THE VORTEX

There are few things in life that make your heart soar and change your perspective on the world as much as Michael Jackson did. I first met Michael in October 1978 while I was working as a photographer for the Los Angeles Film Exposition and was assigned to cover the gala West Coast premiere of The Wiz.

Michael attended the  premiere and opening night party of the movie at the Plitt’s Century Plaza Theater in Century City (Los Angeles) with the Jackson family and Diana Ross among others. He was a sweet, gentle spirit -- friendly, soft-spoken, and a consummate professional. Even then, Michael had an undeniable power and presence that only grew as he matured as a solo artist.

Seeing him first moonwalk, hearing him sing and watching him perform was an exhilarating, life altering experience. It was as if in every performance he gave us a little piece of his soul. Like his many fans, when I heard he had died tragically just days before he would have begun a series of comeback concerts in London, I felt a profound loss that I still can’t shake.

Michael Jackson was a fierce and amazing performer and This Is It reminds us of what made the King of Pop so magical and extraordinary. It offers Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London’s O2 Arena.
 
Directed by longtime collaborator and creative partner Kenny Ortega, who previously staged and designed Michael’s Dangerous and History Tours, the film chronicles the months from March through June 2009, drawing from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Michael rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. 

This Is It never got to be fully realized as a stage concert production, but, like a backstage pass, it affords the audience a rare and private glimpse into the last great creative process of a true genius -- a privileged look at Michael as he has never been seen before. The actual show, which Michael created and approved, involved massive stage productions and nearly two dozen set changes. In raw and candid detail, This Is It captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius, and great artist at work as he perfects his final show. 

Michael comes across as a likeable person who is excited, inspired and nourished by the project. He’s completely in charge doing what he loves best. He projects a joyful exuberance at seeing the show and his vision come to life that’s accompanied by the razor sharp focus of a meticulous perfectionist who wants to make sure every detail is right. He has a polite way of gently insisting on exactly what he wants from his fellow artists. When he dances with a troupe of world class dancers, he’s alive and in the moment as he continually fine tunes the choreography and musical arrangements and sets an energetic pace. And, he can still belt out the tunes with a perfect pitch. There’s no lip sync here, no miming to a pre-recorded track, just his real voice – rich and vibrant.

This Is It opens in spectacular fashion with all the lights down followed by a pyrotechnic display that sizzles, cracks and pops. Next we see a video that provides glimpses and flashes of historic moments on the cultural landscape of Jackson’s lifetime that include images of Nelson Mandela, Princess Di and a Thriller-era Michael in his iconic red jacket. Then, Light Man, a CG-inspired doppelganger comes out on the gantry floating above the stage as a dazzling array of video information is displayed across its exterior. Piece by piece MJ is revealed until he emerges from Light Man and we see a dynamicMichael Jackson literally come alive on stage from his fingertips to his toes, electrifying the audience with his vibrant physicality.

Love has always been the driving force behind Michael’s artistry. For many fans, he was more than a performer. He was an icon, an inspiration, even an obsession. In turn, he genuinely appreciated his fans and was energized by them. At his London press conference earlier this year, he announced “I’ll be performing the songs my fans want to hear.” Then he punctuated it with a very heartfelt personal message just for them, “I love you. I really do. You have to know that. I love you so much, really, from the bottom of my heart.”

Undeniably, that comes across in the show that Michael and his creative team crafted. This Is It is full of the fan’s favorites -- a musical mosaic that celebrates Michael’s music, his ideas, his genius and artistry. Michael wanted to please all his fans by putting on the ultimate live show. He also saw This Is It as an opportunity to involve his children in his creative life now that they were old enough to appreciate it and he was still young enough to do it. The end result is riveting – and poignant when you realize what the London concerts could have been. I think his fans and family will be pleased.

Ortega has done a masterful job directing the movie and preserving this slice of Michael’s legacy for his fans. He resists gimmicky filmmaking techniques or the temptation to go for cheap sentimentality. Dance numbers are shot in intimate close-up and different rehearsals of the same song are intercut so that you can see the evolution of the creative process and appreciate the top notch musicianship and intricate dance work. Ortega lets us see the mistakes, the re-dos, and the collaborative exchanges between Michael and the dancers and musicians as they work out the flaws and imperfections.

The rehearsal footage is impressive – from Michael being dropped into a 1940’s film noir starring Rita Hayworth and shooting it out with Humphrey Bogart, to creating green screen visual effects for a 3-D Thriller sequence, to a production number set in the Amazon rain forest designed to raise environmental awareness. There are funny moments too like when the back-up dancers struggle to perfect the famous crotch grab. There’s also a particularly touching moment when Michael closes his eyes at the conclusion of a particularly difficult dance number and smiles when he realizes the execution was absolutely perfect.

Michael Jackson was without a doubt one of the greatest entertainers of our time and the last of the great song and dance men. There was something so special about him that compelled you to listen and let him hold court. I doubt we will see anyone quite like him ever again. He had a tremendous influence on popular culture. He was a huge inspiration to so many of today’s artists. He was also a generous humanitarian who was passionate about making the world a better place. He touched everybody and will forever live in our hearts.

This Is It is a terrific film. Don’t miss it while you can see Michael’s magic in theaters on a big screen.