New British Indie, Dead Or Alive Films debuts it’s first feature Documentary film production with founder and owner Andrew Eastel directing ‘Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon’, a David Gest Production for Universal Pictures UK.
Having met wth glowing reviews by Jackson family members during private screenings in America, the film’s European release will debut on DVD and Blu Ray on 31st October 2011. Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, commented; “It is a truly remarkable film that captures the true character and sensitivity of my son. It’s an emotional roller coaster that will bring people to tears as well as really understand who the man behind the music was and is.”
Dead Or Alive Films’ Andrew Eastel has travelled the world over the last eighteen months capturing the definitive story of the world’s most famous musician through the eyes of his closest family, friends and peers. Eastel said; “You’d be hard pressed to ever see another film about Michael Jackson that better tells the story of his life. Exclusively gathering contributions from people who were closest to him helps end a lot of speculation and debate, something you feel has continually frustrated his family and fans.
"Like many others, I have always been a huge fan of Michael’s work but knew very little of the real man behind the music when I first started this project. This experience has been incredibly enlightening for me. Not just in respect of finding out the truth behind the headlines about Michael’s private life but also better understanding the highly pressurised, often bizarre, ‘world of entertainment’ that he and many of the people in the film have spent their careers in. A clearer picture of what goes on, away from the public eye, to produce and sustain music superstars answers quite a few questions in my mind about the fate of Michael and others similar.
"It’s sad to say it but, through no real fault of his own, Michael ultimately became a victim of his own huge success. In my opinion, he was the first global megastar of the modern era. By that I mean he was the first to truly experience the incredible power of television, increased access to media in general and the birth of celebrity obessesion in the form it is today.
"It meant he went from being a big star to the most famous man in the world and subsequently, the most ‘marketable’. Somebody at Universal Pictures said that the only two words more widely recognised than ‘Michael Jackson’ are ‘Coca Cola’.
"Unfortunately when he became a international ‘super-brand’ Michael attracted an ever increasing flow of undesirables who looked to exploit, manipulate and profit in any way they could. More often than not, forsaking the best interests of Michael Jackson the person. I think most of the unfortunate and damaging things that happened to Michael were down to his exploitation by others.
"All of this, as well as the choices he made through the bad advice he received, were eventually detrimental to his health, physically and mentally. There’s a much better protection model around huge stars today and unfortunately that’s due in part to the lessons learnt from the fate of Michael Jackson.”
Dead Or Alive films already have a number of new TV and film projects in development and are looking for global partners to support them.
Eastel said; “This is a fantastically exciting time for Dead Or Alive Films. Whilst we are proud of our previous work, it’s important that we continue to push forward with our plans to produce original documentaries and formats for TV. We are also looking for a powerful global partner who will exploit the international potential of our distinctive slate of programmes and potentially help us with some incredible new feature film ideas that are already in the pipeline.”
With Offices in Central London, Eastel outright funded the company’s start up with his aim to create a strong British television Indie with partnerships across the world.
‘Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon’ will Premiere at The Empire in Leicester Square, London on the 2nd November 2011
www.deadoralivefilms.com
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