- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of New Times free.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has green lit a deal between Michael Jackson's estate, AEG Live and Columbia Pictures for the release of rehearsal concert footage from the late singer's comeback tour This Is It. The footage will be released as a movie, scheduled to hit theaters October 28 via Sony. Concert promoter AEG Live has more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage, as well as separate videos that were to be displayed during the actual concerts. The film adds to a long list of undertakings involving Jackson's estate since his death -- yet it is one that is seemingly positive with only some minor objections from Katherine Jackson.
Having been granted custody of her son's three children, Jackson's mother, Katherine, requested that the rehearsal footage be given to her son's estate, according to court proceedings on Monday. AEG refused that such a thing would occur, helping bring the footage to those who will benefit from it most -- Jackson's biggest fans.
Keep Phoenix New Times Free... Since we started Phoenix New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Phoenix with no paywalls.