VIDEO		MISTER BIRD USA / Germany 1996, short feature film, 16mm color, 1:1.33, Dolby Stereo SR, 30 min. Michael G. Johnson and Marc Wächter proudly present the first international co-production by New York University — Tisch School of the Arts and film school Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen "Konrad Wolf" Potsdam-Babelsberg, Germany. 30 year old German-American director Michael G. Johnson collaborated with Dominican-American magical realist playwriter, Henry Guzmán and a multicultural cast to create "Mister Bird", a 30 minute thesis film. The magic of Charly Parker's music transforms Klaus, an ordinary glass grinder from Germany, into "Mister Bird" the sax player performing in Harlem. Directed by: Michael G. Johnson Starring: Dietmar Wunder (Klaus), Yollette Thomas (Rahdi), Joachim Kerzel (boss), Nicolas Wilcke (Uwe), Ruben Gonzales (Valdez), Joe Zaloom (Dmitrij), Herb Rogers (Max Coat), Penrod Parker (Charlie Parker) Screenplay: Henry Guzmán & Michael Johnson Director of Photography: Manfred Andrej Hagbeck Production Design: Patrick S. Müller & Deborah Kagel Editor: Ira Hetmanczik Sound Design: Christian Lutz Musical Score: Frank Wächter Costumes: Deborah Kagel Wardrobe Supervisors: Estella Marie (USA), Anja Schulinus (Germany) Produced by: Michael G. Johnson & Marc Wächter Production Managers: Marc Wächter, Sarah Schenck Associate Producer: Dietmar Wunder Production: Magic Movies Production, New York / New York University — Tisch School of the Arts / Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen "Konrad Wolf" Video short version This jazz film deals with Klaus (Dietmar Wunder), a shy glass grinder from Germany, who transforms into a jazz player fulfilling his dream of performing in New York. Klaus is sent to New York by his boss (Joachim Kerzel) to deliver precious lenses to a Brooklyn manufacturer. Unable to deliver the lenses due to his late arrival, he decides to search for the former residence of his idol Charly Parker. In a busy coffeeshop he meets Rahdi (Yollette Thomas), a mysterious woman, who lures him into a conversation about jazz music. Without Klaus noticing she takes his case containing the lenses and disappears into the Fifth Avenue crowd. Despite the foreign surroundings, Klaus embarks on an odyssey to find the lenses. In the course of his adventure he finally meets Rahdi who surprisingly helps him fulfill the true meaning of his quest. Contact: Magic Movies Production Michael G. Johnson Georg-Wilhelm-Str. 10 D-10711 Berlin ph: (+49) (30) 89542238