Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' film to be an exclusive 2 week limited engagement around the world

TICKETS TO GO ON SALE SEPTEMBER 27. INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF MICHAEL JACKSON AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE TO HIT THEATERS WORLDWIDE OCTOBER 28

CULVER CITY, Ca., August 20, 2009 - Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment announced today that Michael Jackson THIS IS IT will be released exclusively for a special, limited, two-week engagement worldwide, with the studio pushing up the debut of the film by two days, to Wednesday, October 28th. Due to the anticipated demand for this film, tickets for the two-week presentation will go on sale in most cities beginning on Sunday, September 27th.
Separately, the producers of Michael Jackson THIS IS IT announced that Kenny Ortega has been set to direct the motion picture. The film is being produced with the full support of The Estate of Michael Jackson.

Commenting on the announcement, Ortega, director of and Jackson's creative partner on the THIS IS IT concert, said, "This film is Michael's gift to his fans. As we began assembling the footage for the motion picture we realized we captured something extraordinary, unique and very special. It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius's world. For the first time ever, fans will see Michael as they have never seen him before – this great artist at work. It is raw, emotional, moving and powerful footage that captures his interactions with the THIS IS IT collaborators that he had personally assembled for this once in a lifetime project. This film shows a consummate performer working with and guiding singers, dancers, band members, choreographers, special effects creators and countless other creative members of the team as we all assemble this historic concert. I can think of many words to describe Michael as he rehearses for and creates THIS IS IT– inspirational, dynamic, generous, dedicated, loving and the guiding force—you see him as the true architect and driving force of this project – a true master of his craft, the Entertainer of Entertainers. I'm proud of the many years of friendship and creative association I shared with Michael and I'm happy that people will get a chance to see his spirit and drive in action. THIS IS IT may go down as the greatest concert that no one got a chance to see, but with this film, we get a rare portrait of Michael as he prepares for his final curtain call and what I believe was going to be his master work."

Michael Jackson THIS IS IT will offer 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. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, and genius as he creates and perfects his final show.
"I have never been partners with a more creative, innovative or groundbreaking entertainer than Michael Jackson," said Randy Phillips, President & CEO, AEG LIVE and producer of Michael Jackson THIS IS IT. "While the concerts would have been the greatest shows in the history of music, our film will provide a historic event for Michael's fans to see for themselves the genius that he was and the creativity, talent and imagination that the entire cast devoted to create the ‘greatest concert that never happened'."

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

SIX OF THE BEST: Michael Jackson

As fans gather outside London's o2 Arena in anticipation of Michael Jackson's announcement of his first series of gigs in 13 years, we take a look back at Six Of The Best performance videos of the undisputed King Of Pop in our semi-regular feature.

6. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Heartbreak Hotel and Another Part Of Me (1988)



This brief selection of clips are cropped from a 1988 TV special celebrating the 'Bad' world tour's stop in Tokyo. The tour was a massive success - the second highest grossing of all time - and it's easy to see why. No performer in the 21 years since has captured the world's imagination like Michael Jackson did here, at his creative peak.

5. Give In To Me (1993)

Click to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-CcqOe9WWU

Okay, it's not technically a live performance - the 'concert' footage was shot in Germany in a couple of hours flat. All the same, this is a visually stunning acommpaniment to one of MJ's most hard-driving rock songs, backed up by Guns N' Roses alumni Slash, Teddy 'Zigzag' Andreadis and Gilby Clarke.

4. Stranger in Moscow (1996)



This performance from Jackson's last signifcant run of concerts, the 1996-97 HIStory tour, displays his eye-popping dance skills, still at the peak of their powers. Unfortunately much of the tour's vocals were lip-synced due to an unfortunately timed throat infection. Nonetheless, 'Stranger In Moscow' remains one of the most powerful and underrated songs in Michael's canon.

3. Smooth Criminal (1992)

Embed Code:

Performing this undisputed classic in front of a near-hysterical crowd in Bucharest, it's show-stopping moments like this that earned Michael Jackson the title of World's Greatest Showman.

2. Medley: American Bandstand (2002)



From American Bandstand, around the time of the commercially and critically disappointing 'Invincible' album (Jackson's last to date), this relatively recent performance captures a surprisingly agile Michael, far from the 'shadow of his former self' that the tabloids so fervently paint him to be. Of course, fans and haters alike will be eager to see whether the 50 year old legend can still cut it in 2009, after so long away from the stage.

1. Medley: Motown 25 (1983)



The very first moonwalk performance, televised around the globe. Word's can't do justice to this legendary performance, so just sit back and watch history in the making.

Take a look at 'SIX OF THE BEST: Roy Orbison' by clicking here.