The Last Performance
The concert promoter AEG Live released approximately one minute of video from Michael Jackson’s final performance, a June 23rd rehearsal for his planned “This Is It” tour.
Even though I fully expect to notice a thin figure shrouded in robes wandering around inside a Disney park one day in the future, the recent event of last week is still sad for me when I think about how we won’t ever see him perform again. Which is why this video made me very emotional.
UPDATE = This footage could be turned into a movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The trade mag reports that over 100 hours of material was shot. AEG Live, who organized the tour, owns the rights to the footage and could potentially also use it to create live albums and a pay-per-view TV special. The material – some of which was shot in high definition – apparently includes Jacko performing hits “Thriller” and “Beat it” , as well as the star in production meetings and auditions. Part of the preparation for his sell-out tour also included the creation of 3D “mini-movies” involving “Thriller” and “Earth Song”, which could also be incorporated into a film. The former is described as “nine minutes of 3D insanity” by AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips.
It pleases me to see him smile at the very end. The news media isn’t letting it go for that long. He looks great and ready to do a tour. I’ve watched it several times and just love every minute of it. I hope they show as much footage as they can edit together as a free event for everyone to watch on his birthday in August.