Bird in a Cage is a 1986 American comedic drama film written and directed by Antonio Zarro while he was attending the Christian Broadcasting Network University (now Regent University).
| Bird in a Cage | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Antonio Zarro |
| Written by | Antonio Zarro |
| Produced by | Bradford Carr Truman Anquoe Jr. |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Zarro Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 60 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $ 15,000 |
Production
editZarro's original script for the film had the two leads dying, but this was changed when CBN University associate professor and executive producer of the film Terry Lindvall felt "so many deaths would make the movie too much like a Shakespearean tragedy." He also recounted how a "blue tint applied at the film lab to turn a swimming scene from day to night made the heroine's pink bathing suit seem to disappear", which compelled Lindvall to censor most of the swimming shot."[1] Lead actor Timothy Wright also noted that the unexpected outcome resulting from the main character's ambiguous prayer added a powerful and deeply moving experience to the story.
Premise
editThe film follows a thief into the countryside where he is mistaken as preacher, which is transformational.[2]
Reception
editHal Erickson of All Movie Guide remarked that the director was a college student when he "lovingly assembled" the film, writing "The material is simple (and sometimes simplistic), but demands artistry. Novice filmmaker Antonio Zarro delivered that artistry."[3]
Accolades
edit- 1987, won Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Student Academy Award in 1987[4]
References
edit- ^ Witt, John (May 31, 1987). "CBN University Film Wins Oscar". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. E1. Retrieved 24 August 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Bird in a Cage". Regent University. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ Kennedy, Dana (2007). "Bird in a Cage (1987)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "14th Annual Student Academy Awards" (PDF). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. June 7, 1987. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010.