MANILA, Philippines - Beginning Oct. 30, the world, including the Philippines, will have a front-row seat for Michael Jackson’s final concert, as Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment release Michael Jackson’s This Is It.
This Is It is produced with the support of The Estate of Michael Jackson and will be drawn from hundreds of hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage, captured in high definition with state-of-the-art digital sound as the late singer was preparing for his London concert series. The film, which will also offer select sequences in 3-D, will give a unique career retrospective and feature interviews with some of Jackson’s closest friends and creative collaborators.
The announcement was made by Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amy Pascal, co-chairman of the studio, Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, and Rob Stringer, chairman of Columbia/Epic Label Group, subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment.
Joining Sony in the announcement was The Estate of Michael Jackson, administered by his longtime attorney John Branca and veteran music executive John McClain, a Jackson family friend for more than 40 years. Proceeds the Estate earns from the film’s release will benefit the Michael Jackson Family Trust, the entity that Jackson specified in his will is to receive all of his assets.
Rights to the exclusive footage were acquired from AEG Live and The Estate of Michael Jackson. Sony Pictures and Sony Music will co-produce with AEG Live and the Estate, and Sony Pictures will distribute the film worldwide.