The Wiz (film) a threat to the Jacksons group cohesion. Cohen moved Michael and his sister La Toya Jackson into a Manhattan apartment, allowing him to be on his own for the first time. During the production, he became a frequent visitor to New York's famous Studio 54. Jackson was dedicated to the Scarecrow role, and watched videotapes of gazelles, cheetahs and panthers in order to learn graceful movements for his part. The long hours of uncomfortable prosthetic makeup by Stan Winston did not bother him. During the production of the film, Jackson asked Quincy Jones who he would recommend as a producer
The Wiz (film) Bassett, or they might have taken longer to emerge." "The Boston Globe" commented, "the term 'black film' should be struck from the critical vocabulary. To appreciate just how outmoded, deceptive and limiting it is, consider the following, all of which have been described as black films, . . ." and characterized "The Wiz" in a list which also featured 1970s films "Shaft", "Blacula", and "Super Fly". Despite its lack of critical or commercial success in its original release, "The Wiz" became a cult classic, especially because it features Michael Jackson in his first starring theatrical film role. Jackson later starred