Sony buys rights to Jackson's final rehearsal footage

Behind the Scenes

Final Footage: Sony Pictures is finalizing a deal to acquire rehearsal footage from Michael Jackson’s This Is It concert run, with hopes of releasing it in theaters just in time for Halloween, according to Variety. Sony reportedly is paying close to $60 million for the 80 hours of rehearsal footage shot at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The footage currently is owned by AEG Entertainment, who were promoting Jackson’s run of 50 shows at London’s O2 Arena. “High School Musical” director Kenny Ortega, who shot the rehearsal footage, will reportedly also sort through it to assemble the film, which Sony plans on having in theaters on October 30. Variety claims the film will feature “at least three” videos, including an alternative version of “Thriller,” which was intended to be an interstitial video during Jackson’s O2 shows. Terms of the deal were still being hammered out, but according to Variety, the Jackson family estate is expected to collect 90 percent of what’s left after AEG recoups its production costs for the tour.

Stepping In: Jay-Z has been tapped to replace the Beastie Boys at the All Points West festival in New Jersey. The Jigga man has agreed to step in to perform his first-ever set at a U.S. festival just days after it was announced that the B-Boys would have to drop out of four North American festival shows in light of Adam “MCA” Yauch’s upcoming cancer treatment. Jay will take the stage on July 31, opening night of the threeday event in Liberty State Park.

A Knight Is Born: A day after estranged husband Nas broke the news of the birth of the couple’s first child, Kelis officially announced the delivery of Knight Jones. “Kelis gave birth to Knight Jones last night on July 22 around 9p.m.,” a statement from Kelis’ spokesperson read. “Weighing a healthy 7.8 lbs, the beautiful baby boy and his mother are doing wonderful.” The statement noted that the birth was natural and that Kelis went into labor around 2 a.m. on July 20 morning. The singer’s first child was delivered at a New York City hospital with her mother and sister in the room. The couple publicly announced the pregnancy in January after being married for four years. They appeared to be in good spirits months after the announcement as they solicited names for their child from MTVNews.com readers. However, just two weeks after the solicitations, Kelis unexpectedly filed for divorce from her husband. The splitting process has been bitter, with the two arguing over finances in court filings. In other news, a judge has ordered Nas to pay Kelis and their newborn child nearly $44,000 a month for the near future. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Louis Meisinger issued the order at a hearing recently. Kelis and Nas have been sparring over support payments for several months. Kelis, who filed for divorce from the rapper in April, contends Nas hasn’t paid many of the costs of her pregnancy and her expenses.

Briefly, Aretha Franklin has inked with a deal with WME. She performed at President Obama’s inauguration in January, and her newest album will bow later this summer.… Whitney Houston’s comeback album drops in just six weeks. And, it was the superstar diva herself who best summed up the excitement for her return when she took center stage at a recent VIP-only album listening party in Beverly Hills. “I’m back home,” she said. “I’m back home where I belong.”

Finally, Raekwon is readying his solo album, and Ghostface Killah will be wrapping up his next project soon. Method Man would like to see the members get together for a group project. Reiterating Raekwon’s remarks to Mixtape Daily, Meth said he, the Chef and Ghostface might join forces for a collaborative effort.

This is part of the August 5, 2009 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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