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George Michael: A Different Story
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Wikipedia article
'George Michael: A Different Story' is a 2004 documentary film about the English singer, songwriter and record producer George Michael. It follows Michael's life from joining Wham! in 1981, to the present-day covering his career as a solo artist including personal and professional gain and loss. The film is a British venture produced by Aegean Films with Gorilla Entertainment Limited serving as distributor.
Directed by Southan Morris, and produced by Caroline True. 'A Different Story' was initially aired on British television channels BBC One and BBC Three. Despite this, the documentary had its European premiere as part of the 2005 Berlin Film Festival including a press conference on 16 February 2005. The film had a limited cinematic release in sixteen countries.[https://uk.linkedin.com/in/southan-morris-ba9ba853 Southan Morris] - Director at Storyvault films, London, United Kingdom[https://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2005/06_streaming_2005/06_streaming_listing_2005.html?item=27295&navi=3 George Michael - A Different Story] Berlin film festival press conference[https://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2005/02_programm_2005/02_Filmdatenblatt_2005_20053217.html#tab=boulevard GEORGE MICHAEL: A DIFFERENT STORY] Berlin Film Festival, 16 Feb 2005
Synopsis
The idea of a documentary evolved because of his former bandmate Andrew Ridgeley being prepared to speak on camera and his father also agreeing to be interviewed.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4502446.stm George Michael steps back into spotlight] - BNC 6 December 2005
'A Different Story' begins with Michael on a promotional tour in Milan, Italy for the album 'Patience' released earlier in the year, showing brief clips of Michael in a radio interview with fans outside chanting his name.
Filmed over a year, the film chronicles the most up to date events of Michaels life, beginning with his childhood in Hertfordshire, England, reflecting on his time as part of Wham!, and the first on-screen interview together with Ridgeley since the split.[https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/george-michael-a-different-story-1200527136/amp/ George Michael: A Different Story] - Eddie Cockrell, March 16, 2005
Michael discusses his success as a solo artist beginning in 1987 and the big impact of the successful album 'Faith' which earned Michael a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1989 and the battles he had with the public and personal life including his sexuality.
During the promotion of the album Michael states that he had been striving to have the same level of success as Michael Jackson and Madonna. However, during the interview he admits that as the Faith Tour ended and it started to fade, I felt like I was going insane.
It also touches briefly on the court case with Sony Music and the music business.
Other people interviewed for the film include his father Jack Panayiotou, David Austin, Mariah Carey, Geri Halliwell, Elton John, Sting, Noel Gallagher, Simon Cowell and Boy George.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4223055.stm Singer's film to show at festival] | BBC[http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/george-michael-different-story-2006 GEORGE MICHAEL - A DIFFERENT STORY (2006)] - British Board of Film Classification[https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/george-michael-a-different-story-1200527136/amp/ George Michael: A Different Story] - Eddie Cockrell, March 16, 2005
Release
An edited 90 minute version of 'A Different Story' was first broadcast on British television channel BBC One in the UK on 27 November 2004, by Gorilla Entertainment Limited.[http://www.gminfopage.com/news/ Broadcast] - On the 27th of November 2004, BBC 1 showed an hour long documentary of George Michael. The documentary is entitled 'A different story' featuring candid interviews with George.[https://uk.linkedin.com/in/southan-morris-ba9ba853 Southan Morris] - Director at Storyvault films, London, United Kingdom, Aegean Films for BBC 1, 2004 2004. George Michael - A Different Story (BBC 1) 90 minute film. It was then aired on BBC Three with extra footage.[https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/george-michael-a-different-story-1200527136/?_gl=1*1wc6bog*_ga*YW1wLUdmRWtTSl84RTdzbWVWbVFyZm5yZExkamZwc3RfaS1aeHlzc0wxb0s0OERtVmpOUlJpeUt1OGliSnZHakpuSmg George Michael: A Different Story] MARCH 16, 2005[https://www.empireonline.com/movies/george-michael-different-story/review/ George Michael: A Different Story Review] | Movie - Empire
Following the broadcasts, the documentary was then screened at the 55th Berlin International Film Festival on the 16 February 2005 with a cinematic release in Germany on 12 January 2006.[https://www.cinema.de/film/george-michael-a-different-story,1329426.html George Michael: A Different Story] - Cinema.de The North American screening took place at Manhattans Tribeca Film Festival between the 25 April and the 7 May 2005.[https://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/archive/512cdbf81c7d76e04600027a-george-michael-a-differen George Michael: A Different Story] | Tribeca Film Festival, FEATURE DOCUMENTARY 95 Minutes North American Premiere The film was also part of the official selection at the Copenhagen and Rio de Janeiro Film Festivals.[https://uk.linkedin.com/in/southan-morris-ba9ba853 Southan Morris] - Director at Storyvault films, London, United Kingdom The film was released in Japan on 23 December 2005.[https://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/206588/all/(2004)[George Michael: A Different Story] (in Japanese)
On 28 February 2006, the British Board of Film Classification announced that the film would receive a 15 certificate rating. It was given a UK limited cinema release on 6 March 2006.[http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/george-michael-different-story-2006 GEORGE MICHAEL - A DIFFERENT STORY (2006)] - British Board of Film Classification
Marketing
in 2005.During promotion for the film Michael attended a photo op and press conference hosted by Robert Fischer at the Berlin Film Festival with director Southan Morris, producer Caroline True and executive producer and manager Andy Stephens.[https://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2005/06_streaming_2005/06_streaming_listing_2005.html?item=27295&navi=3 GEORGE MICHAEL - A DIFFERENT STORY] Berlin Press Conference, Wednesday Feb 16, 2005
On 5 December 2005 Michael attended the UK screening for the film, held at Londons Curzon Mayfair Cinema.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4502446.stm George Michael steps back into spotlight] - By Ian Youngs Michael also attended a press conference on 15 December 2005 held at the Tokyo Grand Hotel in Japan with a screening at the Bunkamura Le Cinma.[https://www.kgun9.com/entertainment/gallery-remembering-george-michael#id11 Premiere:] British pop star George Michael and his partner Kenny Goss attend the Japanese Premiere of his film A Different Story on December 15, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. The fim will open on December 23 in Japan
Reception
Critical response
Eddie Cockrell of 'Variety' wrote: "A candid, self-deprecating and altogether winning career-to-date overview, 'George Michael: A Different Story' finds the witty and articulate pop star looking back with unblinking candor and wry humor."[https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/george-michael-a-different-story-1200527136/amp/ George Michael: A Different Story] - variety.com, Eddie Cockrell, March 16, 2005Caroline Westbrook writing for 'Empire' gave the film 3/5 stars, saying, "Michael himself comes across as a thoroughly decent bloke who's not afraid to talk candidly about coming to terms with his sexuality, the death of his mother and that headline-grabbing toilet incident."[https://www.empireonline.com/movies/george-michael-different-story/review/ George Michael: A Different Story Review] | Movie - Empire 'The Sydney Morning Herald' wrote "The feature film lays out Michael's life with no punches spared." They added "For Michael, the documentary - being screened at the Berlin festival - is a chance to put the record straight".[https://amp.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/george-michaels-dark-secret-20050218-gdkrdr.html George Michael's dark secret] | February 18, 2005 Mary Nyiri, writing for 'Kino Critics', said, "Even if you are not a fan of George Michael as a pop songwriter and lead singer, his story is entertaining and his bluntness refreshing", giving the film a 3/5 rating.[http://www.kinocritics.com/film_review.php?f=236 KinoCritics.com Review of George Michael - A Different Story], 2005
See also
*List of British films of 2004
References
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