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Re: Michael Jackson's This Is It Discussion
Michael Jackson This Is It Gets Cinema Release
by Paul Cashmere - August 11 2009
Sony has announced an official release date for the movie featuring the final rehearsals for the Michael Jackson This Is It tour.
The movie will be in cinemas on October 30th.
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 company has joined with The Estate of Michael Jackson for the projects and will benefit the Michael Jackson Family Trust to take care of his children.
Most of the footage was shot in the Staples Center, the venue where he was rehearsing for the UK shows and the venue that the memorial took place in.
John Branca, attorney for Jackson said, “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.”
Music executive John McClain said, “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 Michael 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."
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"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."
More information about the movie will be made in coming weeks. Expect a DVD release before Christmas.
Re: Michael Jackson's This Is It Discussion
Jermaine Jackson Confirms Michael Jackson Tribute For Vienna
by Music-News.com - August 11 2009
Jermaine Jackson appeared on The Michael Jackson Show starring Larry King again and has confirmed there will be a tribute show for his brother.
A Michael Jackson tribute show is to be staged in Vienna.
Events promoter World Awards Media GmbH confirmed the concert today (10.08.09), saying it will feature members of the late 'King of Pop’s family, including brother Jermaine, and a 'high-profile line-up of international stars'.
The organisation said on its website: 'For one incredible night Michael Jackson's unforgettable music will be brought to life again. Some of the world's leading artists will perform Michael's greatest hits live in Vienna in front of one of the most fascinating historical sites in Europe and celebrate the life of the 'King of Pop’.'
Jermaine adds on the site: 'I am very proud to be able to stage this concert honoring my younger brother Michael and his legacy. The tribute is conceived to be an annual event to keep not only his unique music alive, but his spirit as well. Michael loved people and he also loved to help people and that will never be forgotten. His life was much too short, yet it was filled with many magic moments and lasting memories. I have lost a dear brother, but the world has lost a great and caring humanitarian.'
Then event is to take place at the Schoenbrunn Palace – which can accommodate 85,000 people - in the Austrian capital next month, and will feature a crown-shaped stage.
Further details are yet to be released, although tickets will go on sale on August 20.
Unconfirmed reports suggest U2, Madonna, Lionel Richie and Whitney Houston could all be performing.
It was originally thought a tribute show might take place on what would have been Michael’s 51st birthday on August 29, but that idea has now been dismissed.
World Awards Media’s Georg Kindel explained: 'That would have been an extreme logistical challenge.'
Michael was due to stage 50-night residency in London starting just a few weeks after his death on June 25, and many had presumed a concert in honour of him would take place in the UK capital.
However, Jermaine recently claimed Vienna was of special importance to Michael.
He said: 'Vienna was a very dear place for Michael. And he loved castles. And we're going to have this huge celebration in front of a castle.'
Re: Michael Jackson's This Is It Discussion
Unconfirmed reports suggest U2, Madonna, Lionel Richie and Whitney Houston could all be performing.
Wow. This could be another Freddie Mercury type event in the planning stages.
Someone needs to send these people Buckethead's tribute. If he plays that song in front of the crowd with an MJ montage on the screen, there wont be a dry eye in the house.
Re: Michael Jackson's This Is It Discussion
And if anyone says, "Buckethead is too weird to perform at a Michael Jackson tribute"... Bucket should consider it a great honor. 
As for the Freddie Mecury tribute thing, it's not that far off. Hell, Jackson's memorial featured performances by Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Jermaine Jackson, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Ritchie...
Re: Michael Jackson's This Is It Discussion
And if anyone says, "Buckethead is too weird to perform at a Michael Jackson tribute"... Bucket should consider it a great honor.
As for the Freddie Mecury tribute thing, it's not that far off. Hell, Jackson's memorial featured performances by Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Jermaine Jackson, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Ritchie...
It'd be great if Buckethead was allowed to play his tribute song. As weird as Bucket may be, he'd fit right in paying a tribute to Wacko Jacko. And that song deserves to be heard in such a setting.
Re: Michael Jackson's This Is It Discussion
Coroner rules Jackson’s death a homicide
Court document reveals singer had lethal levels of propofol in system
msnbc.com news services
updated 5:41 p.m. ET, Mon., Aug 24, 2009
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, a finding that makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with the pop star when he died on June 25.
The coroner determined a fatal combination of drugs was given to Jackson hours before he died in his rented Los Angeles mansion, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the findings have not been publicly released. Forensic tests found the powerful anesthetic propofol acted together with at least two sedatives to cause Jackson’s death, the official said.
Dr. Conrad Murray, a Las Vegas cardiologist who became Jackson’s personal physician weeks before his death, is the target of a manslaughter investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Dateline NBC's Josh Mankiewicz confirmed that Murray is the target of a manslaughter probe. According to a search warrant affidavit unsealed Monday in Houston, Murray told investigators he administered a 25 milligram dose of propofol around 10:40 a.m. after spending the night injecting Jackson with two sedatives in an unsuccessful attempt to get him to sleep.
The warrant, dated July 23, states that lethal levels of propofol were found in Jackson’s system. Besides the propofol and two sedatives, the coroner’s toxicology report found other substances in Jackson’s system but they were not believed to have been a factor in the singer’s death, the official said.
Murray has spoken to police and last week released a video saying he “told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail.” His attorney, Edward Chernoff, had no immediate comment but has previously said Murray never administered anything that “should have” killed Jackson.
A call to the coroner’s office was not returned Monday.
Murray has spoken to police and last week released a video saying he “told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail.” His attorney, Edward Chernoff, had no immediate comment but has previously said Murray never administered anything that “should have” killed Jackson.
A call to the coroner’s office was not returned Monday.
According to the warrant, Murray had been treating the singer for insomnia with the sedative for six weeks. Murray said he had been trying to wean Jackson off the powerful sedative by using smaller doses in combination with the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam.
On the morning Jackson died, Murray said he tried to induce sleep without using propofol, starting first with valium at 1:30 a.m. When Jackson was still awake at 2 a.m., Murray injected Jackson with lorazepam, then injected him with midazolam at 3 a.m. Murray told police he administered several other drugs over the next few hours.
By 10:40 a.m., Jackson, still unable to sleep, urged Murray to give him propofol. Murray said in court documents that he administered 25 milligrams of the drug at that time, then left Jackson alone under the influence of the drug to make phone calls to his Houston office. When he returned, Jackson was not breathing. He performed CPR while a member of Jackson's staff called 911. The singer was rushed to UCLA Medical Center where he was declared dead sometime later.
The affidavit says, while Murray acknowledged to police that he administered propofol, authorities find no evidence that he had purchased, ordered or obtained the medication under his medical license or Drug Enforcement Administration tracking number. Police detectives found about eight bottles of the anesthetic in Jackson's house along with other vials and pills that had been prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Murray, Dr. Arnold Klein and Dr. Allan Metzger.
Valium, lorazepam, clonazepam, tamsulosin and other drugs also were confiscated in the search, and propofol was found in Murray's medical bag. According to the warrant, Murray told police he was not the first doctor to administer propofol to the singer.
Authorities subpoenaed medical records from Klein, Metzger and Dr. David Adams, in addition to Murray, the affidavit states. They also asked for medical records from Dr. David Slavitt, who conducted the independent medical examination of Jackson for Anschuntz Entertainment Group, Dr. Randy Rosen and nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee.
The affidavit also states that Jackson told Murray that two doctors in Germany had given him propofol. Murray said he repeatedly asked Jackson what other physicians were treating him and what drugs they were prescribing. Murray said Jackson refused to give the information.
© 2009 msnbc.com
