Michael Jackson Forums

Annie Leibovitz and Neverland - ARTINFO.com

NEW YORK—Photographer Annie Leibovitz took Michael Jackson's portrait several times for Vanity Fair. Her images of him from 1989, shirt unbuttoned and frozen in dance like a ballet, were perhaps "iconic," the feel that Leibovitz strives for in her photography. Leibovitz and Jackson had more in common than just these images, however. Like Jackson, who had spent his fortune unwisely and found himself burdened with a $270 million dollar debt, Leibovitz has found herself in a financial battle over the publishing rights to her images after several ill-advised real estate purchases, including a three-building residence in New York's Greenwich Village, where she currently resides with her three children.

In May 2008, a private equity firm called Colony Capitol invested in Jackson's Neverland Ranch, saving Jackson's carnivalesque hideaway from foreclosure. Though he eventually lost the ranch, to a company partially owned by Colony Capital, he had saved the dream momentarily. Leibovitz was also living a dream. A New York magazine article published in August 2009 documents her unsustainable living and her "rampant spending." Eventually she was forced to take out a $24 million dollar loan with Art Capital, a specialty company who gives out short-term loans with art as collateral. She had to come up with $24 million dollars in one year to preserve the copyrights to her photography. Art Capital started to twitch when Leibovitz tried to sign deals with New York auction house Philips de Pury, and then later with Getty Images. They threatened to foreclose her house and become sole proprietors of Leibovitz' library of 100,000 photographs and approximately one million negatives. It was looking dire.

This past week, however, news has emerged of a white knight: Colony Capital. Leibovitz struck a deal with the company to pay off Art Capital. In return, Leibovitz and Colony Capital are planning a traveling exhibition of Leibovitz' photos and other "new projects." Is Colony Capital setting up a boutique debt relief system for celebrities with negotiable assets? According to Colony, this is actually an anomalous agreement, but if it works out there may be implications of a new business model. Meanwhile, Leibovitz will return to her high-budget shoots photographing celebrities, while retaining her several properties, consequence free from her overspending days. Sounds an awful lot like Neverland to me.

my mom called me a few hours ago from cuba she broke the news to me saying my grandma died last night i feel bad & sad for my mom

This Is It: Michael Jackson and his last musical role

By Shanae Cole on March 4, 2010

“If you enter this world knowing that you’re loved and you leave knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.” These were the famous words of the late Michael Jackson, and despite his death he proved that he was not just an entertainer; but that he was an influence to the world in more ways than one. Music, fashion, and dance have all been influenced by Jackson during some point in time, which is why he was not considered as just a star, but as a fashion icon, an innovator, and most notably the “King of Pop.”

Born in Gary Indiana on August 29 1958, Michael Jackson at 11 started his music career with his brothers in a group called, The Jackson Five. Due to his unique talent, it was evident that Jackson was the star of the group, setting him apart from his brothers. It was shortly after his portrayal as a scarecrow in 1978’s “The Wiz,” that Jackson branched off into his own solo career.

Under the direction of Berry Gordy and producer Quincy Jones, his first establishing album was 1979’s “Off the Wall,” which featured the hits, “Don’t stop til you get enough,” and “Rock with you.” His next album “Thriller” went on to become the best selling album of all time, winning him an unprecedented eight Grammys Awards, spending 37 weeks at number one, and featured a 14-minute short film that revolutionized the world of music videos forever.

Following his chart topping success, came the 1987 “Bad” album, where Jackson introduced us to a more “don’t mess with me,” type persona along with seven top 10 singles. In 1991 “Dangerous” was released, which included the hit single and controversial video for “Black or White.” Five other albums were released after “Dangerous” including his 2001 album “Invincible.”

Aside from his music, Jackson was faced with media scrutiny; with child molestation charges, labels as being “***** Jacko,” and claims that he bleached himself to look white among others. All of these accusations, however, were just the media’s way of bringing down a successful person. It was not until his death that the media finally realized how much of an impact he had on the world. Let’s put it this way, what other entertainer received as much media attention, an outpouring of grief around the world, and had such an increase in record sales upon his death? Michael Jackson had that much status that he was even capable of stopping the news when it came to coverage on current day issues.

Jackson died June 25 2009, it was later ruled as a homicide. Prior to his death he was working on a new comeback tour titled, “This is it.” With tickets already sold out, the anticipation for his July tour was something sure to go down in the history books. Unfortunately, due to the tragic event the concerts never happened, but thanks to the support of the Estate of Michael Jackson, behind the scene footage of the concert in progress was featured in a documentary that hit theatres October 2009. Fortunately for those who missed the film or for those who wanted to watch it again, Millersville University aired its own viewing this past Feb. 26 at Club de’ville.

The documentary itself was unlike any other I have seen before. It was as if I had a front row seat to his concert, filled with an adrenaline rush that had me at the edge of my seat throughout the entire movie. “This is It,” captured Jackson as the singer he was known to be, and the dancer who everyone dreamed to move like. Even with some of the best young back up dancers, at the age of 50 Jackson still had the moves. Not only that, but the documentary showed how Jackson was a filmmaker, an architect and a creative genius. He did not go for simplicity; he went for going above and beyond when it came to “putting on a show.” It showcased Jackson’s aim to be a perfectionist, paying attention to detail and bringing out the magic in everything.

One of the most talked about segments in the show was “Earth Song,” which was later aired at this year’s Grammy Awards in 3D. It was a song that emphasized Jackson’s efforts to preserve the environment and bring awareness about animal welfare. His message in the song couldn’t have come at a better time, where current environmental conditions are not where it should be. Another one of Michael’s creative approaches was his recreation of “Smooth Criminal,” where he edited himself into a classic film. The recreation of “Thriller” was an incredible approach, with the digital effects, dancing and costumes it was sure to be a crowd favorite during the time of the concert series. I was amazed by all of his ideas, all of his moves, and all of his works. It was exciting to see what could have been, but sad to realize that it never will.

In spite of his death, I have no doubt in my mind that Michael Jackson was smiling down from heaven, proud that all of his fans were able to see firsthand what was considered and anticipated to be an incredible comeback concert. His intent for the comeback tour was for his children to see him as the performer aside from the father figure he was perceived to be. Michael Jacksons “This is it”, was definitely worth seeing, bringing back memories and creating new ones of one of the world’s most beloved entertainers. It just goes to show you that Michael Jackson wasn’t just the “Man in the Mirror”, but he was the man that influenced the world through his magic.
This Is It: Michael Jackson and his last musical role

Kriyss Grant speaks and I think spills some "secrets" the others tried not to reveal. What do you think? This is puzzling

On Stage with Michael Jackson
http://www.bocamag.com/Boca-Raton-Ma...chael-Jackson/
Local entertainer Kriyss Grant, the first dancer chosen by Michael Jackson for his ?This Is It? tour, discusses what it was like working with the ?King of Pop.?

On the influence Jackson had on him: ?I was really brought up with Michael Jackson. My grandmother bought me ?Moonwalker,? [the 1988 film that showed, among other things, Jackson in concert] which is something I watched every day. ... I wanted to be just like that. ... I would always try to perform. If there was a party, a family reunion, anything, I would dance and perform for everyone.?

On his audition: ?I was scared. And I didn?t think I was going to get it. But I went. ... It was a three-day audition period. Thousands of dancers [4,000]. Michael came the third day. ... I had never been on tour. I was the newest dancer from Florida. Everyone else was from L.A. and had worked with and danced backup for other artists, so they had that on their resume. I had [MTV?s] ?Making the Band? on my résumé.

?Had Michael not been there, I don?t think I would?ve been picked. ... Michael saw me, he saw the feeling in me. I saw him jump up while I was dancing, but I didn?t know what he was reacting to. Later, they told me that he was reacting to me and how he saw himself in me.?

On meeting him for the first time: ?When we stepped off the stage to go meet him, he was like the statue on his ?History? album. He was dressed in all black, he had the glasses on. And his hands were really big and firm; they took over my entire hand. ... He told me I was amazing. ... I was just staring at him. I think I told him he was awesome. I don?t know.?

On his personality and energy: ?Michael was the type of person who would look at you and know, like that, what you were all about. ... He was say certain things like he knew you. He knew I was nervous. He?d tell me to save my energy for the crowd. Always positive, but it was also like [the comments were tailored] to us.
?There were times when I?d feel the energy of the music, feel his energy, and I?d be dancing all out. And he would stop and look at me. I thought maybe I was going too hard, doing too much. But he?d shake his head and smile, like whatever I was doing was a good thing.?

?He was very warm. I?d never felt anything like that. I was so happy. His energy was like no other.?

On rehearsals: ?Michael would come in occasionally in the beginning. ... He didn?t start rehearsing with us until we moved to the Staples Center. He was killing it, going full out, doing slides and everything?it was crazy. ... As soon as that music would come on, he?d start killing it. We?d look at each other like, ?Is he trying to outdo us?? ... He still had it. He proved that. ... But he was nervous. He was 50, and he hadn?t danced like that in a long time. He had to familiarize his body with all those moves he used to do. I think he was scared; he couldn?t take the stage and appear fragile to us.?

The last rehearsal: ?He was his old self. He was interacting with us, giving us suggestions, making changes. In the beginning, he let everyone else run things. Then, he was like, ?This is my show. We?re going to do it how I want to do it.? I loved it. That?s something I always wanted to see. I thought he was being taken advantage of in the beginning because he was older. ... And you could tell he had something to say, but he wouldn?t say it. But that last day, he took over.
?He knew what he wanted. The dancers were like, ?Good, he?s speaking up.? The dancers had Michael?s back.?

The day Jackson died: ?We didn?t know what to do, what to say, where to go. It was this feeling of you finally getting to where you always wanted?of finally making it. And before you get to grasp it, it?s snatched away from you. ... It?s like a tease. I touched it, but did this really happen? I have memories, but there was no time to sit in that moment and really feel the vibe. Everything happened so fast, fast, fast in rehearsals ... And then, it?s all taken away.

?It really hasn?t hit me yet. I know I was a part of it. I know it was a big deal to be a Michael Jackson dancer on the ?This Is It? tour that never happened. ... I don?t think it will ever hit me.?

How many Fedoras do you think Michael owned? Or did he have the same one all those years?

i hope this is the right place for this. okay, today at school, one of my friends was talking to my teacher about how i love MJ, and the teacher looked at me shocked saying, "you like michael jackson?" i said yeah, then he said, "Do you know what he did to children?" i told him it was all lies and that i didn't believe it, but he wouldn't drop it. he kept bugging me, trying to convince me that michael was guilty, and it pissed me off so badly! i really need some comfort you guys:aw:
P.S. i couldn't find the "right" prefix so, sorry:blush2:

Thank you Will.I.AM for speaking among us Fans who dearly loves Michael.
THis video made me Cry... He said everything I've felt for MJ.
You can really tell that MJ inspired him a lot in many ways. :hkcry: