Michael Jackson's Trials

Michael Jackson's Trials

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The Ongoing Trials of The Late Michael Jackson
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts

Friday, January 18, 2008

Depp Wants To Play Jackson

Johnny Depp is reportedly hoping to play Michael Jackson, in a film about the life of Jackson.

Depp is quoted:

"There is still time to play him."

What does that mean?

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Luna To Play Jackson

It is reported that Mexican actor, Diego Luna, will play a young Michael Jackson in a new film directed by Harmony Korine called "Mister Lonely".

The premise of the film is that Luna's character meets Marilyn Monroe (Samantha Morton) in Paris and follows her to a commune in Scotland, where they both meet Charlie Chaplin and Shirley Temple. The action eventually move to Brazil.

Far too plausible!

Monday, November 20, 2006

Jackson To Launch Film Career

Michael Jackson has reportedly decided to give up singing, and instead focus on film making.

Following on from the debacle of his performance of "We Are The World" at the World Music Awards last week, his "sources" are telling the media that he now wants to produce pictures.

Last week's shambles has provoked some public mud slinging. On the one hand Jackson's team are blaming the organisers for the shambles, and allege the Jackson's mike was deliberately cut off after four lines of his song.

Whilst those who actually worked on the event, are laying the blame fairly and squarely on Jackson and his entourage. A backstage hand is quoted as saying:

"You should also know that Michael himself asked for the track to be shortened by four minutes and then he walked on stage late - basically when he felt like it. He is not really an entertainer anymore - and his 'people' are a joke.

A huge team came with him and not one of them had a clue. Celebrities are notorious for being tricky backstage, but in all my 15 years in the biz - this was the worst I have ever seen. Neither the venue or the crew were to blame for anything. MJ gets what he deserves
".

Monday, June 27, 2005

Jackson Documentary

Digital Classics share price rose by 10% today, as investors took heart from the company's proposed documentary about Michael Jackson.

The company issued a statement:

"Management is currently aggressively marketing the production and is in discussions with six U.S. television channels, three of which are major U.S. networks,"

It made the Jackson documentary in 2003, but could only finish the film after the end of the trial.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Fallout

Martin Bashir, the journalist who fronted the infamous 2003 documentary about Michael Jackson, now faces the possibility of a lawsuit from Michael Jackson.

Jackson began legal moves against Bashir and Granada, which made the documentary, in 2003 claiming breach of confidence.

It was claimed that Bashir broke a promise to allow Jackson to vet the programme before it was broadcast.

Jackson also said Bashir reneged on an agreement not to film his children without the masks they wear in public. A High Court action was due to start in late 2003, but was halted after Jackson was arrested and charged with child abuse.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Rude Bastards

Witnesses in the Michael Jackson trial are painting a picture of the Arvizo family as being a bunch of rude, demanding bastards.

The witnesses certainly didn't feel that the Arvizos looked like they were being held hostage.

Seemingly "f--king Cheetos" were one of the Arvizo's more pressing concerns, during their sojourn at Neverland.

The witnesses included an ex-spa owner, a local dentist and a former Neverland kitchen worker.

Carole McCoy, the spa owner, said that Janet Arvizo didn't appear to be a kidnap victim the day she visited her salon for brow wax, lip wax, face wax, leg wax and bikini wax. The costs of this overhaul to the Arvizo body came it at $140.

Needless to say the account differs with that provided by Janet Arvizo, who claimed that she only had a leg wax.

Additionally Janet had said that a camera crew had trailed her to the appointment; McCoy said that she saw no cameras.

Neither, oddly enough, did Janet say that she was being held prisoner during her waxing.

Security guard Shane Meredith testified that he caught Gavin Arvizo and his younger brother with a half-empty bottle of wine. Maid Maria Gomez said she found porn mags in a backpack that she believed belonged to Gavin's brother.

Ex-chef's assistant Angel Vivanco said that Gavin demanded snack foods--"Give me the f--king Cheetos".

Vivanco said:

"He told me if I didn't do it [pour alcohol into a milkshake], he would tell Michael and I would get fired,".

Vivanco then went on to say that Gavin's sister called her mother a "psycho mom," spoke ill of her brothers and hinted that her mother and future stepfather were planning "something big" with regard to Jackson.

Dr. Jean Seamount testified about tending to the braces of Gavin and his brother on Feb. 24, 2003, again when these two were meant to be being held captive.

The doctor noted that, despite the fact that everyone hates going to the dentist, no-one tried to do a runner during the appointment.

Seamount did encounter problems with Janet Arvizo:

"[The mother] was angry at another orthodontist who had placed the braces, and she wanted the braces removed so she could send [them] back in the mail to the orthodontist,".

Seamount described Gavin as being "undisciplined." Seamount's assistant, Tiffany Haynes, called him "rude."

Again, there was no sighting of the alleged film crew trailing the Arvizo clan around.

It seems to me that the jury can conclude from this that the story about the Arvizos being held captive is, to use an olde English phrase, "utter bollocks".

Sunday, March 13, 2005

Leno Gag Lifted

Judge Rodney Melville has ruled that US talk show host, Jay Leno, can tell jokes about Michael Jackson; this despite the fact that there is a gag order on witnesses talking to the media about the trial.

The lifting of the gag came despite the fact that Jackson's lawyers argued that Leno, who has been subpoenaed as a possible witness, should be subject to the strict gag order just like every other witness.

Leno has been using a substitute to tell jokes about Jackson on his "Tonight Show" on US television.

Melville, on Friday, ruled that Leno could make jokes about Jackson. However, he could not talk about specific aspects of the case about which he might be called to testify.

Melville said:

"I wouldn't have expected him not to tell jokes, I would have expected him to tell good jokes,".

Leno's lawyers had argued that the gag would impinge on his freedom of speech.

Quote:

"Mr Jackson's assertion that broad restriction on Mr Leno's speech is necessary to protect Mr Jackson's right to a fair trial is specious,".

Judge Melville has allowed Jackson to file a request to issue a rebuttal to a US television show about Jackson, made by British TV journalist Martin Bashir.

Jackson's lawyers have asked the judge to hold Bashir in contempt of court, over a new film about Jackson broadcast in the United States last month.

Friday, March 04, 2005

Inside Neverland

Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch was described in his trial yesterday.

Seemingly it is overflowing with artefacts including; mannequins of young boys, a grand piano and a model of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings.

The police video of their search of Neverland was shown to the jury. It showed a hallway filled with white statues of half-naked cherubs and giant paintings; moving into Jackson's bedroom it showed the room crammed with cut-outs of film stars, a life-sized mannequin of a boy and the model of Gollum.

Bizarrely, at the entrance to Jackson's suite, there was a red and gold throne with a mannequin of a young boy with his legs in the air.

Above Jacksons' giant bed, adorned with a sparkly cover, was a version of The Last Supper featuring Jackson.

The room also contained a cot, televisions and photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Temple, Spiderman and Incredible Hulk paraphernalia.

There was cardboard cut-out of two children kissing. On a grand piano there were two more mannequins, a picture of Peter Pan and one of Jackson and a young boy with cherubic curls resting his chin on the star's shoulder.

The video also showed "The Toy Room", this was filled with life-size models of fantasy characters such as Darth Vader, Batman and other superheroes.

There was a room with a model castle and a "Doll Room"; this contained dolls of all sizes, including a baby doll and a boy scout on a podium. There was also a four poster bed and a lace curtain draped cot in the room.

Not excatly decorated in the Martha Stewart style is it?

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

He Didn't Do It

The jury at the Michael Jackson trial was shown Martin Bashir's "Living With Michael" documentary on Tuesday. In it he is shown holding hands with the 13-year-old boy, Gavin Arvizo, who is accusing him of child molestation.

The first witness called to the stand, by the defence, was Martin Bashir. Bashir adopted the "shield" strategy, which is designed to protect journalists from being involved in court cases, and refused to answer defence questions.

Bashir refused to answer question after question; Jackson's lawyer repeatedly asked the judge to strike his film from evidence, and find Bashir guilty of contempt of court.

Mesereau asked Bashir as to whether he had been honest with Jackson over his motives for making the documentary, or if he had promised the singer editorial control.

Tom Mesereau, for the defence, said that no DNA evidence was ever found in Jackson's bedroom. He noted that Arvizo had free run of the Neverland estate. He said that Arvizo and his siblings were "out of control", they broke into Jackson's wine cellar and got drunk.

He said they even broke into the locked ferris wheel, in Neverland, they got to the top then started to throw things on the people and elephants below.

Mesereau, for good measure, then said that Arvizo's mother made full use of the trappings of Jackson's wealth. Seemingly she would enjoy limousine rides and salon visits, even during the time she claimed the family was being held against their will.

In other words, he didn't do it; and the charges are made up.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Bashir's New Film

British television interviewer Martin Bashir, whose documentary "Living With Michael Jackson" led to the current molestation charges against Jackson, is finalising another film about Jackson.

Called "Michael Jackson's Secret World", it will be shown this Thursday on ABC.

It is reported to contain video footage of Jackson with young boys, including the one currently accusing him of molestation.

Thursday, December 23, 2004

Miss Castaway

The threat, in a cease and desist letter from 20th Century Fox, to independent filmmaker Bryan Michael Stoller (an upcoming character witness at Michael Jackson's trial) about his film, "Miss Cast Away," has been resolved.

Fox had threatened to block the release of the film, stating that audiences would confuse it with their Tom Hanks film "Cast Away." Stoller could not afford to fight the claim in court, and therefore changed the title to "Miss Castaway & the Island Girls" to avoid any confusion to Fox's Hanks picture.

Stoller said:

"It's a ridiculous claim. Even my dog can tell the difference."

The distribution plan for the film is now affected by the timing of Jackson's upcoming trial. The film is currently only available via the website www.MissCastaway.com.

All major distributors were afraid to consider the film for distribution, due to Jackson's forthcoming trial.

Thursday, December 02, 2004

Nuts

It seems that the world is full of nuts, no real surprises there then!

A Canadian performance artist is facing charges in Germany, after a failed attempt to spray blood on a sculpture of Michael Jackson at an art exhibition there.

Istvan Kantor tried to squeeze a capsule of blood on the sculpture "Michael Jackson and Bubbles", by Paul McCarthy, at the Flick Collection show on Tuesday. However, he was stopped before he could do any damage to the statue.

He did manage to spray the blood on an empty wall of the Hamburger Bahnhof gallery. The sculpture, which depicts Jackson with his pet monkey, was undamaged.

Kantor, who is also known as Monty Cantsin, was arrested but police freed him on Wednesday. He will face charges of trespassing and damage to property.

Kantor, who was filmed throughout the incident by his own film crew, has been banned from many galleries around the world. However, he had been allowed inside the Berlin gallery because one of his own video installations is on show there.

The Flick Collection has already attracted controversy because its owner, "Mick" Flick is the grandson of Friedrich Flick, who built the family fortune by producing weapons for the Nazis and using slave labor.


Saturday, August 07, 2004

A Right Old Panning

It seems that yesterday's screening on VH1 of "Man In The Mirror, The Michael Jackson Story" was not a total critical success.

Critics have universally panned the film.

It labours under the insurmountable burden of not being authorised, hence none of Jackson's music was used in it.

The film even uses footage of the planes crashing in to the Twin Towers, quite what that has to do with Michael Jackson is not clear.

The conclusion is that if you are looking for a meaningful insight into the life and mind of Michael Jackson, you won't find it in this film.

Wednesday, August 04, 2004

The Prequel To The Sequel To The Finale

Those of you who have not had enough of Michael Jackson, can now see his life story on VH1 on Friday.

The film is called "Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story"; and will take the viewer on a journey through Michael Jackson's life, starting in Motown up to his January 2004 court appearance.

This therefore leaves plenty of opportunities for at least one follow up film. This film will either end on a high note with Jackson being acquitted, or end with him going to jail; which in turn leaves room for a third film, portraying his time in jail and his life after his release as he tries to rebuild a shattered career.

Sunday, July 11, 2004

Turning The Tables

It is reported that Judge Rodney Melville, who is presiding over the pre trial hearings relating to the upcoming Michael Jackson trial, has ordered DA Tom Sneddon to explain why he searched the offices of Bradley Miller a private investigator.

When the offices were searched in November 2003, video tapes and disc drives were seized. It seems that Miller may have been working for the defence team at this stage; hence the seizure could be a breach of client/attorney privilege.

Tom Sneddon, who is leading the prosecution of Michael Jackson, has claimed he didn't know Miller was working for the defence.

The legalistic "punch up" in court between prosecution and defence teams, over this issue, had been expected to occur on Friday. However, Robert Sanger a defence attorney has asked for more time so that he may review the evidence.

Judge Melville was reportedly "pissed off" at this delay.

I am reminded of the scene in a Laurel and Hardy film, where Stan rushes down a flight of stairs in an apartment block telling everyone "there's going to be a fight". Everyone ends up in the street, waiting for a fight between Olly and another resident; in the end members of the crowd start to fight with each other.

Monday, May 31, 2004

When It Rains, It Pours

It seems that Michael Jackson has more than just his forthcoming trial in Santa Maria to worry about.

I understand that Twentieth Century Fox has requested that a comedy called "Miss Cast Away", that contains a 10 minute appearance by Michael Jackson, be stopped. They allege that it parodies their own movie "Cast Away".

The director of "Miss Cast Away" and friend of Jackson, Bryan Michael Stoller, is reported to believe that the real reason for putting the "mockers on" his film is to avoid any association with Michael Jackson.

Fox deny this.

Whatever the reason, this brings home a salient point. In the entertainment business brand value, and image are everything. Without these assets you are worth "squat".

Monday, May 17, 2004

The Life and Times of Michael Jackson (Part 1)

It seems that there will be a film about the life of Michael Jackson.

It is being shot in Canada, as that is a cheap location for filming. However, it is not authorised by Michael Jackson.

The working title is believed to be "Family Values", and will span his life from "Thriller" to the present day.

I understand that it is due to be completed by the end of May.

Jackson's role will be taken by Flex Alexander, who is in the sit-com "One On One".

I would have thought that there is ample opportunity for a sequel, once the trial is out of the way.