Thriller 40th Anniversary

[ChrisC]

Yeah I simply don’t get it. i’m perfectly capable of watching the videos the way they are. I grew up watching VHS tapes maybe I’m used to grainy looking stuff I don’t know. It is not something that gets me excited. I know these videos by heart already.

Anyway if it makes you all happy then I am all for it. The timing doesn’t matter much I think, it is not a big enough event, it happens when it happens.

Michael shot on film for a reason. Restoring them from the film negatives brings them back to the way they were intended to be seen by Michael and the plethora of film directors who made them and were used to working in that medium.

But this is a preservation mission that ensures the longevity of these works of art Michael was so proud of. It ensures that, as technology improves over the next few decades, no one is watching some badly degraded, fuzzy image of these beautiful music videos. It is of the utmost importance the Estate do this wherever possible as indications are many of these precious works are already lost, and more will continue to deteriorate over time.

 

[AlwaysThere]

I can’t help but laugh that people bemoaned the lack of promotion, and are now bemoaning that the announcement is for promotion and not the short films lol.

I’m just excited for “Thriller” in 4K. They really screwed up not dropping it on Halloween, but as long as we get it, I’ll survive. Better late than never.

 

[Fuzball]

Upcoming Thriller 40 Events

You are invited to take part in events celebrating the 40th anniversary of Michael Jackson's Thriller! Stay tuned for more details to be added to this page.

www.michaeljackson.com

Yes! This is what we've been longing for since years. Thank you estate!

Fan Event Parties
We are holding fan events around the globe in celebration of the 40th anniversary including DJ sets, midnight playbacks, screenings of the short films, themed food and drinks, competitions, giveaways and much more.

 

[filmandmusic]

@ChrisC @MJbr2 @AlwaysThere

So Michael shot on film, does this mean the videos were ever available in the highest quality for the public? Does thriller look at its best on the “making of VHS” ? If yes what has happened over the years, why do they look bad now?
Was it even possible for tv’s in the 80s/90s to show films in the highest possible quality? Why do you shoot videos on film if the public can’t watch them in the intended quality?
****** hell I understand nothing of all this lol sorry for being such an idiot.

 

[MJbr2]

@ChrisC @MJbr2 @AlwaysThere

So Michael shot on film, does this mean the videos were ever available in the highest quality for the public? Does thriller look at its best on the “making of VHS” ? If yes what has happened over the years, why do they look bad now?
Was it even possible for tv’s in the 80s/90s to show films in the highest possible quality? Why do you shoot videos on film if the public can’t watch them in the intended quality?
****** hell I understand nothing of all this lol sorry for being such an idiot.

You're not an idiot, don't worry.

So, the most simple answer to all your questions is yes, they were available in the highest possible quality, but within the limitations of technology back then.
High definition wasn't even a concept until the late 90s, so everything was SD (standard definition), what you may know as 480p. Also, the digital era was in its early days and there were no digital video formats like we have today with mkv, mp4 and all the rest. Therefore, there was no real way to make 1:1 copies of 16mm/35mm reels due to the SD limitation, since we now know film has detail that corresponds to 4K for 35mm (negatives) and 1080p for 16mm.
It's also worth noting that there was no home release of the videos prior to HIStory: Video Greatest Hits in 1995 (not counting the Making of Thriller from 1984), so you'd only watch those on TV, which was different from a film you'd watch on a movie theater that actually used a print (film copy) from the original negatives projected onto the screen. The TV standard was tape, so there was no way to make prints for broadcast, so tape masters were made for that matter and also convenience, since they could just dub these masters whenever needed without having to go back to the original film negatives/print. Again, everything was SD back then, including tape, so the original 35mm edit was put onto SD, 540p tape masters. For the convenience, these were also used for future home format releases (VHS and DVD). VHS is analog, so there's true loss in quality over the years. DVD is digital, but uses a video container called MPEG2, which caps quite some quality even from these tape masters (yes, even a raw digital copy of them would look better than what's seen on home releases, but still not in high definition, true max quality).
In conclusion, what's been available for us in multiple DVDs and VHS releases is the best quality within the technology available when these tape masters were created. Tech has advanced a lot since then and brought us to the point where we don't really have the best quality possible from these short films (which would be 1:1 digital copies from their original sources, for a digital source doesn't degrade like an analog one).

Yes, what you've been watching for the last 40 years or so is outdated tech

 

[webslinger]

Why is this not the logo they’ve used from the start LMAO

 

[AlwaysThere]

Why is this not the logo they’ve used from the start LMAO

See, this is fantastic. Love the colors, love the idea of making the “40” similar to the original font (like what they did with B25).

Is it too late to make this the official logo, estate?

 

[dethorro]

So it appears that the documentary is indeed already finished and not "in production" as was written in the original press release.

 

[Galactus123]

@ChrisC @MJbr2 @AlwaysThere

So Michael shot on film, does this mean the videos were ever available in the highest quality for the public? Does thriller look at its best on the “making of VHS” ? If yes what has happened over the years, why do they look bad now?
Was it even possible for tv’s in the 80s/90s to show films in the highest possible quality? Why do you shoot videos on film if the public can’t watch them in the intended quality?
****** hell I understand nothing of all this lol sorry for being such an idiot.

Thriller was shown in cinemas in 1983 so it was possible to see it in great quality and it was probably in widescreen too. Same with Ghosts.

 

[filmandmusic]

@MJbr2

Thank you
So ok, stupid question, maybe or maybe not.
If it was impossible to get the best possible quality to the people due to technological limitations at the time then why did MJ opt to shoot on film? The best quality was only available on cinema screens but those short films were never released to cinema’s, right? How could he have been happy when looking at the videos on MTV not looking the way they did when he filmed them?

 

[filmandmusic]

Thriller was shown in cinemas in 1983 so it was possible to see it in great quality and it was probably in widescreen too. Same with Ghosts.

oh ok, I did not see this post while I was replying. So thriller was available in cinemas. Does this mean he didn’t shoot his other videos on film since they were never intended for a cinematic release?

 

[Paris78]

SONY MUSIC & THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON ANNOUNCE THE START OF THE THRILLER 40 GLOBAL CAMPAIGN​

SONY MUSIC & THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON ANNOUNCE THE START OF THE THRILLER 40 GLOBAL CAMPAIGN

/PRNewswire/ -- Forty years after the release of Thriller, the album that catapulted Michael Jackson into the superstardom stratosphere, Sony Music and The...

www.prnewswire.com

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Forty years after the release of Thriller, the album that catapulted Michael Jackson into the superstardom stratosphere, Sony Music and The Estate of Michael Jackson announce the start of the global campaign to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the King of Pop's landmark album. As part of the campaign, the Estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music will host fan events around the world, all free to the public, including immersive experiences, screenings of the Thriller 40 documentary and other fan parties.


Michael Jackson Thriller 40 Cover Artwork

There will be two immersive experiences. One in Dusseldorf, Germany, November 10-13 and the second in New York City, November 18-20. Each will feature specific track-focused experiences, interactive elements, and social and photo opportunities throughout.

Fans in eight other cities around the world will be treated to a private one-time-only screening of the Thriller 40 documentary which details the making of the biggest selling album in the world.


And in other cities, fans will be invited to special Thriller-themed parties celebrating the release of the new expanded album and will have the opportunity to hear the full double-disc album for the first time.

Further details along with info on how the fans can get tickets for the various fan events can be found HERE.

Released November 30, 1982, the Thriller phenomenon revolutionized music, video standards, and choreography through Michael's innovations for melding sound and visual art, the influence of which is still felt today. Thriller went on to win a record-setting eight Grammys and, with over one hundred million copies sold, it is the best-selling album of all time and the first album to be certified triple diamond by the RIAA. Read more HERE.

About Michael Jackson:
Michael Jackson is one of the most beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time. He was also a dedicated philanthropist and an astute business professional. To date Jackson has sold more than 1 billion records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and Thriller as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 17 Grammy Awards including 8 in one year, a record, and received 26 American Music Awards, including the Artist of the Century Award. Jackson defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking short films as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the classic "Thriller," which in 2009 became the first and only music video inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. In his short films "Black or White," "They Don't Care About Us," "Bad and "Smooth Criminal" and others, Jackson set an aesthetic standard for video production that remains unsurpassed even today. The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil have produced two top shows: Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour was one of the top grossing tour of all time; and MICHAEL JACKSON ONE, a permanent show at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, which continues to thrill audiences and to receive critical raves. And on February 1, 2022, MJ the Musical premiered on Broadway. The acclaimed show won the most Tony Awards for a new musical in the 2021-2022 season and continues to break weekly box office records at the Neil Simon Theater. Jackson's sound, style and dance moves continue to inspire today's performers and new generations of fans worldwide continue to discover his artistry.

SOURCE Sony Music Entertainment

 

[Galactus123]

oh ok, I did not see this post while I was replying. So thriller was available in cinemas. Does this mean he didn’t shoot his other videos on film since they were never intended for a cinematic release?

No. I think all the videos from 1982 onwards are on film. They could release every short film in 4K if they still have the original materials. Cgi effects in the Dangerous and HIStory era videos might be a problem. Its possible that the effects were made in SD quality (they were only intended for TV) and would have to upscaled or recreated but we don't know if that is the case.

 

[filmandmusic]

No. I think all the videos from 1982 onwards are on film. They could release every short film in 4K if they still have the original materials. Cgi effects in the Dangerous and HIStory era videos might be a problem. Its possible that the effects were made in SD quality (they were only intended for TV) would have to upscaled or recreated but we don't know if that is the case.

Wow this is all really interesting, I never knew there was so much difference in filming.
So for example DSTYGE will always look worse than billie jean?

 

[Falcon]

@MJbr2

Thank you
So ok, stupid question, maybe or maybe not.
If it was impossible to get the best possible quality to the people due to technological limitations at the time then why did MJ opt to shoot on film? The best quality was only available on cinema screens but those short films were never released to cinema’s, right? How could he have been happy when looking at the videos on MTV not looking the way they did when he filmed them?

That`s an easy one, I think.. he hired real movie directors for his video's, like John Landis, Martin Scorsese and others. So production quality would be at it`s highest, including the usage of real film camera`s!

 

[Hiker]

As part of the campaign, the Estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music will host fan events around the world, all free to the public, including immersive experiences, screenings of the Thriller 40 documentary and other fan parties.

OMG! So excited that this is happening, and so disappointed that I can't go, it's all too far

 

[MJbr2]

@MJbr2

Thank you
So ok, stupid question, maybe or maybe not.
If it was impossible to get the best possible quality to the people due to technological limitations at the time then why did MJ opt to shoot on film? The best quality was only available on cinema screens but those short films were never released to cinema’s, right? How could he have been happy when looking at the videos on MTV not looking the way they did when he filmed them?

oh ok, I did not see this post while I was replying. So thriller was available in cinemas. Does this mean he didn’t shoot his other videos on film since they were never intended for a cinematic release?

Film is better quality than tape, it's a fact. About the whole TV thing, well, there was no other option. Again, tech limitations from the time.

Everything from Billie Jean onwards has been shot on film, with the exception of BJ being 16mm while the rest is all 35mm.
However, another main topic of discussion is how MJ introduced computer effects/animations on his videos starting from Black or White. So, from that point, only the tape masters present the finished versions of the videos since the effects, for being digital, are not on the film negs. For these videos, it's either making a new transfer of the tape masters in better quality or having to recreate all the effects to be added to fresh 4K scans of the film sources.

Now you've got a pretty summed up version of the whole situation of the music videos.

 

[Beano Wild]

Film is better quality than tape, it's a fact. About the whole TV thing, well, there was no other option. Again, tech limitations from the time.

Everything from Billie Jean onwards has been shot on film, with the exception of BJ being 16mm while the rest is all 35mm.
However, another main topic of discussion is how MJ introduced computer effects/animations on his videos starting from Black or White. So, from that point, only the tape masters present the finished versions of the videos since the effects, for being digital, are not on the film negs. For these videos, it's either making a new transfer of the tape masters in better quality or having to recreate all the effects to be added to fresh 4K scans of the film sources.

Now you've got a pretty summed up version of the whole situation of the music videos.

scenes with special effects, world class AI upscaling, all else film negatives.

solved.

 

[Galactus123]

@MJbr2

Thank you
So ok, stupid question, maybe or maybe not.
If it was impossible to get the best possible quality to the people due to technological limitations at the time then why did MJ opt to shoot on film? The best quality was only available on cinema screens but those short films were never released to cinema’s, right? How could he have been happy when looking at the videos on MTV not looking the way they did when he filmed them?

Shooting on film might have been the director's decision or it was just how big budget music videos were made at the time. A lot of things intended for TV were shot on film. You can buy many old TV shows on Blu-Ray right now like The X-Files. The creators probably never thought it would get seen in HD.

 

[MJbr2]

scenes with special effects, world class AI upscaling, all else film negatives.

solved.

Some people would bitch about it, believe me.

 

[AlwaysThere]

AI upscaling would be interesting if it develops enough to be infallible. Otherwise, it seems like a recipe for disaster.

The estate can’t afford to screw up an MJ short film restoration. They need to either knock it out of the park, or not do it at all. I’d rather watch “Billie Jean” in SQ than a shoddy, second-rate “upscale.”

 

[MJbr2]

The estate can’t afford to screw up an MJ short film restoration. They need to either knock it out of the park, or not do it at all. I’d rather watch “Billie Jean” in SQ than a shoddy, second-rate “upscale.”

Well, it's quite easy to just scan the 16mm reel to 1080p and that's it.

 

[SmoothGangsta]

Let's not pretend that we'd all enjoy portions of the music videos radically degrading in quality and being clearly upscaled lol. People would "bitch" and rightly so.

 

[AlwaysThere]

Let's not pretend that we'd all enjoy portions of the music videos radically degrading in quality and being clearly upscaled lol. People would "bitch" and rightly so.

Absolutely. If the source material can’t be properly upgraded to HD, don’t do it.

 

[Galactus123]

Some people would bitch about it, believe me.

I think upscaling the effects might be better than completely recreating them from scratch.

 

[MJbr2]

I'll take the OTW videos as example for something: since they're tape, a new raw transfer would look miles better than the DVDs simply for not being MPEG2.
Queen released 2 concerts from tape on SD BluRay and, even being 540p, it looks crystal clear and miles better than a DVD would.

 

[Galactus123]

SONY MUSIC & THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON ANNOUNCE THE START OF THE THRILLER 40 GLOBAL CAMPAIGN​

SONY MUSIC & THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON ANNOUNCE THE START OF THE THRILLER 40 GLOBAL CAMPAIGN

/PRNewswire/ -- Forty years after the release of Thriller, the album that catapulted Michael Jackson into the superstardom stratosphere, Sony Music and The...

www.prnewswire.com

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Forty years after the release of Thriller, the album that catapulted Michael Jackson into the superstardom stratosphere, Sony Music and The Estate of Michael Jackson announce the start of the global campaign to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the King of Pop's landmark album. As part of the campaign, the Estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music will host fan events around the world, all free to the public, including immersive experiences, screenings of the Thriller 40 documentary and other fan parties.


Michael Jackson Thriller 40 Cover Artwork

There will be two immersive experiences. One in Dusseldorf, Germany, November 10-13 and the second in New York City, November 18-20. Each will feature specific track-focused experiences, interactive elements, and social and photo opportunities throughout.

Fans in eight other cities around the world will be treated to a private one-time-only screening of the Thriller 40 documentary which details the making of the biggest selling album in the world.


And in other cities, fans will be invited to special Thriller-themed parties celebrating the release of the new expanded album and will have the opportunity to hear the full double-disc album for the first time.

Further details along with info on how the fans can get tickets for the various fan events can be found HERE.

Released November 30, 1982, the Thriller phenomenon revolutionized music, video standards, and choreography through Michael's innovations for melding sound and visual art, the influence of which is still felt today. Thriller went on to win a record-setting eight Grammys and, with over one hundred million copies sold, it is the best-selling album of all time and the first album to be certified triple diamond by the RIAA. Read more HERE.

About Michael Jackson:
Michael Jackson is one of the most beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time. He was also a dedicated philanthropist and an astute business professional. To date Jackson has sold more than 1 billion records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and Thriller as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 17 Grammy Awards including 8 in one year, a record, and received 26 American Music Awards, including the Artist of the Century Award. Jackson defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking short films as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the classic "Thriller," which in 2009 became the first and only music video inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. In his short films "Black or White," "They Don't Care About Us," "Bad and "Smooth Criminal" and others, Jackson set an aesthetic standard for video production that remains unsurpassed even today. The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil have produced two top shows: Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour was one of the top grossing tour of all time; and MICHAEL JACKSON ONE, a permanent show at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, which continues to thrill audiences and to receive critical raves. And on February 1, 2022, MJ the Musical premiered on Broadway. The acclaimed show won the most Tony Awards for a new musical in the 2021-2022 season and continues to break weekly box office records at the Neil Simon Theater. Jackson's sound, style and dance moves continue to inspire today's performers and new generations of fans worldwide continue to discover his artistry.

SOURCE Sony Music Entertainment

Great news. I wish they would be closer to where I live but I'm glad they are doing these. Locations:

NYC Immersive Event


A 3-day immersive event designed to fully transport attendees into the world of the iconic album Thriller with specific track-focused experiences, interactive elements and social + photo opportunities throughout — all to ensure an unforgettable experience for both new and die-hard fans celebrating the 40th anniversary of the world’s best-selling album of all time.


Running Friday, November 18 – Sunday, November 20 at:


Center415
415 5th Avenue New York, NY
Between E 37th and E 38th St





Dusseldorf Immersive Event


A 3-day free event, open to the public, celebrating the best-selling album of all time, Michael Jackson’s Thriller.


The event offers many immersive experiences including some set recreations from the iconic short films, photo booth & an exclusive merch shop featuring music and limited edition Thriller 40 Merch.


Immerse yourself in the world of “Thriller” in this interactive event taking place from Thursday, November 10 – Sunday, November 13 in Düsseldorf at:


Königsallee 46
40212 Düsseldorf, Germany





A One-Time-Only Screening of the Thriller 40 Documentary Which Details the Making of The Biggest Selling Album in The World on Wednesday, November 30th in:


• Los Angeles, California –
• London, UK –
• Toronto, Canada –
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Sydney, Australia –
• Madrid, Spain –
• Amsterdam, Holland –
• Manila, Philippines –
• Seoul, Korea –





Fan Event Parties


We are holding fan events around the globe in celebration of the 40th anniversary including DJ sets, midnight playbacks, screenings of the short films, themed food and drinks, competitions, giveaways and much more. These are happening in:


• Milan, Italy
• Bogota, Columbia
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Taipei City, Taiwan
• Paris, France
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Victoria, Hong Kong
• Santiago, Chile
• Lima, Peru

Details coming soon

 

[xscape guy 2003]

OK Estate_Sony now I know what you meant from various activations. Please really take this promo work into Orbit but I like what I hear announced already.

 

[SmoothCriminal1995]

The events sound good if you're close enough to attend. I just wish they would have given some information about possible 4K videos or even a teaser for the documentary

Slowly get the wheels on the hype train moving before the release, rather than blitzing everything in 2 weeks time

 

[kai]

they announce that event a week before??
it's really not cool... some people have plans already..