Michael Jackson's "This Is It," to be Presented In Theaters Around The World

Taken from www.michaeljackson.com





MICHAEL JACKSON'S "THIS IS IT" TO BE PRESENTED IN THEATERS AROUND
THE WORLD BY SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT AND
SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
-Film Drawn From Legendary Entertainer's Last Rehearsals and Behind-The-Scenes
Footage Will Be Released October 30th in High Definition with Digital Sound-

CULVER CITY,
Calif., August 10, 2009 - Beginning October 30th, the world will
have a front-row seat for Michael Jackson's final concert, as Sony Pictures
Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment release Michael Jackson's This Is
It.

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 Jackson's closest
friends and creative collaborators.



The announcement was made by Michael Lynton, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of the studio,
Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chief Executive Officer of Sony Music Entertainment, and
Rob Stringer, Chairman of Columbia/Epic Label Group, a subsidiary of Sony Music
Entertainment. The companies serve as the principal entertainment divisions of
Sony Corporation.

Joining Sony in the announcement was The Estate of Michael Jackson,
administered by his longtime attorney John Branca and veteran music executive
John McClain, a Jackson family
friend for more than 40 years. Proceeds the Estate earns from the film's
release will benefit the Michael Jackson Family Trust, the entity that Mr.
Jackson specified in his will is to receive all of his assets.

The rights to the exclusive footage were acquired from AEG
Live and The Estate of Michael Jackson. Sony Pictures and Sony Music will
co-produce with AEG Live and the Estate, and
Sony Pictures will distribute the film worldwide. Randy Phillips and Paul
Gongaware of AEG Live will serve as
producers of the film.


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 Jackson prepared for "This
Is It," the series of fifty concerts Jackson
planned to present at the O2 Arena in London.

This Is It will offer Jackson
fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the
performer, his career, and the stage spectacular that would have been. The film
will provide moviegoers with an unforgettable front row experience compiled
from extensive footage that shows Jackson's
meticulous preparation for his 2009 London
shows.

Said Branca, "Our goal is to work with partners who treat Michael's
legacy with dignity and respect, while allowing us to substantially build the
value of his estate for the benefit of Mrs. Katherine Jackson, Michael's three
children and the charitable causes that meant so much to him during his life.
We are confident we found the right partners for this project in Sony Pictures
Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment. Sony and Michael enjoyed a long and
mutually beneficial history together, and it's only fitting that the
relationship continues."


Said McClain, "This film is not only a tribute to an artist who created
excitement every moment he was on stage, but also is a fitting gift to the
millions of fans worldwide who loved him and who he devoted his professional
life to entertaining. John and I are thrilled to be working with Sony to build
on Michael's musical legacy in a way that will generate significant proceeds
for his family and for children in need."


"People who have seen this footage are astounded by the amazing quality
of Michael Jackson's performance," said Lynton. "This historic
recording of the last time he sang and danced on stage shows the legendary
artist in an incredibly powerful way, with crystal clear images and sound. We
understand the importance of producing a film that pays tribute to Michael as
an artist, and are honored to work with the Estate of Michael Jackson to give
audiences the gift of his final performances. I know this film will serve as
further proof that Michael Jackson is one of the greatest entertainers who ever
graced a stage."

"Michael lives on through his songs, his creative genius, his body of
work and his passion for his art," said Rob Stringer. "He was a
perfectionist on stage and through this unique film, audiences will be able to
see, many for the first time, how much Michael poured into making his
performances as special as they were perfect."


Said Kenny Ortega, director of and Jackson's
creative partner on the This Is It concert, "The world will see what our
team was so fortunate to experience, which was the full commitment, passion and
creativity that Michael put into this project. He was the architect of This Is
It, and we were his builders. The footage that was captured from the early
stages of the production to our technical rehearsals at the STAPLES Center in
L.A. will show Michael as he truly was, creatively involved with every aspect
of the production, from the staging and choreography, to the music, lighting,
production design and conception of the original short films and video
backdrops. It will also show Michael as one of the greatest entertainers in the
world and one of the industry's most creative minds. This Is It was Michael's
last theatrical work and although it was still a work in progress, I think the
footage will show that the process was something that Michael deeply enjoyed
and that it was clear that he was on his way to another theatrical
triumph."

In the coming weeks, additional information about the film will be available
at www.michaeljackson.com.

Peter Schlessel, President of Worldwide Affairs, negotiated for the footage
on behalf of Sony Pictures. Branca represented The Estate of Michael Jackson.


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.

Five of Jackson's solo albums -
"Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad,"
"Dangerous" and "HIStory," all with Epic Records, a Sony
Music label - are among the top-sellers of all time and "Thriller"
holds the distinction as the largest selling album worldwide in the history of
the recording industry with more than 70 million units sold. Additionally, singles
released from the Thriller album sold more than 100 million copies worldwide,
another all time record.

During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million records
worldwide, released 13 No.1 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 Jackson as
the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and "Thriller" as the
Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson
won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award's Artist of the
Century Award.

Doesn't sound like the work of a frail, skinny, old, long term drug addict does it??? hmmmmm.......

This is not work from a Frail - Sick - Old - Pale - Long Term Addict w/ Issues - this sounds like almost the accomplishments of A Presidential General in Music Form ... Michael ... We know the truth , Angel ... we love you anyway regardless the B.S. you when though !

Cant wait i dont believe the frail old man sht either

When this comes out, I hope more people start to question the frail old man story that the media would have everyone believe. I can't wait to see the rehearsal footage, I'll definitely be one of the first in line when it comes out on 10/30!

"The world will have a front-row seat for Michael Jackson's final concert"

It isn't really a concert though is it, it's rehearsal footage.
Can't wait to see more updates on this.

hmmmm...I`m sooooo impatient...
can`t hardly wait for this movie

It seems amazing that the media tell us in one breath about the amazing rehearsal footage and then at the same time all this rubbish about frail, skinny etc! Can't they see what a contradiction this is??? It's driving me crazy!

PinkLizard wrote:It seems amazing that the media tell us in one breath about the amazing rehearsal footage and then at the same time all this rubbish about frail, skinny etc! Can't they see what a contradiction this is??? It's driving me crazy!

Me too it's so bloody annoying, I don't think they even read what they are writing.

My husband and I look forward to seeing it...I hope he doesn't have to work late that day or else I am going to see it with EarthAngel90

One thing in the article bothered me....they do talk about Michael like he's dead.

I still believe he's alive though.

ishealive wrote:

PinkLizard wrote:It seems amazing that the media tell us in one breath about the amazing rehearsal footage and then at the same time all this rubbish about frail, skinny etc! Can't they see what a contradiction this is??? It's driving me crazy!

Me too it's so bloody annoying, I don't think they even read what they are writing.

lol! I think you're right! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr at the media!

I absolutely cannot wait for the opening day of this movie.
I will be the first person in line!