NIGEL MIGUELPresidentII Jam Casting & ProductionBelize Film

CommissionerContrary to belief, the number one export from Belize is not seafood, but

rather an ambassador of sorts in the way of one shy 6’5” gentleman, Nigel Miguel. Born

in Belize, it was Miguel’s father’s zest for education that brought the entire family to be

raised in Southern California. Athletically blessed, Miguel was a standout player at

Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. He soon found himself on the McDonald’s

All-American Dream Team, which featured the top 20 high school basketball players in

the country. His classmates were Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, and Michael

Jordan.Following in his father’s footsteps, Miguel also attended UCLA when he was

offered a scholarship by then coach, Larry Brown. Continuing his love for basketball,

Miguel went on to become a star basketball player for the UCLA Bruins all four years in

college. While in school other interests would ensue and the likeable Miguel would

befriend a lot of students who were film majors. Film and entertainment intrigued Miguel

but he didn’t quite know then how it would become a part of his life.Meanwhile Miguel’s

mind was on playing professional basketball as coach David Wohl of the New Jersey

Nets, soon drafted him. Unfortunately, an inoperable heel injury sidelined Miguel early

on in his career, and although he couldn’t play basketball any longer, he met a

commercial casting agent who began to place him in front of a camera instead of in a

basketball arena. Says Miguel, “I stopped playing ball because I was injured, but

someone got me an agent at Commercials Unlimited, which at the time was one of the

top three agencies in the industry.” He continued, “I had somewhat of a following

through basketball and soon I was in the movies such as “Colors,” “White Men Can’t

Jump,” “Space Jam,” and “The Air Up There.” Miguel would also find himself becoming

Michael Jordan’s body double for seven years.Fast