:39):
though I took the bus to school every day, I'm
still living the same life as my rich white friends.
So just me being me, you know, my white friends
were like, yo, he's cool, like you know, so that helped.
I was never like clicked up, you know, high school
and stuff. There's all these clicks. I was like in
every single clique, and I just never changed. I was
just always stuck true to myself. And the thing about
(25:59):
like life is like if people fuck with you, like
no matter what, they're gonna fuck with you, right, So
like if that's a relationship with a girl, you overthinking stuff.
It's like if they like you, it don't really matter
because they're gonna fuck with you regardless. So that's how
it was growing up, where it was like I can
be funny, I can be this, I could be doing
too much, it could be new to them, but like
I never changed for myself, and they were like, I
like him. He's like something I haven't seen before. So
(26:21):
to kind of like parallel that to like bel air
is very it's very similar, especially like when I'm you know,
I never get this quote like this town will try
to make you forget who you are, where you came from.
Don't let him do that. That's real. Yeah, that's that's
so real. And I was like, I lived that, and
so me telling Jabbari Will that that was some real shit.
I was telling him really, So it's like half the
(26:43):
time too, not to get off topic, like what's so
funny about this fucking writing is we all have conversations
to cast about just like are they fucking spying on us?
Because a lot of stuff that happens it's either it's
happened to me, befo for like happening right now, and
this is for all of us. We're like, dude, how
(27:03):
did they even know that this is even happening? Like
there'd be two there'd be too spot on about just
certainly even like a relationship with Hillary and then like
her having a boyfriend that is a football player. I'm like,
that actually happened. I don't and I didn't tell them.
They don't know. I saw some of the other day
with Bentley who plays at the at the bell Or
(27:28):
Beach Club. He's like, he's from Inglewood and he was
like school in Brentwood. I'm like, what the I'm like.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
What.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
This is weird.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
But that's what makes the show so really is because
if everybody's relatable, a lot of us are so similar
in so many different ways. We have so many different
stories that we just don't tell, and that's what makes
it so relatable. But we was talking before the show
of like sometimes navigating I appreciate you staying true to
yourself and having your mom to tell you that a
lot of times when you get into an environment, growing
(27:59):
up up a certain way and then you being around
white people. First experience I had was around white people
in the Air Force. I'm in the Air Force and
I had white people coming with me like can I
touch your hair? You know that, stuff like that, and
and dealing with that, and then now getting into corporate America,
being in broadcast in the TV and trying to like
even having the cold switch and trying to change your
(28:20):
voice or whatever, and sometimes even losing yourself like I
had lost myself when I was at ESPN because they
tried to change me from being who I was because
I was so similar in style to Stuart Scott.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Remember I told you the story.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Yeah, but the guy told me is like, you're not
moving up because you're too ghetto, and we already have
one of those.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
I was told that, and so you lose yourself.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
So I appreciate you saying that, man, because I think
a lot of brothers need to hear that that you
can still be yourself but still adapt and not be
over the top.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
But the flip side of that is.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Sometimes I feel like I've been too white, I mean
too black for white people, ghetto, But then I've also
been too corny for some black people. Have you ever
experienced that where you've done this, You've been and like, man,
you forget about us, you don't know who you are
or whatever, and stuff like that, Oh you're over there
with your white friends or whatever.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
How do you adapt to that? How do you deal
with that?
Speaker 5 (29:14):
You know, it's funny, and I promise I never felt
a way about it. Like my family's from Dallas. I
was born in Dallas. When I'm thirty one, I moved
here when I was five, So I'm from LA. Man,
every summer I would go down to Dallas and all
of my black friends.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Man, you talk white white.
Speaker 5 (29:33):
But my thing was I never thought I was like
better than them. But I just thought that that was
cool to do at the time because the coolest people
I know, like I know, Magic Johnson kids. You know
what I'm saying. I'm like this, I know everybody who's lit.
This is how we talk. So I'm just like, I
don't talk white. I'm just from LA And so I
(29:54):
never ever got into like, let me start talking like this,
like you feel me, like you know, never did what
actually be thinking that we were so funny. This is
really a scident, you know how like damn sing iness.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
And you know the interviews and man, hilarious.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
So you're like, oh my god, there's such a brilliant
actor because you know, oh my god, on the show,
he plays like a l a really hood guy, talks
like this and he can switch. Oh my god, he's
such a brilliant actor. I'm gonna start talking like this
like every interview just to get into the jag kid
that had to change my whole ship up. Like the
(30:31):
whole interview. I could talk like like the whole time,
but I choose not to. You feel like that. But
I can talk like this, I can code switch and
oh my god, oh my god, he's so talented.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
But that is when I got drafted to Atlanta. Now
I went to stay said, I grew up out here.
I didn't know what the fuck they was talking about.
I would be in the mall just trying to get
some shoes and I'm like, with a cub I shot
it out. I can't even do it because I was
(31:09):
just like, excuse me. I was like, say what And
it was a girl. She was just like, where are
you from? I said, I'm from California. She was like, so,
what's up? You sound white? I said what I said?
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Why? How is that? How don't go how do I
sound white? Y'all don't even say you're rs nothing like ersuer,
what is happening?
Speaker 3 (31:39):
And so it's one of those things where I grew
up where you grew up, right, But as you elevate
and you take yourself like we live in where we
live now, right, Like we don't live in Inglewood anymore. No,
And so my kids don't have to grow up like
(32:00):
I grew up, which was the whole point literally why
I've sacrificed and done anything I can to change the
social economic background of my entire family.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
So my kids can just be kids.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Because in Inglewood in the eighties when I was growing up,
it was hard to just be a kid.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
It was hard to just be a kid.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
Literally lived in the Cript neighborhood, went to school in
the Blood neighborhood. Figure that out at ten.
Speaker 5 (32:38):
So you gotta just literally figure it out at.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
Ten years old, writing the RTD and everything.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
Because my homeschool is Inglewood. Walked to Inglewood for free, and.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
My mom was like, not that one, not that one.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
And it's so crazy. When you're a kid, you don't
understand shit.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
You don't, you don't.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
I think I resented my mom do that whole some
or she took I was at Frank d Parent Elementary School,
and I hated my mom for like two three months.
I'm like, you're taking me away from my friends, you
don't love me. All this stuff. I don't know. All
these people looking back on it, Oh yeah, yes, yes,
I swear, I swear to you, But like I remember
(33:21):
that time I was in to my mom so much
fourth grade. Never forget it taking me out. I'm like,
why are you taking me out? These are my best friends.
I only know that kindergarten through fourth like only know this.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
That's it.
Speaker 5 (33:33):
They didn't know that, Like she was doing the best thing.
There's a lot of stuff that happens where I'm like
looking back, like, damn, mom, I'm so glad you didn't
listen to me when I was nine.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
This is the part of the show where we go unfiltered,
where we ask every guest about, you know, something that
was pivotal in their life, where they've done there been that.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Have you had any kind of moment like that in
your life?
Speaker 5 (33:57):
Uh? Yeah, several? Uh man. I think one was working
as a PA. One was for sure working as a PA.
Uh just because I was like very new for me.
I went to USC, so getting a job like that
was where I went to USC University of Southern Califlint.
(34:23):
But yeah, just coming out of USCC and all my
friends get all these crazy jobs and stuff. But I
knew I wanted to be in entertainment. So I was
just like, Okay, I gotta start. I gotta start somewhere,
And so I threw my connections you know all my
white friends whose dads were producers and stuff. He was like, yeah,
my dad got a job for you, like and I
didn't have to like fill out all this paperwork and stuff.
They were like, oh, yeah, that's your best friend, bring
(34:44):
them on. And that's where I was like, Oh, this
is why, this is why I went to these.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Schools and stuff.
Speaker 5 (34:52):
It's like yeah, because now you can just ask a
question and like, yeah, sure, I don't care, Like go ahead.
So I was a PA for like almost a year,
maybe six like nine months, and man, it was it was.
It was pretty bad, like and it wasn't a production
like bail Air. So like I was, I was doing crafty.
I was making breakfast and eggs and stuff, and you
(35:14):
know Matt and mass. I was cleaning under trailers. I
was dealing with certain celebrities that are just like complaining
about stuff or I'm like, like I asked for sparkling water.
There's still water in this trailer, like I and I'm
just like, honestly, I know you're a guest on this show, but.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Who are you? Didn't that help you? Though? Real quick man,
like did not treat people one hundred.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
I mean, my thing was just the way I was raised.
Like it's like I wouldn't treat people like that anyway.
You know. Some of the stuff that I've seen is
just like we all pissed bleeding ship. That's what my
mom always says. So it's like, I don't care what
movie you've done, or how much money or where you live.
At the end of the day, we all do the
same thing. You know what I'm saying. We all got
to die. So at the end of the day, you
not above me. You know, I'm not below you like that.
(36:01):
Of course you do certain things, but I don't treat
people below me. And so the greatest, the greatest part
of this story is it was a show called Home
and Family. It was like a DIY show, and they
would have special guests to come on and promote their stuff.
And so when I quit that job, I didn't have
any plan. I'm just like, I want to do this
(36:22):
no more, Like I've been here long enough, Like I
really want to act now, So I'm gonna quit and
like let the chips froward they may, you know, and
they did, they really did. I didn't have any plan.
I just knew that I had talent and hard work.
So I just was like, I'm just going to bank
off that. The craziest part is during bel Air season one,
the Influencer House where Hillary staying, it was the same
(36:45):
place where I was paying, same place.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 5 (36:49):
Wow, that's crazy. I think we actually knew that it
was the same exact place. So Dale was our director
at the time, and where you know, when we're in
the van going over there, I'm not looking at me
and coachin talking and we get out the event and
I'm like what the And I'm like, oh, we walk
inside and it's like the kitchen in there, same exact way.
(37:10):
Everything is the same, And so I started like getting
emotional and then then I was like you ready rehearse?
And I was like, yo, just just give me a second.
Like I was about to cry because I was like, man,
I remember when I was here and I got that
same feeling like twenty seventeen, like went right back, and
I was like, Yo, this is crazy. I told myself
I didn't think it was gonna be the same as
like uh, but I was like I told myself, like Monday,
(37:33):
I'm gonna be one of them on the camera because
sometimes when I was paying I'm would be a stand
there for a second and I'll be like really excited
over the camera, like and I was like, one day, man,
I'm really gonna be the dude for real. And so
being there and like in the same exact room was
it was crazy. God is a comedian bottle he is,
(37:59):
So I'm I can't I'm not rehearsing. Then I was
like you good, and I'm like, man, this is so
crazy because I really payd here. I was doing lock
ups here, I was getting yelled out here, yelled at
here because during the lockups, some of the makeup people
felt entitled. I'm like, no, you can't come through, and
then they come through anyway, and I can't touch you
because then that's a whole other thing. So now I'm
(38:20):
on the walk, You're getting cussed out and whooped you whoop,
and I'm like I tried to tell her and now
it's just like it was just brought me back to experience.
Was like, that's kind of why you did that, you
know what I'm saying. So you can be here and
be like I would never do that. And at the time, Keisha,
who was one of our makeup ladies, her son was
a PA, Johnny, and it was great because he was
there and I was just kind of in this moment
(38:43):
and I was explaining to everybody the moment and afterwards
he was as a PA. He came to me, He's like, Bro,
that was really moving because a PA, I know that
you started there and like I can do anything.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (38:53):
And I was like, that's love, bro, because like I don't.
I don't do this to be like hey, just so
you know, there's the less guys, I don't do it.
I just it's just experienced, you know. And I just
I'm I love to share my experience, you know. And
I think going back to kind of your point about
like how you treat people. Man, it's like as a PA,
(39:16):
like I have so much respect for him because I
was a PA. So like I'm the type of person
that like when they ask me for stuff, now, if
they on my head, like you got to be on
set right now, I'll be like, okay, yeah, key, please
give me that water. Damn. I really appreciate it. But
if they usually come up to me and ask me
for stuff, I'll just be like tell me where it is,
Like I got time, I ain't doing nothing, you know
what I'm saying, like, so I've always acted that way,
(39:36):
and then when people treat certain pas a certain way,
or whenever I see like actors trying to act a
certain way, I'm just like, you're a whack. Like you're
laying because when my mom always say you get more
bees on honey. Anyway, anyways, and then Samuel Jackson said
something I don't want to misquote him, but he said,
don't step on the He said, don't step on the
toes today, for they can be the ass that you
(39:59):
have to kiss tomorrow. And I was like, that's the
really ship for real. And I heard a story about
Jackie Harry whose sister sister and Mama. She was telling
a story and she was saying that basically she was
really mean. She did one movie back in the eighties
or something like that she was really mean to this
one male guy, like just being a diva or whatever.
(40:22):
Later on she finds out that that same guy it's
Kenya Barris, and so he had told her like you was, yeah,
I worked on your movie back in the day and
you were addicted to me. And she was like, well,
oh my god, I don't know. So you just don't
know because I was the PA. Then now people are like,
oh my god, and I'm like, you don't have to
do all that. I am just a regular dude. And
(40:45):
so it's just real because you don't know who's gonna
be what, who's running what race, and what journey who's on.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
So and I will say this, you carry yourself on
set like a professional.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
It's a pleasure to work with you.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
Likewise, just the energy you bring, your personality right like
it it's NonStop laughter and relationships and how you guys
all get along with each other. Man, it makes going
to work fun. And I tell people this all the time,
like I've had a lot of success in my life
(41:20):
and I've worked too hard to now take a job
where I work with people I don't like.
Speaker 5 (41:24):
Yeah, man, that's real, you know what I'm saying, Like,
I don't have to.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
Take a job where I don't want to be there
and coming to work every day long days. But with
you guys, it's it's amazing.
Speaker 5 (41:38):
Man.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
It's a testament to how you were raised. I got
to meet your mom, put her in my put her
in our episode of season two, right, you know what
I mean? Just working with good people, it just makes
work fun. It's not work for me. Like I like
to say, I didn't work. I haven't since I've been
(41:59):
an adult. I haven't worked a day in my life. Man.
Speaker 5 (42:02):
If you love what you do, you never work.
Speaker 1 (42:05):
To a pair of what he had to say, We're
gonna wrap things up, man.
Speaker 4 (42:07):
But before I met you, I was a fan of
Jazz like I love the character.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
Like I said.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
Now that I met you and I talked to you
for the last thirty minutes or whatnot, Man, I'm.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
A fan of Jordan.
Speaker 5 (42:19):
Thank you. Man.
Speaker 4 (42:19):
I'm a fan of you as a person, man, and
I'm rooting for you and anything that you're in.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Man.
Speaker 4 (42:23):
I'm always going to support and I pray that our
viewers got something out of this too, man, because continue
that attitude, man, continue to stay humble, continue to stay
brilliant in what you do. Brother, and uh, you're going
to have a long, successful career in whatever you decided.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
Thank you. I really appreciate you, man.
Speaker 1 (42:36):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (42:38):
Of course, yes, any time.
Speaker 4 (42:39):
And it's genuine. It's still love, man, it's real love
this guy right here. But now you're one of my guys.
Speaker 5 (42:45):
Love man. I appreciate you, man, absolutely serious.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
Jordan Jones. Man, Jordan L. Jones.
Speaker 5 (42:52):
You know, I gotta keep the L. I'm going off
of Michael B. Jordan and Samuel Jackson because those are
normal names. Michael and Jordan's. Samuel Jackson is the most
common name. He put that. Whenever you hear that common
name him, Jordan Jordan Jones is pretty common.
Speaker 1 (43:08):
I like that, Jordan. Oh you mean Jordan L. Joe
Jordan L. Jones.
Speaker 4 (43:12):
Yeah, distinguished, bro, We're gonna be hearing a lot of
that name over the years to come. Man, everything not
just acting, but behind the camera as was. I know
things happened for you every there. Thanks hanging out with us.
Speaker 5 (43:22):
Man, Thank you so much, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
I appreciate you. Man. It's another episode of the Done
There Been That podcast.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
Remember subscribe like let us know what you think. We
are here for you, always keeping real and genuine.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
Man. We'll see you next week, y'all.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
This is the inflection collective part for a connected, reflective perspective,
respected defensive sh no captains, big facts of kick back.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Just here for Sunda
Y'all.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the reflection collective father for us, a connected, reflective, real,
live perspective, perspective, defensive sh shat no captain's big facts
of kick back.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Here for stunning there ben, Hey, welcome back. I'm your host,
Ephraim Salim and this is done. There been that, And
of course I got my main man, my partner in crime,
my brother Mike Hill.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
What was happening? What was happening?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Thank you for subscribing, Thank you for watching, or please
continue to hit that notification button. We appreciate all the
love and support that you've given us so far. I
wanted to talk today about navigating different worlds. Okay, we
both come from humble beginnings and whatnot, and we've been
able to navigate in different worlds outside of the norm,
outside of our hoods, whatever, and how we've been able
to do that. We want to pass along some of
(00:48):
the lessons because we got a special guest in the
house who's actually kind of done that.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Yeah, done that.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
He's a dope young man, tremendous, tremendous at his aft
as an actor, a Thesbian thespian, and that's Jordan Jones,
Jordan my man.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Yes, I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Now, for those of you who don't know what you've
been doing.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
If you don't know, Jordan has taken on the Jazz
role and the reboot of the Fresh Prince of bel
Air just called bel Air.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yes, yes, all right, and.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yes, phenomenal show or not just because we're a part
of it. I'm one of the writers on it. But
but Jordan has taken a character that was a novelty, right,
a little punchline, and added such depth to it. And
(01:49):
tell me about the beginning of this process for you, right,
like when you when you heard about the show and
you went out for an audition.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Well, you know, I've told this story so many times, man,
it feels like unreal. But actually, when I first got
the audition, I remember I was, I was in Englewood,
and I actually turned it down. I turned the audition
down because Fresh Prince it's one of my favorite shows
still all the time, and because you know, as actors,
sometimes we get the character breakdown, sometimes we don't get
(02:20):
the script. And so my ages and managers call me like, yo,
we have audition for you to be the new Jazz
and the new Freshman's Bell a reboot and I was
like like, fuck no, like I'm not going just because
of the you know, just the stereotype and kind of
stipulation of reboots. It's like, you know, they don't work,
(02:42):
not like that, you know, And that's just the truth usually,
and people just always have these preconceived notions so they
don't give it a chance. Regardless. I know that it's
a sitcom Will Smith. I still watch Fresh Prints all
the time, you know, at the time. Now I kind
of tone it down a little bit. I watched it
every night to go to sleep that in Martin, and
(03:03):
it was just like, I don't want to if this
is a sitcom, that show is still relevant Will Smith
is you know, you can't even find another Will Smith.
It's just why are they even doing this? And so
I told people like, nah, I'm not gonna do it.
And the weird part about it is usually when you
talk to your reps about like an audition, you guys
(03:24):
can go back and forth that day like I want
you to do it, okay, whatever I'm not doing Okay, fine,
I'll do it. But that is that day. Once you
guys hang up that phone, like they don't ask you
about it again. Dude, The next day, they called me
back and my manager was like, dude, I can't let
you pass up unless audition. I'm gonna give you a script.
So I was like, okay, like fine. I told my
mom about it. She was like, you'd be a great jazz.
(03:45):
I'm like, yeah, that sounds great. That sounds great, but
like whatever. I read the script and I'm like, okay,
this is different. This is different. And they sent me
a link to Morgan's like twenty nineteen Kailer. I had
completely forgot about that. I saw that and it was like, Yo,
this is dope, but then like forgot about it, didn't
know that I was correlated at all. And when I
(04:06):
saw that clip, I was like, oh my god, wait,
this is what I saw years ago, you know what,
Like I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. So
fast forward. I do the audition and what I do
with auditions because as an actor, this is like the
profession of no. So it's like if you sit there
and do one audition when you know they audition five
hundred and six hundred people or whatever the number is,
(04:27):
and you're just holding on to it like that, it's
just not healthy. So I did the audition left, I
went to Atlanta and then my reps called me. They
were like, yo, you got a callback, but like chemistry,
and I'm like, oh, and I could have done it
there on my iPad, son, I need to fly back.
So I flew back that night and I went and
I did the audition. It was a chemistry with Jabbari
and Morgan. And the funniest thing about this is that
(04:50):
I do the first scene and Morgan is like, okay, cool.
At first, I'm talking with Jabbari just bantered like congratulations
because he made that whole video about how he got
the wrong So I'm doing it hi him like in
grass Bro like he was cool, and we're doing. The
audition was two scenes. And did the first scene and
(05:10):
then Morgan's like, okay, cool, next scene, And right there
in my brain I was like I didn't get it,
Like I didn't get it because I I had already
done another show before and the director made me do
it over and over and over and over again. At
that time, I thought I didn't get it because I'm like,
he making me do it over again, that means I'm
not doing it right. So he ended up telling me, oh,
we do that to make sure you can take direction
all this stuff. Yeah, you goat like you're coachable. I'm like, okay,
(05:32):
so now I think I get it. Everybody has their
different method of madness. And so I do the second
scene and he's like, okay, great Jordan, and I'm like, okay, well,
thank you guys for having me. And you know whoopy
woop hung up the hung up the zoom. Call my
mom immediate Mom, I didn't get the row. What happened?
You messed up? Like, oh my god, son, what you do?
I'm like, I just no, I didn't get it there
(05:54):
and asked me nothing. I get a call the next
day that I got pinned for. So I'm like, oh wow,
this is crazy. I had to wait a whole weekend.
And so now after you do the chemistry reading stuff,
now I'm attached to it. I'm like, man, no, I'm
jazz right, and I think it was a Jewish holiday
on Monday there was like Ramadan or something, and so
(06:14):
like there was no answer till like.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
Tuesday, you're in front of me something I think.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
On the show.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
Yeah, my FA was crazy lucky.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
What are you doing? We've had these conversas.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
Yeah, you're in front of me, You're talking to Jordan's
So I had to wait till like Tuesday, and I
finally like get the role. It was crazy. I was
like crying. It was crazy. And so we shoot the
first uh scene and then we have me and have
lunch from Morgan. It's Morgan is like, yo, so how'd
(07:01):
you feel like when you got it? And I was like, well,
I didn't think I fucking got it at all. I
thought I was. I thought I was like done for
you didn't ask me nothing, and he goes, He goes, Dude,
right when you came on the screen, I just knew
it was you, so we'dn't have to waste more time.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
And that just made me, you know, realize that everybody
is different. You just go in and you do the
best that you can. Don't assume anything, you know, because
my mama said, when you assume, you make an ass
out of you and me. So it's like I'm thinking, like, oh, man,
like I didn't get it, and I look stupid because
I actually got it right then, and I'm thinking, all
I didn't get it. I was in my head for
a whole day. It was crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
That made it so much better man. You know, I
got to give you a pross man.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Because this adaptation of Jazz is so much different than
the original.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Obviously, it's not punchline. You got depth.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
It's a character that you root for, somebody that's a
deep brother, man, and you and you have it down,
pat Man. The fact that you didn't think you was
gonna get it and got it, that's a blessing in itself.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Man, Well, let me before you finished, let me ask
you this, are you team Jazz or team the market?
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I'm definitely I'm definitely team Jazz. Never't like that, dude,
you know the big.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Question, you know, because here's the thing. I feel like,
I feel like I'm more Jazz than you're. You're the athlete,
the guy that comes in always gets the girls.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah, you're the Marcus. We're the athlete that comes in
and gets the girl.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Because she's saying it and bro, So you got to
watch if you haven't seen bell there, you got to
watch it because there is a situation that's going on
that's like this little triangle that's happening right now between you, uh,
Hillary and in the markets whatnot. But to my point, man,
I was talking about like when did you know, Like,
because you talked about at first you didn't even want
the part, then you get the part, you're invested in
(08:41):
the part.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
When did you know you guys had a hit on
your hand? And when did you know that?
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Man, this jazz is a huge part of this show
and not just like I said, a throwaway punchline.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
Man, so kind of too answer to your question, I
knew that we were going to have a hit when
the first trailer came out, because of course we're shooting it,
and a lot of people don't know that, like just
cause I'm shooting it, I ain't seen it like right
now seeing these episodes first time. So even though we're
shooting it, yeah I'm in that scene, I don't see
how it looked. Look Like we've done so many takes.
(09:12):
I don't see which take they're going to use. How
did a funny take out of the serious one? I
don't know actually how it's gonna, you know, pan out,
so as kind of like little things pop out, like okay,
a new series, beiler are coming this whatever, no trailer
come out? You know you see the comments all this
bull like, yeah, I gotta like, man, I ain't watching
this shit ye all type of stuff, and I was like,
I ain't seen it either, Like you know, I believed
(09:33):
in us. I know that we're doing good work, but
I haven't. You have to visually, you know, see it.
And when we saw that first episode and they brought
us in before I think we were shooting like episode
six or something. In the shoot watch episode one, and
like some of us was in tears, and just because
I was a part of something, I was like, this
is fucking good, Like this is actually really good. And
(09:55):
the day we dropped that trailer through my phone went insane,
like friends, family, bro.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
I didn't know it was gonna be there.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
I got insane, like just that new show.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I'm like, yeah, what what I'm going now?
Speaker 5 (10:22):
But I think to the second party that question, Man,
I just really I really credit the writers. How I
knew that, Like I was really in stride. It's like
one of the things that like, you know, I'm just
so grateful for Like I knew that when I got
the role of Jazz, that Jazz was there's no like
real order because we're all important, but like being realistic,
like the show is about Will Smith, right and can
(10:44):
the show is about really like Will Smith and Carlton
and then then after that, like the show is about
Will Smith and Carlton, but like the Banks family as
a whole. And I knew what jazz was, so I'm like, good,
I can come in and like do my thing. People
will love me. That's great, you know, but I didn't
expect the reception that I would get about you know,
through the first three episodes, I'm seeing people like where's jazz,
(11:05):
like ja jazz, and I'm like, really, like, I'm just
really just doing my job, and you know, E recognized that.
The writers recognize that. So I'm seeing slowly but surely.
I'm like, oh, I'm getting I'm getting more lines. I'm
doing like you know what I'm saying. I'm in depth,
like you know, like we're really having real deep, deep scenes.
And I didn't ask I didn't ask for that at all,
like you know. So I think that that helped me
(11:27):
kind of get into my character, because it's not like
I'm just like, y'all pop up when Will is there
and just like yo, what's good man? Give some advice
and pop out.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Now.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
It's like and I think that is why in season two,
me and he had a conversation because you know, now
I'm starting to make certain choices that I'm like, man,
I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't do that, Like come on,
I like, how am I declared my car declined at
dinner in season two and I bring up LaMarcus Like
me as a human, I would never do that. Like
if I feel insecure about somebody, I'm not gonna tell
(11:57):
my girl that. I might tell my friends my mom,
but in front of her and I'm like, how y'all
gonna have me saying like, yo, if it was the market,
you she woulda let him try again. I'm like, man,
that is not what I would do. And they were like, exactly,
that's not you. You're Jazz, And I was like, oh
my god, you're right. I was like, oh wait, you're right,
this isn't me. And so just honing into that and
(12:19):
just accepting that has made me so much more like
appreciative of the script because then when I see other stuff,
I'm like, oh, that's why I did that. I didn't
see that was coming, but that's exactly why I did that.
And now this makes more sense because I did that.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It happened. So Jordan has always been inquisitive Okay, not
as much.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
As I'm about to say.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Ali plays our calty. Thanks.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
He will sneak into the writers to see what's up
on the board, to see what's going on, and to
be like what you doing? And I tell you a secret.
We knew he was coming in one day, right. We
weren't gonna let him get all the way into the
writer's room. But I wrote on the board so he
can see from the hallway. Episode six, Carlton ods.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
So as we're out.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
There laughing and talking and hobnob and I see him
look and then he's just like yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
And he was just like wait what.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
And I was like, see, stop being stop being in
people's business. But Jordan would come just like in season
two this year in season three he was like, yo,
for those who haven't seen seen it, I'm not going
to ruin it. But as a hospital involved, and he
was like, well, I wouldn't do that, Like why would
(13:46):
I do that? And I said, hey, man, look let
me tell you something. Man, come on over here, let me.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Let me talk to you.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
Man.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
You got to understand what we're doing here. We're telling
the story, and a story can't be told in one scene,
not when You're an important part of the sum of
the season, right.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
The show our jazz character.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
And the reason, going back to what you said earlier,
was like first three episodes, everybody said, whe's jazz?
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Where's jazz?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
What we do as writers and as producers for any
young up and coming actors out there, who are you know,
guest starring on the show or whatever, that is when
we turn the cameras on and we start shooting these
scenes and doing these takes, and we're looking and I'm like, oh,
(14:42):
oh no, he's got it.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
He's got it. This is it.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
And so we go back and we talk about it. Oh,
we got to do more, We got to do more. Okay,
So how okay, how can we build this out?
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (14:57):
How our cast is so dynamic and so great it's
hard to stand out.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
It is everybody standing out.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
But you have always been one of those characters to embrace,
right the role. You put some swaggers, some flare to it, right,
and and it just brought a different type of energy
that people saw from the original.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
What you have to hone in.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
That's why it's grown, and that's why it's like your's
your world out there.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
You know what I mean, everybody plays a great part.
Everybody's a great job. Man, it's a great ensemble cast.
Not to give things away, so I'm not going to
give away. So if you have not seen and y'all
tripping season three yet, he has like just in the
original episode, he has a theme for Hillary and Hillary
and Jazz and kind of go back and forth whatever whatnot.
(15:53):
I'm not going to give it away. But in season three,
you had a line episode two. I think I just
watched the episode. It was an episode two at the
end where he said something like you're gonna run away
from that. That was episode that blew me a while, Like.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Yeah, that was right there.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
So there's a scenario. There is.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
And once again, if you haven't seen it, please just
turn turn away the podcast, go back and see it.
So here's the thing. So you get with Hillary, you've
been with Hillary, you go back and forth. LaMarcus is
her ex boyfriend who comes back in her life. He's
the star football player and now they're about to get
married or got engaged whatever. And so after they got engaged,
(16:40):
I think it's episode three. You you guys have a kiss, right,
this is after.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
It was actually the first episode coming back that's when.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
She gets engaged or have an argument.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Because I told her about herself and she was.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Like, you did tell her off?
Speaker 5 (16:54):
Man, Yeah, tell everybody right now? So then y'all kiss second.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
So so so with all that being said, this is
the done.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
There have been that podcast where we talk about scenarios
that we've all been in since you know this was
you know, fiction was written.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
By e all those guys.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
There's a situation where you and Hillary kiss after she's
engaged whatever. Now there's a dilemma after episode three whether
she should tell her fiance or not. If you were
in that situation and you had a fiance and your
ex comes up and you guys embracing kiss, how would.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
You handle it? Oh?
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Like would I tell her?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah? Would you tell?
Speaker 5 (17:35):
Actually? It's crazy. I think the best part is, like
I say, even though we read each script, you know,
at the end, I kind of forget like half the stuff.
So I'm watching I was actually last night I was watching
five and six. I'm looking at like, oh my god,
this is crazy.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I haven't even seen.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Nuts, Like I never because I haven't seen it before
and I.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Forgot because even in that sage on vivis kind of
going back and forth with dilemma.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Obviously Uncle Phil kissed an X of his Ye. So
you you guys want to know. You guys want to
know what you guys are referring to. Well, that's called excellence.
That is paralleling story.
Speaker 7 (18:16):
Yes, okay, that's the key too, Right, there's no siloed stories.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Right, How many relationships you'll up?
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I'm I want to because people are about all these
these discussions that.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Were conversation.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Uh Viv and Uncle Phil had in episode five the
reason that's episode I wrote, by the way, So if
you don't watch any of them, watch that one. That's
a conversation I want couples to watch and then talk about.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Right, has that ever happened to you? Have you been
attracted to somebody?
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Like?
Speaker 3 (18:59):
I want to open up dialogue because that's rue. These
are conversations my wife and I have had, Right, These
are real conversations that couples need to be comfortable having.
So you said it ain't no way in hell I was.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
I was actually watching it like brand new. I'm so
right now in the I'm on episode see right now,
So mad Ashley act, I tell you, I'm like state mono,
Damn every she is, so she is really gritty this season.
I love it him she is, That's what I love her.
But she's like, basically, you know whatever, I actually don't
(19:36):
care if you ain't seen it your faults. Hillary is
like Hillary is like Ashley like one. She's like, well,
if you tell him, I'm not gonna tell him. I'm
like your sister, I'll kill you and my little sister.
It's like, Okay, I didn't mean anything if it truly
like you know, if it truly didn't mean anything or whatever.
It was just something that kind of happened in the
moment nobody saw like I don't have to tell him.
(19:58):
You know what I'm saying, I don't have to tell
if it don't mean nothing. And now she's like, well,
you need to go tell him, and it's like, no,
I don't. And she's like, well, I'm gonna tell him
if you don't, like, I'll strangle you watching it, Like
what are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Actually watch as a few Even.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
Though I'm jazz, I'm like, do not tell that. Do
not tell Themarcus what Wow?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
That is great?
Speaker 3 (20:24):
So like we get he said he tell by the
way he would tell this wife. So I've been with
my wife twenty one years. We've been married eighteen. The
thing I know that you don't know yet is things
somehow always come.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Out watch right.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
So I know is if I'm the Uncle Phil in
the situation and Erica kisses me and this is an
ex girlfriend of mine, we're working together. The number one
thing I'm gonna do me personally is be like, hey,
that's not it, and we can't.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Work together anymore.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Then I'm going directly home and being like, yo, I
need to talk to you and explain the situation, but
then follow that up with and we are no longer
working together.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
So my vision about it, it happened.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
I've done the work to six a situation because if
you hold on like.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Uncle Phil did, it's coming back. It's gone.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Yeah, and it's gonna be worse if she gets it
from somebody else.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
You don't know that yet.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
But the thing is, the situation with Uncle Phil and
them is a little different than Jackson Hillary. It is
they haven't been through I don't west with you together.
She would really never find out. That is kind of
conflict ofdventures because it's like, we literally work together, So
it's gonna look like I've been cheating, really sleeping with
this late nights.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
It's gonna we we are we in here fucking and
how much? How much are you not telling? And that's
the next question because she's probably had questions before. And
also what you're forgetting about? And I know about this stories.
I love this, this, this, this, this, this series. He
needed her at that particular time because he was starting
something new. You needed that business at that particular time,
(22:15):
so he was kind of in that conflict.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
This is money. I know he made a lot of
money before.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
He was happy wife, happy life, get everything. I'm saying
I'd rather not my ass.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Look at home.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
It's because she she's going to be like, okay, you're
telling me this, what else happened?
Speaker 1 (22:31):
And plus they had a pass it happened. What is if?
TV is not good unless it's messages? All right? And
we we have messy, we have excellence, we.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Have it all. But I want to talk about you.
All right, where'd you grow up?
Speaker 5 (22:53):
I grew up in Inglewood Conference.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Inglewood, Woo woo. I grew up in six diff in
West Boulevard. All right, I want to buy Long Elementary.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
Oh okay, all.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Right, ya you call somebody grow up? In that part. Okay, okay,
it's like instant, right, but.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
You got a chance to step out of that, right,
go to private school, change your environment.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Right? What was that?
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Like? Uh?
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Man?
Speaker 5 (23:28):
That was funny because I realized a lot of a
lot of black stuff I was doing, like wasn't cool
white people. So, like, you know, you know, growing up
with a single mother. My mom's one of the strongest
people that I know for real, And one of the
things she taught me is like, you know, you always
can adapt to certain things, but don't you ever change
for nobody. So now I'm going from a public school
(23:50):
that is all black people. I have one white homie
in my class named Philip. It was like two hundred
of us, it was one white dude named Philip, and
then switching now it's like me my homiek to this
day and homie Jeffrey Brash. That was like literally the
only three people that are that were like black in
the whole class. Right. So there was certain stuff that
like you know, public school can't get away with, like anything,
(24:11):
you know, like throwing stuff or whatever. Settle down instead
of like, oh now you're in trouble, go see the principal.
There was one time I got in trouble. My mom
gonna hate I tell this story. But one time I
got in trouble because me and the homie were talking
about kind of bragging about, like but what's the worst
whooping that you got? And so I'm like, what, like,
hold on, man, what time whoop?
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Me?
Speaker 5 (24:32):
And man? I fell asleep and he was like, that's nothing, bro.
One time I got two whoops at the same time.
I'm like my white classmates overhear that tell the principle, like,
oh yeah, he's being abused at home. So now my
mom come up to the things, and now I get
in trouble for getting at home. Like she was like,
(24:53):
you totally white people, that almost being you. I said, no,
I didn't bragging, Like, man, that ain't nothing, bro, Like
what my mom got better hands than your mom. I'm
but like stuff like that. To adapt to that, because
that's normal, Like there's nothing wrong with that, Like to me,
the way I was brought up, you know, I turned
out pretty fun. But like just adapting to that and
(25:18):
just the different rooms that I'm in, the different you know,
I'm now I'm with Jack Nicholson kids and Magic Johnson's
kids and Michael Jackson's kids and all these things that
I kind of took for granted because I'm just like,
these are just my friends. And then like, oh my god,
I know that was your dad and doing all these things,
and you know, my mom sacrificed a lot, so I
didn't see that I was living in Inglewood and even
(25:39):
though I took the bus to school every day, I'm
still living the same life as my rich white friends.
So just me being me, you know, my white friends
were like, yo, he's cool, like you know, so that helped.
I was never like clicked up, you know, high school
and stuff. There's all these clicks. I was like in
every single clique, and I just never changed. I was
just always stuck true to myself. And the thing about
(25:59):
like life is like if people fuck with you, like
no matter what, they're gonna fuck with you, right, So
like if that's a relationship with a girl, you overthinking stuff.
It's like if they like you, it don't really matter
because they're gonna fuck with you regardless. So that's how
it was growing up, where it was like I can
be funny, I can be this, I could be doing
too much, it could be new to them, but like
I never changed for myself, and they were like, I
like him. He's like something I haven't seen before. So
(26:21):
to kind of like parallel that to like bel air
is very it's very similar, especially like when I'm you know,
I never get this quote like this town will try
to make you forget who you are, where you came from.
Don't let him do that. That's real. Yeah, that's that's
so real. And I was like, I lived that, and
so me telling Jabbari Will that that was some real shit.
I was telling him really, So it's like half the
(26:43):
time too, not to get off topic, like what's so
funny about this fucking writing is we all have conversations
to cast about just like are they fucking spying on us?
Because a lot of stuff that happens it's either it's
happened to me, befo for like happening right now, and
this is for all of us. We're like, dude, how
(27:03):
did they even know that this is even happening? Like
there'd be two there'd be too spot on about just
certainly even like a relationship with Hillary and then like
her having a boyfriend that is a football player. I'm like,
that actually happened. I don't and I didn't tell them.
They don't know. I saw some of the other day
with Bentley who plays at the at the bell Or
(27:28):
Beach Club. He's like, he's from Inglewood and he was
like school in Brentwood. I'm like, what the I'm like.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
What.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
This is weird.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
But that's what makes the show so really is because
if everybody's relatable, a lot of us are so similar
in so many different ways. We have so many different
stories that we just don't tell, and that's what makes
it so relatable. But we was talking before the show
of like sometimes navigating I appreciate you staying true to
yourself and having your mom to tell you that a
lot of times when you get into an environment, growing
(27:59):
up up a certain way and then you being around
white people. First experience I had was around white people
in the Air Force. I'm in the Air Force and
I had white people coming with me like can I
touch your hair? You know that, stuff like that, and
and dealing with that, and then now getting into corporate America,
being in broadcast in the TV and trying to like
even having the cold switch and trying to change your
(28:20):
voice or whatever, and sometimes even losing yourself like I
had lost myself when I was at ESPN because they
tried to change me from being who I was because
I was so similar in style to Stuart Scott.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Remember I told you the story.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Yeah, but the guy told me is like, you're not
moving up because you're too ghetto, and we already have
one of those.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
I was told that, and so you lose yourself.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
So I appreciate you saying that, man, because I think
a lot of brothers need to hear that that you
can still be yourself but still adapt and not be
over the top.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
But the flip side of that is.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Sometimes I feel like I've been too white, I mean
too black for white people, ghetto, But then I've also
been too corny for some black people. Have you ever
experienced that where you've done this, You've been and like, man,
you forget about us, you don't know who you are
or whatever, and stuff like that, Oh you're over there
with your white friends or whatever.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
How do you adapt to that? How do you deal
with that?
Speaker 5 (29:14):
You know, it's funny, and I promise I never felt
a way about it. Like my family's from Dallas. I
was born in Dallas. When I'm thirty one, I moved
here when I was five, So I'm from LA. Man,
every summer I would go down to Dallas and all
of my black friends.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Man, you talk white white.
Speaker 5 (29:33):
But my thing was I never thought I was like
better than them. But I just thought that that was
cool to do at the time because the coolest people
I know, like I know, Magic Johnson kids. You know
what I'm saying. I'm like this, I know everybody who's lit.
This is how we talk. So I'm just like, I
don't talk white. I'm just from LA And so I
(29:54):
never ever got into like, let me start talking like this,
like you feel me, like you know, never did what
actually be thinking that we were so funny. This is
really a scident, you know how like damn sing iness.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
And you know the interviews and man, hilarious.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
So you're like, oh my god, there's such a brilliant
actor because you know, oh my god, on the show,
he plays like a l a really hood guy, talks
like this and he can switch. Oh my god, he's
such a brilliant actor. I'm gonna start talking like this
like every interview just to get into the jag kid
that had to change my whole ship up. Like the
(30:31):
whole interview. I could talk like like the whole time,
but I choose not to. You feel like that. But
I can talk like this, I can code switch and
oh my god, oh my god, he's so talented.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
But that is when I got drafted to Atlanta. Now
I went to stay said, I grew up out here.
I didn't know what the fuck they was talking about.
I would be in the mall just trying to get
some shoes and I'm like, with a cub I shot
it out. I can't even do it because I was
(31:09):
just like, excuse me. I was like, say what And
it was a girl. She was just like, where are
you from? I said, I'm from California. She was like, so,
what's up? You sound white? I said what I said?
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Why? How is that? How don't go how do I
sound white? Y'all don't even say you're rs nothing like ersuer,
what is happening?
Speaker 3 (31:39):
And so it's one of those things where I grew
up where you grew up, right, But as you elevate
and you take yourself like we live in where we
live now, right, Like we don't live in Inglewood anymore. No,
And so my kids don't have to grow up like
(32:00):
I grew up, which was the whole point literally why
I've sacrificed and done anything I can to change the
social economic background of my entire family.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
So my kids can just be kids.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Because in Inglewood in the eighties when I was growing up,
it was hard to just be a kid.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
It was hard to just be a kid.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
Literally lived in the Cript neighborhood, went to school in
the Blood neighborhood. Figure that out at ten.
Speaker 5 (32:38):
So you gotta just literally figure it out at.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
Ten years old, writing the RTD and everything.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
Because my homeschool is Inglewood. Walked to Inglewood for free, and.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
My mom was like, not that one, not that one.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
And it's so crazy. When you're a kid, you don't
understand shit.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
You don't, you don't.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
I think I resented my mom do that whole some
or she took I was at Frank d Parent Elementary School,
and I hated my mom for like two three months.
I'm like, you're taking me away from my friends, you
don't love me. All this stuff. I don't know. All
these people looking back on it, Oh yeah, yes, yes,
I swear, I swear to you, But like I remember
(33:21):
that time I was in to my mom so much
fourth grade. Never forget it taking me out. I'm like,
why are you taking me out? These are my best friends.
I only know that kindergarten through fourth like only know this.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
That's it.
Speaker 5 (33:33):
They didn't know that, Like she was doing the best thing.
There's a lot of stuff that happens where I'm like
looking back, like, damn, mom, I'm so glad you didn't
listen to me when I was nine.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
This is the part of the show where we go unfiltered,
where we ask every guest about, you know, something that
was pivotal in their life, where they've done there been that.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Have you had any kind of moment like that in
your life?
Speaker 5 (33:57):
Uh? Yeah, several? Uh man. I think one was working
as a PA. One was for sure working as a PA.
Uh just because I was like very new for me.
I went to USC, so getting a job like that
was where I went to USC University of Southern Califlint.
(34:23):
But yeah, just coming out of USCC and all my
friends get all these crazy jobs and stuff. But I
knew I wanted to be in entertainment. So I was
just like, Okay, I gotta start. I gotta start somewhere,
And so I threw my connections you know all my
white friends whose dads were producers and stuff. He was like, yeah,
my dad got a job for you, like and I
didn't have to like fill out all this paperwork and stuff.
They were like, oh, yeah, that's your best friend, bring
(34:44):
them on. And that's where I was like, Oh, this
is why, this is why I went to these.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Schools and stuff.
Speaker 5 (34:52):
It's like yeah, because now you can just ask a
question and like, yeah, sure, I don't care, Like go ahead.
So I was a PA for like almost a year,
maybe six like nine months, and man, it was it was.
It was pretty bad, like and it wasn't a production
like bail Air. So like I was, I was doing crafty.
I was making breakfast and eggs and stuff, and you
(35:14):
know Matt and mass. I was cleaning under trailers. I
was dealing with certain celebrities that are just like complaining
about stuff or I'm like, like I asked for sparkling water.
There's still water in this trailer, like I and I'm
just like, honestly, I know you're a guest on this show, but.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Who are you? Didn't that help you? Though? Real quick man,
like did not treat people one hundred.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
I mean, my thing was just the way I was raised.
Like it's like I wouldn't treat people like that anyway.
You know. Some of the stuff that I've seen is
just like we all pissed bleeding ship. That's what my
mom always says. So it's like, I don't care what
movie you've done, or how much money or where you live.
At the end of the day, we all do the
same thing. You know what I'm saying. We all got
to die. So at the end of the day, you
not above me. You know, I'm not below you like that.
(36:01):
Of course you do certain things, but I don't treat
people below me. And so the greatest, the greatest part
of this story is it was a show called Home
and Family. It was like a DIY show, and they
would have special guests to come on and promote their stuff.
And so when I quit that job, I didn't have
any plan. I'm just like, I want to do this
(36:22):
no more, Like I've been here long enough, Like I
really want to act now, So I'm gonna quit and
like let the chips froward they may, you know, and
they did, they really did. I didn't have any plan.
I just knew that I had talent and hard work.
So I just was like, I'm just going to bank
off that. The craziest part is during bel Air season one,
the Influencer House where Hillary staying, it was the same
(36:45):
place where I was paying, same place.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 5 (36:49):
Wow, that's crazy. I think we actually knew that it
was the same exact place. So Dale was our director
at the time, and where you know, when we're in
the van going over there, I'm not looking at me
and coachin talking and we get out the event and
I'm like what the And I'm like, oh, we walk
inside and it's like the kitchen in there, same exact way.
(37:10):
Everything is the same, And so I started like getting
emotional and then then I was like you ready rehearse?
And I was like, yo, just just give me a second.
Like I was about to cry because I was like, man,
I remember when I was here and I got that
same feeling like twenty seventeen, like went right back, and
I was like, Yo, this is crazy. I told myself
I didn't think it was gonna be the same as
like uh, but I was like I told myself, like Monday,
(37:33):
I'm gonna be one of them on the camera because
sometimes when I was paying I'm would be a stand
there for a second and I'll be like really excited
over the camera, like and I was like, one day, man,
I'm really gonna be the dude for real. And so
being there and like in the same exact room was
it was crazy. God is a comedian bottle he is,
(37:59):
So I'm I can't I'm not rehearsing. Then I was
like you good, and I'm like, man, this is so
crazy because I really payd here. I was doing lock
ups here, I was getting yelled out here, yelled at
here because during the lockups, some of the makeup people
felt entitled. I'm like, no, you can't come through, and
then they come through anyway, and I can't touch you
because then that's a whole other thing. So now I'm
(38:20):
on the walk, You're getting cussed out and whooped you whoop,
and I'm like I tried to tell her and now
it's just like it was just brought me back to experience.
Was like, that's kind of why you did that, you
know what I'm saying. So you can be here and
be like I would never do that. And at the time, Keisha,
who was one of our makeup ladies, her son was
a PA, Johnny, and it was great because he was
there and I was just kind of in this moment
(38:43):
and I was explaining to everybody the moment and afterwards
he was as a PA. He came to me, He's like, Bro,
that was really moving because a PA, I know that
you started there and like I can do anything.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (38:53):
And I was like, that's love, bro, because like I don't.
I don't do this to be like hey, just so
you know, there's the less guys, I don't do it.
I just it's just experienced, you know. And I just
I'm I love to share my experience, you know. And
I think going back to kind of your point about
like how you treat people. Man, it's like as a PA,
(39:16):
like I have so much respect for him because I
was a PA. So like I'm the type of person
that like when they ask me for stuff, now, if
they on my head, like you got to be on
set right now, I'll be like, okay, yeah, key, please
give me that water. Damn. I really appreciate it. But
if they usually come up to me and ask me
for stuff, I'll just be like tell me where it is,
Like I got time, I ain't doing nothing, you know
what I'm saying, like, so I've always acted that way,
(39:36):
and then when people treat certain pas a certain way,
or whenever I see like actors trying to act a
certain way, I'm just like, you're a whack. Like you're
laying because when my mom always say you get more
bees on honey. Anyway, anyways, and then Samuel Jackson said
something I don't want to misquote him, but he said,
don't step on the He said, don't step on the
toes today, for they can be the ass that you
(39:59):
have to kiss tomorrow. And I was like, that's the
really ship for real. And I heard a story about
Jackie Harry whose sister sister and Mama. She was telling
a story and she was saying that basically she was
really mean. She did one movie back in the eighties
or something like that she was really mean to this
one male guy, like just being a diva or whatever.
(40:22):
Later on she finds out that that same guy it's
Kenya Barris, and so he had told her like you was, yeah,
I worked on your movie back in the day and
you were addicted to me. And she was like, well,
oh my god, I don't know. So you just don't
know because I was the PA. Then now people are like,
oh my god, and I'm like, you don't have to
do all that. I am just a regular dude. And
(40:45):
so it's just real because you don't know who's gonna
be what, who's running what race, and what journey who's on.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
So and I will say this, you carry yourself on
set like a professional.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
It's a pleasure to work with you.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
Likewise, just the energy you bring, your personality right like
it it's NonStop laughter and relationships and how you guys
all get along with each other. Man, it makes going
to work fun. And I tell people this all the time,
like I've had a lot of success in my life
(41:20):
and I've worked too hard to now take a job
where I work with people I don't like.
Speaker 5 (41:24):
Yeah, man, that's real, you know what I'm saying, Like,
I don't have to.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
Take a job where I don't want to be there
and coming to work every day long days. But with
you guys, it's it's amazing.
Speaker 5 (41:38):
Man.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
It's a testament to how you were raised. I got
to meet your mom, put her in my put her
in our episode of season two, right, you know what
I mean? Just working with good people, it just makes
work fun. It's not work for me. Like I like
to say, I didn't work. I haven't since I've been
(41:59):
an adult. I haven't worked a day in my life. Man.
Speaker 5 (42:02):
If you love what you do, you never work.
Speaker 1 (42:05):
To a pair of what he had to say, We're
gonna wrap things up, man.
Speaker 4 (42:07):
But before I met you, I was a fan of
Jazz like I love the character.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
Like I said.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
Now that I met you and I talked to you
for the last thirty minutes or whatnot, Man, I'm.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
A fan of Jordan.
Speaker 5 (42:19):
Thank you. Man.
Speaker 4 (42:19):
I'm a fan of you as a person, man, and
I'm rooting for you and anything that you're in.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Man.
Speaker 4 (42:23):
I'm always going to support and I pray that our
viewers got something out of this too, man, because continue
that attitude, man, continue to stay humble, continue to stay
brilliant in what you do. Brother, and uh, you're going
to have a long, successful career in whatever you decided.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
Thank you. I really appreciate you, man.
Speaker 1 (42:36):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (42:38):
Of course, yes, any time.
Speaker 4 (42:39):
And it's genuine. It's still love, man, it's real love
this guy right here. But now you're one of my guys.
Speaker 5 (42:45):
Love man. I appreciate you, man, absolutely serious.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
Jordan Jones. Man, Jordan L. Jones.
Speaker 5 (42:52):
You know, I gotta keep the L. I'm going off
of Michael B. Jordan and Samuel Jackson because those are
normal names. Michael and Jordan's. Samuel Jackson is the most
common name. He put that. Whenever you hear that common
name him, Jordan Jordan Jones is pretty common.
Speaker 1 (43:08):
I like that, Jordan. Oh you mean Jordan L. Joe
Jordan L. Jones.
Speaker 4 (43:12):
Yeah, distinguished, bro, We're gonna be hearing a lot of
that name over the years to come. Man, everything not
just acting, but behind the camera as was. I know
things happened for you every there. Thanks hanging out with us.
Speaker 5 (43:22):
Man, Thank you so much, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
I appreciate you. Man. It's another episode of the Done
There Been That podcast.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
Remember subscribe like let us know what you think. We
are here for you, always keeping real and genuine.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
Man. We'll see you next week, y'all.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
This is the inflection collective part for a connected, reflective perspective,
respected defensive sh no captains, big facts of kick back.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Just here for Sunda
Hosts And Creators
Mike Hill
Eunice Elliott
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