Exclusive: Five Questions With Beyonce’s Choreographer Frank Gatson

BOSSIP: What was it like working with Michael Jackson?

Gatson: “My favorite story was when Michael’s mom came to set. She was eating popcorn – you know how when you’re eating popcorn, and salt gets on your fingers? And you do like this to get it off (rubs his fingers together.) She did that. And I knew I could make it. I said, ‘My mom does that.’ And then I knew they were black folks just like me. And then I got to know Michael, and he was that brother. He was that guy from Gary, Indiana. He was nice, he was humble, he was sweet. He could work his butt off. I learned from him that when it was time to do wardrobe, have the wardrobe in the room so you can feel the outfit, and stylize with it. ‘Frank, where’s the hats? Where’s the jackets?’ So it was incredible. I’m so fortunate to have done that.”

BOSSIP: What was your most memorable time filming “Chasing Destiny”?

Gatson: “Episode four. It didn’t stick out in my mind when we did it. I just saw it recently, and the end, the last seven minutes of it is just absolute magic. In episode four, we decided not to have any dialogue. We just let the girls sing back to back, one by one. And it’s so organic. I mean it’s magical. I’ve watched it three times now, and a tear comes at the same time at the same place.”

BOSSIP: Tell us about this new all girls group.

Gatson: “Six episodes in, you’ll see who it is, and you’ll see us get right into working with them. And also I think they’re going to let me direct a video of theirs, so that should be fun. We do have one single that LA (Reid) likes, we don’t have a name yet though.”

This interview was edited for space and clarity.

“Chasing Destiny” premieres April 5 at 9 p.m. on BET.