Larry Nimmer films yesterday in front of Neverland Ranch. Photo by Victor Maccharoli.
Cube Ad
Michael Jackson documentary avoids the hype
Innuendo and gossip long have been synonymous with the public image of Michael Jackson.
Most people planning to watch local filmmaker Larry Nimmer’s “Michael Jackson: The Untold Story of Neverland” during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival this week probably are entering the theatre with a preconceived notion of the late pop singer’s life.
But Nimmer is urging viewers of the documentary to keep an open mind and judge the facts for themselves, promising a hype-free look into allegations of child molestation and the subsequent trial in 2005.
“I try to show both sides to it, although I state at the end that I felt all he was guilty of was childlike innocence and naiveté,” the filmmaker said. “He talks about how he encouraged the childlike nature in himself for creative purposes.”
As a specialist in producing legal videos for use in the courtroom, Nimmer earned unprecedented access to Neverland Ranch, Jackson’s estate in the Santa Ynez Valley.
He spent three weeks roaming the premises and two days on the stand narrating the footage.
“I didn’t plan on making a documentary for a while, but I was sitting on that footage and a lot of other footage that the public hadn’t seen,” he said. “It was basically sitting on the shelf, ready to be made.”
Along with interviews with Jackson’s attorney, the jury foreman from the 2005 trial, and fans who flocked to memorial sites after the singer’s death last year, Nimmer also secured footage of the sheriff’s search of Neverland and outtakes from another documentary by Martin Bashir.
The film, narrated by Nimmer, tracks the filmmaker’s perspective throughout the trial. Although he said he entered the process with no sense of Jackson’s innocence or guilt, Nimmer said he emerged with a definite opinion on the matter.
“I certainly came to the conclusion that he wasn’t a child molester, and that the accusers in the 2005 trial were after financial gain,” he said.
Nimmer also focused on the media’s portrayal of the pop singer, particularly the tendency to exaggerate his eccentricities.
“It’s a lesson in how people treat celebrities, how he was harassed and hounded,” he said. “I find it interesting that, with his death, people feel better about him.”
Nonetheless, he stressed that his intent with the documentary is to present information to viewers and allow them to draw their own conclusions.
Beyond the question of Jackson’s guilt or innocence in the 2005 trial, the film also presents a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the singer’s personal life. The outtakes from Bashir’s documentary — filmed between takes by a private videographer — include Jackson discussing how he feels judged by adults and finds more acceptance among young people.
The film screens tonight at 9:30 p.m. at the Victoria Hall Theater and Friday at 10:45 a.m. at the Metro IV Theatre. Tickets and more information are available at www.sbiff.org, and Nimmer will be at both screenings for a question-and-answer session.
Comment on this article
: 2/10/2010
I have seen this excellent documentary and I am glad that it is getting more exposure. I wish Mr. Nimmer all the best!
Susan
: 2/10/2010
This needs to be shown worldwide. The truth will come out Michael. We love you mire.
let's all agree... : 2/10/2010
the minute you become a superstar you have to have a microscope shoved up your butt so we don't miss anything.
just another big MJ fan
Thank you Nimmer : 2/10/2010
This is great, and I hope it will lead to the documentary being shown in other venues.
Stephanie
: 2/10/2010
Are there any plans for showing this in NYC? I am a journalist and a psychoanalyst and am gathering information to write a book about Jackson. I would very much want to see this documentary.
: 2/10/2010
This needs ot be shown worldwide, not just Santa Barbara.
Release it to theaters, cable, whatever. The title alone would bring people in just thinking they are getting something 'juicy'. Little do they know they will finally see the truth
fgreen
Documentary : 2/10/2010
The documentary is available for sale at www.amazon.com, and clips from the film are available on YouTube and at www.nimmer.net.
DS
The Movie : 2/10/2010
I saw it and it was a different take on the normal Michael Jackson coverage, Larry has woven a compelling story with video that has been unseen outside of his film, whether you were a fan of his or not its worth watching.
Michel
It's an excellent documentary : 2/11/2010
I have seen the documentary and I highly recommend it. Nimmer was very objective about his potrayal of Jackson.
Tom Sneddon: GUILTY AS CHARGED : 2/16/2010
Let's not forget the $3,000,000 of taxpayer dollars WASTED by that cretin Tom Sneddon who was more interested in his own political future (turned into ashes with the verdict in this case), and who is now living comfortably on a 6-figure pension paid for by us, the idiot constituents of Santa Barbara's political cesspool.
Excuse me while I retch.
I Give Up
: 2/19/2010
I have this on DVD and it is indeed a very good documentary. I wish that at some point it would be televised so that the whole world will know that Michael was innocent. That truth needs to get out there as there are still so many that do not believe in his innocence.
Karen
to the journalist doing the research : 2/20/2010
Here is the link to you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUAwwnwI85Y
jm
Amazing eye-opening documentary : 2/21/2010
Thank You for putting together all the pieces of the puzzle that plainly show us that Michael Jackson was indeed an innocent man caught in the stranglehold of his fame, but mostly by those who sought to profit off of his fame. Mr. Jackson was a sweet soul who trusted the wrong people. It isn't any wonder he felt safer in the presense of children when so many of the adults around him betrayed him for money and a piece of his fame. Everyone tried to make a buck off of bringing this amazing, generous humanitarian and artist to his knees. Tom Sneddon is one of the main perpetrators and he has profited grandly off of his malicious prosecution of Mr. Jackson. The people of Santa Barbara should have been up in arms for how he raped their coffers of hard earned tax dollars for his own political gain and personal vendetta against Mr. Jackson. Injustice reigns for now but I believe truth will prevail in the end. Unfortunately Mr. Jackson won't be here to know it but his children WILL.
Philip
I hope many came to see this : 3/9/2010
Thank you Larry Nimmer, for doing this, for shedding light where others wanted us to see only darkness. Michael Jackson was a light in the world...we needed him, now he is gone. I am glad people like you keep his light alive....and Philip, I hope you are right, that the truth will also see the light of our day, and that people like Sneddon will see the darkness they have created.....maybe he already has.
Alicia
What About the Accuser's : 3/9/2010
Michael spent his life trying to defend himself from these lies. NO ONE in the media has ever asked the accusers a single question. They have been protested against anyone looking into their backgrounds for past issues that would shed a light on their motive....MONEY! The witch hunt that Michael had to endure was so unfair.
This is a wonderful documentary that at least tells, the story that unfortunately, the media has never told. THE TRUTH!
SusanneMJ
The Untold Story of Neverland : 3/10/2010
I have this on dvd and I think it should be shown world wide and on tv also. People need to see the other side of the story, based on facts, not speculation, as the Bashir interview was. Sorry to mention Bashir in the same sentence as someone with integrity, Mr. Larry Nimmer. And thank you also to the Daily Sound for featuring the story. You show integrity also.
cheryl
Contact Us!
411 E. Canon Perdido, Ste 2
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone (805) 564-6001
Fax (805) 962-9101
Click here to view the PDF Edition
Subscription Required
Tile Ads
Most Read Stories
Check out these most read stories.
Most Talked About Stories
Check out these recent talked about stories, and voice your opinion...
- Arrests made in pot shop extortion
- Police blotter — February 26
- Police officers up in arms over potential cuts
- SB woman arrested for allegedly dumping baby
- Alleged interstate marijuana operation busted
- Teen arrested for allegedly giving pot-laced cookies to students
- Baby's death prompts reminder on safe surrender law
- An epidemic of cerebral sclerosis
