Award-Winning Screenwriter Debuts Memoir - On Michael Jackson, "Project M," and Agoraphobia

June 4, 2012 - PRLog -- June 4, 2012

Contact:
Katie Levien
1-805-259-5283
frontdoorbooks04@gmail.com



Santa Barbara, CA – Three years after Michael Jackson’s death comes a book that humanizes the King of Pop in a way never seen before. In Darlene Craviotto’s memoir,  An Agoraphobic’s Guide to Hollywood: How Michael Jackson Got Me Out of the House, Jackson plays a key role in helping the award-winning, agoraphobic screenwriter finally get back on her feet again.  What Craviotto and Jackson shared in common in 1990 was a top secret Disney film project that until now has never been revealed. “Project M” was to be a musical film of Peter Pan that was in development for Jackson, written by Craviotto, and to be directed by Steven Spielberg.

Disney’s project wasn’t the only secret Craviotto had to hide: Battling agoraphobia and afraid to leave her house for twelve years, since a car accident ended her promising acting career, she was now being asked to work side-by-side with the King of Pop. It was the biggest assignment of her screenwriting career.

The scenes in the book between Jackson and Craviotto are based on actual audiotapes made (at Michael’s request) during their private story meetings at Neverland and at Michael’s Hideaway – a private residence in Westwood that was only known to a select few.

The juxtaposition of Craviotto’s agoraphobia and Jackson’s eccentric behavior is irresistible – The one common bond between them was the story of Peter Pan. “I was trapped by my agoraphobia, and Michael was imprisoned by his celebrityhood.  The one place we felt the most comfortable was Peter Pan’s Neverland,” says Craviotto. “Sadly for Michael, in the end he never was able to escape.”

An Agoraphobic’s Guide to Hollywood: How Michael Jackson Got Me Out of the House gives us a portrait of a man who wanted to remain a boy, and a woman who finally was able to grow up.

For more information on An Agoraphobic’s Guide to Hollywood: How Michael Jackson Got Me Out of the House by Darlene Craviotto (http://darlenecraviotto.com), visit the website: http://anagoraphobicsguide.com.  For a copy of the book, or to arrange an interview, contact Katie Levien at (805) 259-5283.

Photo:
https://www.prlog.org/11891788/2