[BlackTree TV - Los Angeles] The Queen of R&B, Mary J. Blige, sits down with Jamaal Finkley to discuss her role in the upcoming musical of the century, Rock of Ages. In this interview, Mary discusses challenges posed in covering Journey's Anyway you Want it, We also briefly discuss the controversy surrounding a commercial she decided to be a part of, and was the criticism fair. Check out this exclusive interview plus a clip from one of her performances in Rock of Ages.
While Patricia Whitmore threatens to forever alter life on the Strip, Justice, owner of the Venus Gentlemen's Club, makes her living on it. A woman who has paved her own way, she literally picks Sherrie up when she's at her lowest, a place Justice has undoubtedly been herself.
Mary J. Blige, who plays her, offers, "Justice sees herself in Sherrie. She's been down that road, she's been in that alley crying over some guy, and she understands this young girl's self-esteem is fragile. So, in the kind of place where some people would look at women as powerless, Justice's goal is to make them strong, to show them how to take their power back from the place that it was lost in their life."
"Mary J. is an unbelievable artist; there isn't anything she can't sing. She can roll out of bed and hit any note you throw at her," Grant says. "And she's a sweet, lovely person on top of it. I think Adam would've had her in every scene if he could have."
The style of dance in the movie is a departure for Michaels, who enjoyed combining sexuality and humor in several numbers. "This film required a lot of exploration and breaking down walls for me, both professionally and personally," she reveals. "I wanted to allow the experience to roll right through me, and it did. The result was very primal and raw, just like the music of the time."
Shankman recalls, "There was a point during the shooting of 'Any Way You Want It' at the Venus Club when Mia looked at me and said, 'What have I done?' I said to her, 'You've delivered.'"
That scene alone involved Mary J. Blige, Julianne Hough, 18 dancers, five "pole specialists," and a room full of extras playing patrons of the club. Hough, herself a professional dancer and choreographer, states, "Mia is one of the best. Even though we have very different styles—I'm more of a feminine, sexy dancer and she calls herself 'Amazon woman' and incorporates bigger, stronger moves—it was so much fun to combine the two for this film. She brought so much strength to the women's performances."
Catherine Zeta-Jones, who, as Shankman points out, is the only actor in decades to win an Oscar® for a performance in a movie musical, was equally thrilled to work with Michaels. "Dancers have a special language," the actress says, "and building a close bond with someone of her caliber is so extraordinary. She's very specific in her dance moves, and when you open yourself up and let yourself into her vibe, it's almost cathartic. I enjoyed every minute working with her."
A BlackTree Media Production
Segment Journalist/ Producer Jamaal Finkley
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