I should have come vooruit, voorwaarts with this years geleden ... it’s been my little secret for too long but now I’m breaking my silence and going public with the fact that Michael Jackson held my hand, too...
The incident took place at Universal Studios during the filming of the muziek video, Scream, featuring Michael and his sister, Janet. Not too long before this I had met Michael while working on the stage production and rehearsals for the Dangerous tour.
Both Mark Romanek, the director of Scream, and Tom Foden, the Production Designer, are uncompromising perfectionists. It’s been a real pleasure to work with both of them on numerous projects. In the film business, working with people who maintain a vision is significantly better than working for those who lack the big picture. On this particular job I was working with the art department headed door Tom Foden. Other members of the art department included Dana Garman, Richard Berg, Jamie Vickers, Paulie Pietsch, Mark Brooks, to name a few.
The Scream video may be the most expensive muziek video ever made, I believe the total production/post production budget was somewhere near 8.3 million dollars. And I can tell u the art department budget took a good chunk of that, maybe half. The sets took up three full sized stages at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, with over a dozen sets placed on these three stages. Once shooting began, my role was the ‘on-set dresser’, basically the ‘art department representative’ who remains on set at all times as the ‘face’ of the art department. door the very nature of the position, the on-set dresser has close interaction with the talent while on the set.
This was a crazy big job, no doubt about it. Three stages, over a dozen sets, twenty shoot days.
On the first dag of shooting we had a 7am call, except Michael was detained until mid-afternoon. Then hair and make-up, get him to the set and it’s 4:30 pm before we roll. It became clear that we would be shooting nights for the volgende twenty of so days. It was also clear that Michael liked it this way…working at night, that is.
Finally, we get down to business. Michael makes his entrance and is met door Mark who explains the shot. The first footage we shoot with Michael is of him dancing on one of the many white floors seen throughout the video. Michael finds his position, about six feet from camera, does a couple of takes, then mentions how the floor (white vinyl linoleum) was feeling slick. I verplaats in with my tools, a fine grade steel wool, rag and a spray bottle with the ‘special sauce’ and scruff up the floor a bit with the wool then step back. Mark comes out from behind the camera, looks at my handiwork then calls out for Tom before asking me if we lost the ‘gloss’. I say no, give it a quick spray with the special sauce and it dries to a sparkle. When I get up from my kneeling position Michael is smiling at me and says, “I remember u from the tour rehearsal”. I say, “That’s right”, and he asks me how my kids are doing, I say, “great, amazing.” And then everything is back to normal, Michal does his bit and we’re off to a good start.
As predicted, crew call switched from 7am to 4pm, and we worked throughout each night until 4-6am.
In the final hours of the last night of shooting, we had moved to the ‘zen’ set. This was it, last day, last set, last series of shots. The art department had prepped the set with final touches before Michael was brought in to take his place on the zen podium in the center of the set. Michael surveyed the scene and commentaar gegeven on how beautiful the set looked. He was very relaxed and it was obvious he enjoyed sitting in the middle of this temporary temple.
When Mark called out for a piece of the ceiling to be trimmed, I grabbed a 12-step (ladder), scrambled to the top, boven and began sawing. In an unfortunate moment the portable saw kicked back and amputated a third of my left ring finger. Without word, I reached in my back pocket for my rag, wrapped my finger with it and stepped down off the ladder and exited the set. I passed Tom on the way out and showed him what happened. Tom escorted me to the edge of the stage and I laid down on the concrete. It wasn’t long before an entire film crew of towering bodies was in a half cirkel looking down at me. Union guys chewing gum. 3am. Right?
Suddenly the crowd parts and Michael appears and stands there for a moment, leaning over me, looking down. He looks at my left hand held in the air then he looks at me. Then just like that he is on his knees door my right side and he picks up my right hand and holds it in his. He looks me straight in the eye and tells me how sorry he was, he kept repeating how sorry he was, and then he had tears in his eyes and he held my hand until the ambulance came and took me away.
That volgende week, recovering at home, the gifts began arriving from Michael and Janet, tasteful and cool things like great soaps, a bathrobe, incense, a card. Anyway, that’s my story. Michael Jackson held my hand, too. Michael, if u read this, thanks for caring.
The incident took place at Universal Studios during the filming of the muziek video, Scream, featuring Michael and his sister, Janet. Not too long before this I had met Michael while working on the stage production and rehearsals for the Dangerous tour.
Both Mark Romanek, the director of Scream, and Tom Foden, the Production Designer, are uncompromising perfectionists. It’s been a real pleasure to work with both of them on numerous projects. In the film business, working with people who maintain a vision is significantly better than working for those who lack the big picture. On this particular job I was working with the art department headed door Tom Foden. Other members of the art department included Dana Garman, Richard Berg, Jamie Vickers, Paulie Pietsch, Mark Brooks, to name a few.
The Scream video may be the most expensive muziek video ever made, I believe the total production/post production budget was somewhere near 8.3 million dollars. And I can tell u the art department budget took a good chunk of that, maybe half. The sets took up three full sized stages at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, with over a dozen sets placed on these three stages. Once shooting began, my role was the ‘on-set dresser’, basically the ‘art department representative’ who remains on set at all times as the ‘face’ of the art department. door the very nature of the position, the on-set dresser has close interaction with the talent while on the set.
This was a crazy big job, no doubt about it. Three stages, over a dozen sets, twenty shoot days.
On the first dag of shooting we had a 7am call, except Michael was detained until mid-afternoon. Then hair and make-up, get him to the set and it’s 4:30 pm before we roll. It became clear that we would be shooting nights for the volgende twenty of so days. It was also clear that Michael liked it this way…working at night, that is.
Finally, we get down to business. Michael makes his entrance and is met door Mark who explains the shot. The first footage we shoot with Michael is of him dancing on one of the many white floors seen throughout the video. Michael finds his position, about six feet from camera, does a couple of takes, then mentions how the floor (white vinyl linoleum) was feeling slick. I verplaats in with my tools, a fine grade steel wool, rag and a spray bottle with the ‘special sauce’ and scruff up the floor a bit with the wool then step back. Mark comes out from behind the camera, looks at my handiwork then calls out for Tom before asking me if we lost the ‘gloss’. I say no, give it a quick spray with the special sauce and it dries to a sparkle. When I get up from my kneeling position Michael is smiling at me and says, “I remember u from the tour rehearsal”. I say, “That’s right”, and he asks me how my kids are doing, I say, “great, amazing.” And then everything is back to normal, Michal does his bit and we’re off to a good start.
As predicted, crew call switched from 7am to 4pm, and we worked throughout each night until 4-6am.
In the final hours of the last night of shooting, we had moved to the ‘zen’ set. This was it, last day, last set, last series of shots. The art department had prepped the set with final touches before Michael was brought in to take his place on the zen podium in the center of the set. Michael surveyed the scene and commentaar gegeven on how beautiful the set looked. He was very relaxed and it was obvious he enjoyed sitting in the middle of this temporary temple.
When Mark called out for a piece of the ceiling to be trimmed, I grabbed a 12-step (ladder), scrambled to the top, boven and began sawing. In an unfortunate moment the portable saw kicked back and amputated a third of my left ring finger. Without word, I reached in my back pocket for my rag, wrapped my finger with it and stepped down off the ladder and exited the set. I passed Tom on the way out and showed him what happened. Tom escorted me to the edge of the stage and I laid down on the concrete. It wasn’t long before an entire film crew of towering bodies was in a half cirkel looking down at me. Union guys chewing gum. 3am. Right?
Suddenly the crowd parts and Michael appears and stands there for a moment, leaning over me, looking down. He looks at my left hand held in the air then he looks at me. Then just like that he is on his knees door my right side and he picks up my right hand and holds it in his. He looks me straight in the eye and tells me how sorry he was, he kept repeating how sorry he was, and then he had tears in his eyes and he held my hand until the ambulance came and took me away.
That volgende week, recovering at home, the gifts began arriving from Michael and Janet, tasteful and cool things like great soaps, a bathrobe, incense, a card. Anyway, that’s my story. Michael Jackson held my hand, too. Michael, if u read this, thanks for caring.
She’s from a world
Of popcorn and candy
pony rides for a dime
Little children laughing
I’m from a world
Of disappointments and confusions
But I want her to be mine
I started talking
She kept on walking
She disappeared into the crowd, oh, oh
I lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who left my hart-, hart in pieces
Lost my heart
On the carousel (Ooo)
To a circus girl
Who ran away
Two different people
In love for an instant
To see that the circus came today
Sometimes I can hear her crying here
And I can hear her calling me
I lost my hart-, hart (Lost my heart)
On the carousel (Lost my girl)
To a circus girl
Who ran away, I lost
Lost my hart-, hart (I lost my girl)
On the carousel (Ooo)
To a circus girl (Oh lost, oh lost, I lost her, I lost my heart)
Lost my hart-, hart (I lost)
On the carousel
Of popcorn and candy
pony rides for a dime
Little children laughing
I’m from a world
Of disappointments and confusions
But I want her to be mine
I started talking
She kept on walking
She disappeared into the crowd, oh, oh
I lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who left my hart-, hart in pieces
Lost my heart
On the carousel (Ooo)
To a circus girl
Who ran away
Two different people
In love for an instant
To see that the circus came today
Sometimes I can hear her crying here
And I can hear her calling me
I lost my hart-, hart (Lost my heart)
On the carousel (Lost my girl)
To a circus girl
Who ran away, I lost
Lost my hart-, hart (I lost my girl)
On the carousel (Ooo)
To a circus girl (Oh lost, oh lost, I lost her, I lost my heart)
Lost my hart-, hart (I lost)
On the carousel
La Toya Jackson thinks a lot of Michael Jackson haters have had a change of hart-, hart since her brother died -- but it's unclear whether she's including Gene Simmons in that group.
You'll recall KISS got dropped from the upcoming MJ tribute concert in part because Gene has zei he believes Michael was a child molester.
This weekend in Bev Hills we asked La Toya if she thought the concert should be off limits to artists who disrespected Michael. Her answer is all about forgiveness ... but are u buying it?
You'll recall KISS got dropped from the upcoming MJ tribute concert in part because Gene has zei he believes Michael was a child molester.
This weekend in Bev Hills we asked La Toya if she thought the concert should be off limits to artists who disrespected Michael. Her answer is all about forgiveness ... but are u buying it?
Sources directly connected to Dr. Conrad Murray tell TMZ ... the Doc will not accept any plea bargain from the L.A. County District Attorney in the Michael Jackson manslaughter case.
We're told Dr. Murray feels so strongly about his innocence, even a plea with no jail time would be out of the question.
Fact is ... Dr. Murray shouldn't hold his breath, because no plea bargain has been offered and sources tell us the D.A. will not offer one.
As for Murray's defense ... we're told the centerpiece revolves around the fact that only two people were in the room around the time MJ died, and Murray insists he did not administer the fatal dose of Propofol.
The operating theory of Murray's lawyers -- when the Doc left to go to the bathroom, a frustrated MJ woke up and administered the fatal dose himself in a desperate attempt to get some sleep.
We're told Dr. Murray feels so strongly about his innocence, even a plea with no jail time would be out of the question.
Fact is ... Dr. Murray shouldn't hold his breath, because no plea bargain has been offered and sources tell us the D.A. will not offer one.
As for Murray's defense ... we're told the centerpiece revolves around the fact that only two people were in the room around the time MJ died, and Murray insists he did not administer the fatal dose of Propofol.
The operating theory of Murray's lawyers -- when the Doc left to go to the bathroom, a frustrated MJ woke up and administered the fatal dose himself in a desperate attempt to get some sleep.
Michael my heart,
last night I dream of you,
u were embracing me from my back.
I heard your heartbeat and it beats so fast,
like our promise that our love will never end.
We had so much fun together,
that I wished to go on forever.
Talks and laugh ,kissing and cuddling,
like no other people existing.
Holding each others hands while we walked,
all your attention was just for us.
I can't think of anything when u talked,
but I love u meer and more, u see.
We stopped walking and u looked at me sweetly,
then u leaned over and kissed me.
My hart-, hart popped out and I saw butterflies,
u zei u love me truly. oh sorry and then, I awake up and my dream was to end.
It was still a memory to reminisce, your kiss was so tender and sweet.
Love and miss u !! ♥
last night I dream of you,
u were embracing me from my back.
I heard your heartbeat and it beats so fast,
like our promise that our love will never end.
We had so much fun together,
that I wished to go on forever.
Talks and laugh ,kissing and cuddling,
like no other people existing.
Holding each others hands while we walked,
all your attention was just for us.
I can't think of anything when u talked,
but I love u meer and more, u see.
We stopped walking and u looked at me sweetly,
then u leaned over and kissed me.
My hart-, hart popped out and I saw butterflies,
u zei u love me truly. oh sorry and then, I awake up and my dream was to end.
It was still a memory to reminisce, your kiss was so tender and sweet.
Love and miss u !! ♥
Michael Jackson's children definitely have the bug -- the one that makes u give away large sums of money -- because they just helped make a $10,000 donation to one of MJ's favoriete charities.
Earlier this week, Prince, Paris, and Blanket presented a check for $10K to the L.A. Housing Corporation -- a group that provides shelter for homeless families. Sources tell us Michael used to take his kids to volunteer with the group.
We're told the massive chunk o' change came from grandma Katherine Jackson's memorabilia biz.
MJ's heirs made the donation on behalf of his Heal the World Foundation. All three of them joined the group's Youth Board of Advisors last year.
Earlier this week, Prince, Paris, and Blanket presented a check for $10K to the L.A. Housing Corporation -- a group that provides shelter for homeless families. Sources tell us Michael used to take his kids to volunteer with the group.
We're told the massive chunk o' change came from grandma Katherine Jackson's memorabilia biz.
MJ's heirs made the donation on behalf of his Heal the World Foundation. All three of them joined the group's Youth Board of Advisors last year.
The producer/director of Michael Jackson's "This Is It" tour is scoffing at Katherine Jackson's wrongful death suit in which he's named as a defendant, because he had nothing to do with the drugs of treatment that caused the singer's death.
Kenny Ortega just filed legal docs -- obtained door TMZ -- asking the court to remove him as a defendant in Katherine's suit, claiming, "Kenneth Ortega is not alleged to be involved in the medical treatment of administration of drugs that allegedly caused Michael Jackson's death."
Ortega's lawyer adds ... Kenny never had a contract with Dr. Conrad Murray of with Michael Jackson, nor has he had any official affiliation with AEG.
Ortega's lawyer says, "The naming of Kenneth Ortega as a defendant in this action, without any basis, without any substantive charging allegations against him, is a gross error."
Kenny Ortega just filed legal docs -- obtained door TMZ -- asking the court to remove him as a defendant in Katherine's suit, claiming, "Kenneth Ortega is not alleged to be involved in the medical treatment of administration of drugs that allegedly caused Michael Jackson's death."
Ortega's lawyer adds ... Kenny never had a contract with Dr. Conrad Murray of with Michael Jackson, nor has he had any official affiliation with AEG.
Ortega's lawyer says, "The naming of Kenneth Ortega as a defendant in this action, without any basis, without any substantive charging allegations against him, is a gross error."