Fantastic, the full length version, last night on Channel 4. Ray Tintori, who did MGMT's Kids is really good, too. At one point, the boy tries to cut his antlers off to be accepted, but she stops him. [8], Initially, the television networks refused to finance the project, sharing the view that Thriller was "last year's news". [23], Michael Jackson's Thriller was named the "greatest video" by MTV in 1999,[24] and by VH1[22] and Time in 2001. However Harvey declined and then suggested another director who did in the end make the documentary. This did not stop him being threatened with expulsion from his church because of the film's subject matter. The storyline follows newly-qualified vet James as he leaves his home in Glasgow during 1937 to start working for head vet Siegfried in the fictional Yorkshire village of Darrowby. [10] He wanted to make a theatrical short rather than a standard music video, and hoped to use Jackson's celebrity to return theatrical shorts to popularity. [8] Epic had little interest in making another video for Thriller, believing that the album had peaked,[10] and eventually agreed to contribute only $100,000. [8], According to Landis, when he called Yetnikoff to propose the film, he swore so loudly he had to remove the phone from his ear. Taking place on New Year's Eve, the video shows J-Lo and her friends getting ready for a party. Nearly 100,000 viewers voted in the VH1 all-time greatest 100 poll, which also saw Jackson at No. Andr 3000 plays all eight characters featured in the band. The "Honey" video starts with Mariah Carey as a Bond-esque spy named Agent M who is being held hostage by an organization known as D.U.N.C.E. [12] Nina Blackwood, a former MTV executive, said music videos improved after Thriller, with more storylines and more intricate choreography. [1] It is an anthology series: each episode has a self-contained story and its own cast. Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" has two iconic videos. In August 1983, film director John Landis received a phone call from Michael Jackson. There's shots of them on a boat in a "storm," there's memorable camouflage outfits, and a truly special dance break in front of a temple. As of 2020, more than 59 million people had watched the sea of orange-clad people amble and groove like zombie-monsters. DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. [6] Jackson's make-up casts "a ghostly pallor" over his skin and emphasizes the outline of his skull, an allusion to the mask from The Phantom of the Opera (1925). The proposed cost of the "Thriller" video: slightly less than $1 million. In the 1980s, millions of consumers were purchasing their first VCRs. My Chemical Romance is on a float leading the parade of masked figures in what looks to be a wasteland. The "All the Small Things" video is a hilarious parody of other boy bands and pop artists of the '90s. The girls are together when the guy comes knocking and slam the door in his face. It got video of the year at the MTV VMAs. The pair conceived a short film with a budget much larger than previous music videos. The video is as fun as the song itself. [8], Weeks before the premiere, Jackson, then a Jehovah's Witness, was told by the organization leaders that the film promoted demonology and that he would be excommunicated. "We came to the conclusion that if Michael was going to dance, it would be a hell of a lot easier for his monster to have two legs instead of four." I remember watching it in a pub called "Woosters" (aka as wasters) in Lady Lawson Street in Edinburgh. A night at the movies turns into a nightmare when Michael and his date are attacked by a hoard of bloodthirsty zombies - only a "Thriller" can save them now. With Patrick Gibson . Landis' production partner George Folsey and Jackson's lawyer John Branca hatched a plan: raise money by pre-selling the rights to a behind-the-scenes documentary shot during "Thriller" production. Here are 55 of the most iconic music . [35] It was remastered in IMAX 3D for a limited engagement in 2018, preceding screenings of The House With a Clock in Its Walls in North America for its first week. Michael Jackson's Thriller was launched to great anticipation and played regularly on MTV. [2] As the title suggests, each story is a thriller of some variety, from tales of the supernatural to down-to-earth whodunits. "Thriller" also helped steer toward importance and bring a new standard operating protocol to another kind of video home video. The video's budget was five hundred thousand dollars. In 2009, it became the first music video inducted into the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". Jackson was all in, especially after Landis said he could probably get An American Werewolf in London makeup master Rick Baker involved. It's trippy to watch and makes the video one of the most recognizable of all time. Brandy and Monica's apartments are right next to each other and the girls are seeing the same man. I didn't have this thought intellectually at the time, but when I watch it now I realise that there's no reason for a lot of it; it's so free and loose. The trailer for the new TV show, which launched at 3pm on March 1, introduces Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas' characters, Nadia Sinh and Mason Kane, across multiple high-octane action sequences. [15], Landis said directing Jackson was "like dealing with a gifted 10-year-old". When the series was re-broadcast as part of The CBS Late Movie however, the original title sequences and music were restored. By the time Thriller's sales cycle wound down in 1984, it was the best-selling LP of all time in the United States, with sales of 33 million. The Rig is a horror thriller series arriving on Amazon Prime Video in early 2023. Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, so if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale (more details here). Jackson hired Landis after seeing his 1981 film An American Werewolf in London. It's full of genius symbolism and won Lamar a Grammy for best video. Six Girls Aloud videos later and Thriller is still part of Bellinger's life. Branca wouldn't do it, and he instead locked up the footage and gave Jackson the idea to let "Thriller" out, but just with a denouncing disclaimer tacked on to the start. Here's the inside story on the development, production, and impact of the video for Michael Jackson's spookiest hit. I don't know the answer to that, but I do worry about DCs being desensitised to horrible things. At the end, everyone gets out of their cars and walks before mysteriously vanishing. She ends up shoving him out of a car and leaving him in the dust and goes into a rebellious phase. That's a pretty serious statement, and one that makes the silly horror movie-inspired fun to follow seem like it's going to be a lot darker and menacing than it is. "Thriller" remains a classic, as well as an unprecedented moment in music and film, and it wasn't easy to pull off. Jackson's sixth album, Thriller, was released in November 1982 and spent months at the top of the Billboard 200, backed by successful videos for the singles "Billie Jean" and "Beat It". In one scene, Michael's right "cat's eye" contact lens is askew and not in straight. It won a Grammy for best music video. The first thing he said to me when he came out of school was 'Are zombies real, mum?'. As the band and hundreds of other people are stuck in a traffic jam, the camera pans to various individuals sitting in their car with subtitles describing their thoughts. The bride leaves the altar, and when the groom follows, he sees her making out with one of the guests outside. In the 1950s, Michael Jackson and a young woman (Ola Ray) run out of gas while driving in a wooded area. "When I made videos, whether it was with the Beastie Boys or Bjrk, we weren't chasing anything," he says. 2 Bohemian Rhapsody Queen. Seemingly unaware of the time difference, Jackson had called at 2am UK time and the sleepy director had to feign knowledge of the song, which he hadn't heard. He soon finds himself working as part of a trio of vets alongside Siegfried and his younger brother, Tristan. Landis and Jackson worked out a story about a guy who takes a young woman on a date and transforms into a bloodthirsty horror movie monster before her very eyes. Set in a futuristic looking white room, the video stands out for the illusions it features. In 2017, it was remastered from the original 35mm negative and converted into 3D under John Landis' supervision. The changes applied starting with the Game of the Year edition and all future releases since. Miss Scarlet and The Duke, Season 1-2 | Watch Now. "She had such a great smile. It has that spirit to it that must have been contagious; it spoke to other kids. "[11], Ola Ray also complained of problems collecting royalties. It was also the first big break for drag queen RuPaul. There's a lot to process. 08/07/2009 17:32. Directed by Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl, the video follows a man, whose face is never shown, as he rescues a baby, a dog, and grabs a photo from a burning building. "Thriller" was a watershed moment in music video. The original UK title sequence featured still shots of locations in the story, devoid of people, shot through a fisheye lens, bordered in bright red and set to Johnson's eerie, discordant theme music. A-ha pushed boundaries with their creative video, actually the song's second video, for "Take on Me." [8] Branca mollified Jackson by suggesting they include a disclaimer at the start of the film stating that it did not reflect Jackson's personal convictions. [13], Jackson wanted to make a video in which he transformed into a four-legged beast, similarly to the transformation scene in An American Werewolf in London. Fifteen years ago, it was deemed suitable only for late-night viewing, and even boycotted by a then fledgling MTV network in the US. [17], On November 14, 1983, Thriller was shown to a private audience at the Crest Theater in Los Angeles. Cyrus' provocative videos were a shock to people who had watched her on "Hannah Montana.". It was shown on Channel 4 in November 1983 at something like 1 in the morning, as I remember sitting up waiting for it to come on and then being amazed and a little bit scared as I was only 13 at the time. Directed by Colin Trevorrow. The cat's dance moves even mirror her's. The metamorphosis of the polite "boy next door" into a werecat has been interpreted as a depiction of male sexuality, depicted as naturally bestial, predatory, and aggressive. In 2018, the short film was digitally remastered exclusively for IMAX 3D theaters, playing before. Jackson urged the Epic executives Walter Yetnikoff and Larry Stessel to help conceive a plan to return the album to the top of the charts. 1. After production on the video wrapped, Jackson was told by leaders of his church (Jackson was a practicing member of the Jehovah's Witness faith) that they thought "Thriller" encouraged demon worship, and if it were released, he'd be excommunicated. (based on the familiar songs of ABBA). Inspired by the reaction to the Beatles performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," "Hey Ya!" But what truly stands out about the video is Cher's iconic sheer body suit and leather jacket. Landis said he would do the video if it could be a short film, and Jackson embraced the idea. After falling asleep and dreaming that a saint statue turned into the man, she wakes up, goes to the prison, and tells them that the man is innocent. Jackson stayed in the projection booth, declining Ray's invitation to join the audience. [8] After originally being screened late at night in the U.S. under the ABC Wide World of Entertainment billing from 1973, some episodes were retitled for U.S. syndication in 1978, and all had additional opening sequences shot with new titles and credits but without the original cast and, for this reason, often only featuring menacing figures seen from the neck down. With James Purefoy, Charlie Creed-Miles, Sasha Behar, Dervla Kirwan. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The striking video is mostly black-and-white with some of the only color provided by red flowers on the float. The Library of Congress described it as the most famous music video of all time, and it has been named the greatest video by various publications and readers' polls. ", "People are making great videos again," Jonze says. Ola Ray took home a lot of memories and stories from her time co-starring in Michael Jackson's landmark "Thriller" music video. | He and Peters imagined how the zombies would move by making faces in the mirror, incorporating "jazzy" moves, "not too much ballet or whatever". as well as other partner offers and accept our, 300 people dressed as Bush in the red dress, the popular "Michael Jackson eating popcorn" GIF. They eventually head down a river to a rave in the forest. [8], In June 1983, Thriller was displaced from the top of the Billboard 200 chart by the Flashdance soundtrack. Thoroughly upset, Jackson ordered his lawyer, John Branca, to destroy the "Thriller" negatives. J-Lo brought in the new millennium with her video for "Waiting for Tonight." On June 27, 2011, the red jacket Jackson wore in this video sold for 1.8 million dollars at Julien's Auctions of Beverly Hills. At one point, she climbs up the building to a room where Paul McCoy and the rest of the band are playing music. She was the mother of the character Ken Reeves from the TV Show "The White Shadow". Lesley Sharp stars as a detective who faces impossible choices in a murky world where loyalties are tested and lines are blurred. [2] With an eye to the American re-broadcast market, most episodes, especially from the second season onwards, featured at least one American principal character, portrayed by an American actor. According to NPR, government security consultant Byron Garcia instituted an exercise program in the mid-2000s at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. A making-of documentary, Making Michael Jackson's Thriller, was produced to sell to television networks. The video also features a striking shot of Madonna dancing in front of burning crosses. Michael Jackson's Thriller is a 1983 music video for the song "Thriller" by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on December 2, 1983. It's directed by John Strickland (Bodyguard, Line Of Duty) and follows the crew on the fictional Kinloch Bravo oil rig stationed off the Scottish coast on the dangerous waters of the North Sea.When the group of workers is due to return to the mainland, an eerie fog descends, and a mysterious force begins to take . Title track "Thriller" was the seventh and final Thriller single, released to stores and radio in January 1984, well over a year after the album debuted. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. Directed by F. Gary Gray, who also directed "Straight Out of Compton" and "The Fate of the Furious," the "Waterfalls" video is emotional. Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, Rock Hudson and Jackie Kennedy Onassis all turned up on set, and Eddie Murphy, Prince and Diana. From his Pope outfit to the reenactment of Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" painting, Lamar doesn't shy away from religious visuals. The girlfriend leaves, scared by the film. Back in 1983, the video was preceded by a disclaimer from the singer, who said: "Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult." But then there's also some random dance scenes with her on a boat. Joseph denied this. It's hard to forget, and it won a Grammy for best music video. Thriller is a British television series, originally broadcast in the UK from 1973 to 1976. Jackson embraces her, but turns to the camera and grins, revealing his werecat eyes. Why did you need to stay up late if you were 'tape'ing it? [3] Background [ edit] 6. This particular Thriller musical is not to be confused with Thriller Live, a Michael Jackson-themed theatrical experience that ran in London's West End (the British Broadway) for well over a decade. ", $1.8m The amount Texan gold trader Milton Verrett paid for Jackson's red jacket from the video at auction in June 2011, 26ins The size of Jackson's waist at the time of filming, according to Landis's wife Deborah, who designed the red jacket, $1m Estimated sum in unpaid royalties for which Landis sued Jackson in 2009, 13,597 The number of people who performed the Thriller zombie dance together at an event organised by the Instituto de la Juventud del Gobierno del Distrito Federal at the Monumento a la Revolucin, Mexico City, on in August 2009, 156.4m The number of YouTube views of the official posting of the Thriller video, 9.5m Total home video and DVD sales of The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, The John Landis-directed mini-movie first shown publicly 30 years ago this week influenced a generation of directors including Spike Jonze, turned music promos into an industry, and established MTV as a cultural force, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Michael Jackson's impact on art explored in London show, John Landis on the making of Michael Jacksons Thriller: I was adamant he couldnt look too hideous, Quincy Jones sues Michael Jackson's estate, Who's bad? "It was the first time an artist had considered the pop video as a legitimate art form. As the song progresses, multiple Morissettes sing in the car and act as her passengers until the car runs out of gas and she has to walk. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. [10], In 1984, the National Coalition on Television Violence (NCTV) reviewed 200 MTV videos and classified more than half as too violent, including Thriller. Some music videos are more memorable than others. See production, box office & company info, The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018), At the Movies: Christine/Silkwood/Sudden Impact/Thriller, Palace Theater, 630 S Broadway, Los Angeles, California, USA. Some music videos are more memorable than others. Jackson's character takes his date (Ola Ray) to a horror movie and then makes her life into one when he transforms into a monstrous creature and leads a horde of other scary creatures both ghoulish and undead. The theatre in the movie is the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles, where, The short film was packaged on home video with, The score heard in this music video is actually unused music from composer. ThrillerVideo ThrillerVideo was a horror home video series that began being released in February 1985 to 1987 by U.S.A. Home Video and International Video Entertainment (I.V.E.). 2023 Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. Genre Adventure, Action, Science Fiction. The first collaboration between Alicia Silverstone and Aerosmith featured Silverstone as a girl who catches her boyfriend cheating. There's a lot to unpack in Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" video. [8], The video debuted on MTV alongside Making Michael Jackson's Thriller on December 2, 1983. PopCap agreed to remove the Thriller zombies and replace them with generic disco-dancing zombies. In 1984, Making Michael Jackson's Thriller won the Grammy Award for Best Video Album, and in a 1999 end-of-the-century countdown, MTV named "Thriller" the #1 music video of all time. It is credited for transforming music videos into a serious art form, breaking down racial barriers in popular entertainment and popularizing the making-of documentary format. In 2013, she settled with the Jackson estate for $75,000. "It's simple all you've got to do is dance, sing, and make it scary," DiLeo says he told Jackson at the time.