Sometimes, doing an interview can be intimidating. That was not the case with Jasmine B. Johnson and Michael Marcel, stars of Passionflix’s latest adaptation, A Man’s Promise, based on the book by Brenda Jackson. They made me feel like a friend who had known them for a long time. Also, this was the first time I interviewed someone who has the same name as me with the same spelling so that was fun. The time just flew by when I talked to the two of them, and they were both so thoughtful with all of their answers to my questions. In our exclusive interview, we talked about everything from that five-year wait to get the second film to why it’s so important to showcase Black love in such an authentic way.
On that five-year wait to get the second film:
Johnson took the lead on this one and had this to say, “It has been a very interesting journey of being in talks of filming, of the sequel coming year after year after year, so at least for me, by the time it actually came it was kinda like ‘is this real? Is this actually happening?’ So we actually started doing Zoom calls a couple of weeks before we actually started filming. And I think all of us just sharing energy and sharing space again after all of those years; at least, I know for me, it was like we just fell into the rhythm that we knew. Even from the very first film (A Brother’s Honor), there has been something very magnetic about the six humans that are at the helm of these films, so I think coming back into it, once we were in it, we were in it.”
Marcel agreed and elaborated on his experience:
“Same, same. Same, same, but slightly different. I did a couple of events leading up to actually shooting (A Man’s Promise), so two years before, prior to actually shooting, I did an event where they wanted me to be there as the character. And so I started getting into the mindset, and Jeremy (Batiste), who plays Jace, Robert (Christopher Riley), who plays Dalton, we’ve been in constant contact over the last five years, so it was just like we were doing what we’ve been doing. And just jumping right back into it didn’t feel forced or pushed. It was just like, “Yeah, we’re doing this.”
Speaking on that reunion with Johnson, he added, “And because of the dynamic between Caden and Shiloh, I didn’t need to do too much. With Jasmine, it was more like, “Hey Jasmine, how are you doing? You know I still have some beef for you, so we got into a nice rhythm—a nice flow.”
On why it is so important to see Black love presented authentically:
Johnson said, “I’m grateful. I’m grateful. To go back to a previous question, there’s so many different storylines and they’re so full. I think a part of us kinda wishes they had the space of being a series. And each book was a season. Because I feel like that would really fulfill the fans just because there’s so so much in these worlds. But just to be able to tell the stories that we’ve been able to tell is such a gift. It’s such a gift. And just to see how everyone is responding to it I’m just grateful and I’m grateful to Mrs Jackson (Brenda) for allowing me to be a part of the process.”
Marcel piggybacked off Johnson’s response, “This role kind of came out of the blue for me. And I knew that I had to do it justice because of that reason. When shooting the first film, it was like, ‘Okay, whatever level I think I’m at as an actor or performer, I need to step it up at least five times whatever I’m doing.’ That’s why I was so adamant about learning how to play the saxophone…and showing Black love, I had such a great time working with Jasmine and making sure that it wasn’t cheap. Someone said our love scenes were tame…”
Johnson chimed in, “They are.”
Marcel added, “Because of what Passionflix normally does. And I was like, ‘Yeah, but it’s only because it’s more sensual.’ Caden had a lot to cover for. And to just go at it hard-bodies isn’t what I think Shiloh wants. But making sure the love between us wasn’t cheap and raunchy. It was sensual and delicate.”
I couldn’t agree more with Marcel’s take on the love scenes between Caden and Shiloh in A Man’s Promise because everything doesn’t have to be so in your face to show intimate moments. But rest assured, Johnson told us that when we get the third film, Shiloh and Caden’s relationship will kick it up a notch. As I said, talking to Johnson and Marcel was so much fun. I love their banter and the two just have such a natural rapport and warmth. You can see for yourself in our full interview below.
A Man’s Promise is available to stream on Passionflix now.
