Jackson Grief Cut From This Is It
By WENNWednesday, October 28, 2009
Footage of MICHAEL JACKSON’s dancers and crewmembers coping with the news of the King of Pop’s death on 25 June (09) was cut from new concert rehearsal movie THIS IS IT - because director KENNY ORTEGA felt it was inappropriate.
Cameras rolled as Ortega and all those awaiting Jackson’s arrival at rehearsals first heard about the tragedy and the filmmaker admits there were initial considerations about using it.
He says, “We decided… and received the full support of everyone involved… to not make it about that. In the end, what we wanted to do was make it a legacy piece to honour Michael, the genius behind This Is It.
“I just didn’t wanna make this about anything other than his incredible enthusiasm and what his dreams and plans for the show were. I wanted this to be life affirming, so we decided to draw back from that, which we felt was a story that had been exploited enough.”
This Is It opened in cinemas around the world overnight.
