Entertainer Michael Jackson even made the making-of as part of his art and displayed these images in his films and on stage for years.
Backstage 1988 in MOONWALKER: The making of the star Michael Jackson in the dark industry
In Michael Jackson’s 1988 film MOONWALKER, he features a manager as an antagonist and gives him not only the name „Frankie LiDeo,“ but also the nickname „Mr. BIG.“ This is a reference to Jackson’s actual manager in the real world of 1988: the little Frank DiLeo.
As Jackson’s film MOONWALKER approaches the end, Jackson guides us one last time through this industrial, dark system behind the glittering facade of the entertainment industry. In MOONWALKER, his real manager Frank DiLeo is actually waiting for Jackson backstage, managing Jackson here as well and pressing him to perform just as the character Mr. BIG had previously pushed Jackson into the arena.
picture: Behind the scenes? Jackson’s manager DiLeo is pushing the star to perform. Movie MOONWALKER, 1988. source
The pressuring by the manager in MOONWALKER is followed by the staging of the „making-of“ for the star’s last number COME TOGETHER. Jackson shows a kind of film within a film in which an army of employees prepares the star’s last performance behind the scenes:
picture: 1988. Backstage in MOONWALKER: The „Making-of“ of the star Michael Jackson behind the scenes as a film within a film. source
1992. Michael Jackson on stage and the star’s making of during the DANGEROUS world tour
For the DANGEROUS world tour, Michael Jackson presented the making-of on stage: at the end of MAN IN THE MIRROR and at the end of the concerts, the entertainer revealed his entire crew that made his performance possible. Jackson turned the „making-of“ into a show. That was art by Michael Jackson.
picture: The star’s making of during the DANGEROUS world tour DANGEROUS world tour 1992/1993 source
Backstage 1993 in WHO IS IT. The star’s making of on tour …
Jackson presents a repetitive behind-the-scenes „making-of“ in the 1993 short film WHO IS IT. 1 In WHO IS IT, the star who rushes from performance to performance is not Michael Jackson, but a woman. She is on tour, so to speak. The star is a prostitute.
The prostitute is managed by pimps. Politely pronounced managers. Dozens set the stage for the star behind the scenes. In the same art, Jackson showed us how the star „Michael Jackson“ was „made of“ behind the scenes in MOONWALKER in 1988.
picture: 1993. Backstage in WHO IS IT. The „making of“ the prostitute behind the scenes. source
picture: 1988. Backstage in MOONWALKER: The „Making-of“ of the star Michael Jackson behind the scenes. source
Behind the scenes in WHO IS IT: the star and his managers with suitcases full of money
In 1991 in WHO IS IT the star is a prostitute and is managed by a man and a woman. A parental couple, at least symbolically. Both are constantly selling the star from one performance to the next and counting the suitcases full of money behind the scenes. Money, management, timing and perfection play a big role. Jackson had already shown us the same image of the exploitative manager/parent couple in 1983, when in the short film Say, Say, Say. In 1983 the role of Jackson’s manager/father was played by Paul McCartney. McCartney counted the dollars Jackson had earned him with his performance. So the question is: How much Michael Jackson is in the prostitute in WHO IS IT?
picture: The making-of, the commercialization and the desperation and loneliness of the star in WHO IS IT.
picture: An exploitative, money-counting couple of Michael Jackson’s managers (symbolically parents) in SAY SAY SAY 1983. Starring here Paul McCartney and wife Linda.
Backstage 1995 in the HIStory teaser or The industry behind the „Making of“ the star
In 1995, Michael Jackson released the short film HIStory-Teaser to promote his album of the same name. The film is a gigantic „Making-of „. Of the star.
picture: The „Making of“ the star 1995, HIStory-Teaser. source
On Stage and the making of the King of Pop in the Michael Jackson Art
Starting in the 1990s, Jackson made the „making-of“ of himself an integral part of his show. No longer behind the scenes, but in the spotlight of the stage.
You’re part of my show now, Bush.“ Because, to Michael, changing your clothes could be a show.“
Michael Jackson to his designer Michael Lee Bush. 2
picture: Michael Jackson’s „making of“ became at some point part of the life-show source
The death of the star and the final „making of“: WHO IS IT?
In WHO IS IT 1993, a funeral seems to be the last making of for the star. Jackson shows the last picture of the star. Surrounded by the entire production team.
The question is: Who is it? Which star is this actually, whose life ended in the industry? And how much dark prophecy is in these images?
picture: The fatal end of the 1993 star in Jackson’s WHO IS IT source
Related articles:
Quellen
- Jackson, Michael, DANGEROUS: THE SHORT FILMS, short film: WHO IS IT. 1993/re-released 2001, DVD, Epic Music Video
- Bush, Michael Lee, Michael Jackson-King of Style – Die Fashion-Ikone, 2012/2013, „You’re part of my show now, Bush.“ Because, to Michael, changing your clothes could be a show.“ Inside Edition/Seemann Henschel Verlag, Leipzig, page 122