"I auditioned a lot of girls and this girl Ola Ray first of all, she was crazy for Michael," Landis said. Ending with Alice as a cake that the Mad Hatter and friends consume and a small burp from Petty is just the cherry on top. They talk through their problems with friends and ultimately decide that neither of them will date him. It's trippy to watch and makes the video one of the most recognizable of all time. This short film displays the absolute highest standard in music video and no-one will ever be able to out-beat this 'King Of Pop' masterpiece! I was at boarding school at the time & we were allowed to stay up to watch it. The music video for "Survivor" takes place "somewhere in the South Pacific," as stated in the beginning and begins with Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, and Beyonc shipwrecked on an island. [10] At the time, commercial directors did not direct music videos, but Landis was intrigued. Stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern. Set in a futuristic looking white room, the video stands out for the illusions it features. The black-and-white "Rhythm Nation" video is known for its military-style outfits, warehouse setting, and choreography, which has inspired numerous dance routines since the video was released. [12] Jackson's parents Joseph and Katherine Jackson also visited. Her 10-year-old son recently learned the routines at a holiday kids' club in Turkey, reminding her of the huge impact it had on kids in the 1980s. The changes applied starting with the Game of the Year edition and all future releases since. It was (as others have said) billed as a "The Tube" special. And then for some reason, she is naked on a cotton candy cloud for certain parts. Trudy Bellinger was studying art in Brighton when it first shown and it inspired her to start making music films herself. Eminem impersonates various TV shows and people throughout the video for "My Name Is." Epic Records head of promotions Frank DiLeo suggested a third music video, for the album's title track, which wasn't even slated to be a single. The "Dancing Zombie" enemy was originally resembled Jackson dressed in his Thriller outfit and the "Backup Dancer Zombies" that surrounded the Dancing Zombie resembled the backup dancers from the part of Thriller where Jackson turns onto a zombie. Cast: Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Gillian Anderson, Lucy Boynton, Toby Jones. During all the chaos, lead singer Brendon Urie is the ringmaster. [8], Thriller was filmed at the Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, the zombie sequence at the junction of Union Pacific Avenue and South Calzona Street in East Los Angeles, and the final house scene at 1345 Carroll Avenue in the Angeleno Heights neighborhood of Echo Park. [28] The National Film Preservation Board coordinator, Steve Legett, said the video had been considered for induction for years, but was chosen mainly due to Jackson's death that year. The flipside of all these interviews, sessions and phone footage is that it takes the heat off music videos, making the traditional performance video completely redundant. [8], In June 1983, Thriller was displaced from the top of the Billboard 200 chart by the Flashdance soundtrack. The remastered 3D version first premiered at the 74th Venice Film Festival on September 4th, 2017 alongside the 'Making Of' documentary. [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). But what truly stands out about the video is Cher's iconic sheer body suit and leather jacket. Landis talked Jackson out of getting a new actress by reminding him that Ray was a Playmate in Playboy, not in "Thriller." From Michael Jackson's zombie dance in "Thriller" to Miley Cyrus' naked wrecking ball ride, certain visuals stay with the viewer long after the video has ended. C4 showed it on the Friday night but it was incomplete and none of the end credits were shown. Some of the biggest Broadway productions of recent years are musicals based on preexisting, well-known media. 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. This is to say nothing of the countless videos, viral and otherwise, of people re-creating the familiar "Thriller" dance moves particularly the stylized zombie movements at weddings, block parties, and Halloween celebrations. [23] He said it 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". Less than two years later, sister network VH1 would also name "Thriller" the top video ever made. 1983 - Channel 4 premiere of Michael Jackson's Thriller video Lesley Sharp stars as a detective who faces impossible choices in a murky world where loyalties are tested and lines are blurred. [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. As such, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" the narrative short horror musical video, not the song or album of the same name is ripe for mainstream theatrical adaptation. 3 Take On Me A-ha. It was Landis's producer George Folsey Jr who came up with the idea of the making-of video, which could be sold to networks as bespoke content. 2, and Madonna's Vogue at No. "Even him bantering with the girl after they come out of the movie; you're seeing him at this incredible age and at this moment in his life. [8] Thriller is popular on YouTube, which hosts user-submitted videos of reenactments of the dance. 2023 Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. There's also a memorable scene of her covered in diamonds. The short film premiered on NBC's music video block Friday Night Videos. Part of a longer movie, the "Runaway" music video features Kanye West playing a white piano as a ballet troupe dressed all in black dance near him. It's dark and striking and fits perfectly with the song. In January 2009, nearly three decades after production on the video wrapped, Landis sued Jackson and his production company for having failed to fork over what was due over the years. Jackson's success ensured the lifting of a ban on black video by MTV in the US. The Rig is a horror thriller series arriving on Amazon Prime Video in early 2023. The girlfriend leaves, scared by the film. The floors appears to move as the walls stand still, furniture seems to glide, and the titled camera makes viewers feel a bit sideways. Thriller was an event even when it was being shot in October 1983. The proposed cost of the "Thriller" video: slightly less than $1 million. This was the business model in home video for most of the early to mid-1980s: Studios and publishers charged about $90 for tapes and sold almost exclusively to rental stores, which would then charge customers a few bucks to rent it for a day or two. The video shows two stories: one in which a boy is killed in a drug deal after not listening to his mom to stop and another where a man contracts AIDS after having unprotected sex with a woman. [37], The video game Plants vs. Zombies by PopCap Games contained a reference to the Thriller music video in its original releases from May 2009 (a month before Jackson's death) until it was removed in July 2010. [8] According to Landis, the response was "a surprise to everyone but Michael". She ends up shoving him out of a car and leaving him in the dust and goes into a rebellious phase. Less than two years later, sister network VH1 would also name "Thriller" the top video ever made. The video one video of the year at the VMAs. It's a weird video, but that's why it's unforgettable. [36], A Hollywood production company attempted to turn Jackson's song "Billie Jean", which is also featured on Jackson's Thriller album, into a feature film, but no plans were completed. In attendance were celebrities including Diana Ross, Warren Beatty, Prince, and Eddie Murphy. [12] Nina Blackwood, a former MTV executive, said music videos improved after Thriller, with more storylines and more intricate choreography. [10] MTV, which had found success with Jackson's earlier videos, had a policy of not financing music videos, instead expecting record companies to pay for them. 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. It continuously shifts through a series of triangles shifting between images of Meg and Jack White playing instruments. It was filmed at various locations in Los Angeles, including the Palace Theater. The big turning point was Thriller.". "It was never like some marketing thing. 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. Jackson and the zombies chase his girlfriend into an abandoned house. Choreographer and singer Paula Abdul danced alongside a cartoon cat named MC Skat Cat in the video for "Opposites Attract." There's running on a moving train, there's dancing in a blue room, there's a dog chase, and a car chase. [15], Landis said directing Jackson was "like dealing with a gifted 10-year-old". Michael Jackson had a huge 1983. [41] The lawsuit was settled in 2012 for an undisclosed amount. It has that spirit to it that must have been contagious; it spoke to other kids. [5] The opening scene parodies 1950s B-movies, with Jackson and Ray dressed as 1950s teenagers. It shows Michael turning into a zombie and dancing in the street with some spectacular choreography. Taking place on New Year's Eve, the video shows J-Lo and her friends getting ready for a party. "Thriller" was a watershed moment in music video. The Best British Spy Shows to Watch on Netflix and Hulu - Vulture But the image forever in people's minds is Lopez dancing around in the forest with green lasers behind her. It really opened our eyes to music videos as a creative form of film-making, and a potential career." From "Leave it to Beaver" to Marilyn Manson to Bill Clinton to "The Brady Bunch," Eminem doesn't hold back on pop culture references or the barbs he makes in his lyrics. It's easy to overlook this fact, but M. Night . Jackson said his first concern was to create a zombie dance that did not seem comical. Here, in no particular order, are the eight best thrillers on Prime Video. "Thriller" was one of the first music videos to show that the medium carried the potential for greatness, and not only did critics acknowledge its importance, but they kept doing so for years afterward. Directed by F. Gary Gray, who also directed "Straight Out of Compton" and "The Fate of the Furious," the "Waterfalls" video is emotional. This article includes content provided by Spotify. Jackson was all in, especially after Landis said he could probably get An American Werewolf in London makeup master Rick Baker involved. And it ended up being the most iconic," she said. MTV paid $250,000 and Showtime $300,000 for the rights to the documentary, Jackson would take care of upfront costs, and the video was able to go ahead, with the label coughing up $100,000. Avril Lavigne's disastrous romp through a mall was every teen's dream in the early 2000s. So in the beginning of the video, Michael has a message stating that "Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film is no way endorses a belief in the occult". The Pale Blue Eye (2022) Image via Netflix. I remember watching it on C4 late at night. It won a Grammy for best music video. [1] It is an anthology series: each episode has a self-contained story and its own cast. 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. Cannot remember the excate time but dout it was 1 am as we would of not been allowed to stay up. [2] As the title suggests, each story is a thriller of some variety, from tales of the supernatural to down-to-earth whodunits. "[11], Ola Ray also complained of problems collecting royalties. However Harvey declined and then suggested another director who did in the end make the documentary. A-ha pushed boundaries with their creative video, actually the song's second video, for "Take on Me." When he raps about Photoshop, a woman is shown all made up and without makeup. Miss Scarlet and The Duke, Season 1-2 | Watch Now. And as later legal filings would indicate, that's about all the actress and model took home. Jackson died about six months later, and his estate settled with Landis in 2012. The imagery in Lamar's "Humble" is evocative and breathtaking. According to NPR, government security consultant Byron Garcia instituted an exercise program in the mid-2000s at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. Between the visuals and the overall story, West's artful vision is memorable. I was suing him for 14 years. [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. Jackson embraces her, but turns to the camera and grins, revealing his werecat eyes. The scene where he's the only man looking at the camera as men around him bob their heads is striking, but even more notable is the scene where his head is on fire as he's surrounded by men with their heads wrapped in burning rope. I think that video by MJ is just big, but it isn't that fantastic. He took both "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" to #1, debuted his signature "Moonwalk"dance move to stunned and delighted fans, sold millions of copies of his album Thriller, and then starred in one of the most popular, famous, and well-produced music videos of all time. They run naked on a beach, they wear ridiculous outfits, and they rock out in front of crowds of people. It ends with the groom as the actual ringmaster. The band is performing at a high school pep rally where cheerleaders have the circle-A anarchy symbol on their chests. Fans worldwide re-enact its zombie dance and it remains popular on YouTube. "I love the ideaof making Thriller a musical," said James L. Nederlander. [11] Landis and Jackson conceived a short film shot on 35mm film with the production values of a feature film, with a budget of $900,000, much larger than any previous music video. They pass a graveyard, where zombies rise from their graves and surround them in the street. But the video ends with a shot of her in bed. Sessions had been previously sparsely attended, so Garcia introduced elaborately choreographed dance routines, and before long, as many as 1,500 inmates reported to the prison yard to learn some moves. Before We Die | All 4 - Channel 4 The image of her white tank and black tie is a definitive one. "Due to my strong personal convictions," the disclaimer credited to Michael Jackson reads, "I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult." | The legendary video has been honored countless times. 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." In 2018, the short film was digitally remastered exclusively for IMAX 3D theaters, playing before. Joseph denied this. The cat's dance moves even mirror her's. They walk into the forest, and Jackson asks her to be his girlfriend; she accepts. Epic saw it as a novelty song;[9] Yetnikoff asked, "Who wants a single about monsters? Unpredictable crime thriller. 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. [12][18] After each broadcast, MTV advertised when they would next play it, and recorded audience figures ten times the norm. Genre Adventure, Action, Science Fiction. The Best Thrillers on Netflix Right Now - Collider 08/07/2009 18:21. There are also shots of her and her band performing at a skate park. The pair conceived a short film with a budget much larger than previous music videos. Jackson, for his part, hadn't seen Landis's films Animal House, The Blues Brothers or Trading Places; he wanted Landis because of An American Werewolf in London. Vestron paid an additional $500,000 to market the cassettes. [8] Jackson covered additional costs, for which he would be reimbursed. Other videos that featured highly in yesterday's poll included Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody at No. All Rights Reserved. 12 Psychological Thrillers on Amazon Prime - PureWow Following a worldwide audit during 200304 by the then copyright-holders Carlton, almost all the original UK PAL fisheye-titled 2" videotapes of Thriller were located and transferred onto modern digital tape by the British Film Institute, with subsequent restoration work by BBC Resources. Every Beyonc video deserves a spot on this list, but "Single Ladies" has a special legacy. Between Britney Spears' flight attendant uniform, diamond and nude body suit, and black cat suit, all of her outfits are memorable. Goofs It's full of genius symbolism and won Lamar a Grammy for best video. The singer liked that idea and later told Jehovah's Witness publication Awakethat he "just intended to do a good, fun short film, not to purposely bring to the screen something to scare people or to do anything bad.". Disney star Alyson Stoner broke out in the video as the lead child dancer. Brandy and Monica's apartments are right next to each other and the girls are seeing the same man. [1] It is an anthology series: each episode has a self-contained story and its own cast. [14] He initially imagined the werecat would resemble a black panther, but added a longer mane and larger ears. 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". The 30 Best British TV Shows You Need to Binge This Year - Town & Country [8] Within months, the documentary sold a million copies, making it the bestselling video release at that point. Early music videos were usually shot on video, not film, adding a cheap look to a cheap production a singer or a band might do little more than stand in an unadorned studio and lip-sync to their recording. The film had a brief theatrical release in Los Angeles at the AVCO Theater - it played for three weeks along with Disney's.