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From: pchris@inuxc.UUCP (Philip Fair)
Newsgroups: net.music,net.video
Subject: Michael Jackson, Thriller
Message-ID: <884@inuxc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Dec-83 14:55:38 EST
Article-I.D.: inuxc.884
Posted: Thu Dec 29 14:55:38 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Dec-83 00:43:26 EST
Organization: AT&T Consumer Products Div., Indianapolis
Lines: 43

Over the Christmas weekend, I read an article about Michael
Jackson.  It was an excerpt from a forthcoming autobiography.
A couple items surfaced that I hadn't heard before concerning
the Jackson Five's origin and Michael's current "look".

The "official" (per Motown Records) version of the group's
origin has Diana Ross discovering them in a benefit performance
in Gary, Indiana (on which the Supremes also appeared).  However,
another Motown group, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, were on the
bill, and, according to the group's father/manager, Bobby Taylor
had the most to do with getting the Jacksons their big Motown break.

Also, it seems that Michael had some cosmetic surgery done before
his first big solo album, "Off The Wall".  His features were subtly
changed to reflect less of his ""negroid" heritage and more of a
"european" (or white--my translation) visage. His nose is thinner
and less rounded, and his eyes are more pointed.  All this makes
his features more striking and more mainstream, I suppose. 

Now for my comments on the "Thriller" video.  At 14 1/2 minutes,
this is certainly the most expensive one (to make) yet.  I 
can't remember the exact figures for the production costs of
both "Billie Jean" and "Beat It", but they probably ran close
to a million collectively.  First class crew all the way, with
John Landis of "Animal House" and "American Werewolf in London"
fame and Jon Peters, choreographer of "Flashdance", standing   
out.  I understand we're seeing the video now, so close to the
end of the year in order to qualify it for Oscar competition
in the Short Film category. 

This video is establishing another precedent in that it is
the first one to charge MTV for showing it.  Before this one,
all videos were provided free of charge as are records to radio
stations.  After all, videos were meant to promote record sales.
Showtime is supposed to have Pay-TV's exclusive showing rights 
until the end of 1984, but MTV will continue to show the video 
and will start showing the documentary concerning its production
in January.

Can anybody who's seen the video answer this question:
	Is there any significance to the last line spoken onscreen
	in the "Thriller" movie (in which Michael turns into a
	werewolf onscreen), "See you next Wednesday"?