| May 1 2002 Michael Jackson unlocks Icon's 'Cage' for directing debut LOS ANGELES - King of Pop Michael Jackson is venturing into directing for the first time, teaming with writer-director Bryan Michael Stoller on a big-screen adaptation of Jennings Michael Burch's book "They Cage the Animals at Night" for Icon Prods. Icon optioned the book out of its discretionary fund for Stoller to adapt and co-direct with Jackson. The book is the true story of the author's account of being left at an orphanage and bouncing around from one foster home to another. "Cage" came about after Jackson saw the Canada-born Stoller's 1999 family film "Undercover Angel," starring Dean Winters and Yasmine Bleeth, and contacted the writer-director. "Michael said he wanted to direct, that he liked my style and that we would complement each other as co-directors," Stoller said in an interview. "He was the one who brought this book to me. It deals with orphans, and Michael always felt that he grew up as an orphan because, in a way, he missed out on his childhood. The boy in the book had a tough time, and Michael related a lot to that. Michael and I have similar sensibilities. We're both big kids, and we feel that when it comes to their emotions, we'd be able to draw that out for the big screen." Claiming that Jackson has "an amazing vision" as a director, Stoller said he was "fortunate that he wants me to be his directing partner." He expects the script for "Cage" to be completed in about a month's time Read More At . . . www.tjif.club.tip.nl |