Ratha’s Coffee Table Books: Michael Jackson: The Making of “Thriller
Where were you when you heard the news Michael Jackson had passed? For me, I had just come back from a beach trip with my first girlfriend and her family. We spent some days and nights hanging beach-side at Hilton Head. No matter how things ended, I like to think it was a great time for the both of us. Two innocent young hearts falling in love, what could be better for an adolescent? Her family dropped me off at my crib and I remember how nobody was home. My parents were hanging with Uncle Dave, and my brother was probably out playing video games with his friends somewhere on the other side of town. I booted the family desktop and logged on to Myspace. That’s when I found out. Michael Jackson had passed away at the young age of 50. I turned on my television and all the major news outlets were covering the story. I couldn’t believe. MJ was supposed to be one of those souls who is excluded from the nature of life and time. He was immortal. During live coverage, there were fans crying and people lined up outside of the hospital. I could not believe what I was hearing. Shock commenced.
Years later, it’s still hard to believe he’s gone. This June will be 9 years. Michael Jackson is the greatest performer in the history of humankind. No debating, he is simply the greatest. During the year 2010 before the bookstore Border’s closed, a new book came out, Michael Jackson: The Making of “Thriller.” The book is beautifully crafted with a 3D cover filled with photos of Douglas Kirkland. Kirkland was the only photographer allowed on the set of Thriller, in which the shooting lasted 4 days. Immediately, I grabbed a copy and headed for the registers.
When I got home, I began reading through. The book is wonderfully crafted with semi-gloss finished pages. The photos are stunning and the layout of the photographs and writing takes the mundane out of reading for non-readers. Michael came up with the idea for the Thriller video after seeing An American Werewolf in London. He contacted the director and asked him to create/write a short-film turning Michael himself into a monster. Michael wasn’t fond of horror films, so instead of a werewolf, he was turned into a werecat. The idea had to have a bit of humor in it as well. Thriller went on to win a magnitude of awards and is the most popular music video of all-time according to The Guinness Book of World Records. Michael went on to become a polarizing pop culture icon. He inspired millions and gave his heart to the world. Michael Jackson: The Making of Thriller is filled with photographs, interviews, and personal accounts of what happened on the set of Thriller, a video that propelled Michael Jackson into a deity-like status. It is well worth the read, and a fascinating look at greatness (the greatest) behind closed doors.
You can purchase Michael Jackson: The Making of Thriller HERE.
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