Wacko Jacko makes a movie

Press, 28 September 1988, Page 26

Wacko Jacko makes a movie

By

lAIN F. McASH

Michael Jackson has already taken the world by storm with his records, albums, videos and concert tours. The megastar of “Thriller” and “Bad” has recently conquered new fields with his sensational concert appearances throughout the British Isles this northern summer. Simultaneously, his first biographical book, “Moonwalk,” has topped the non-fiction best-seller lists on both sides of the Atlantic. Only one other show business medium remained for him to explore. Now the good news is that at Christmas his debut motion picture for Lorimar Film Entertainment, title “Moonwalker” — what else? — is due for release as an extraspecial Yuletide treat for his millions of world-wide fans. Jackson’s affection for animals and children is legandary. His stage act often features youngsters, while Michael himself is often described as a 30-year-old Peter Pan who refuses to grow up.

High-tech wizardry

In “Moonwalker,” he is surrounded by a trio of extra-talented juvenile performers. \ One of the leading roles goes to Sean Lennon, 12-year-old son of the former Beatle, whose early years are recorded in Albert Goldman’s newly published volume, “The Lives of John Lennon.” Sean was born to Lennon and his Japanese wife, Yoko Ono, on October 9, 1975, his father’s thirty-fifth birthday. Although “Moonwalker” is Sean’s first major acting role, he is no newcomer to showbiz. He can be heard in a song as part of a compilation record of his mother’s work and has appeared on American television. He has also been featured in a Japanese commercial. Although Michael Jackson stars in the Disney/ Steven Spielberg movie 3D special “Captain Eo,” only to be seen in Disneyland theme parks, his major singing-acting role in "Moonwalker” has been one of Hollywood’s most closely guarded secrets. And, running true to the famed Jackson formula, it’s a special event packed with hi-tech wizardry which is bound to make motion picture history. Jackson’s “Thriller” has already entered “the Guinness Book of Records” as the top-selling album of all time. The two supporting juveniles in “Moonwalker” were chosen from many hundreds who auditioned for the privilege. The lucky twosome were 11-year-old Kellie Parker and Brandon Adams, aged eight. Kellie, a former child model, is a veteran of American television screens and has performed on stage as a dancer for eight years. Brandon, despite his youth, is also not lacking in experience before the cameras, having previously been featured in films, TV series, commer-

cials and music videos. He plays the young Michael Jackson in the “Badder” special dance routine. Where there’s a hero, there also has to be a villain. This honour in “Moonwalker” falls to adult actor Joe Pesci, who plays the film’s evil Mr Big. Movie-goers will recall Pesci’s outstanding performance as brother to Robert De Niro in his role as pugilist Jake La Motta in director Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull,” which netted him numerous awards including an Oscar nomination. Michael Jackson himself was the moving force who created “Moonwalker,” in addition to casting himself in the star role. He also served as the movie’s executive producer, along with his flamboyant manager and larger-than-life character, Frank Dileo. Despite his astonishing success as a recording artist (“Bad” was the first album in history ever to spawn no less thhan five Number One singles from the same performer), Jackson was the first to admit he was a novice to the motion picture game. Having hit the top spot in the record charts on four previous occasions didn’t necessarily mean he was ready to be a movie star.

But knowing there was a huge audience out there which would pay to see his debut on the big screen encouraged Jackson to seriously concentrate on developing “Moonwalker.” The resulting film offers a fascinating glimpse into what makes Michael Jackson tick, as well as allowing the audience to enter the fantasy world and private innermost dreams of the charismatic young superstar. To achieve all this, Jackson surrounded himself with many of the movie world’s most ingenious creative talents, whose past achievements have helped form their own legends. The director of “Moonwalker” is Colin Chilvers, the famed special effects Academy Award-winning genius (“Superman, The Movie”) and Jerry Kramer, who was responsible for "The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller” video. Other behind-the-scenes technical experts included such individual awardwinners as make-up king Rick Baker, Claymation genius Will (“Return to Oz”) Vinton and animator Jim Blashfield. The original “Moonwalker” music is composed by Bruce Broughton. Michael Jackson himself dreamed up the story for the “Smooth Criminal” episode, while the screenplay was written by David Newman, whose past cowriting assignments range from “Bonnie and Clyde” to “What’s up Doc?” and “Superman, the Movie.” The producers of “Moonwalker” are Dennis Jones and Jerry Kramer. The singer’s eccentric life-style has earned him the title of “Wacko Jacko.” This summer, for the “Bad” concerts at Wembley Stadium, his avid/ fans beseiged London’s Mayfair Hotel, where he and his en-

tourage were occupying an entire floor. During his stay in Britain, Jackson memorabilia sold like hot cakes the annual auction held at Christie’s. An anonymous Canadian parted with $lO,OOO for a pair of dancing shoes personally autographed by Jackson, while the black trilby worn by the “Bad” star fetched another $6600 from the same buyer.

Christmas release

Two years ago, Queen Elizabeth II was less than pleased when Jacko’s portrait supplanted her head on a set of stamps issued by the Caribbean island of St Vincent. She banned their sale and the stamps have now become collectors’ items, which fans snap up for a hefty $l2OO a pair at world-wide auctions. But all this only fuels the Jacko legend. Whether on record, video, TV, books, magazines, films or at personal appearances, his admirers appear only too willing to part with their hard-earned cash for a closer insight into their hero. Undoubtedly, the marketing of “Moonwalker” for a Christmas release will be another shrewd business venture which is calculated to bring the crowds flocking in droves to cinema box offices. The special effects alonr are said to be stunning. Many of the backroom boys have worked with Jacko before and know what is expected of them.

In the make-up department, Rick Baker won his brace of Oscars for his amazing work on “An American Werewolf in London” as well as for creating the lovable hairy creature in “Harry and the Hendersons.” Since his father first supplied him with a tube of greasepaint and encouraged him to experiement. Baker has drawn gasps from movie and TV audiences with his work on the re-make of “king Kong,” “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes,” “The Incredible Shrinking Woman,” “Videodrome,” “Starman” and, most recently, “Coming to America,” for which he created the four different faces of Eddie Murphy. He also made a big impression on Jacko when he worked with director John Landis on the top-selling rock video, “Michael Jackson’s Thriller.” For "Moonwalker,” Jacko rings the changes by adopting the persona of a typical Hollywood gangster, circa 19305, for the "Smooth Criminal” nightclub dance routine, nonchalantly flipping a coin in a manner of which George Raft in his heyday would have been proud. But it isn’t all old hat, for the star comes right up to date with his own inimitable tributes to “Star Wars” and "Close Encounters” in which dazzling spaceships whoosh down with full lights blazing. As if in tribute to the young Sean Lennon, Jackson performs “Come Tcj* gether,” a Beatles classic. Copyright DUO