KeiLyn Durrel Jones on Playing Bill Bray, Michael Jackson’s Real-Life Bodyguard in Michael

[00:00:08] KeiLyn, thank you for joining me today on Pop Culture Unplugged. Awesome man, thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here. Five times my friend. Michael, just a few days away. How excited are you? Dude, I'm so jazzed. I can't even tell you. I just got in last night from the Berlin fan experience. So if that's any litmus test to how it's going to be, it's going to be next level. I'm really excited for people to see the movie more than anything. How excited were you as an actor to get a role like this too? We see you as Bill Bray in the movie.

[00:00:38] Yeah, I'd say a literal dream come true. You know, when I got the initial audition, it was right around the time of like the actor strikes and the writer strikes when that whole thing was going on. And so it was just another self-tape that I had. And then 10, 11, 12 months later, I got the call that Graham King and Antoine Fuqua wanted to meet me. And I was speechless. You know, it was a literal dream come true, like I said.

[00:01:04] But, you know, like how could you, why would you say like he's an important figure in Michael Jackson's life? Bill Bray. You said why? Yeah, like explain to us why he's such an important figure. Oh, I see. Yeah. Well, you know, I think Bill Bray is such an important figure because he was, you know, this sort of avuncular pseudo father figure, paternal sort of energy that, you know, sure, he worked for the Jackson 5 and he was the head of security and things like this.

[00:01:31] But he and Michael built their own rapport. And ultimately, he was just a safe haven, a place where Michael could just sort of be full stop. You know what I mean? He didn't have to be a performer, a dancer, a writer, a son, a brother or any of these things. He could just sort of be and, you know, sit in his wants, needs, desires, fears, you know, and not worry about any be protected as well. You know, when you were doing research for the for this character, well, not because he's a real person, but like what stood out for you the most about Bill?

[00:02:02] Well, it was funny because when I was doing my research, I looked up all these pictures, not a whole lot of footage of Bill out there, but there's plenty of pictures because he was always with Michael. You know what I mean? Whether it be Disneyland or some toy store or traveling the world on an airplane, Princess Diana, Motown 25, whatever the case may be. And many of the photos that I saw in my research were photos that I was familiar with, you know, but I realized in the past that if you're if you're looking at a picture of Michael Jackson, you're looking at Michael Jackson.

[00:02:31] But when I was looking for Bill Bray, it was all these pictures that I had already seen. It's just I never noticed Bill Bray because before I signed on to this film, I had no idea who Bill Bray was, if I'm being totally honest. You mentioned the father figure earlier, too. Like, how did you approach portraying that emotion of bond between Bill and Michael? Yeah, that's a great question, man. You know, I'm not a father myself, but I am an uncle. I've been an uncle for most of my life and I grew up with just my dad and my brothers, you know what I mean?

[00:02:58] And so I'm very aware or keen to that sort of energy, that sort of avuncular male, you know, paternal energy. And I just sort of tapped into that. You know, a lot of strong men raised me. I'm in a fraternity and I look up to those guys. So I've been fortunate to have many mentors. So honestly, I just sort of borrowed bits and pieces from from those sort of exchanges that I've had my whole life and leaned into that.

[00:03:23] Was there a specific scene or like something that you read in the script or you saw that the trust between Michael and Bill had with each other as an actor? Yeah, there's two scenes that come to mind. One is the toy. Have you seen the film? Yeah. Yeah, the toy store moment, you know, where they're sort of just joking around and playing pranks on each other. They were famous for that. You know, Bill and Michael were always joking around.

[00:03:50] Everyone that I met along the way, Bill and Michael were always together, always playing pranks on each other. But also, you know, in a more serious, caring, loving moment when Michael is having that sort of meeting with his family and he storms out of the house and just sort of needs to get away from it all. And Bill's there for him. He doesn't ask any questions. Hey, are you OK? None of these things. He just says, where do you need to go? And then, you know, when we cut to them on the side of the mountain by the Hollywood sign and they're just chatting and that Bill's just listening. He's just there for him and listening. And he speaks up eventually and puts his two cents in.

[00:04:19] But he doesn't, you know, insist on anything or, you know, pound it down his throat or anything. He just he just is there for him and is as a sounding board. How did you build that chemistry with you and Jafar that plays Michael? It was really I mean, oh, man, Jafar is such a sweet man just to be around. You know, he's a hard worker and his work ethic is incredible. He's obviously very, very talented. But when you're on set, there's a lot of downtime. And so initially it was just two colleagues getting to know each other. You know what I mean?

[00:04:48] And we quickly learned that we have a lot in common. I mean, I'm not a golfer like in the way that Jafar is, but my father is, you know, and we both love movies and things like this. And so, you know, we would go away for the weekend and come back and talk about the movies that we had seen. And in quick turn, we start to like sort of play little pranks on each other. And people would point out outside. Like, it's not something we set out to do or did intentionally, but people just sort of set out and say, oh, you guys are just it's very similar. The dynamic, the rapport was very similar.

[00:05:18] Coincidentally, serendipitously, magically, however you want to phrase it, you know. Do you guys give pointers to each other or any like advice filming this? No, I don't think so. I mean, I feel like that can be a little taboo with actors to give each other notes and things like this. But we talked about movies or suggestions, you know, in that way, but not as far as performance or anything like this. The movie touches a lot of like challenges of like global fame for Michael pretty much. How does Bill help Michael navigate through the chaos, you think?

[00:05:45] I think he just gives him permission to embrace his own creative and personal independence, you know. And that was what Michael ultimately wanted. You know, he loves his family very much and obviously worked with his family very well, jived with them very well. But also he like he says in the movie, he has all these ideas that he needs to get out. And Bill just sort of encouraged him to be true to himself. You mentioned the director earlier. How was it working with Antoine? Oh, man. Antoine Fuqua has has directed some of my favorite films.

[00:06:15] He's worked with a lot of my favorite actors. And needless to say, he's one of my favorite directors. So working with him again, not to, you know, overuse this phrase, but it was a literal dream come true. And I just was in awe of watching him work, you know, because as a director, you sort of have to be the quarterback, the head coach and the general manager all in one. And he was he did that seamlessly. It was incredible.

[00:06:39] And, you know, just the fact that it was him, you know, somebody that I admired for so long for most of my career. And then just, you know, working with him every day. Dream come true. Has he said anything to you about maybe coming down and work with him again? Because sometimes you get that relationship with certain directors. We've sort of danced around it and talked about it. I would be honored to work with him in any capacity again. And I hope that I do. I hope that at least I hope that I am I have a fan in him, you know, and I know that he trusted me on set.

[00:07:09] So, yeah, I could see us working together again. I'm manifesting that. I'm putting it out there. So the film recreates, you know, iconic moments for Michael. Also, was there a specific scene that as you as an actor, but also as a fan that you were like in awe when you saw it? I got to tell you. Well, A of all, it was a testament to the authenticity the filmmakers were trying to capture. But the night that we redid the thriller video, because we were at the same location where they shot the original thriller video.

[00:07:39] And it was this big full moon. We did these two back to back overnights. A lot of the crew was dressed up in these crazy costumes. And the energy was just like it was just so alive. And to watch the zombies, you know, we had Rich and Tone, the two choreographers, the makeup team. It was just really incredible. Like, I don't have words to describe. You got to see the movie to really feel it. But shooting it on those nights was the energy was so electric. I have an eight year old son.

[00:08:08] He loves thriller, especially during Halloween, too. That's all he wants to listen to. Yeah. We, I mean, I grew up watching thriller and I was terrified, but also couldn't look away. You know what I mean? But then, and it's all every year around Halloween, you know, you throw on thriller. And then soon after it's time for Michael Jackson. I mean, the Jackson 5 Christmas music. You know what I mean? Right, right. It's like, you know, the film explores the people who stood beside Michael throughout his journey.

[00:08:34] For you, like, what do you hope the audience takes away about Bill Bray's importance in the story and his journey with Michael? Yeah, just that he was somewhere, someone with whom Michael could just feel safe and feel protected and really be himself. You know what I mean? And have that sort of haven, you know? What do you think, if Bill could see, because he passed away in 2006, I think, 2005, around there. 2005, 2006, somewhere around there. Yeah, like, if he could see the film, what do you think he would feel about the way you portrayed it?

[00:09:04] What are you hoping he would feel? I hope he would feel honored. I mean, aside from, you know, doing a good job as an actor, my main goal was to honor the man himself, you know? Because, obviously, Michael Jackson is an icon. But to be someone who supported that and protected that, I just wanted to do him justice and to play him, you know, with honor. Did any family member of his have the chance to watch the film, to give you feedback or anything? I don't know. No, I haven't been in contact with the family, unfortunately.

[00:09:34] I'm curious about that, because sometimes that happens throughout films. That's why I was asking. Sure, yeah. Last question. What do you hope, like, the audience gets out of this film when they tune in? I mean, dude, those concert scenes are just incredible. You got, first of all, you got to see it on the biggest screen. You can see it on, you know, firstly.

[00:09:52] But I think, because I never got to see Michael in concert, but seeing those concert scenes on the biggest screen with the sound system and things like this, I imagine as close as we can get to watching and seeing it live, you know? But also the in-between, you know, just those heartfelt nuances of Michael in pursuit of his own creative vision and things like that. Getting to know the man behind the icon. I can't wait to see what happens with this movie. It's actually released to the public. What about you now next?

[00:10:22] Anything else you're allowed to tell us about that you're coming up, you're working on? I'm just chipping away, man. I'm hoping this leads, you know, I'm excited for people to see this movie. You know, that's the main thing I'm excited for. And wherever it takes me next, I'm ready. I want to thank you for giving me a few minutes today. This was great. We'll have to get you back on. I'm curious to see what happens with you next. I would love that, brother. Thank you. Thanks for your time.