Photo: Aaron J. Thornton/FilmMagic
If there’s anyone suited to tell a love story, you’d think it’d be heartthrobMichael B. Jordan.
“I’ve usually kind of strayed away from love stories in the past,” Jordan tells Paula Ngon of:BLACKPRINT, the Black employee affinity group forMeredith Corporation. Citing his age and life experiences as deterrents, Jordan adds that he feared he couldn’t “tap into real emotions in that type of way that could really connect with the character.”
It’s a love story cut short (King was killed in action in 2006), but one that’s filled with all the hope, emotion and beauty of a forever kind of love. The film’s title refers to the journal Dana — who was pregnant at the time — gave Charles just before he left on active duty. Charles filled the journal with messages and advice for their son.
“I journal a lot,” Jordan tells Ngon. “So understanding the thought process behind leaving words and lessons in a journal for somebody to read later, I just love the idea of that. I connect with that personally.”
Having Canedy and her son as his “North star” guiding him through the tough moments and emotions really helped Jordan “tap into Charles”, he says. “And then, you have a phenomenal talent and icon inDenzel Washingtonas our leader and director. It was a dream to always work with him.”
But the most rewarding part of being able to tell a story like this, Jordan and Canedy agree, is the messaging behind it.
“I needed to do something with my grief,” Canedy says. “And I’ve always said to my son, ‘When you have difficult moments in life, you can do something positive or negative.'”
Both theBlack Pantherstar and Canedy want viewers to leave the film with a sense of hope and optimism about the time and life they have left. To “love the people that are with you while they’re here,” the actor says. “And when you come out of the theater, hug them tighter,” adds Canedy.
A Journal for Jordanopens in theaters December 25.
source: people.com
