Michael Jackson's fans fight back against Sundance documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’

Wade Robson, left, director Dan Reed and James Safechuck from the documentary "Leaving Neverland," which is prompting outrage from Michael Jackson devotees.

Jan. 27, 2019 8 PM PT

Reporting from Park City, Utah — Nearly 10 years after his death, the Michael Jackson brand is stronger than ever.

Jackson’s digital catalog shows no signs of fatigue. A number of unannounced deals are in the works from his estate and in October performances of a Jackson musical, “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” are set to begin in Chicago before it bows on Broadway.

But here at the Sundance Film Festival, where the two-part docu-series “Leaving Neverland” premiered Friday to a packed audience at Park City’s historic Egyptian Theater, Jackson’s brand has already experienced a significant blow.

Directed by British documentarian Dan Reed, the project unpacks in explicit detail the allegations of two adult men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who allege they suffered years of sexual abuse at Jackson’s hands when they were boys.

Robson claims the abuse began at age 7. Safechuck says he became sexually active with Jackson at age 10. Both men testified on the pop star’s behalf in a 1993 sexual-abuse case brought by a different boy, and claimed at the time that Jackson never did anything inappropriate.

They now say they were lying, motivated by love and loyalty for Jackson, and were only able to face the truth after they each had young children of their own. Their stories, supported by their wives, mothers and, in Robson’s case, multiple other family members, are detailed, specific and — for viewers who have seen the film at Sundance — credible.

HBO won’t air the docu-series until an unspecified date in March, and how the public will view Jackson’s music after watching the film remains to be seen. But if the Jackson estate and his fans have any say, “Leaving Neverland” will come and go.

FULL COVERAGE: Sundance Film Festival 2019 »

Only a couple of protesters turned up at Sundance. But online, a storm was brewing. Hardcore fans were at the ready on Twitter, directing an onslaught of messages at any of the festivalgoers who walked out of the Egyptian and posted about what they had seen.

“Basically, to believe Wade Robson’s allegations, you have to believe that he is a liar to a great degree,” said Sara Richards, a 26-year-old student who lives in the United Kingdom and is the co-owner of MJJLegion, one of the many Twitter fan pages that has dedicated its feed to discrediting the accusers.

“To believe him now, you have to believe that he was lying for the last 20 years, including under oath,” she continued. “I hear people saying you must believe the victims, which I strongly agree with. But when you’ve been faced with a situation where someone has been lying for 20 years straight, you can’t take it at face-value. … This is obviously bringing a lot of attention and fame, and eventually, down the road, I’m sure they’ll be able to make money somehow.”

Richards, like most ardent Jackson fans who have been rallying online, is echoing the position of the Jackson estate, which has dismissed the “so-called ‘documentary’” as a rehash of “dated and discredited allegations.”

In part because Robson and Safechuck defended Jackson years ago, the film has come under intense scrutiny by the estate, which has accused the film’s subjects of being motivated by money.

The film takes uncorroborated allegations that supposedly happened 20 years ago and treats them as fact.

— Jackson’s estate

The estate, and Jackson’s fans, are encouraging the public to see the film as nothing more than a smear campaign against a singer who was vilified his entire life and innocent of all allegations against him (Jackson was acquitted on charges of child molestation and of administering an intoxicating agent to a minor in 2005; he paid $22 million to settle a civil case with another accuser in 1994).

“The film takes uncorroborated allegations that supposedly happened 20 years ago and treats them as fact,” Jackson’s estate said in a lengthy statement issued after “Leaving Neverland” premiered.

“These claims were the basis of lawsuits filed by these two admitted liars which were ultimately dismissed by a judge. The two accusers testified under oath that these events never occurred. They have provided no independent evidence and absolutely no proof in support of their accusations … despite all the disingenuous denials made that this is not about money, it has always been about money — millions of dollars.”

“From the get-go, there was no money ever offered and we never expected anything,” Safechuck said after the film’s premiere. “It was really trying to tell the story and shine a light on it. To give people [who have survived abuse] the same connection and comfort we’ve got going through this.”

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Actor Lil Rel Howrey, from the film “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Actor Jillian Bell, from the film “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Director Kenneth Paul Rosenberg and subject Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, from the documentary “Bedlam,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Actors Lil Rel Howrey, left, Jillian Bell and Utkarsh Ambudkar, from the film “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Director/writer Noble Jones, from the film “The Tomorrow Man,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Actor John Lithgow, from the film “The Tomorrow Man,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Actors Blythe Danner, left, and John Lithgow, and director-writer Noble Jones, from the film “The Tomorrow Man,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Actor Blythe Danner, from the film “The Tomorrow Man,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, from the film “The Mustang,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Patrisse Cullors photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Wu-Tang Clan members Masta Killa, U-God and Cappadonna, director Sacha Jenkins, and Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface and RZA, from the television series “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Director Sacha Jenkins, from the television series, “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Sacha Jenkins Wu-Tang Clan members U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna, Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors from the documentary “Bedlam, “ and Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface and RZA, from the television series, “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Wu-Tang Clan member RZA, from the television series, “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,” photographed at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Charlie Whitley, left, and Diesel La Torraca from the film “Little Monsters.”

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Irina Yelchin and Viktor Yelchin, parents of late actor Anton Yelchin, at Sundance with a documentary about their son, “Love, Antosha.”

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Sex therapist Ruth Westheimer from the documentary “Ask Dr. Ruth.”

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Director Stanley Nelson from the documentary “Miles Davis: The Birth of Cool.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Joshua Boone, actress/co-writer Zora Howard and director/co-writer Rashaad Ernesto Green, from the film “Premature.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Gavin Hood from the film “Official Secrets.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Mia Wasikowska, director Mirrah Foulkes and actor Damon Herriman from the film “Judy and Punch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Maribeth Monroe from the television movie “Bootstrapped.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Sam Richardson, actor Maribeth Monroe, director Stephanie Laing and producer Dave Hill from the television movie “Bootstrapped.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Show creators Arturo Perez and Samantha Jayne from the television show “Quarter Life Poetry.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Gwilym Lee, writer Miranda Tapsell and director Wayne Blair from the film “Top End Wedding.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Josh Gad from the film “Little Monsters.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Lupita Nyong’o from the film “Little Monsters.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Writer/director Abe Forsythe and actors Josh Gad, Lupita Nyong’o and Alexander England, from the film “Little Monsters.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director/writer Dawn Luebbe, actors Mary Holland and Beck Bennett and director/writer Jocelyn DeBoer from the film “Greener Grass.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jessica Williams from the film “Corporate Animals.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Jessica Williams and Demi Moore, director Patrick Brice and actor Karan Soni from the film “Corporate Animals.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jeff Goldblum from the film “The Mountain.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jeff Goldblum, director Rick Alverson and actor Tye Sheridan from the film “The Mountain.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Pete Davidson from the film “Big Time Adolescence.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jordan Rock, actor Pete Davidson, actor Colson Baker, actor Griffin Gluck, Joey Gay, writer/director Jason Orley, actor Jon Cryer and actor Emily Arlook from the film “Big Time Adolescence.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Irene Taylor Brodsky, of the documentary”Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements,” is kissed by her parents, Sally and Paul Taylor. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Subject Sally Taylor, director Irene Taylor Brodsky, and subjects Jonas Brodsky and Paul Taylor from the documentary “Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Holliday Grainger from the film “Animals.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Alia Shawkat, director Sophie Hyde, actor Holliday Grainger and writer Emma Jane Unsworth from the film “Animals.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Marin Ireland and Jim Gaffigan from the film “Light from Light.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Jim Gaffigan, Josh Wiggins and Marin Ireland, writer/director Paul Harrill and Atheena Frizzell from the film “Light from Light.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Subject Tracy Edwards from the documentary “Maiden.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Walton Goggins from the film “Them That Follow.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Lewis Pullman from the film “Them That Follow.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Alice Englert from the film “Them That Follow.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Thomas Mann, Lewis Pullman and Kaitlyn Dever, directors Dan Madison Savage and Britt Poulton and actors Alice Englert and Walton Goggins from the film “Them That Follow.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Natalia Dyer from “Velvet Buzzsaw.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Chris O’Dowd from the television series “State of the Union.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Lena Headey from the film “Fighting with My Family.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Nick Frost from the film “Fighting with My Family.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jake Gyllenhaal from “Velvet Buzzsaw.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Zach Galifianakis from “The Sunlit Night.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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WWE Superstar Paige from the film “Fighting with My Family.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Jacob Estes from “Relive.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Mike Colter from “Before You Know It.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director duo Bert & Bertie and actor Mckenna Grace from the film “Troop Zero.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor David Oyelowo, left, director Jacob Estes and actor Storm Reid from the film “Relive.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Francesca Noel, left, Ana Mulvoy, Jharrel Jerome and Celeste O’Connor, director-writer Tayarisha Poe and actors Gina Torres, Lovie Simone, Jesse Williams and Henry Hunter Hall from the film “Selah and the Spades.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jenn Tullock and director/actor Hannah Pearl Utt from the film “Before You Know It.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Francesca Noel from the film “Selah and the Spades.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Armie Hammer from the film “Wounds.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Tonya Cornelisse from the film “Mope.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Brian Huskey from the film “Mope.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Rene Russo from the film “Velvet Buzzsaw.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jenny Slate from “The Sunlit Night.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Judith Light from the film “Before You Know It.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jonathan Majors from “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Ana Mulvoy from the film “Selah and the Spades.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Joe Talbot from “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Ross Kauffman and subject Amit Sankhala from the documentary “Tigerland.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Natalia Dyer from the film “Velvet Buzzsaw.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Jack Lowden, left, Lena Headey and Florence Pugh, director-writer-actor Stephen Merchant, WWE Superstar Paige and actor Nick Frost from the film “Fighting with My Family.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Max Adler, Brian Huskey, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Lucas Heyne, David Arquette, Kelly Sry and Tonya Cornelisse from the film “Mope.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Amer Chadha-Patel from the film “Blinded by the Light.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director/writer/producer Gurinder Chadha, left, and actor Amer Chadha-Patel from “Blinded by the Light.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Zawe Ashton, left, Rene Russo, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalia Dyer, from the film “Velvet Buzzsaw.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jenn Tullock from “Before You Know It.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Tichina Arnold and Jonathan Majors, director Joe Talbot, subject Jimmie Fails, and actor Rob Morgan, from the film “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jenn Tullock, director/actor Hannah Pearl Utt, and actor Judith Light from the film “Before You Know It.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Mike Colter and Jenn Tullock, director/actor Hannah Pearl Utt and actor Judith Light from the film “Before You Know It.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director David Wnendt from the film “The Sunlit Night.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director David Wnendt, left, actor Alex Sharp, screenwriter Rebecca Dinerstein and actors Jenny Slate and Zach Galifianakis from the film, “The Sunlit Night.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Charlie Plummer from “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Moises Arias from the film “Monos.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Julianne Nicholson from the film “Monos.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Zawe Ashton from “Velvet Buzzsaw.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Rob Morgan from “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Billy Chew, Michael Abbot Jr., Virginia Newcomb, Andre Hyland and director Daniel Scheinert from the film “The Death of Dick Long.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Wendy McLendon Covey from the film “Imaginary Order.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Zac Efron from the film “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Angela Sarafyan, Zac Efron, Lily Collins and Haley Joel Osment from the film “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director A.M. Lukas and actress Emily Mortimer from the short film “One Cambodian Family Please for My Pleasure.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Mindy Kaling, left, from the film “Late Night” and Octavia Spencer from the film “Luce” at the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Subject Wade Robson, director Dan Reed and subject James Safechuck, from the documentary “Leaving Neverland.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Julianne Moore from the film “After the Wedding.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Julianne Moore, director Bart Freundlich, actor Michelle Williams, actor Billy Crudup and actor Abby Quinn from the film “After the Wedding.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Jada Pinkett Smith from the film “Hala.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Executive producer Denitria Harris-Lawrence, actor Akili McDowell, series creator Tarell Alvin McCraney, actor Alana Arenas and actor Phylicia Rashad from the television series “David Makes Man.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Comedian Reggie Watts from the short “Runnin’.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Shea Whigham, Jordana Spiro, Adelaide Clemens and Malin Akerman, director Martha Stephens and actors Tony Hale, Liana Liberato, Madisen Beaty and Kara Hayward from the film “To the Stars.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Frederic Tcheng from the documentary “Halston.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Chiwetel Ejiofor, actor Maxwell Simba, actress Aissa Maiga and William Kamkwamba from the film “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Anna Chlumsky and Gabriel Luna, writer/director Minhal Baig, and actors Geraldine Viswanathan, Jada Pinkett Smith and Azad Khan from the film “Hala.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Television personality Chris Wallace and director Avi Belkin from the documentary “Mike Wallace Is Here.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Producer Erin Edeiken, subjects Tyler Shultz, Erika Cheung and John Carreyrou, and producer Jessie Deeter from the documentary “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Awkwafina from the film “The Farewell.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Awkwafina and director/writer Lulu Wang from the film “The Farewell.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Maynor Alvarado, Vik Sahay and Manuel Uriza, directors Cristina Ibarra and Alex Rivera, actors Chelsea Rendon and Juan Gabriel Pareja, subjects Viridiana Martinez and Mohammad Abdollahi from the film “The Infiltrators.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Directors Cristina Ibarra and Alex Rivera from the film “The Infiltrators.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Jac Bernhard, Maxton Miles Baeza, Bobbi Salvor Menuez and Leo Sheng, director Rhys Ernst and actors Nicholas Alexander, Dana Levinson, Alisha B. Woods and Chloe Levine from the film “Adam.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Subject Lucien Greaves and director Penny Lane from the documentary “Hail Satan?” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Subject Ruth Westheimer and director Ryan White from the documentary “Ask Dr. Ruth.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Paul Walter Hauser, writer-producer-actress Mindy Kaling, actress Amy Ryan, director Nisha Ganatra and actor Reid Scott from the film “Late Night.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Amy Ryan from the film “Late Night.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Tim Roth, director Julius Onah and actors Naomi Watts, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Octavia Spencer from the film “Luce.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Jon Hamm and Annette Bening from the film “The Report.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Ashton Sanders from the film “Native Son.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Adam Driver from the film “The Report” at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Adam Driver, writer-director Scott Z. Burns, and actors Jon Hamm and Annette Bening from the film “The Report.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Nick Robinson from the film “Native Son.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Sanaa Lathan from the film “Native Son.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Kiki Layne from the film “Native Son.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor-writer Mark Duplass and actor Ray Romano from the film “Paddleton.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Virginia Newcomb, Michael Abbot Jr., and Andre Hyland, writer Billy Chew and director Daniel Scheinert from the film “The Death of Dick Long.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Daniel Scheinert, director of the film “The Death of Dick Long.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Patty Jenkins, actress India Eisley and showrunner Sam Sheridan from the television series “I Am the Night” on TNT. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Richard Kind from the television series “IFC’s Documentary Now!” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Cinematographer Alex Buono, actress Paula Pell, director Rhys Thomas, actress Renee Elise Goldsberry and actor Richard Kind from the television series “IFC’s Documentary Now!” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Eiza Gonzalez from the film “Paradise Hills.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Eiza Gonzalez, Emma Roberts and Danielle MacDonald, director Alice Waddington and actress Milla Jovovich from the film “Paradise Hills.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Danielle MacDonald from the film “Paradise Hills.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Angela Sarafyan from the film “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Emma Roberts from the film “Paradise Hills.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Milla Jovovich from the film “Paradise Hills.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Armie Hammer, director Babak Anvari and actress Zazie Beetz from the film “Wounds.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Zazie Beetz is in the L.A. Times Studio at Sundance as she promotes her film “Wounds.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Armie Hammer for the film “Wounds.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Babak Anvari from the film “Wounds” attends the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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PARK CITY, UTAH -- JANUARY 26, 2019 -- Actors Jac Bernhard, Maxton Miles Baeza, Bobbi Salvor Menuez, Leo Sheng, director Rhys Ernst and actors Nicholas Alexander, Dana Levinson, Alisha B. Woods, and Chloe Levine, from the film, “Adam,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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(L-R) - Actors Richard Armitage and Riley Keough, directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, from the film, “The Lodge,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Anna Margaret Hollyman, from the film, “Sister Aimee,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Tiffany Chu from the film “Ms. Purple,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Richard Armitage, from the film, “The Lodge,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Film subject Rosanna Arquette, from the documentary, “Untouchable,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Alma HaÕrel, from the film, “Honey Boy,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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(L-R) - Director Samantha Buck, actor Anna Margaret Hollyman, actor Andrea Suarez-Paz, and director Marie Schlingmann, from the film, “Sister Aimee,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Octavio Pizano, from the film, “Ms. Purple,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Aisling Franciosi, left, and director Jennifer Kent, from the film “The Nightingale,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Laura San Giacomo, from the film, “Honey Boy,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Martin Starr, from the film, “Honey Boy,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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(L-R) - Film subjects Bobby Allen, Wong He, and Jill Lamantia, from the documentary, “American Factory,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Dan Reed, from the documentary “Leaving Neverland,” photographed in the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Clifton Collins Jr., from the film, “Honey Boy,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 . (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Octavio Pizano, actor Teddy Lee, actor Tiffany Chu, director Justin Chon, and actor James Kang, from the film, “Ms. Purple,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, United States on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Riely Keough, from the film “The Lodge,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Film subject Rosanna Arquette, left, and director Ursula Macfarlane, from the documentary “Untouchable,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Producer Cameron Crow, from the documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Producer Cameron Crow, left, subject David Crosby and director A.J. Eaton, from the documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Byron Bowers, from the film “Honey Boy,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Teddy Lee, from the film “Ms. Purple,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Alma Har’el and actor Noah Jupe, from the film “Honey Boy,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Peter Sarsgaard, left, and director Michael Tyburski, from the film “The Sound of Silence,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Writer-actor Shia LaBeouf, left, actor Noah Jupe, actor FKA Twigs, actor Craig Stark, actor Clifton Collins Jr., director Alma Har’el, actor Laura San Giacomo, actor Byron Bowers and actor Martin Starr, from the film “Honey Boy,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Craig Stark, from the film “Honey Boy,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Subject David Crosby, from the documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor James Kang, from the film “Ms. Purple,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Richard Armitage and Riley Keough, from the film “The Lodge,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Peter Sarsgaard, from the film “The Sound of Silence,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Michael Tyburski, from the film “The Sound of Silence,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Director Jennifer Kent, from the film “The Nightingale,” photographed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The idea for the documentary began with Reed, who had been looking back in 2016 for his next nonfiction project: Something big and investigative, an iconic American story that had the power to engage audiences on a global scale. During lunch with an executive at England’s Channel 4, he suggested Michael Jackson: Was he or wasn’t he guilty of sexual abuse?

Upon learning of Robson and Safechuck’s complaints, Reed reached out to the legal teams for the two men and expressed his interest in interviewing them. Though the filmmaker felt “it was a real long shot,” the accusers agreed to participate.

“We agreed that the sexual abuse had to be described exactly as it happened,” he said. “We had to go graphic, because there’s no point making a film like this and just saying, ‘Well, then the bedroom door closes,’ and we skip ahead.”

Once Robson explained that he’d loved Jackson as a boy, “everything suddenly crystallized” for Reed — and he understood why Robson had come to the singer’s defense for so long.

“This is difficult to say but he had a fulfilling sexual and emotional relationship at the age of 7 with a 30-year-old man who happened to be the King of Pop,” said Reed. “Most people imagine the kid kind of being forced — that’s not what happened, and Wade makes that very, very clear.

“If you’re really going to understand what oftentimes child sexual abuse is like, you have to understand that the abuser creates an authentic relationship that if the person was aged 18 or older would be completely normal. The problem is that the child is 7, and a 7-year-old can’t make those decisions.”

Reed — who said he believes there are “dozens of men” still out there who were sexually abused by Jackson — said he doesn’t think there needs to be a #MuteMJ campaign that calls for fans to stop listening to his music the way protestors implored the public to stop supporting R. Kelly. Kelly’s long history of alleged sexual-abuse crimes with young and underage girls recently resurfaced with the release of “Surviving R. Kelly,” an explosive, six-part series that aired on Lifetime this month.

Both artists are signed to Sony Music, which dropped Kelly after the documentary. The company did not return a request for comment regarding Jackson. The forthcoming Broadway production based on Jackson’s work also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“I don’t think the answer is to start a war about Jackson’s music,” Reed said. “I think this film is going to get people going #MeToo, and a lot of people will come out and will feel they’re able to talk because Wade and James broke the biggest taboo of all — the biggest silence of all. People who have had the same experience but not with a very famous person will feel empowered to speak.”

This film is going to drop like a bomb and shock a lot of people, having people questioning things they believed for so many years.

— Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement

Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo movement, attended the “Leaving Neverland” premiere and in an interview two days later said she was still processing the film. While she noted that her campaign has dealt with child sexual abuse — she herself is a survivor — she acknowledged that boys and men have not been at the center of the conversation.

“I think ‘Leaving Neverland’ will help shift the idea away that this just happens to women,” said Burke. “This film is going to drop like a bomb and shock a lot of people, having people questioning things they believed for so many years.”

Hours after “Leaving Neverland” debuted in Park City, Burke met with Robson and Safechuck to offer her thoughts on how to deal with the public backlash that may emerge in the coming months.

“I am in the center of a lot of that criticism on a daily basis, and as a survivor, it’s hard to hold that,” she said. “One of the things we talked about is that there’s going to be so much more support than there is criticism. They said that being here, this is one of the first times they’ve ever felt supported in their allegations.”

Online, the Jackson fan response has been swift and aggressive, with hundreds of individuals who have yet to see the docu-series jumping to the late star’s defense. “It’s [a] modern day lynching,” one fan tweeted in response to The Times’ coverage. “[I]t’s a biased & obviously fabricated film! You can talk about what you’ve seen but we’re asking rightfully so, to be critical & research the accusers.”

“It’s a sort of cult, isn’t it?” Reed said of the King of Pop’s army of fans. “Because he projected this image of innocence and a connection with children and a purity, I think there’s something in people that wants to worship that. And if you say that actually the opposite was true — that instead of loving and cherishing children, he harmed them — you’re blasphemous. It feels like we’ve committed blasphemy, and the MJ fans have launched a fatwa against us.”

There are still a handful of men who spent time with Jackson as boys who insist they were never abused by the musician. Brett Barnes and actor Macaulay Culkin are featured in the film, with archival footage showing them spending time with the singer in their youth; they both also testified on Jackson’s behalf in his 2005 trial.

Earlier this month, Culkin, now 38, said in an interview on the podcast “Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum” that Jackson befriended him because they both understood how isolating child fame could be.

“It’s almost easy to try say it was like weird or whatever, but it wasn’t, because it made sense,” Culkin said. “At the end of the day, we were friends.”

When asked by The Times via email if Culkin wanted to respond to the film, his publicist replied “no thank you.” Barnes did not respond to a request for comment.

As fans and the estate continue to push back, Jackson’s nephew, Taj Jackson, is raising funds to release a counter-documentary series that he says will expose “media and showbiz corruption” and reveal how his uncle was “betrayed, entrapped, and extorted” because of his “unique” relationships with children.

Brenda Jenkyns, left, and Catherine Van Tighem who drove from Calgary, Canada, stand with signs outside of the premiere of the "Leaving Neverland" at the Sundance Film Festival.

I’m extremely disappointed in Sundance. Enough is enough. Michael Jackson died an innocent, vindicated man. It’s time to take a stand.

— Taj Jackson

“After having their abuse allegations dismissed by the court, the two men who are subjects in this film have turned to HBO, the UK’s Channel 4 and the Sundance Film Festival to tell their stories. I’m extremely disappointed in Sundance. Enough is enough. Michael Jackson died an innocent, vindicated man. It’s time to take a stand, and I’m fighting hard for the truth,” he said in a statement. He’s raised more than $30,000 of his $777,000 goal.

Richards said the reason the Jackson fan response has been especially vehement has to do with the film’s proximity to the 10-year anniversary of his death.

“A lot of people think fans are blinded by their devotion and unwilling to accept anything,” she said. “But we know more about the case than most people. So the idea that fans just can’t accept the truth is extremely frustrating when we’re dealing with people who see a headline with shocking details and buy it.

“People just want him to be able to be left alone, essentially. There’s been so many predators who have been revealed this year with the #MeToo movement, and we’re focusing on a man who has been dead and already went to trial for these exact crimes. What will it take for people to let this go?”

Whatever comes next, Reed said that Robson and Safechuck are ready for the next step. And he remains optimistic that by sharing their stories, the film could spur a larger conversation.

“There’s a tremendous energy for them in getting this out there,” he said. “This thing happened to them, and there’s nothing they can do about it and it [messed] up their lives for a good while. But now it has a purpose. Their experience can be transformed into something that can help other people and give permission to victims of child sexual abuse to speak out.”

Michael Jackson’s fans fight back against Sundance documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’

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