00:05It's a very spiritual journey, making a movie about someone like Michael.
00:12Michael was a big influence in my career as a director.
00:16Seeing how he refused to get put in a box as just a black artist only.
00:21So to be a young black man in this country and see people that look like me
00:25able to achieve international fame,
00:27it meant that there was no ceiling.
00:29If they can do it, someone like myself can do it.
00:35So as a director, I've had that same battle of not getting put in a box.
00:39When I used to do videos, I didn't get the million-dollar budgets.
00:42I got the $50,000 budget.
00:44But Michael was the first one that I saw really make an impact
00:48and cross over the way he did.
00:49Now, I'm not a Jackson.
00:51I can't do Michael.
00:53But in my own field, it gave me a lot of inspiration.
00:57Michael's whole life was giving to people this joy of his voice.
01:00I knew you were different the moment you were born.
01:02You have a very special life.
01:04When I watched him on TV, he was always larger than life.
01:08For me, as a filmmaker, it wasn't a leap to see it in a cinematic way.
01:12The Jackson family is the brand that's a Coca-Cola.
01:16I don't think you can understand Michael Jackson as a human being
01:19unless you went back and go on a bit of a journey.
01:22He was struggling between his love for his family
01:25and his love for his music.
01:27I just have all these ideas in my head.
01:29I've got to get them out.
01:31And do it, Michael.
01:36Michael's moves are a conversation he's having with the audience.
01:39There's a language, there's a connection that's happening.
01:42He made music to transcend color and race.
01:46I believe music could change the world.
01:49That's what makes him so special.
01:50That's where the magic lives.
01:52Michael's life was epic.
01:54But you have to still focus on the human being to understand who he was.
01:57And it was a rare opportunity to be making a film with people that really love Michael.
02:01I love Michael's life.
02:04My dream is for people to walk out feeling like they really understand Michael a little bit more.
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