Monday Night Poll: Michael Jackson's Final Footage?
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Celebrities and Controversy, Polls
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Now that the initial shock over the untimely death of Michael Jackson has passed, his concert promoter is making it known that he has "more than 100 hours of footage that could be turned into live albums, a movie and a pay-per-view special." Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, told The Associated Press (via The Hollywood Reporter): "He was our partner in life and now he's our partner in death."
Jackson was filmed in rehearsal for a planned series of 50 concerts in London, performing songs such as "Thriller" and "Beat It." The high-definition footage includes production meetings and auditions. Phillips claimed the production budget for the shows reached $25 million, which also covered 3-D "mini-movies" of "Thriller" and "Earth Song." Phillips said the Jackson estate would get the "lion's share" of any profits from the rehearsal footage, though obviously his company would benefit as well. As Jackson's "partner in death" (a rather ghoulish turn of phrase on his part), Phillips raised several possibilities for using the footage, though a final decision will have to wait until the estate is settled, which could take months or even years.
Do you have any desire to see the final footage? What form should it take? A film? TV special? DVD? Online for free? Take our poll and let us know. And feel free to express yourself in the comments section. Will it be celebratory to watch the final footage of the "King of Pop"? Or poignant and sad to see MJ just days before his death?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-06-2009 @ 10:34PM
steveo said...
People will shill and sell and market and advertise anything and everything that can be in some way associated with MJ until the cows come home...
For those of you who doubt, witness Princess Di and Elvis.
Then again, what says respect and offers house guests a sentimental rememberance like a deluge of plates and cups and hand towels and any number of other plastic garbage items that will surely adorn the homes of the faithful shortly after they shell out $49.95 + S/H for something they saw on TV?
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7-06-2009 @ 11:24PM
uforeader said...
Whatever they do, you can be sure I'll buy it. I'd love to see it as a TV special that turns into a DVD. Proceeds better either go to charity or to his children... I don't like the thought of people making money off of his death.
Long live the King.
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7-07-2009 @ 6:57AM
roofers in leeds said...
watching his funeral today, live on SKY.
RIP
roofers in leeds
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7-07-2009 @ 8:13AM
Mangorilla said...
It's kind of inevitable that the market will soon be flooded with MJ merchandise. Guarantee we'll see at least 5 "collection" or "best of" albums within a few years. Not to mention repackaging of all of his albums with maybe one "new" track each, and they'll stretch out whatever outtakes or demos are left in the vault for years. Look how many Elvis, John Lennon, and Jimi Hendrix albums were released after they all passed. And in the case of MJ, it's hard to blame them really, if it's true how much debt he left behind. The bills have to be paid somehow, and Janet is the only other Jackson with a truly successful career right now.
As for the "final footage," as uforeader suggested, I could see an edited for tv free version, with an extended footage dvd/blu-ray and cd companion, like they do with Comedy Central specials. Give a portion of the proceeds to Michael's favorite charity. It'd really be the smartest thing to do, because if you save it for a pay-per-view, it'll be bootlegged and up on eBay and Youtube as soon as it has aired. A theatrical release would probably do ok among the die hard fans, but you'd have to have the follow up dvd release. People want something they can take home and watch again. Whatever they do, I hope they're respectful with it and keep it all at a reasonable cost.
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7-07-2009 @ 9:05AM
StanleyNickels said...
I'd say a TV special with a possible theatrical run and eventual DVD sales. None of this pay-per-view garbage
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7-07-2009 @ 1:02PM
djkorova1 said...
Definitely DVD, possible theatrical run but probably not. I think it is great that they'll use all the rehearsal footage. So all that time spent preparing for the London shows won't have been wasted. From what everyone is saying he looked in top form and I don't think it will be morbid or anything to see it. I think its what he would want as a performer and entertainer.
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7-07-2009 @ 7:04PM
benbligh said...
Why is everyone asking for free TV? Didn't anyone read the "3-D mini movies" for Earth Song and Thriller quote? That must be seen in a movie theater (or live concert like it was supposedly planned, not sure how that'd work). They should really just let Scorcesse access all the footage and cut an awesome music documentary together for everyone. BluRay and DVD to follow.
and yes "partners in death" is ultra creepy.
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8-12-2009 @ 9:52AM
Gihan Zohdy said...
As Michael Jackson worked so hard during his lifetime to reach that high level of performance I believe he a has a right, even if posthumous, to receive royalties. However, a foretaste on youtube will help its promotion and acquaintance with younger generations.
Everything humanly possible has to be done for Michael.
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9-03-2009 @ 5:52AM
strieder, ma said...
I love michael jackson and I don't care whether it is on the film or dvd as long as we could see his last performance. He is the greatest nobody could overthrow his performances.
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