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"This Is It" Movie AEG Execs Discuss The Making Of 'This Is It'. 06-11-'09 Although the posthumous Michael Jackson movie "This Is It" reportedly grossed more than $100 million worldwide in its first week, the behind-the-scenes work by concert promoters AEG Live to deliver the film could have made for its own film. At the sixth annual Billboard Touring Conference in New York, AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips and AEG Live/Concerts West co-CEOs Paul Gongaware and John Meglen joined Billboard's Ray Waddell to discuss the journey from Jackson's tragic death to the King of Pop's celluloid tribute. The roots of the movie go back to January 2007, during the initial meetings for a planned series of concerts by Jackson.
"Early on, there were a lot of different representatives around Michael, so weeding through that was always a very, very difficult thing," Meglen says. "I think the important point was that, what we laid out to Michael was the breadth of the company, of AEG. I think from the very get go, we kind of planted into Michael that we were a great match for him." The Jackson/AEG partnership resulted in a contract that initially included 31 dates, a number chosen by Jackson because it would be 10 more concerts than Prince performed. The number planned shows at the 02 Arena in London later grew to 50. "There were phases," Phillips says. "We never got ahead of Michael and what he wanted to do, both creatively and financially. We knew this was the way to go." The days immediately after Jackson's June 25 death included numerous conference calls and meetings to quickly organize ticket refunds. Phillips says that 14% of ticket holders held on to their tickets, which were designed by Jackson himself. The company also mobilized quickly to secure the Staples Center in Los Angeles for a Jackson memorial, obtaining the broadcast rights as well. Soon after the memorial, the footage of the concert rehearsals that turned into "This Is It" arrived at the AEG offices in Los Angeles under lock and key, and with no committed plan to turn it into a movie. After deciding to go forward with a film, and with major studios lining up to bid on the rights, "the biggest concern was that something would leak on the Internet and destroy the value of the intellectual property," Phillips says. "That's why I've never seen security like this in my life. It was like working in the Pentagon." Although AEG faced an onslaught of media criticism leading up to the film's release, Phillips is confident in the group's handling of the entire situation. "I think this company acted in a classy manner," he says. "The people we work for were incredibly supportive, even with not knowing if we were going to be able to recoup the amount of money we had out. We were never put under pressure and I think we've always tried to do the right thing, including when we modified our agreement with the estate in probate court. I think we always did, or tried to do, the right thing." Source: MJFC / Billboard Biz / Billie Jean
This is It director Kenny Ortega told an audience at an Entertainment Weekly event in Los Angeles Monday night that he’s “happy for Michael” that the film, which opened to $101 million worldwide last weekend, is now the highest grossing concert film in history. “Michael had filmmaking in his future,” Oretga said at EW’s tribute to the legendary director and choreographer at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. “So I’m just glad that this film—even though he didn’t get to have that experience—has in fact made him a movie star.” Ortega, who choreographed Dirty Dancing and directed all three High School Musical movies, was rehearsing Jackson’s planned 50-concert event in L.A. last summer when the singer died suddenly. (In the wake of that death, Sony bought the rehearsal footage and Ortega ultimately decided to direct the film.) Ortega, 59, had worked with Jackson in the 1990s and knew the singer well. Speaking to an audience of approximately 200 in the EW lounge — part of this week’s American Film Institute Festival in Hollywood — Ortega gave Jackson credit for helping resurrect the movie musical through his short-film style music videos for songs such as Thriller and Smooth Criminal. “We wouldn’t have movie musicals this day if it wasn’t for Michael Jackson,” Ortega said. The director also recalled personal memories of Jackson, including that Jackson had two or three personal colognes that he frequently used, and that during rehearsals for This is It, dancers would line up to get hugs from Jackson just because of how good he smelled. One afternoon, when Ortega had been working hard all morning, and was covered in sweat, he went to Jackson’s trailer to talk to him. As Jackson approached Ortega to hug him, Ortega said, “You don’t want to hug me. I’m sweaty. I stink.” Jackson replied, “That’s ok,” whipped out a bottle of his cologne, and spritzed Ortega with it. Ortega smiled at the memory. “That whole rest of the day, everybody just was hugging me and saying ‘You smell like Michael!’” he said. Source: popwatch.ew.com / Billie Jean Kenny Ortega Says Expect 2 to 3 Hours of Additional Footage on THIS IS IT DVD/Blu-ray. A few days ago I got to speak with director Kenny Ortega for Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” as a reporter for our partner’s at Omelete. Since Ortega has spoken at great length about the project to other websites and media outlets, I tried to ask some news questions. The main thing I wanted to know was since they had shot around 100 hours of footage when documenting the rehearsals, how much additional footage could fans expect to see on the eventual DVD/Blu-ray. According to Ortega, we’re going to get between two and three hours of additional footage. He also told me it won’t be added into the movie like a director’s cut but will be part of the extras section. And for people wondering when it’ll be released, he says early next year. Look at the video. Source: Collider / Billie Jean "This Is It" Tops Charts With $101 Million Worldwide. 02-11-'09 "Michael Jackson's This Is It" has pulled in $101 million worldwide in its first five days, and distributor Sony says it is extending the farewell performance film beyond its planned two-week run. The film was the No. 1 Halloween flick domestically with a $21.3 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates on Sunday. "This Is It" raised its domestic total to $32.5 million. The movie raked in $68.5 million overseas, including $10.4 million in Japan, $6.3 million in Germany, $5.8 million in France and $3.2 million in China. In Great Britain, where Jackson had planned a marathon series of 50 London concerts starting last July, the movie earned $7.6 million.
Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony said, "He's just loved everywhere on the planet. It doesn't matter if it's Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, South America. Every continent in the world loved him and his music." Originally scheduled for a theatrical run of only two weeks, the studio has extended it a few more weeks domestically, leaving it in theaters through Thanksgiving weekend, one of the year's busiest movie going times. Sony plans to extend the run of "This Is It" overseas on a country-by-country basis, with most territories probably getting one to three weeks of extra playing time, Bruer said. The studio paid $60 million for film rights to Jackson's rehearsal footage, an investment the movie recouped in days. "They bet $60 million on this and got $101 million in just five days," says Paul Dergarabedian, a box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "It was a gamble and a bet that paid off." The movie fell a bit short of last year's $31.1 million opening weekend domestically for "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert." But Bruer says "This Is It" has a real good shot at surpassing the $65.3 million domestic total during the entire run of Cyrus' movie, which tops the all-time charts for music documentaries. Worldwide, "This Is It" has already shot past Cyrus' concert film. Cyrus mainly appeals to American teenaged girls, and her movie got only a limited release overseas, where it took in about $5 million to give the film a global total of just over $70 million. "This Is It" played in 3,481 theaters domestically, about five times the number for Cyrus' movie. Also, "Best of Both Worlds" ran in 3-D, for which theaters typically charge a few dollars more. And Cyrus' young fans are an audience segment that tends to rush out to see movies over opening weekend, the movie doing nearly half its business in the first few days. Sony hopes for a longer shelf life for "This Is It," which drew older crowds that tend to catch movies on their own schedule, with less regard for the opening-weekend frenzy. According to Sony, fans older than 25 accounted for 62 percent of the audience. Source: AP / Billie Jean Kenny Ortega Speaks About MJ. 02-11-'09 MoviesOnline sat down to talk to with producer/director Kenny Ortega about his new film, the highly anticipated Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT. The film offers Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this past summer in London’s O2 Arena. Go to this link for the full text. Source: moviesonline.ca / Billie Jean 'This Is It' Showcases MJ's Fashion Comeback. 01-11-'09 In "Michael Jackson's This Is It," moviegoers will not see the elaborate costumes created for the tour that never was, bedazzled with 4 million Swarovski crystals and lighted up using LED technology. Those are on display at the O2 Arena in London, where the engagement had been scheduled to begin in July, and will go on to New York and Tokyo. But what they will see, in addition to tough and tender moments that humanize the pop singer, and one hell of a music and dance show, is an amazing array of designer outfits Michael Jackson wore to rehearsals. A black leather, pagoda-sleeve jacket and a crystal-trimmed tuxedo are among pieces designed by the likes of Christophe Decarnin for Balmain, Kris Van Assche for Dior Homme and Tom Ford that speak to Michael Jackson's renewed relevance in fashion circles and the changing relationship between music and fashion.
Michael Jackson became a style icon in the 1980s because of his individual, often theatrical styling choices for the stage -- the single sequined glove, the white socks, the fedora. But his recent comeback effort was engineered with the help of fashion designers, with Balmain's Decarnin recognizing the retro appeal of tennis-ball-shaped shoulders and over-the-top embroidery, and Michael Jackson appearing in his designs. We had been used to seeing Michael Jackson show up for courtroom appearances in scrubs, surgical masks, armbands and other kooky attire, some of it designed by his longtime L.A.-based costume designers, Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins, who have a Michael mannequin in their Los Feliz studio. But his look changed with an introduction to fashion stylist Rushka Bergman, and it is her work that is mostly front and center in the film, as Michael Jackson's everyday clothes end up as his de facto costumes. A pint-sized powerhouse from Serbia who says things like "forever daaahling," Bergman first met Michael Jackson when she styled him in Dior Homme for the October 2007 issue of Italian L'Uomo Vogue. Some might say it was the beginning of his comeback when she put him in Hedi Slimane's slim-line suits, fashionable at the time with Mick Jagger, Beck, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand and nearly every other credible male rocker. The morning of the film's premiere, Bergman pulled out snapshots of Michael Jackson trying on clothes at his house, and called him her "supermodel" because he fit into anything, including women's clothes. She emphasized his sex appeal ("He's sooooooo sexxxy!"), which comes into focus in the film for the first time in a long time, despite Michael Jackson's surgerized face. "When he wears Balmain on screen, you say, 'Wow!' " she said. In the film, Michael Jackson looks fabulous much of the time, save for a few unfortunate print shirts and patched sweat pants that could well be the influence of L.A. fashion impresario Christian Audigier, who had approached Michael Jackson about collaborating on a line. But more often, you notice sharp tailoring and light-reflecting color. In a Tom Ford tuxedo worn during dancer auditions, skinny orange Dior Homme jeans, a red leather Balmain motorcycle jacket with crystal-studded shoulders worn during the "Thriller" rehearsal and a Balmain suede military jacket worn with Alessandro Dell'Acqua gold sequin pants, Michael Jackson looks powerful and contemporary. "Seeing the clothing Rushka had selected, you could see Michael's influence," said Travis Payne, assistant director and choreographer for the This Is It performances. In recent years, pop stars have turned to fashion designers for costumes with increasing regularity, with Kylie Minogue choosing Jean Paul Gaultier for her recent North American tour, and Beyoncé enlisting Thierry Mugler. Payne wanted to bring fashion relevance to Michael Jackson's on-stage persona too, so he solicited sketches from several designers, including John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. Ultimately, New York-based fashion and costume designer Zaldy was tapped. Having worked with the Scissor Sisters and Gwen Stefani, while producing his own clothing line, he bridged the worlds of music and fashion. Jackson was to have 10 costumes by Zaldy and six by Bush and Tompkins. Bush also helped dress the dancers and singers, as did Jennifer Rade, a Hollywood stylist whose star client is Angelina Jolie. The tour costumes will be featured in a "This Is It" DVD. "Zaldy is the new cool thing and working with him gave Michael credibility," Payne said. "But Michael Bush is near and dear to his heart. So I wanted them to collaborate." Bush's "Smooth Criminal" costume is a white, 1940s-inspired pinstripe suit. Zaldy's updated "Thriller" jacket is hand-embroidered to look as though it has blood dripping from the shoulders. "That was probably the hardest piece to do because it was so iconic," Zaldy said. But his "Billie Jean" costume was the pièce de résistance, with a jacket, tuxedo pants, ankle socks and a single glove that would light up using remote control, thanks to new Lumalive LED textile technology rushed through development by Philips Research in the Netherlands. Zaldy remembers, "In the fitting, when Michael tried it on, his mouth literally dropped and he said, 'It's everything I always wanted.' " Source: MJFC / LA Times / Billie Jean Pre-Order 'This Is It' On DVD & Blu-Ray. 31-10-'09 Michael Jackson fans in the US and Canada can now pre-order their copy of Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' on DVD, Blu-Ray and ITunes Video today! While an official release date has not yet been announced, Sony's website indicates that fans should "Look For It Soon" and to check this page frequently for the announcement of the delivery date.
To Pre-Order Your Copy Click Here. Source: michaeljackson.com / Billie Jean The IMAX Experience Makes MJ Seem More Alive Than Ever. 31-10-'09 Michael Jackson was always larger than life, perhaps even more so after his passing. How better then to do him justice than on IMAX movie screens, where fans get a visceral experience of "This Is It," his blockbuster concert rehearsal film currently in theaters, which drew in more than $20 million at the box office on its opening day. While IMAX digital-mastering always offers eye-popping picture quality and sound that makes you feel immersed in the movie's aural world, these enhancements are especially valuable in a concert film - which much of "This Is It" is. The performances featured in the movie were only rehearsals for Michael Jackson's series of concerts planned for London's O2 Arena. But practice sessions or not, "This Is It" is by definition about the music, and it provides Michael Jackson fans with some magical moments. One of these is his duet with back-up singer Judith Hill on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," in which he seemingly gets so absorbed that the two sing that lyric over and over again to each other in an improvisatory vocal dance. Another is seeing him jam with lead guitarist Orianthi as she plays electrifying riffs in "Beat It." Hearing these performances amplified in IMAX's 14,000 watts of digital surround sound is, in terms of sound quality, literally better than having been there. In terms of seeing Michael Jackson, every subtle nuance of his expressions is visible on the ultra high resolution screen. Again, it's a better view of the King of Pop than fans ever could have hoped for. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in this case seeing Jackson speaking on film, whether his words are praise, constructive criticism, or jokes with his cast and crew, imbues the King of Pop with a humanity that all the photos ever taken of him could never hope to replicate. Michael Jackson's concerts also planned to make impressive use of new digital film footage shot especially in order to be integrated into the live show: a graveyard sequence for "Thriller," a little girl in a rain forest for "Earth Song," an army for "They Don't Really Care About Us," and a montage that inserts Jackson into a Humphrey Bogart movie in "Smooth Criminal." Here as well, the sequences really shine in IMAX, especially in the last mentioned sequence. Jackson, decked out in a period suit, backs out a window to avoid the 1940s gangster's bullets. The audience is treated to a mesmerizing explosion of sparkling shards of glass and metallic bullets flying towards us. It's a telling example of the incredible production values Jackson was pouring into what was meant to be both a comeback and a farewell to the stage. One slight downside to the IMAX experience is that portions of the film captured on less high quality cameras - resulting in noticeably fuzzy picture quality - stand out even more. But they likely still look better than on a conventional screen, and for fans thrilled to see the King of Pop performing his greatest hits it's a minor detraction. Better fuzzy than not at all. In New York, you can catch "This Is It: The IMAX Experience" at the AMC Loews 34th St. and in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Tickets go for $17.50, as opposed to $12.50 for a regular evening showing. For serious Michael Jackson fans, the extra expense is well worth it to see the King of Pop in the glorious quality his last performances deserve. Source: NY Daily News / Billie Jean "This Is It" Brings In $20.1 Million. 30-10-'09 Michael Jackson is back on top with "This Is It" raking in a domestic box office tally of $7.4 million and $12.7 overseas for a grand total of $20.1 million. And that's just for the first day. Sony reported that $7.4 million domestically is the best ever for a movie on a Wednesday in October. "This Is It" easily came in at No. 1, ahead of the $1.5 million gross for "Paranormal Activity," which topped the box offices last weekend. Sony also said that it was expecting strong results for the film this Friday and Sunday with a falling - off on Saturday, Halloween, when audiences are usually preoccupied with other activities. In a single day, "This Is It" skyrocketed into the ranks of the top-grossing music documentaries, just behind $8.6 million domestic haul of "U2: Rattle and Hum." By this weekend, it is likely to surpass films such as "Madonna: Truth or Dare" ($15 million) and "Jonas Brothers" ($19.2 million) to become the No. 2 draw of all time on the music documentary chart. (The No. 1 music documentary is "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus" with an opening weekend of $31.1 million.) Among the totals from other countries, "This Is It" brought in $1.9 million in Great Britain, $1.4 million France, $1.2 million in Japan and $1.1 million in Germany. The film debuted in 99 countries Wednesday and expands to 10 more Thursday. Source: AP / Billie Jean 'This Is It' Headed For $10 to $12 Million Opening Day. 29-10-'09 The opening-day box office for "This Is It" is neither a "Thriller" nor "Bad." According to executives at several studios who have been tracking the returns, the new Michael Jackson documentary is likely to sell $10 million to $12 million worth of tickets domestically today. Though that number could vary a bit depending on how later screenings perform, executives experienced in tracking box office said the movie had virtually no chance of collecting more than $15 million or less than $9 million. "This Is It" sold $2.2 million worth of tickets last night; most of that probably occurred after midnight and can be counted in today's grosses.
Comparisons with other movies are difficult, given that the only major releases studios have put out on a Wednesday outside of summer or the holidays are "The Passion of the Christ," a phenomenon that benefited from group purchases by churches, and "The Matrix Revolutions," the third movie in a blockbuster trilogy. Those pictures collected $26.6 million and $24.3 million, respectively, on their opening days. The movie's big test will come Friday. Ticket sales Thursday are expected to be slow as most hard-core Michael Jackson fans will have come out last night or today. Saturday will also be slow because it's Halloween, historically a dismal day at the box office even though Sony is trying to generate publicity connected to Jackson's album "Thriller." If word of mouth is strong and moviegoers beyond the most devoted Jackson fans are interested, that is likely to be evident in healthy ticket sales Friday. If it's a slow day, Sony may be looking at a five-day gross as low as $30 million and a soft two-week run relative to its investment of $60 million in rights to make the movie and tens of millions more in marketing. Ultimately, however, domestic ticket sales may not be that important. "This Is It" is expected to perform substantially better overseas, where it could be a major hit regardless of how the film does in the U.S. and Canada. Box-office receipts from the 95 foreign countries where "This Is It" opened simultaneously are not yet available. Source: MJFC / Los Angeles Times / Billie Jean Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' Sets New Release Record. 29-10-'09 The highly anticipated Michael Jackson documentary 'This Is It' has already set a record following Tuesday night's limited theater release. The Sony film grossed an estimated $2.2 million at the domestic box office for its Tuesday night shows, Variety reports. This is a record for a Tuesday October release. 'This Is It' opens today in 3,500 theaters and IMAX screens nationwide, in addition to thousands more overseas. According to the trade publication, Sony paid $60 million to AEG Entertainment for the distribution rights of the film that is a compilation of rehearsal footage of Jackson last days leading up to his sudden death. Source: Billie Jean Jackson's Kids Get Private Movie Screening. 28-10-'09 TMZ has learned that Michael Jackson's kids will see "This Is It" tonight -- in their own private screening. Sources close to the family tell TMZ the kids were invited by Sony to see a screening of the movie tonight on the Sony lot in Los Angeles. We're told the kids have been sick with the flu all week, but still plan on making the screening tonight. Michael's mother, Katherine, will not be in attendance.
Source: TMZ / Billie Jean Review: 'This Is It' A Homage To Greatness. 28-10-'09 Watching "Michael Jackson's This Is It" will have fans grieving once again, but this time, it won't only be for the fallen King of Pop, but for what we lost — a brilliant entertainer who gave every inch of his body and soul for what might have been one of the most spectacular comebacks of all time. Jackson never got to complete that comeback, dying days before his London concerts were to begin in July, but "This Is It," culled from hundreds of hours of rehearsal footage for those shows, does it for him. Even though it's been well edited, the amazing performances Jackson delivers in this film are not a result of camera magic, but Jackson's own. When Jackson announced his "This Is It" concerts earlier this year, many wondered whether Jackson had any magic left at all. Besides his tattered reputation, he was rumored to be in frail health and hadn't performed a major concert in almost a decade. There were well-deserved skepticism about whether Jackson had the vocal and physical agility to stage the kind of concerts that wowed fans in his prime two decades earlier. "This is It" gives both answers an emphatic yes. Even though Jackson's looks — with his weirdly delicate face and his stick-thin frame — still makes one squirm with discomfort, once he starts to perform, that discomfort gives way to amazement. At 50, Jackson was still an amazingly gifted dancer with moves that leave your mouth agape. Though we only see him do the moonwalk once, and just fleetingly, his stop-on-a-dime spins, deft footwork and body jerks recall the Jackson the world fell in love with 25 years earlier with "Thriller." And Jackson's voice still dazzles — even when he's trying to play it down. "I'm trying to conserve my voice," Jackson says at one point — then delivers a vocal that is spine-tingling — and these are just run-through's, not the actual show. Fans never get to see what would have been the "This Is It" concert — full dress rehearsals weren't due to happen until the show went overseas for final rehearsals. Instead, the movie takes from segments of taped rehearsals, and also weaves in film segments Jackson planned for the concert to give at the very least an idea of how the concert might have looked. A graveyard scene meant to be in 3D was planned for Jackson's performance of "Thriller," and a computer-animated dancing army would have accompanied Jackson on screen for a militaristic version "They Don't Care About Us." Jackson kept much of the same moves from his classic "They Way You Make Me Feel" video — including the floor humping — as well as the groundbreaking choreography from his "Beat It" clip. But whether it was through new visuals and different musical arrangements, he appeared to be breathing new life into his well-worn catalog, promising fans a show that would have taken Jackson and his fans to new heights. Jackson is gentle but authoritative as he demands perfection from his crew, whether it's gently taking the audio crew to task for making his earpiece too loud or attempting to elicit a grand performance from his young star guitarist. "This is your time to shine," he says in that famously soft soprano voice before delivering a high wail and challenging her to do the same on her guitar. The film doesn't give viewers much insight into Jackson outside of performance mode — we only see him rehearsing or hear him talking about music, or the meaning of his songs. Yet the film does give a glimpses into Jackson's personality — alternatively playful and shy, firm yet understanding, often saying phrases like "with love" after giving a command. The film also splices together different performances of the same song at times, leaving one to wonder why. Is it for a visual effect? Or did he not complete enough in one take? Thankfully, there appears to be enough full takes so one's mind does not play into conspiracy theories. There were certainly critics of "This Is It" before its release — those who wondered whether it would be an exploitative flick, a quick attempt to cash in on his newfound popularity, and those who felt the preparations for the concert contributed to his death. But "This Is It" is a beautifully made, loving tribute that gives Michael Jackson what he so desperately wanted — affirmation that he indeed was the greatest entertainer of our time. "Michael Jackson's This Is It," released by Columbia Pictures, is rated PG for some suggestive choreography and scary images. Running time: 111 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four. Source: AP / Billie Jean Watch the Michael Jackson This Is It Red Carpet Live. 27-10-'09 Here’s a fun way to spend your Tuesday afternoon. Michael Jackson, a huge draw even though he’s no longer with us, is taking the stage for the last time, via the This Is It documentary. The behind-the-scenes movie, set to be shown in theaters for just two weeks, debuts tomorrow with a red carpet premiere at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 4:30 p.m. PT. And the red carpet activities will be streamed internationally online on multiple sites, including Crackle, ThisIsIt-movie.com, Ustream and Facebook.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has enlisted Premiere Entertainment to produce the webcast, hosted in the U.S. by Big Boy and Luscious Liz of KPWR, with five more international hosts webcasting in a promised nine different languages. At this point, we’re used to red carpet streams for awards shows like the Oscars. If the Michael Jackson stream does well — and it is likely to — red carpet streams may soon be another booming category of live online content. The only problem is, the web audience gets left in the dust when the VIPs head into the theater to see the real show. Source: newteevee / Billie Jean 'This Is It' Producers: No MJ Body Doubles. 27-10-'09 The people behind "This Is It" are furious over reports that the Michael Jackson featured in the movie is a body double -- claiming those reports are "pure garbage." The controversy began earlier this month after Joe Jackson claimed the media was going to "tear this movie apart" -- and insisted it was "mostly body doubles." But a rep from Sony -- co-producers of the flick -- tells TMZ, "This story is pure garbage and there are no body doubles. Audiences will begin to see the film tomorrow and every time they see The King of Pop they will know that every frame is unquestionably Michael as he rehearses and prepares for the London concerts that were to have begun this past summer." Source: TMZ / Billie Jean Dame Elizabeth Taylor Calls Michael Jackson Film a 'Brilliant Piece of Filmmaking'. Dame Elizabeth Taylor is candidly sharing her thoughts on 'This Is It,' the highly anticipated film comprised of Michael Jackson's final rehearsal footage. Read on to read what she thought of the film. Dame Elizabeth tweeted nearly 20 messages praising the film, as well as Michael Jackson's music and talent. She wrote the following on Monday: "I was honored with the great privilege of seeing 'This Is It' last week. I was sworn to secrecy, but now I can let you know about it." "I wept from pure joy at his God given gift. There will never, ever be the likes of him again." "Kenny Ortega did a masterful job of directing the process that goes into making a complete show before hitting the stage." "I truly believe this film should be nominated in every category conceivable." "It is the single most brilliant piece of filmmaking I have ever seen. It cements forever Michael's genius in every aspect of creativity." "From 'Black And White,' 'Man In The Mirror.' The inspiration behind 'We Are The World.' We must take his words of responsibility seriously." 'This Is It' opens worldwide in IMAX -- with Michael's amazing music pulsing through the powerful 14,000-watt digital surround sound IMAX system -- and conventional theaters Wednesday, October 28. Source: Billie Jean Jackson Family Member: Movie Is 'Riveting'. 26-10-'09 Finally a member of the Jackson family is speaking out about the Michael Jackson movie "This Is It" -- up to now the family has either been silent or negative about the flick. But Jackie Jackson -- who saw the movie on Thursday night -- liked it a lot, telling TMZ:
"My brother's movie 'This Is It' is truly riveting. Michael is electrifying! We get a glimpse of a true genius at work. His passionate message for healing the world, saving the planet and our children's futures is something he was always striving for in his lifetime." So far Katherine Jackson is unmoved -- we hear she will not see the movie. Source: TMZ / Billie Jean This is it: A Dancing Michael Jackson Cat Game For iPhone. 25-10-'09 When Robot Symphony alerted us to its upcoming iPhone debut, MeowWalker, we were prepared to dismiss it out of hand based only on the premise of combining Michael Jackson with the staple of lazy internet humor, cats. But instead of a tasteless cash-in, the trailer for the dance game (after the break) reveals what could turn out to be our, well, third favorite Michael Jackson-based game, right after the Genesis Moonwalker and the arcade Moonwalker. Sha-meow! The gameplay is simple: tilt and swipe the phone to make a lanky, Thriller-jacketed feline perform MJ's signature dance moves to the tune of the Michael Jackson songs already on your phone. The addition of quirky animation and (especially) sound effects, which reimagine Michael's weird vocal tics as cat noises, result in something that we can't get enough of. Which means, according to the MJ canon, we haven't stopped watching the trailer.
MeowWalker brings an addictive action game to the iPhone and iPod Touch starring a stylish cat who knows all your favorite dance moves. Designed exclusively for the iPhone, tilt and swipe your way to success as you try to impress the crowd. Survive level after level by wowing the crowd with your moves, dancing under spotlights, and deflecting projectiles thrown by hecklers. Compete with your friends AND the world for the highest score as levels progress into a frenzy! Features: • Beautiful hand-drawn cartoon graphics and animation • Addictive action gameplay that's easy to pick up and play • MeowWalker Radio, an innovative feature that selects songs from your iPod library that complement the game. Make sure you have your favorite Michael Jackson songs ready :) • OpenFeint integration for online leaderboards and achievements. Compete with the world for the highest score and the most "licking"! • Intuitive controls that combine tilting and swiping into a kinetic experience Source: robotsymphony / Billie Jean |
Updated: 08/24/2010 8:31 AM Billie Jean Web Radio Player Music Videos |
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