Michael Jackson's Thriller

This article is about the music video. For the song, see Thriller (song); for the album, see Thriller (album).

Michael Jackson's Thriller
"Michael Jackson's Thriller"
Directed by	John Landis
Produced by	Michael Jackson
Written by	John Landis Michael Jackson
Starring	Michael Jackson Ola Ray Vincent Price
Distributed by	Epic Records Vestron Music Video
Release date(s)	December 2, 1983
Running time	14:00
Language	English
Budget	US$500,000[1] Sales: 9 million units

Michael Jackson's Thriller is a 14-minute music video for the song of the same name released on December 2, 1983 and directed by John Landis, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jackson.

Voted as the most influential pop music video of all time,^[2] Thriller proved to have a profound effect on popular culture,^[3][4] and was named "a watershed moment for the [music] industry"^[2] for its unprecedented merging of filmmaking and music. Guinness World Records listed it in 2006 as the "most successful music video", selling over 9 million units.^[5] In 2009, the video was inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, the first music video to ever receive this honor, for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.^[6] Thriller is also notable for featuring one of the most sexualized dance routines of all time.

Co-starring with Jackson was former Playboy centerfold Ola Ray. The video was choreographed by Michael Peters (who had worked with the singer on his prior hit "Beat It"), and Michael Jackson. The video also contains incidental music by film music composer Elmer Bernstein, who had previously worked with Landis on An American Werewolf in London. The video (like the song) contains a spoken word performance by horror film veteran Vincent Price. Rick Baker assisted in prosthetics and makeup for the production. "Thriller" was the third and final video for the Thriller album. The red jacket that Jackson wore was designed by John Landis' wife Deborah Landis to make him appear more "virile".^[7]

To qualify for an Academy Award, "Thriller" debuted at a special theatrical screening, along with the 1940 Disney motion picture Fantasia.

Content

Michael Jackson dancing with the living dead.

As Michael Jackson was a practicing Jehovah's Witness at the time, the first scene includes a disclaimer by Jackson stating that, "Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult."

In a serene 1950s setting, a teenaged Michael Jackson and his unnamed girlfriend (Ola Ray) run out of gas in a dark, wooded area. They walk off into the forest, and Michael asks her if she would like to be his girl (meaning he wants to marry her). She accepts and he gives her a ring. He warns her, however, that he is "not like other guys". A full moon appears, and Michael begins convulsing in agony — transforming into a horrifying werecat, growling at her to "GET AWAY!"in the process. The girl screams and runs away, but the werecat catches up, knocking her down and lunging at her with his claws.

The scene then cuts to a movie theater where Michael and his date, along with an excitable audience, are actually watching the scene unfold in a fictional Vincent Price movie titled "Thriller". Michael's girlfriend leaves the theater as Michael hands his popcorn to another moviegoer, catches up to her, and tells her that "It's only a movie". Some debate follows as to whether or not she was scared by the movie: she denies it, but Michael disagrees. They then walk down a foggy road as Michael teases her by singing the verses of "Thriller". They pass a nearby graveyard, in which the undead begin to rise out of their graves as Vincent Price performs his sprechgesang.

The zombies corner the two main characters threateningly, and suddenly, Michael becomes a zombie himself. The zombies then break into an elaborate song and dance number, followed by the main chorus of "Thriller" (during which Michael reverts to human form), frightening his date to the point where she runs for cover.

Michael (who has turned back into a zombie) and his fellow corpses chase the frightened girl into the corner of a nearby abandoned house. Michael then reaches for the girl's throat as she lets out a bloodcurdling scream, only to awake and realize it was all a dream. Michael then offers to take her home, and she happily accepts. As they walk out of the house, Michael eerily looks at the camera, revealing his yellow werecat eyes, as Vincent Price offers one last haunting laugh.

During the closing credits, a reprised scene of the zombies dancing is shown. At the end of the closing credits, a disclaimer appears, saying that "Any similarity to actual events or characters living, dead, (or undead) is purely coincidental." The same disclaimer appeared in An American Werewolf in London, also directed by Landis. After this, the zombies then dance back into their graves, ending with one of them (an uncredited Vincent Price, in full prosthetic makeup) giving the audience a terrifying grimace as the scene fades to black.

Credits

• Directed by: John Landis
• Produced by: George Folsey, Jr., Michael Jackson & John Landis
• Written by: John Landis & Michael Jackson
• Starring: Michael Jackson
• Co-Starring: Ola Ray
• Director of Photography: Robert Paynter, B.S.C.
• Special Make-up Effects Designed & Created by: Rick Baker & EFX, Inc.
• Choreography: Michael Peters & Michael Jackson
• Edited by: Malcolm Campbell & George Folsey, Jr.
• Art Director: Charles Hughes
• Costume Designed by: Kelly Kimball & Deborah Nadoolman Landis
• Production Manager: Dan Allingham
• First Assistant Director: David Sosna
• Scary Music by: Elmer Bernstein

Thriller

• Performed by: Michael Jackson
• Featuring 'Rap' by: Vincent Price
• Produced by: Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson
• Written by: Rod Temperton
• Recorded & Mixed by: Bruce Swedien
• Available on Epic Records & Cassettes

Awards

In December 2009, it was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress along with 24 other films.^[8] It was the first ever music video to be selected.^[9] The Registry titled Thriller as “the most famous music video of all time”.^[10] The co-ordinator of the National Film Preservation Board, who decides upon candidates for inclusion in the National Film Registry, Steve Legett, said “The time is right” for Thriller to be included, because of the death of Jackson that year.^[9]

Grammy Award

Year	Category	Result	Notes
1985	Best Video, Long Form	Won	"Thriller"
1984	Best Video Album	Won	Making Michael Jackson's Thriller

MTV Award

Year	Category	Result
1999	100 Greatest Music Videos of all Time [11]	Won
1984	Best Overall Performance in a Video	Won
1984	Best Choreography (Michael Peters)	Won
1984	Viewer's Choice	Won

Origins

In the summer of 1983, Thriller had begun to decline in sales. Walter Yetnikoff and Larry Stessel answered calls throughout the night from Jackson. "Walter, the record isn’t No. 1 anymore," Yetnikoff recalls Jackson saying. "What are we going to do about it?" 'We’re going to go to sleep and deal with it tomorrow,'" Yetnikoff remembered answering. Jackson manager Frank DiLeo first mentioned the idea of making a third video, and pressed Jackson to consider the album’s title track. "It’s simple—all you’ve got to do is dance, sing, and make it scary," DiLeo recalls telling Jackson.^[12]

In early August, John Landis was contacted by Jackson to direct. At the time, commercial motion-picture directors did not direct music videos, but Landis was intrigued.^[13]

Filming locations

The music video was filmed at the Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, the zombie dance sequence at the junction of Union Pacific Avenue and South Calzona Street in East Los Angeles and the final house scene in the Angeleno Heights neighborhood at 1345 Carroll Avenue.

Behind the scenes

In an interview that aired December 11, 1999, for MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made, Jackson spoke about the making of the video:

My idea was to make this short film with conversation ... in the beginning - I like having a beginning and a middle and an ending, which would follow a story. I'm very much involved in complete making and creating of the piece. It has to be, you know, my soul. Usually, you know, it's an interpretation of the music. It was a delicate thing to work on because I remember my original approach was, 'How do you make zombies and monsters dance without it being comical?' So I said, 'We have to do just the right kind of movement so it doesn't become something that you laugh at.' But it just has to take it to another level. So I got in a room with [choreographer] Michael Peters, and he and I together kind of imagined how these zombies move by making faces in the mirror. I used to come to rehearsal sometimes with monster makeup on, and I loved doing that. So he and I collaborated and we both choreographed the piece and I thought it should start like that kind of thing and go into this jazzy kind of step, you know. Kind of gruesome things like that, not too much ballet or whatever.

—Michael Jackson^[14]

Making Michael Jackson's Thriller

The Palace Theatre is featured in the music video.

Released in tandem with the video was an hour-long documentary providing candid glimpses behind the scenes of the production. Called Making Michael Jackson's Thriller, it, too, was shown heavily on MTV for a time and was the top-selling home-video release of all time at one point, with over 9 million copies sold. The VHS also included video clips from the songs "Can You Feel It", "Beat It", and the Motown 25 performance of "Billie Jean" as well as audio clips from songs like "Workin' Day and Night".

MTV paid $250,000 for the exclusive rights to show the documentary; Showtime paid $300,000 for pay-cable rights; and Vestron Video reportedly plunked down an additional $500,000 to market the cassette, in "a profit participation."^[15]

Rick Baker expected to have a few weeks to do the special effects make up for the zombies (which usually requires impressions to be taken of the actors face to base the prosthetics on) only to find out the dancers would not be cast until a few days before shooting began. It was decided to do generic make up for the dancers (using a combination of precast prosthetics) while members of Bakers crew in the more elaborate make up for shots that featured more closeups (like the zombie coming out of the manhole)

Broadway and litigation

In 2009, Jackson sold the rights of "Thriller" to the Nederlander Organization, to stage a Broadway musical based on the video.

Jackson was sued by Landis in a dispute over royalties for the video; Landis claims he is owed four years worth of royalties.^[16][17]

Ola Ray has also complained in the past about difficulties collecting royalties. At first, Ray blamed Jackson, but then apologized to him in 1997. However, Ray eventually sued Jackson on May 6, 2009 in a dispute to obtain uncollected royalties.^[18] less than two months before Jackson's death on June 25.^[19]

Legacy

Following the success of the "Thriller" video, a Hollywood production company reportedly began serious workPalbum, into a feature film; to date no plans have ever been completed.^[20] Vinny Marino of ABC News commented that "Thriller"'s music video was being selected as the 'Greatest Video of All Time" was a "no-brainer" and remarked that, "Michael Jackson's "Thriller" continues to be considered the greatest video ever by just about everyone."^[21] Gil Kaufman of MTV described the "Thriller" video as being "iconic" and felt that it was one of Jackson's "most enduring legacies".^[22] Kaufman also noted that the music video was the "mini-movie that revolutionized music videos" and "cemented Jackson's status as one of the most ambitious, innovative pop stars of all time".^[22] Steve Peake, of About.com, listed "Thriller" as being Jackson's eighth best song of the 1980s.^[23] Patrick Kevin Day and Todd Martens, of The Los Angeles Times commented that,

"Thriller's" phenomenal success led to a breaking down of traditional racial barriers on FM radio at the time. New York's WPLJ, a "white" station, played Jackson's "Beat It" because of Eddie Van Halen's appearance on it. The song caused a wave of protests from some listeners who didn't want "black" music on their station. MTV also had a reputation for favoring white performers at the time, and its heavy rotation of Jackson videos helped alleviate the criticism.^[20]

In December 2009, the music video for "Thriller" was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, "Thriller" is the first music video to ever be inducted.^[24] The Registry explained, "because of the way the recording industry is evolving and changing, we thought it would be good to go back to the development of an earlier seismic shift, which was the development of the music video"^[22] and described the music video as being "the most famous music video of all time".^[25] The co-ordinator of the National Film Preservation Board, who decides upon candidates for inclusion in the National Film Registry, Steve Legett, noted that the music video was considered for induction for years, but was chosen mainly due to Jackson's death that year.^[26] In a poll conducted by Myspace in 2010, which asked over one thousand users on their site to name the most influential music video of all time from a list of twenty videos selected by music and entertainment critics, Michael Jackson's Thriller was voted the most influential video.^[27]

In 2002 Lexington, Kentucky became the first city to launch a "Thriller" reenactment as a Halloween festivity. The video’s storyline and dance sequences are faithfully recreated, beginning outside the historic Kentucky Theater and featuring hundreds of zombies who attend rehearsals at nearby Mecca Live Studio in the weeks leading up to the parade. Lexington’s 10th annual Thriller Parade was sponsored by Lexington Parks and Recreation, Mecca, and WRFL FM 88.1, and took place on October 30, 2011 for an audience of thousands, with Albert Ignacio playing the role of Michael Jackson.^[28] Lexington’s March Madness Marching Band also performed in zombie attire.

See also

• Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket
• List of most expensive music videos
• Return of the Living Dead Part II, the film features a dancing zombie resembling Michael Jackson from this video.
• Thriller viral video featuring the dancing inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), Cebu, in the Cebu Province of the Philippines
• Donga, the "Indian Thriller" internet meme
• Thrill the World
• "World Record Thriller Attempt" [1]

References

1. ^ Director: Funds for "Thriller" almost didn't appear
2. ^ ^{a b} Celizic, Mike (2008-04-26). "'Thriller' still a classic after 25 years - TODAY Entertainment - TODAYshow.com". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24282347/. Retrieved 2010-07-24. 
3. ^ "Sharon Stone | 50 Pop-Culture Moments That Rocked Fashion: The Top 25 | Photo 21 of 25". EW.com. http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20213730_21,00.html. Retrieved 2010-07-24. 
4. ^ "A farewell to Michael Jackson". Manchester Evening News. 2009-06-26. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1122801_a_farewell_to_the_king_of_pop. Retrieved 2010-07-24. 
5. ^ Guinness World Records (2006)
6. ^ "Michael Jackson News - Yahoo! Music". New.music.yahoo.com. 2009-12-30. http://new.music.yahoo.com/michael-jackson/news/jackson-quot-thriller-quot-film-picked-for-u-s-registry--61980767. Retrieved 2010-07-24. 
7. ^ Lauren Goode (June 30, 2009). "Deborah Landis, Designer of the Red Jacket Michael Jackson Wore in “Thriller”". Wall Street Journal (Speakeasy). http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/06/30/deborah-landis-designer-of-the-red-jacket-michael-jackson-wore-in-thriller/. Retrieved July 4, 2009. "At the time, she says, the 25-year-old Jackson weighed only 99 lbs, with a 26-inch waist (“exactly the same height and weight as Fred Astaire”), and one of the challenges she faced was making the performer appear more “virile.”" 
8. ^ Alex Dobuzinskis (December 30, 2009). "Jackson "Thriller" film picked for U.S. registry". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BT43W20091230?type=musicNews. Retrieved January 1, 2010. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Michael Jackson's Thriller added to US film archive". BBC News. December 31, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8435911.stm. Retrieved January 1, 2010. 
10. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (December 30, 2009). "‘Thriller’ Video Added to U.S. Film Registry". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/arts/music/31arts-THRILLERVIDE_BRF.html. Retrieved January 1, 2010. 
11. ^ MTV: 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made
12. ^ Griffin, Nancy (2010-07). "The “Thriller” Diaries". Vanity Fair. http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2010/07/michael-jackson-thriller-201007?printable=true&currentPage=2. Retrieved 2011-01-02. 
13. ^ Griffin, Nancy (2010-07). "The “Thriller” Diaries". Vanity Fair. http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2010/07/michael-jackson-thriller-201007?printable=true&currentPage=2. Retrieved 2011-01-02. 
14. ^ "Michael Jackson's Life & Legacy: Global Superstar (1982-86)". VH1. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1615220/20090702/jackson_michael.jhtml?rsspartner=rssMozilla. Retrieved July 7, 2009. 
15. ^ "Sing a Song of Seeing". Time (magazine). December 26, 1983. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926425-3,00.html. Retrieved November 15, 2009. 
16. ^ Legal Thriller: Michael Jackson Sued by John Landis Yahoo News, January 27, 2009
17. ^ Michael Jackson sued by 'Thriller' director
18. ^ Dillon, Nancy (2009-05-05). "Gloves are off! 'Thriller' co-star Ola Ray sues Michael Jackson for royalties,". New York: Nydailynews.com. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/05/06/2009-05-06_gloves_are_off_thriller_model_sues_for_royalties.html. Retrieved 2010-07-24. 
19. ^ latimes.com
20. ^ ^{a b} Patrick Kevin Day, Todd Martens (2008-02-18). "25 'Thriller' facts". The Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-web-thrillertrivia12feb12,1,4770613.story. Retrieved 2010-01-23. 
21. ^ Vinny Marino (2001-05-02). "VH1 Names '100 Greatest Videos of All Time'". ABCNews.com. The Walt Disney Company. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=105861&page=1. Retrieved 2010-01-22. 
22. ^ ^{a b c} Gil Kaufman (2009-12-30). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Added To National Film Registry". MTV.com. Viacom. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628945/20091230/jackson_michael.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-01-23. 
23. ^ Steve Peake. "Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs of the '80s". 80Music.about.com. The New York Times Company. http://80music.about.com/od/artistsfj/tp/topmjsongs.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-23. 
24. ^ Alex Dobuzinskis (2009-12-30). "Jackson "Thriller" film picked for U.S. registry". Reuters.com. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BT43W20091230?type=musicNews. Retrieved 2010-01-22. 
25. ^ Dave Itzkoff (2009-12-30). "‘Thriller’ Video Added to U.S. Film Registry". NYTimes.com (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/arts/music/31arts-THRILLERVIDE_BRF.html. Retrieved 2010-01-23. 
26. ^ "Michael Jackson's Thriller added to US film archive". BBC News. 2009-12-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8435911.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-22. 
27. ^ "‘Thriller’ voted most influential pop video". MSNBC. 2010-05-02. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36905841/ns/today-entertainment/. Retrieved 2010-05-03. 
28. ^ http://www.kentucky.com/2009/10/30/997818/its-thriller-time-if-you-want.html

External links

• Thriller at the Internet Movie Database
• Michael Jackson's Thriller at AllRovi
• "The Complete Michael Jackson Experience"