Exclusive: Jacob Latimore talks Black NativityPosted by Wilson Morales
November 26, 2013
Coming out this week in the musical film, ‘Black Nativity,’ directed by Kasi Lemmons and starring Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Tyrese Gibson, Jacob Latimore, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Luke James, and Grace Gibson.
In a contemporary adaptation of Langston Hughes’ celebrated play, “Black Nativity” follows Langston (Jacob Latimore), a street-wise teen from Baltimore raised by a single mother, as he journeys to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives Reverend Cornell and Aretha Cobbs (Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett). Unwilling to live by the imposing Reverend Cobbs’ rules, a frustrated Langston is determined to return home to his mother, Naima (Jennifer Hudson). Langston embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey and along with new friends, and a little divine intervention, he discovers the true meaning of faith, healing, and family.
For Latimore, the role is a breakout for the young Milwaukee, WI native. He was also featured in “Vanishing on 7th Street,” a post-apocalyptic film that starred Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton and John Leguizamo. He also has a strong following in the music world, where being a R&B artist on RCA Records, his music videos for “Like ‘Em All,”“Nothing on Me” and “You Come First” have been seen more than 16 million times on YouTube.
Blackfilm.com spoke exclusively with Latimore has he spoke about his role in ‘Nativity,’ working with this amazing cast and his upcoming film, ‘Maze Runner.’
First big role. How do you feel about that?
Jacob Latimore: Oh, man, it’s awesome. Actually this is my second film. I was happy I got some experience in beforehand. My first film I did was called ‘Vanishing on 7th Street’ with Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton, and John Leguizamo. A great experience. It was an awesome film. But this film, right here, I feel like this is my break-in role and I’m really, really excited about it. Amazing cast. Amazing message, as well. I’m happy.
How did you go about getting the role?
JL: Well, actually a producer (Celine Rattray) that worked on my first film is actually working on this one, as well, ‘Black Nativity’. She just recommended my name for the audition. So I just put myself on tape and really just gave it may all, like I do every audition. I try to do every audition. And, yeah, it was successful.
Had you heard of the story growing up? This is a film based on a well traditional story.
JL: Right. Well, I think I’ve heard of the story of Christ being born. But I had never knew about how Langston Hughes wanted to portray it. I never knew he wanted to do like an African American cast, you know what I’m saying? And I knew of the name but I never really knew of his work. So this film definitely helped me out as far as getting into character and really just doing my homework. I think a lot of his poetry, a lot of his spirit is actually carried through the film. I think that is sort of like a character. Even Harlem the environment is it’s own character. It definitely set the tone in the film, I think.
How much challenge did you put on yourself, knowing that you had to carry this film?
JL: You know what? Actually it was just…I think it comes with a great cast. When you have a great cast and great actors you can’t really help but get into character. When you have Forest and Angela, who are so on top of their game and such legendary people in the film game, you can’t help but just get in front of that camera and really feel because the connection is in the air. That force is in the air. And that’s what’s so awesome about a great cast. I knew I had to be on top of my game for them. I was definitely reading my script every night and really just got into the emotion of the script, which was awesome.
You have some emotional scenes with Jennifer Hudson. How was working with her?
JL: She’s incredible. Her voice is unbelievable and was just all up in my face, which is great. It was big. It was beautiful. And she’s amazing person, as well. She sort of reminds me of my own mom. She’s young, beautiful and very strong minded and firm; and that’s really cool.
Talk to me about working with, not only just Jennifer, but with Forest, Angela, Tyrese, some other newcomers, Grace Gibson and Luke James.
JL: Yeah. I think that’s so awesome. Like you said, everybody that’s in the film is not even on the poster. And we have such a great cast. Even Vondie Curtis-Hall, who is Kasi Lemmons, the director’s husband, plays an awesome job in this film. Luke James. Vocals are incredible. Amazing actor, Grace Gibson. She’s amazing, as well. And there’s so much to the film that’s not really put to the forefront. And I think once you see it everything will really come together. And that’s awesome that we are building that bridge between the legends and the newcomers and we bringing them together in one film. That’s awesome.
Not everybody’s aware, you are a singer, as well. Did you do anything different based on the songs they want you to sing?
JL: No, it wasn’t different at all. It was actually just…it was pretty comfortable going into the studio ’cause it’s basically routine. Just really going in there, feeling the emotion and just trying to make the best out of the records, which was really cool to work with Raphael Saadiq who did all the production, all the songwriting. It was incredible. I think it’s so awesome that I’m able to do singing and sort of fit my artistry somehow inside of a film. It’s in a platform I never imagined my singing to even be on. It’s awesome.
What do you prefer to do more, singing or acting?
JL: Music is my first love. I don’t turn down any acting opportunity at all. I feel like it can do nothing but be great and be awesome. So I have to say, music is my first love. I have a little bit more love for that because I’ve been doing that my whole entire life. I just started acting about maybe three years ago.
You have another film that got pushed back to next year, ‘The Maze Runner’.
JL: Oh, I’m so sad about that pushback. Because I was on a role. I was ‘Black Nativity’. And I’m also going to be in a cameo of Kevin Hart’s new movie ‘Ride Along’ with Ice Cube. So that was coming out in January. And then ‘Maze Runner’ was coming out in February. And I was like, ‘I’m just going to be everywhere, you know.’ But I think it’s still going to be nice. And I’m really, really excited for that film. Amazing cast, as well. A lot of great up and coming new actors. Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Dylan O’Brien, who actually carried this film. He worked hard every day. Dexter Darden, Randall Cunningham, Aml Ameen. Oh my God. It’s a crazy cast.
What role are you playing?
JL: In ‘The Maze Runner’ I play, actually I play a much smaller role in the novel of the film. I feel like my character is brought more to the forefront in the film, which is so awesome that Wes Ball was actually able to sort of fit that in for me in my sort of like ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ kinda character in the film. But I play a Med Jack, which is also sort of slang for some type of medical attention person. Whenever the guys who were some of the characters of the ‘Maze Runners’ were going out and trying to figure out ways to get out of the maze and fix it, you had those supernatural creatures that would come out at night. Sometimes they would have to face those forces. We would have to just sort of give them attention and give them that proper like healing that they needed. I think that was really cool to do.
This is the year of Black cinema. We’re seeing a lot of new faces to the screen. What do you want to do next?
JL: I just want tokeep balancing out the music and my film career. Through RCA, I have an official single out at the top of the year which I’m really, really excited about. But I also released a free online mix tape called ‘This is Me Volume 2’. It’s a part two version from the part one I did last year. I just decided to do it again because I haven’t really put out that much music since my latest single, ‘You Come First’, which is about a year and a half ago. I just wanted people to see my growth and hear the maturity in my voice. Because these films can have me away from…so idle from my music for so long because I’m going months at a time. I shot two films this year. I was basically filming this whole year and I just wanted people to hear the music and just keep balancing it out.
Actor/ singers who have made it work include Jared Leto and Jamie Foxx.
JL: I feel like Justin Timberlake’s doing great, too; and he was a singer first.
What keeps you grounded when you’re not singing or acting?
JL: I think it’s always remembering where I come from and always visiting home. I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I moved to LA when I was about eleven years old. I always go back to Milwaukee whenever I can. Just chill with my grandpa and my grandmother and just be with family, be with people that were there before I got a million views on YouTube because of my music video. Or before I was on ‘106 & Park’ or things like that. I think that’s just so awesome to have those friends that are there just to keep you like, ‘Jake you’re going to far to the left. Come back to the center.’ And that’s awesome.
How was shooting in New York?
JL: Oh, it was awesome. It was cold. It was cold filming in New York. But actually, I’ve never stayed in New York for so long. I’ve always went for a day or two and I would be out. But I have to say, New York definitely, it was rough. It was rough out there.
But you’re from Milwaukee.
JL: No, no. No, but, no, taking the cabs and going through the subways. That’s a different story. Walking everywhere, that’s a different story. Milwaukee, you hop in a car, turn the heat on, and you drive. But it definitely was a great experience. I loved it. I think, like I said, I think it set the tone of the film. I think if it was anywhere else the film would’ve been completely different.
What’s a good reason to see ‘Black Nativity’?
JL: You should go see ‘Black Nativity’ because of the message. It’s about a broken family coming together and I think that’s so common. Families are so broken nowadays and it can leave the person or whoever’s family it is lost. They don’t have anybody to guide them. And Langston is one of those lost troubled kids. And he needs…he doesn’t have a father figure. His mom has been teaching him how to be a man. And I think it’s gonna teach people how to learn forgiveness, as well, because Langston holds a grudge or his mother holds a grudge against his grandparents. But Langston wants to bring that together because he’s young and he’s growing up and he wants his family together. He wants to know them. I think the message I wanna send to people out there is just forgive anybody for whatever reason because family’s the only thing that you have right now.
