New Jersey teen stars in 'Michael' movie as young Tito Jackson
17-year-old Judah Edwards, a student at Seton Hall Prep in South Orange, stars as a young Tito Jackson in "Michael," the newly released biopic about pop icon Michael Jackson.
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A New Jersey high school senior is stepping into the spotlight in the biggest film in the world.
17-year-old Judah Edwards, a student at Seton Hall Prep in South Orange, stars as a young Tito Jackson in "Michael," the newly released biopic about pop icon Michael Jackson.
Edwards says that his manager told him about a role in a "Jackson 5" project, and as he researched the crew, he realized just how big an opportunity it was, and what the project was. After auditioning, call backs, and working with director Antoine Fuqua, he was cast.
"The experience was like something I had never experienced before, because I'd never been on a film set," he said.
In preparing for the role, Edwards said he wanted to go past normal descriptions and really wanted to understand Tito Jackson's personality and relationships within the legendary musical family.
"I really had to do my research and listen to some of the stories that he told, find some old recordings of the brothers interacting," he said. "The biggest thing for me was understanding how he interacts with his brothers, how he interacts with Michael."
The role placed Edwards alongside established actors, like Colman Domingo, and immersed him in portraying one of the most iconic families in music history, a responsibility that almost felt full circle for him.
"I love to act. I love to tell the story. But with the Jacksons, I love Michael Jackson," he said. "If I could put my talent towards telling anybody's story, I would love for it to be his, and then playing a Jackson? I grew up with this CD. It goes from, 'I Want You Back' to 'Billie Jean'. I would play it and dance to it all the time as a kid."
Edwards plans to attend Hampton University after graduation and explore creative work, including acting, producing and writing. All skills he said he was lucky enough to get a first hand experience of on set.
"I'm extremely grateful to be a part of the project, and I'm extremely grateful to be able to have told this story," he said.
