Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of
eleven with his brothers as a member of the Jackson Five. In the
early 1980s, he helped defined the art form of music video with
such ground-breaking videos as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the
epic "Thriller." Michael Jackson's sound, style and dance moves
inspired generations of artists of all genres.
During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million
records worldwide, released thirteen number one singles and
became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records
recognized Michael Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time
and "Thriller" as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. His long
standing guitarist, David Wiliams was recently inducted in the
the Guinness Book of World Records as the guitarist who performed
on the most number of hits in the world. Michael Jackson won 13
Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award's Artist of
the Century Award.
Five of Michael's solo albums, "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad,"
"Dangerous" and "HIStory," are among the top-sellers of all time.
"Thriller" holds the distinction as the largest selling album
worldwide in the history of the recording industry with more than
70 million units sold. Singles released from the Thriller album
sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, another all time
record.
Michael Jackson "This is It" will be released exclusively for a
special, limited, two-week engagement worldwide on October 28th.
This Is It is being produced with the full support of the Estate
of Michael Jackson and will be drawn from hundreds of hours of
rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage, captured in high
definition with state of the art digital sound as the late singer
was preparing for his concert series in London. The film, which
will also offer select sequences in 3-D, will provide a unique
career retrospective and feature interviews with some of Michael
Jackson's closest friends and collaborators.
Michael Jackson "This is It" will offer fans worldwide a rare,
behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created
and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts. Chronicling the months
from April through June, 2009, the film is drawn from more than
one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson
rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be
given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer,
filmmaker, and genius as he creates and perfects his final
show.
The film's director, Kenny Ortega, has directed feature films,
television, stage, concerts, and massive llve events including
The Olympics with equal bravado. The majority of the film's
footage was shot in June, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles,
California and The Forum in Inglewood, California, as Michael
prepared for "This Is It," the series of fifty concerts he
planned to present at the O2 Arena in London. Michael Jackson,
one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly
influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint on
popular music and culture. His legacy shall live on.
www.michaeljackson.com
www.thisisit-movie.com
www.sonypictures.com
The Hollywood Sentinel/Sony, © 2009.