The Actor
Michael Jackson’s stop-on-a-dime dance moves and sensual soprano have influenced generations of musicians, dancers and entertainers, and the man was so much more than what we realize. One of music's greatest icons, he was incredibly gifted, a genius who kept us captivated. The New York Times once described him as one of the six most famous people on the planet. I’d like to up the ante: he was the most famous person on the planet. He influenced a wide range of artists, singers, dancers, actors and genres of music from rock to pop, soul to R&B to even rap. No other artist has ever been as unifying or multi-talented. We see that Michael was not only a musician, but a poet, a writer, a painter, and an actor. As an actor his extention in character was remarkable, he paid close attention to detail, and was able to work in full actor mode giving emotion and thought while playing out a backstory for the character. His on Screen work included musicals, drama, lead & suporting roles, voice overs, and cameos. Jackson also elevated the music video, creating them as short films, and turning it into an art form while still using it as a promotional tool. Using complex story lines, never-before-seen dance choreography, elaborate special effects and famous cameo appearances, he developed some of the greatest Short Films in all of time.
The Wiz
Un easy is the head that lies the crown --Michael Jackson.
Never had such true words been spoken. That was a line form the film the wiz
where in Jackson plays the down cared fun loving but truly smart scarecrow in this 1979 film starring opossite Diana Ross, and high profile entertainers Richard Pryor, and Lena Horne. The film was panned by critics un be known to the African American community where it was so loved. The music, and songs became instant classics. Some of the songs from the movie charted on radio countdowns and broke records, not to mention sung over by notable singing divas. Nominated for an Oscar, this film gave an underlying message to the community to hope and believe, along with a coming of change, Freedom, and independence. But all demographics can relate to those messages.
Never had such true words been spoken. That was a line form the film the wiz
where in Jackson plays the down cared fun loving but truly smart scarecrow in this 1979 film starring opossite Diana Ross, and high profile entertainers Richard Pryor, and Lena Horne. The film was panned by critics un be known to the African American community where it was so loved. The music, and songs became instant classics. Some of the songs from the movie charted on radio countdowns and broke records, not to mention sung over by notable singing divas. Nominated for an Oscar, this film gave an underlying message to the community to hope and believe, along with a coming of change, Freedom, and independence. But all demographics can relate to those messages.
E.T. The Storybook
In 1982, Michael Jackson voiced the narration to the storybook for the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial plus contributed the tittle song "Someone In the Dark". The record won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children in 1983. In the same year he won another seven Grammys and eight American Music Awards including the Award of Merit, (the youngest artist to win it), making him the most awarded in one night for both award shows.
Quincy Jones worked on the album E.T. with Michael Jackson and Steven Spielberg.
Quincy Jones worked on the album E.T. with Michael Jackson and Steven Spielberg.
Thriller
Changing the context of the misic video, not so much the kind, but the degree: Thriller the14-minute short film turned music videos into an art form. Most 80's Videos were'nt more than glorified concert footage, and often low budjet and bland. Michael Jackson wanted to be unique, to tell a story wtih a begining, middle, and end.
Michael Jackson's Thriller the greatest music video ever has been voted the most influential pop music video of all time, Thriller proved to have a profound effect on popular culture, and was named "a watershed moment for the industry" for its unprecedented merging of filmmaking and music. Guinness World Records listed it in 2006 as the "most successful music video", selling over 9 million units .In 2009, the video was inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, the first music video to ever receive this honor, for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.
Jackson worked on his video's as films, he gatherd aclamed and award winning film directors to work on his projects. As Michael Jackson put more time, effort, money and artistry into his work, other singers followed suit. Michael brought his vision and artistry to videos. They became more than videos, they became art.
Co-starring with Jackson was former Playboy centerfold Ola Ray. The video was choreographed by Jackson and Michael Peters (who had worked with the singer on his prior hit "Beat It").. The video also contains incidental music by film music composer Elmer Bernstein, who had previously worked with Landis on An American Werewolf in London. The video (like the song) contains a spoken word performance by horror film veteran Vincent Price. Rick Baker assisted in prosthetics and makeup for the production. The red jacket that Jackson wore was designed by John Landis' wife Deborah Landis to make him appear more "virile".
To qualify for an Academy Award, "Thriller" debuted at a special theatrical screening.
Michael Jackson's Thriller the greatest music video ever has been voted the most influential pop music video of all time, Thriller proved to have a profound effect on popular culture, and was named "a watershed moment for the industry" for its unprecedented merging of filmmaking and music. Guinness World Records listed it in 2006 as the "most successful music video", selling over 9 million units .In 2009, the video was inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, the first music video to ever receive this honor, for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.
Jackson worked on his video's as films, he gatherd aclamed and award winning film directors to work on his projects. As Michael Jackson put more time, effort, money and artistry into his work, other singers followed suit. Michael brought his vision and artistry to videos. They became more than videos, they became art.
Co-starring with Jackson was former Playboy centerfold Ola Ray. The video was choreographed by Jackson and Michael Peters (who had worked with the singer on his prior hit "Beat It").. The video also contains incidental music by film music composer Elmer Bernstein, who had previously worked with Landis on An American Werewolf in London. The video (like the song) contains a spoken word performance by horror film veteran Vincent Price. Rick Baker assisted in prosthetics and makeup for the production. The red jacket that Jackson wore was designed by John Landis' wife Deborah Landis to make him appear more "virile".
To qualify for an Academy Award, "Thriller" debuted at a special theatrical screening.
Captain EO
The 17-minute film shown in the Tomorrowland theater At Disneyland where it ran for 11 years between 1986 and 1997. “Captain EO” cost an estimated $30 million to make and featured a star-studded list of credits, including executive producer George Lucas, Academy Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola and Anjelica Huston as the evil Supreme Leader. The 4-D movie — featuring lasers, smoke and stars that extend into the audience — tells the story of Captain EO (played by Michael Jackson) on a mission to deliver a musical gift to a wicked alien queen on a dystopian planet. EO’s rag-tag crew included his sidekick Fuzzball, security officer Major Domo and blundering shipmate Hooter.
Reaching a much grander audience from the 4 corners of The Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Land Paris, and Tokyo Disney, Captian EO (Jackson) was able to spread his message of good always triumphs over evil. motion pictures and movie theaters only last a couple of months, but EO ran for years, reaching millions of people. Now that's a legacy. Michael Jackson was literaly the first to ganer his own attraction at Disney Park, of course there was guest spots and narrartions from the safty videos and now you have the Ellen Universe of Energy Attraction at Epcot but lets not forget who pioneered it.
Reaching a much grander audience from the 4 corners of The Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Land Paris, and Tokyo Disney, Captian EO (Jackson) was able to spread his message of good always triumphs over evil. motion pictures and movie theaters only last a couple of months, but EO ran for years, reaching millions of people. Now that's a legacy. Michael Jackson was literaly the first to ganer his own attraction at Disney Park, of course there was guest spots and narrartions from the safty videos and now you have the Ellen Universe of Energy Attraction at Epcot but lets not forget who pioneered it.
BAD
Taking the art of music videos to the next level as he did with Thriller, Michel decided to tell a story. This 18-minute short film was actualy a true story. Taken right from the headlines of a news magazine "Bad" was the stroy of an iner city teen who goes away to a prep school, coming back from break only to find that he does not mesh with his old pals and the street life they came to know. As an avid reader Michael took the plot straigt form a publication. Heart broken about the state of society, he desided to tackle the issue. In putting out this short film his goal was to teach this time not just entertain. knowing that this was going to be another epic, Michael contacted Martin Scorsese to direct the film. Of course only because it was Michael Jackson he said yes, for this was at a time when film directors were not video directors.
Moonwalker
The film consists of a collage of short storiefeaturetts leading up to the heart of the film Moonwalker.
A live performance of Jackson's song "Man in the Mirror" acts as the opening music to the film
One feturette is a parody of the music video for "Bad', tittled "Badder" featuring children filling the roles of various people from the original video.The short stars Brandon Quintin Adams,who would later star in The Mighty Ducks, as the young Michael Jackson. It also featured Jermaine La Jaune Jackson, Jr. (Michael's nephew) and a young Nikki Cox, who later starred in Unhappily Ever After and Las Vegas. The singing group The Boys appeared as background dancers. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog co-writer Maurissa Tancharoen, as well as future R&B star Bilal Oliver, are also featured in this segment.
The next short begins with the "Badder" short film transitioning into the second short film, "Speed Demon". Little Michael and his bodyguards (also children) are leaving the set and walk through a cloud of smoke and come out as a adults. A boy and his grandmother spot Michael and prompts the other fans to chase him for an autograph. as the chase him paparatzi join the chase. In an attempt to avoid them, Jackson soon disguises himself as a rabbit, but ends up taunting the fans into chasing him once they realize it's him. . After a long chase, the fans and photographers are finally pulled over by a cop and are arrested. After finally losing the fans, Michael pulls over and removes the costume, which then comes to life and challenges him to a dance-off.
The final short tells the story of drug mbster trying to take over the minds of children. It starts as Michael stands in front of the door, he gazes at the night sky before he is attacked by mobsters with machine guns. The film then backtracks to show Michael and 3 children playing in a meadow in happier times. Their dog Skipper runs away, and as Michael and Katie look for him, they uncover the lair of Mr. Big (Joe Pesci). Mr. Big – a drug-dealing mobster with a disciplined private army at his command. He wants to get the entire population of Earth addicted to drugs, starting with children.
The story returns to the shooting in front of Michael's store. Unknown to the gangsters, Michael has a lucky star, and using it, he escaped the gunfire. Upon realizing that Michael has escaped again, Mr. Big orders his henchmen to track him down with dogs. Mr Big wont stop this he get Michael and the kids.
The film was released theatrically in Europe and South America, but Warner Brothers canceled plans for theatrical release in the U.S. Moonwalker was released on home video in the United States and Canada on January 10, 1989, just as the Bad World Tour finished. The movie sold more than 800,000 copies in three months.
A live performance of Jackson's song "Man in the Mirror" acts as the opening music to the film
One feturette is a parody of the music video for "Bad', tittled "Badder" featuring children filling the roles of various people from the original video.The short stars Brandon Quintin Adams,who would later star in The Mighty Ducks, as the young Michael Jackson. It also featured Jermaine La Jaune Jackson, Jr. (Michael's nephew) and a young Nikki Cox, who later starred in Unhappily Ever After and Las Vegas. The singing group The Boys appeared as background dancers. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog co-writer Maurissa Tancharoen, as well as future R&B star Bilal Oliver, are also featured in this segment.
The next short begins with the "Badder" short film transitioning into the second short film, "Speed Demon". Little Michael and his bodyguards (also children) are leaving the set and walk through a cloud of smoke and come out as a adults. A boy and his grandmother spot Michael and prompts the other fans to chase him for an autograph. as the chase him paparatzi join the chase. In an attempt to avoid them, Jackson soon disguises himself as a rabbit, but ends up taunting the fans into chasing him once they realize it's him. . After a long chase, the fans and photographers are finally pulled over by a cop and are arrested. After finally losing the fans, Michael pulls over and removes the costume, which then comes to life and challenges him to a dance-off.
The final short tells the story of drug mbster trying to take over the minds of children. It starts as Michael stands in front of the door, he gazes at the night sky before he is attacked by mobsters with machine guns. The film then backtracks to show Michael and 3 children playing in a meadow in happier times. Their dog Skipper runs away, and as Michael and Katie look for him, they uncover the lair of Mr. Big (Joe Pesci). Mr. Big – a drug-dealing mobster with a disciplined private army at his command. He wants to get the entire population of Earth addicted to drugs, starting with children.
The story returns to the shooting in front of Michael's store. Unknown to the gangsters, Michael has a lucky star, and using it, he escaped the gunfire. Upon realizing that Michael has escaped again, Mr. Big orders his henchmen to track him down with dogs. Mr Big wont stop this he get Michael and the kids.
The film was released theatrically in Europe and South America, but Warner Brothers canceled plans for theatrical release in the U.S. Moonwalker was released on home video in the United States and Canada on January 10, 1989, just as the Bad World Tour finished. The movie sold more than 800,000 copies in three months.
Ghosts
Produced by Michael Jackson, directed by special effects guru Stan Winston, written by Jackson and David Nicksay, Ghosts is a short film starring Jackson, Mos def. It was filmed and first screened in 1996 and released along with select prints of the film Stephen King's THINNER. It was released a year later internationally on VHS.
The film tells the story of a scary Maestro with supernatural powers, who is being forced out of a small town by its mayor. The movie includes a series of dance routines performed by Michael Jackson and his "family" of ghouls. The musical numbers were taken from Michael Jackson's HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor albums.
Plot The Maestro (Michael Jackson) lives alone in a haunted-looking mansion on top of a hill, overlooking the town of "Normal Valley". Occasionally, he entertains the local children with scary magic tricks. One of the children tells his mother, who alerts the town Mayor, he in turn organizes the townspeople to go to the Maestro's mansion and force him out of town. Some of them show reluctance to do so, but are pressured into joining the Mayor on his crusade. On a stormy night they go to the Maestro's mansion holding flaming torches. When they arrive at the mansion, it is guarded by a large gate. They peer in through the gate, and by the haunting look of the mansion, have second thoughts about entering. The children assure the parents that the Maestro has done nothing wrong, and ask that they leave him alone. But the Mayor persists
The front gate opens, frightening the townspeople, who make their way to the front door, which also opens by itself. The inside of the mansion appears to them even creepier than the outside, and the parents re-assure their children (and themselves) "there's no such thing as ghosts". They make their way into the house, and once they are all inside, the front door slams shut and locks itself. Two more large doors swing open revealing a large, darkened dance hall. Hesitantly, the townspeople make their way to the dance hall, where they are greeted by The Maestro. The Mayor angrily confronts him, and tells him that he's not welcome in their town. The Maestro defends himself, and in response the Mayor threatens "Are you going to leave, or am I going to have to hurt you?"
To this the Maestro replies, "You are trying to scare me. I guess I have no choice; I guess I have to scare you."
Once again, this entertaining piece tells a story that Jackson knows all to well. Jackson' skills as an actor as well as his new dance moves, are brilliant, and gained him the Bob Fosse award for best coreogrpher.
The film tells the story of a scary Maestro with supernatural powers, who is being forced out of a small town by its mayor. The movie includes a series of dance routines performed by Michael Jackson and his "family" of ghouls. The musical numbers were taken from Michael Jackson's HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor albums.
Plot The Maestro (Michael Jackson) lives alone in a haunted-looking mansion on top of a hill, overlooking the town of "Normal Valley". Occasionally, he entertains the local children with scary magic tricks. One of the children tells his mother, who alerts the town Mayor, he in turn organizes the townspeople to go to the Maestro's mansion and force him out of town. Some of them show reluctance to do so, but are pressured into joining the Mayor on his crusade. On a stormy night they go to the Maestro's mansion holding flaming torches. When they arrive at the mansion, it is guarded by a large gate. They peer in through the gate, and by the haunting look of the mansion, have second thoughts about entering. The children assure the parents that the Maestro has done nothing wrong, and ask that they leave him alone. But the Mayor persists
The front gate opens, frightening the townspeople, who make their way to the front door, which also opens by itself. The inside of the mansion appears to them even creepier than the outside, and the parents re-assure their children (and themselves) "there's no such thing as ghosts". They make their way into the house, and once they are all inside, the front door slams shut and locks itself. Two more large doors swing open revealing a large, darkened dance hall. Hesitantly, the townspeople make their way to the dance hall, where they are greeted by The Maestro. The Mayor angrily confronts him, and tells him that he's not welcome in their town. The Maestro defends himself, and in response the Mayor threatens "Are you going to leave, or am I going to have to hurt you?"
To this the Maestro replies, "You are trying to scare me. I guess I have no choice; I guess I have to scare you."
Once again, this entertaining piece tells a story that Jackson knows all to well. Jackson' skills as an actor as well as his new dance moves, are brilliant, and gained him the Bob Fosse award for best coreogrpher.
Men In Black II
A big fan of sci-fi, Michael was delighted to be briefly mentiond in the original Men In Black, albeit without permission and as a rogue alien. For the sequel, he sought out after director Barry Sonnenfeld (pictured) and requested a cameo. It was granted, and Jackson was featured as an undercover intelligence officer called 'Agent M'. He had turned down a part in the first original movie starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.
Barry Sonnenfeld on Jackson: "I very much wanted Michael Jackson to be in the first Men In Black. "There was a scene in it when we showed all these big names as aliens. George Lucas, Sylvester Stallone, Danny De Vito and Steven Spielberg were all there and I really wanted Michael to be in it. "But for some reason he didn't want to be considered as an alien in Men In Black I. "But 15 months into shooting Men In Black II I got a message saying Michael Jackson really wanted to be in it. "I had a lovely conversation with Michael in which he told me he had seen the first Men In Black in Paris and had stayed when all the other people left the theatre and sat there and wept. He loved it.
Sonnenfeld of Men In Black II mentions - Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Lara Flynn Boyle - were in the film as an all star cast. Sonnenfeld added: "Jackson said he would love to be in Men In Black II wearing the (Men In Black) suit, all that mattered to him was that he wore that black suit. "the cameo was very funny and it was entirely Michael's idea." Michael has a great sence of humor. Men in Black II did very well at the box office in the US, taking $24.4m (£15.5m) to remain the number one movie for two weeks in a row.
Barry Sonnenfeld on Jackson: "I very much wanted Michael Jackson to be in the first Men In Black. "There was a scene in it when we showed all these big names as aliens. George Lucas, Sylvester Stallone, Danny De Vito and Steven Spielberg were all there and I really wanted Michael to be in it. "But for some reason he didn't want to be considered as an alien in Men In Black I. "But 15 months into shooting Men In Black II I got a message saying Michael Jackson really wanted to be in it. "I had a lovely conversation with Michael in which he told me he had seen the first Men In Black in Paris and had stayed when all the other people left the theatre and sat there and wept. He loved it.
Sonnenfeld of Men In Black II mentions - Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Lara Flynn Boyle - were in the film as an all star cast. Sonnenfeld added: "Jackson said he would love to be in Men In Black II wearing the (Men In Black) suit, all that mattered to him was that he wore that black suit. "the cameo was very funny and it was entirely Michael's idea." Michael has a great sence of humor. Men in Black II did very well at the box office in the US, taking $24.4m (£15.5m) to remain the number one movie for two weeks in a row.