Bird in a Cage
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 |
Produced by | Bradford Carr Truman Anquoe Jr. |
Written by | Antonio Zarro |
Production company | Christian Broadcasting Network University |
Distributed by | Zarro Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 60 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $ 15,000 |
Production
Zarro'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
The film follows a thief into the countryside where he is mistaken as preacher, which is transformational.[2]
Reception
Hal 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
- 1987, won Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Student Academy Award in 1987[4]
References
- Witt, John (May 31, 1987). "CBN University Film Wins Oscar". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. E1. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- "Bird in a Cage". Regent University. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- Kennedy, Dana. "Bird in a Cage (1987)". The New York Times. 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.