For my Portfolio 3 class, I had to pick a film or music video that was released within the past ten years to study and reverse engineer. Here is my project summary slideshow that showcases the above the line talent and why they're a good fit for this project.
1. Milli Vanilli
Directed By: Luke Korem
Produced By: Luke Korem and Bradley Jackson
Production Studios: MTV Entertainment Studios, Keep On Running Pictures, and MRC
3. Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan rise
from poverty to fame as pop duo
Milli Vanilli, face backlash from the
lip-syncing scandal, and struggle
to deal with the aftermath.
LOGLINE
4. FABRICE “FAB” MORVAN
Singer/Dancer/Model
Fab Morvan is known for being a member of Milli Vanilli. He worked
as a dancer and a model prior to Milli Vanilli.
Notable Work Before Milli Vanilli:
• He and Rob Pilatus, along with a female member known as
Charliene, formed a short-lived band called Empire Bizarre.
Notable Work After Milli Vanilli:
• He teamed up with Rob again under the moniker Rob & Fab.
• They performed their own vocals on their 1993 album Rob &
Fab.
• His debut solo album, titled Love Revolution, was released in 2003.
• He sang on the album and recorded and produced it.
Why Fab Morvan is a Good Fit for Milli Vanilli and the Target
Audience:
• He was a member of Milli Vanilli.
• He and Rob took the fall for the lip-syncing scandal and struggled
to deal with the aftermath.
• The documentary gave him the opportunity to speak out and share
the full story, including previously untold information, about what he
and Rob went through because of their involvement in Milli Vanilli.
5. ROB PILATUS (POSTHUMOUSLY)
Singer/Dancer/Model
Rob Pilatus is known for being a member of Milli Vanilli. He worked
as a break dancer and a model prior to Milli Vanilli.
Notable Work Before Milli Vanilli:
• In 1987, he appeared as a backup singer with the group Wind at
the Eurovision Song Contest held in Brussels.
• He and Fab Morvan, along with a female member known as
Charliene, formed a short-lived band called Empire Bizarre.
Notable Work After Milli Vanilli:
• He teamed up with Fab again under the moniker Rob & Fab.
• They performed their own vocals on their 1993 album Rob &
Fab.
Why Rob Pilatus is a Good Fit for Milli Vanilli and the Target
Audience:
• He was a member of Milli Vanilli.
• He and Fab took the fall for the lip-syncing scandal and struggled
to deal with the aftermath.
• Including Rob in the documentary shows the human cost of fame.
6. CHARLES SHAW
Singer
Charles Shaw worked as a session musician. He is also a U.S. Army
veteran.
Notable Work:
• He provided the rap vocals on the Milli Vanilli hit “Girl You Know It’s
True”.
• He also performed with Silvia Brown on “I Leave It Up to You”, “Hold
Me Baby”, and “Right on My Pillow”.
Why Charles Shaw is a Good Fit for Milli Vanilli and the Target Audience:
• He was one of the voices behind the Milli Vanilli hit “Girl You Know It’s
True”.
• He had knowledge about Milli Vanilli, the lip-syncing, and who knew
about it.
7. BRAD HOWELL
Singer/Musician
Brad Howell worked as a session musician. He plays
piano/keyboard.
Notable Work:
• He provided lead vocals for Milli Vanilli.
• He was also a member of the German band Chilly.
Why Brad Howell is a Good Fit for Milli Vanilli and the
Target Audience:
• He was one of the main voices behind Milli Vanilli.
• He had knowledge about Milli Vanilli, the lip-syncing,
and who knew about it.
8. LUKE KOREM
Producer/Director/Writer
Luke Korem is the founder of Keep On Running Pictures.
Other Notable Works:
• Dealt (2017 documentary) — Director, Producer, and Writer
• He worked with Bradley Jackson on this project.
• Dealt was an Audience Award Winner in the Documentary
Feature Competition at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival.
• Lord Montagu (2013 documentary) — Director, Producer, and
Writer
• He worked with Bradley Jackson on this project.
Why Luke Korem is a Good Fit for Milli Vanilli and the Target
Audience:
• He is a Director, Producer, and Writer who specializes in
documentaries.
• He was genuinely curious about the full Milli Vanilli story and
included it in the documentary.
• He previously worked together with Bradley Jackson on 3
documentaries (Lord Montagu, Dealt, and Action).
9. BRADLEY JACKSON
Producer/Director/Writer
Other Notable Works:
• Dealt (2017 documentary) — Producer and Writer
• He worked with Luke Korem on this project.
• Lord Montagu (2013 documentary) — Writer
• He worked with Luke Korem on this project.
Why Bradley Jackson is a Good Fit for Milli Vanilli and the
Target Audience:
• He has extensive experience as a Producer, with Producer
credits on 55 projects.
• He previously worked together with Luke Korem on 3
documentaries (Lord Montagu, Dealt, and Action).
10. DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR
• Milli Vanilli is a cautionary tale
about fame.
• It gives the artists’ perspective and
tells the full Milli Vanilli story.
• It presents the human side of the
Milli Vanilli story.
• It shows how Rob and Fab were
exploited as artists.
• It dispels the myth that the tape
skip at a Milli Vanilli concert is what
caused the lip-syncing scandal.
12. REFERENCES/IMAGE CREDITS
• About us. (n.d.). Keep On Running Pictures. https://www.keeponrunningpics.com/about
• Action. (2019). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9776008/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
• Blake, M. (2023, October 27). ‘We wanted to sing all along’: A new documentary seeks to reframe the Milli Vanilli controversy. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-10-27/milli-vanilli-fab-morvan-documentary
• Bradley Jackson. (n.d.). IMDb. https://m.imdb.com/name/nm2288814/
• Bradley Jackson. (n.d.). Slated. https://www.slated.com/people/8903/
• Charles Shaw. (n.d.). Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/148542-Charles-Shaw
• CJ. (2021, January 8). Here are the faces and real singers of Milli Vanilli [photos]. 99.9 KTDY. https://999ktdy.com/here-are-the-faces-and-real-singers-of-milli-vanilli-photos/
• Dealt. (2017). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3127902/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
• Dixon, S. (2023, October 24). Moving on: Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan is now unrecognizable as a dad of four — 25 years after shock death of band mate Rob Pilatus. The Sun. https://www.the-sun.com/news/9404932/milli-vanilli-fab-morvan-
paramount-documentary-rob-pilatus/
• Empire Bizarre. (n.d.). Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/2155137-Empire-Bizarre
• Fabrice Morvan. (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005250/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
• Fink, L. & Hume, A. (2023, October 18). Milli Vanilli singer shares regrets and misconceptions after lip sync scandal. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/milli-vanilli-singer-shares-regrets-misconceptions-lip-sync-scandal
• Horton, A. (2023, June 15). ‘People thought they knew the story’: the rise and fall of Milli Vanilli. The Guardian. https://amp.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/15/milli-vanilli-documentary-tribeca-film-festival
• Irvin, J. (2023, October 25). Milli Vanilli's Fabrice Morvan opens up about lip-syncing scandal: 'My story has never been told' (exclusive). People. https://people.com/milli-vanilli-fabrice-morvan-opens-up-lip-syncing-scandal-exclusive-8380368
• Korem, L. (Director/Producer), & Jackson, B. (Producer). (2023). Milli Vanilli [Film]. MTV Entertainment Studios, Keep On Running Pictures, & MRC.
• Lord Montagu. (2013). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2250426/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
• Lord Montagu. (2013). Rotten Tomatoes. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lord_montagu
• Luke Korem. (n.d.). IMDb. https://m.imdb.com/name/nm4598626/?ref_=tt_cl_dr_1
• Luke Korem. (n.d.). LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-korem-a706b029
• McIntyre, H. (2023, November 10). Music’s Biggest Scandal—the story of Milli Vanilli—detailed in new documentary. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2023/11/10/musics-biggest-scandal-the-story-of-milli-vanilli-detailed-in-new-
documentary/amp/
• Milli Vanilli. (2023). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14666592/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
• Milli Vanilli. (n.d.). Last.fm. https://www.last.fm/music/Milli+Vanilli/+images/ee7d644c9905033bc7a84b5fdee2e688
• Paramount+ announces new documentary Milli Vanilli to premiere October 24. (2023, September 13). Paramount. https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/milli-vanilli/releases/?view=108464-paramount-announces-new-
documentary-milli-vanilli-to-premiere-october-24
• Parker, L. (2023, October 20). Milli Vanilli's Fabrice Morvan recalls media's cruel suicide jokes and Rob Pilatus's last days: 'I tried forever to save him'. Yahoo! Entertainment. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/milli-vanilli-fabrice-morvan-cruel-
suicide-jokes-and-rob-pilatus-last-days-192317300.html
• Patrin, N. (2020, January 22). 30 years ago Milli Vanilli won the only Grammy that’s ever been revoked. Stereogum. https://www.stereogum.com/2070830/milli-vanilli-grammy-revoked-1990/columns/sounding-board/
• Pond, S. (1993, March 14). Pop music; Rob and Fab: Do you know us. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/14/archives/pop-music-rob-and-fab-do-you-know-us.html
• Reesman, B. (2020, November 14). Many pop stars lip-sync. 30 years on, we owe Milli Vanilli an apology. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/amp/ncna1247687
• Rob Pilatus. (n.d.). Filmaffinity. https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/name.php?name-id=344940654
• Rob Pilatus. (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1574756/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
• Shaw (Charles). (2020, January 11). The Eurodance Encyclopaedia. https://www.eurokdj.com/search/eurodb.php?name=Shaw_Charles
• Sheffield, R. (2023, June 17). The rise and fall of the eighties’ most scandalous pop duo. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/milli-vanilli-documentary-1234772525/amp/
• Shreya, K. (2023, October 26). Brad Howell: Milli Vanilli’s real singer is retired now. The Cinemaholic. https://thecinemaholic.com/brad-howell-milli-vanilli/
• The Milli Vanilli’s Rob Pilatus was born 58 years ago today. (2023, June 8). Pop Expresso. https://www.popexpresso.com/2023/06/08/the-milli-vanillis-rob-pilatus-was-born-58-years-ago-today/
• Tracy, B. (2019, March 7). A look back at the rise and fall of Milli Vanilli 30 years after their lip-syncing scandal. People. https://people.com/music/milli-vanilli-lip-sync-scandal-anniversary/
• Trakin, R. (2020, December 18). 30 years ago, Milli Vanilli returned their Best New Artist Grammy; should they get the award back now. Variety. https://variety.com/2020/music/news/milli-vanilli-grammy-scandal-fab-morvan-1234865697/amp/
• Trunk, E. (Host). (2023, October 30). Fab Morvan & Luke Korem on Trunk Nation [Radio show episode]. In Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk.
• Waddell Lewis, R. (2020, May 5). Fab Morvan (Milli Vanilli). Voice Over Radio. https://www.voiceovercr.com/2020/05/20/fab-morvan-milli-vanilli/
• Walker, H. (2017). SXSW: Film Festival Audience and Jury Award winners. Austin Food Magazine. https://austinfoodmagazine.com/sxsw-film-awards/amp/
• We Are Austin. (2023, November 22). Trevor sits down with Austinite and Director Luke Korem about 'Milli Vanilli' streaming on Paramount+ [Video file]. https://cbsaustin.com/amp/features/we-are-austin/trevor-sits-down-with-austinite-and-director-
luke-korem-about-milli-vanilli-streaming-on-paramount
• Yomary, T. (2021, May 27). The real Milli Vanilli Members have continued to work as singers and pianists. Distractify. https://www.distractify.com/p/the-real-milli-vanilli-members-now