(EXCLUSIVE) Remember Michael Jackson’s youngest son, Blanket? The one he famously dangled out a hotel window in 2002?
Well, last month — very quietly — Bigi Jackson, as he is known now — won the prize for Best Drama at the Santa Monica Film Festival. The short film is called “Rochelles.”
The 22 year old beat about a dozen other competitors with “Rochelles.” I am not kidding. The short film’s plot is described as: “Two friends are put at odds when a prestigious restaurant makes them compete for a coveted position in its kitchen.”
This is great news. It’s been almost fifteen years since Michael Jackson was killed by Dr. Conrad Murray. His three children — including Prince and Paris — have thrived as adults.
Bigi’s film success is ironic considering a big studio feature film is being made about Michael for release next year. That film called “Michael” is approved by Jackson’s estate and stars his nephew, Jafaar, as the King of Pop.
There’s a report in Matthew Belloni’s Puck newsletter that the screenplay for “Michael” will show not only the singer’s musical successes, but his 1993 experience of being accused of child molestation by the family of Jordan Chandler. Ultimately, there was no arrest or trial, and Jackson paid off the Chandler family to avoid a drawn out fight.
Belloni says one scene would show Jackson being strip searched naked by the police. Why would the Estate want that in the movie? I’m told exclusively that the idea is to show the humiliation Jackson unnecessarily suffered, and he overcame it. After the Chandler episode, Jackson went on to more fame and glory. The movie will not show his 2003 arrest and subsequent trial for child molestation and his subsequent acquittal. Santa Barbara DA Thomas Sneddon, who carried on a vendetta against Jackson for more than a decade, will not be depicted.
But congratulations to Bigi on his win. His father dabbled in film — like “Thriller” and “Captain EO” — and always dreamed of being a real director. He’d be very proud.
