DeJuan Ford has spent a decade quietly stacking credits more than 140 productions, over 40 as executive producer while the rest of the world was still catching up. Now, with Return of the Mack: Back for the Smoke hitting major streaming platforms, the Detroit native is stepping fully into the spotlight he has long been building toward. As both the lead actor and executive producer of the film, Ford brings a raw, layered performance to John Golden Mickens III, a reformed man pulled back into a dangerous world when his daughter becomes a victim of human trafficking. The role demanded everything from him not just as an actor, but as a father. With festival wins across the country, a landmark distribution deal, and a message rooted in real-world urgency, Ford is proving that Detroit’s independent film scene has something serious to say.
How did you get your start in acting, and what led you to this film?
I always had a passion for acting. I was in school plays in elementary and middle school growing up. Being from Detroit, the dream of becoming an actor felt kind of far-fetched we didn’t really see making it to Hollywood or New York as something attainable.
I was doing a podcast and interviewed Thomas L. Harris and Martel Lane of Moolah Films. At the time, they were shooting McGraw Ave, Season 1. I said I wanted to come out and check it out, even just as an extra. They invited me the following week and I got bit by the bug. I took countless classes and have been a part of over 140 productions not just here in Detroit, but Atlanta, LA, Vegas, New York, Chicago, all through Ohio, down south. It’s been a long 10-year journey, but we’re here right now, so it’s definitely a blessing.
Tell us about Golden and what the emotional entry point was for you stepping into this character.
Brian Freeman, Jamie Freeman, and Jay Skillz we all sat at a roundtable and came up with this story. When we decided to make Golden a more reformed individual after he came out of prison, and then added the element of his daughter being involved in the human trafficking piece of it I have an 11-year-old daughter, and that really put me in the space. It was initially tough for me to even fathom that thought, but I took it and put it on screen. I really tapped into my inner dad throughout this film. Everybody that’s watched it so far loves the message, the story, the acting everything.
How did the concept for the film come about?
Brian Freeman has been my CPA for about six years. He’s like my big brother, my uncle, a father figure. He’s done my taxes because I’ve EP’d over 40 films. For the past three or four years, Brian kept saying he wanted to shoot a movie, and then in the spring of 2024 he said, “I got an idea, this is what we’re gonna do.” From that point on, the rest is history.
We wanted to take some elements of the original film, but we really wanted to send a message. We didn’t want it to just be about pimping, guns, and violence. We wanted to address human trafficking, and I loved the idea.
At its core, this is a story about a father trying to make things right. How did you tap into that urgency in your performance?
My style of acting pulls from an authenticity standpoint. I studied different things, talked to people victims of human trafficking. I really went in-depth to tap into different emotions. There was a non-profit here in Detroit that helps victims of human trafficking, and I had an opportunity to speak with a few young ladies. That really allowed me to bring this character to life.
There were some brutal scenes in the film. Where did you pull from to bring that side of Golden out?
It really came from the whole thought of what’s going on in the world and how so many women are victims of human trafficking. I went into it as if it were someone I cared about. I tapped into my inner Detroit, my inner protector, and I was able to bring it to life.
Did you see Golden as a man seeking redemption or survival or are those one and the same?
I think it was more so redemption. Golden really didn’t want to be a pimp. He was kind of forced into the lifestyle because he’s just a natural protector. It was in his bloodline, but it wasn’t anything he actually wanted to do. And even when he went to jail the reason he went was because he was being a protector. He went into a hotel to protect one of his women, and that got him locked up for 10 years, taken away from his daughter. Then his daughter became a victim. Even though in his mind he was doing that young lady justice, he was still making mistakes. Golden’s character has layers, and I really hope people sit down, watch it, and study what his mindset was throughout the film.
What do you hope fathers specifically Black men take away from Golden’s journey?
For every action you do, you have to pay the consequence behind it, whether big or small. I’m living proof of that, and I teach my kids that. You have to be conscious of what you do, because it has a consequence. Sometimes as men we have to swallow our pride and tuck that ego in.
Brian Freeman always says: if you ever do anything based on any emotion besides love, it’s ego. That message really resonated with me. You might be angry, feel disrespected and that ego will cause you to do something that ends up costing you or somebody you care about. Check it in, think about it, and really consider whose life you’re impacting. It’s not just your own.
How important was it to ground this story in truth versus entertainment?
Initially, I wasn’t even going to play Golden. But once we put the story together and the message became clear human trafficking. I really wanted to use my platform in the independent film world to say something. A lot of our content is just trauma without a message. I was grateful to have Brian, Jamie, and Jay Skillz write a story that is entertaining but also meaningful. As a community, we’re all just living day by day, chasing the dollar, and we miss a lot of things that are important in life.
Detroit is a powerful backdrop in this film. How does the city shape the narrative and the stakes?
Detroit is built on grit. We constantly grind. When you’re born and raised here, there’s a certain for lack of a better term stigma. But we’re very unique individuals. We always say if you can survive Detroit, you can survive anywhere. I’ll be 40 years old next month, and just seeing guys I grew up with become fathers, businessmen, and really successful people because we fought through a lot that’s what this film reflects. A lot of characters in it show the different trials and tribulations of being a Detroit citizen.
You’re also the executive producer. How did having that role change how you approached the film?
A lot of times when I executive produce, I like to delegate. I didn’t have creative control on this project that was Brian, Jamie, and Jay Skillz. From the wardrobe to the beard to everything, it was all them.
I’m not a jack-of-all-trades type of guy. I like to act and invest in films. I trust my team to put out a great project. Just because I like something doesn’t mean the majority will. I’ve loved projects I thought were hits that weren’t, and I’ve scratched my head over projects that blew up. Brian and Jamie told me what was needed financially, I sent it over, and my main focus was solely on Golden Mickens the character.
Why did it take time to release the film, and what does it mean to bring this story out on your own terms?
In the independent film world, a lot of people rush to put projects out. We decided to go a different route given the production value and the message being sent. We went the film festival route we won awards in Vegas, Virginia, Atlanta, Miami. I think we won over 13 or 14 awards total.
We also signed a distribution deal with Quiver Distribution. This is the first time I’m aware of an independent film from Detroit signing an actual distribution deal. The editing process alone took four or five months. We wanted to do this on our own time and do it our way.
Being in the independent film industry means we don’t have to answer to anybody. Whatever story we want to put out, we have the power to do so. Versus being placed in a box and told what message to push that’s really powerful. We hold a lot of weight, and we have to utilize it in a positive way.
What’s next for you?
My goal is to keep elevating, keep getting better, keep making a difference. In the summertime, I have a five-week program funded by the Balmer Group and United Way a summer enrichment program with math, reading, and a film production component. We’re going to offer students K through 10th grade an opportunity to be an actor, editor, director, or writer. That’s really my goal to give back to the youth and keep elevating our independent film culture here in Detroit and all over the world.
We initially had capacity for 200 students. We got such an overwhelming response that we’re now at 2,500 people and are opening six more locations.
Return of the Mack: Back for the Smoke is available now on Apple TV, Amazon, Dish Network, Xfinity, and other major platforms. Follow DeJuan Ford on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @DeJuanFord for updates on the film and his summer youth program.
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