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Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station - If you're not already familiar with rapidly rising star Michael B. Jordan, it's a good bet that you will be soon. Following memorable television series roles on shows like "The Wire" and "Friday Night Lights," Jordan has successfully transitioned to the big screen, starring in projects like "Red Tails" and "Chronicle." Now Jordan takes on full leading man status in writer/director Ryan Coogler's "Fruitvale Station"—a true, harrowing examination of the death of 22-year-old Oakland resident Oscar Grant.

The winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival, "Fruitvale Station" examines Grant's life in his final hours, painting a picture of a man who, despite his faults, is desperate to pull his life together and to become a better father and son.

Tribute.ca spoke with Jordan via satellite from Los Angeles about working on such an emotionally-draining film and what he has coming up next.

Fruitvale Station movie synopsis:

This is the true story of Oscar, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and feels something in the air. Not sure what it is, he takes it as a sign to get a head start on his resolutions: being a better son to his mother, whose birthday falls on New Year's Eve, being a better partner to his girlfriend, who he hasn't been completely honest with as of late, and being a better father to T, their beautiful four-year-old daughter.

He starts out well, but as the day goes on, he realizes that change is not going to come easy. He crosses paths with friends, family, and strangers, each exchange showing us that there is much more to Oscar than meets the eye. But it would be his final encounter of the day, with police officers at the Fruitvale BART station that would shake the Bay Area to its very core, and cause the entire nation to be witnesses to the story of Oscar Grant.

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Kevin Durand, Octavia Spencer

In theatres: July 26, 2013

Fruitvale Station movie info: http://www.tribute.ca/movies/fruitvale-station/35802/
Michael B. Jordan bio and filmography: http://www.tribute.ca/people/michael-b-jordan/38933/

Interview by Bonnie Laufer Krebs - © 2013 Tribute Entertainment Media Group