all things 1983💜

[83magic]

This interview is from December 1983 I believe.

Peter Pan was recorded for the Peter Pan movie Steven Spielberg was working on that was to be released in 1984 and starring Michael. The movie was canned and later became Hook with Robin Williams.

the movie was scheduled for 1983. it was announced in biographies and reports at the time. michael ultimately decided against playing the character out of fears of being typecast. his previous role was the scarecrow in ‘the wiz’. the ‘thriller’ film is what took its place.

 

[83magic]

Yes that seem logical that it was for this project, with the success of Thriller, they should really put the project in priority, Michael couldn't have been younger so it was the moment or never, he has the good look, the good reputation, his popularity was awesome, I think Dream Away was probably also for this project, the lyrics seem very close to a Peter Pan world, the soundtrack would have been awesome.

That interesting that in 84, Captain Eo was close to be Peter Pan story, but changed to the short movie we know, he wanted Spielberg or Lucas in the short movie too, I wonder if the story of the movie would have been close to that:

The Misadventures of Captain EO – Part One

mouseplanet.com

"There were also discussions about a 3-D film that might be housed in the Carousel of Progress building. That caught Jackson's interest. but he insisted that either George Lucas or Steven Spielberg be a part of the project to guarantee its quality and credibility and to “protect” him as he started to explore acting.


Imagineer Rick Rothschild drew up three different storylines. The first had Jackson as a Peter Pan-like character in a magical forest with mythological beasts and fairies. The forest would be threatened by an Ice Queen and Jackson would eventually melt her cold heart with the power of music."

According to John Barnes, Another part of me and We are here to change the world were already composed during the Pepsi commercial, 1983 should have been the beginning of his movies career, have you more info about Street Dandy or others projects in early 80's ?

this is interesting information that I didn’t know. thanks for sharing and keeping this thread going

I always felt that ‘starlight’ would have been an early ‘captain eo’ had it been fleshed out, and been made into a short film. it makes sense that those songs were written within a close proximity of each other. they match the non violent message and image of ‘beat it’.

I think it’s better that an original character was created for michael, rather than him filling the role of an already existing one (‘the wiz’).

his movie career wasn’t to be, and I’m okay with that. he got to fulfill that with his short films, which I prefer.

 

[MichaelD]

Random observation: As we all know Michael wore his 'Beat It' outfit from the short film –shot two weeks before– at the 'Dream Girls' premiere (minus belt) ... – but he combined it with the 'Billie Jean' shoes.

(Click to enlarge)

 

[MichaelD]

 

[83magic]

Random observation: As we all know Michael wore his 'Beat It' outfit from the short film –shot two weeks before– at the 'Dream Girls' premiere (minus belt) ... – but he combined it with the 'Billie Jean' shoes.

(Click to enlarge)

I never noticed that before. maybe because I’ve never seen a full length image or footage? I guess he was trying to combine smart and casual? I don’t think they match, but I like the way he’s kind of trademarking himself at this point.
here’s some footage from the event.

interesting that he would say in another interview around this time, that the dream girls play didn’t move him. maybe he didn’t want to be critical on camera?

 

[83magic]

despite the title, this clip shows michael editing his short film ‘beat it’ in 1983he played a large role in bringing his vision to life.

 

[BlackAnon]

Random observation: As we all know Michael wore his 'Beat It' outfit from the short film –shot two weeks before– at the 'Dream Girls' premiere (minus belt) ... – but he combined it with the 'Billie Jean' shoes.

(Click to enlarge)

Never seen the full picture before…..I always assumed he was in his standard black loafers. Do we have a full picture in color?

 

[83magic]

this was posted on by the official website and on the socials

Why Michael Jackson Refused to Rest After the Success of
“Thriller”

In 1983, Michael was asked if he would take some time off given the success of “Thriller”: “If I take a week off, I feel I’m loafing, and I feel like I’m getting behind. I like being active, I like to create. I am constantly coming up with different songs and different ideas and looking and...

www.michaeljackson.com

 

[blair]

most of the information I’ve found states that this interview took place in late ‘83. december to be precise. it was the perfect time because it was right after the ‘thriller’ short film, and before the tragic burn accident/‘victory’ drama.

you can see how happy he is his dreams had become reality, and he’s full of hopehis guard is down, and he’s free to be himself in his own environmentthis is how I choose to remember him. in my mind he still exists in this exact space.

I also love the dancing at the beginning. there’s intricacy and speed along with the smooth fluidity. this was common for that era. he didn’t need a reason to dance. it was his expression. I wonder if that footage was taken during one of his sunday fasts?

I wrote an entire fanfic over a decade ago, inspired by this interview (and dancing at the beginning). that’s how much I love it

Yes, when I have seen the footages in Thriller40th, that how he was happy, very joyful, in some very normal for a star, always smiling, peoples don't remember but in term of coolness he was not different than someone like Tom Cruise, see how peoples in Ebony magazine in 85 would have thought how Michael will look like in 2000's:

That peoples see him in early 80's, about his dancing, yes 100% agree, he was so fluid, I have recently see Victory tour, his moonwalk was magic, he feel the dance, he didn't learnt choregraphy like later in his career.

 

[blair]

Only thing I know on Streetdandy is it was to be directed by Spielberg, produced by Geffen and feature Michael as the lead with full control over the soundtrack. Michael was on fire during this time and just didn't have the schedule to film

There was another movie he was reading for called "A Chorus Line" but he said it's a sensitive and emotional story and he didn't know if he wanted to do it....but that was in 1981.

Thanks for the info, I remember that Streetdandy was supposed to write about someone from Flashdance ? Yes A Choris Line, thank for the info, I remember to have read that, I'm surprised that they wanted to make a Beat it movie, and a movie with The Jacksons "They landed", it was a surprise he wanted to make a movie with his brothers.

 

[blair]

this is interesting information that I didn’t know. thanks for sharing and keeping this thread going

I always felt that ‘starlight’ would have been an early ‘captain eo’ had it been fleshed out, and been made into a short film. it makes sense that those songs were written within a close proximity of each other. they match the non violent message and image of ‘beat it’.

I think it’s better that an original character was created for michael, rather than him filling the role of an already existing one (‘the wiz’).

his movie career wasn’t to be, and I’m okay with that. he got to fulfill that with his short films, which I prefer.

I have always tought that Starlight, Wanna be Startin something (we have a hint in the Victory tour), PYT (because the robotic voice), but also the Lady in my life (because the cut lyrics of the long version "castle in space") could have been a cool futurist short movie.

Yes he didn't need a movie, but I'm curious how musically he would have deal with a soundtrack, and how he would have made the dance etc...but that sometimes he could have done for a serie of short movies, and that would have been easier to work with the schedule of Spielberg or George Lucas etc...yes a new character is better, specially with the eventual problem with the rights etc...

Like I really like how everything in his music video feel natural, I really like the easter eggs of Thriller for Beat It, with the sewer guy, or the tiger in the Billie Jean present in the cover, he seem to have something in mind for Victory too for chose not to go to fear to be overexposed.

 

[83magic]

the official facebook page posted the anniversary of ‘billie jean’ debuting on mtv in 1983the same year dr martin luther king jr was granted a national holiday. they compare the way that michael broke down racial barriers with his music, to the way mlk jr did in politics.

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[83magic]

it’s that time again; the anniversary of the motown 25 performance of ‘billie jean’they should really upload the performance to his official youtube channel

Michael Jackson

By mid-May 1983 “Thriller Mania” was reaching new heights, and on this date Michael’s “Billie Jean” performance on the Motown 25th anniversary special was broadcast to almost 50 million people,...

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