Court Documents Detail Film

Judge Mitchell Beckloff is considering the details of a proposed full-length film showing Michael’s rehearsals for his O2 Arena ‘This Is It’ concerts. The film would be a major production with merchandising and even a director’s cut and special editions.

The judge has arranged a hearing on Monday, August 10th, 2009 to see if Michael’s mother has any objections to the plans.

Google.com’s report on the documents includes the following:

“If its creation is approved, the movie will have to meet the standards for a PG rating and not run any longer than one hundred and fifty minutes, the contract states.

It also states that the movie can’t include any footage that is considered to paint Jackson in a bad light. The contract also allows Columbia to work with companies on promotional tie-ins for the films, but even that has limits. Prohibited tie-in products include “alcohol, cleaning products, firearms, gambling, personal hygiene products, pharmaceuticals,” as well as those with religious, political or tobacco ties.

Jackson’s company would also be able to block the creation of a new product marketing the film — the example of a “happy meal toy” is given — according to the contract.

The deadline for the judge’s approval isn’t the only tight timeline the project faces. According to the contract, Columbia must screen the movie for Jackson’s representatives no later than October 2nd, 2009.”

Last month, AEG President and CEO Randy Phillips revealed that the company had more than 100 hours of footage of preparations for Jackson’s series of 50 comeback concerts scheduled for London’s O2 Arena.

He predicted the deal could generate much-needed money for Jackson’s debt-ridden estate. The proposed contract offers a glimpse at the possible film. Some of the footage that could be used would be clips meant to be broadcast during Jackson’s shows.

“If we all do our jobs right, we could probably raise hundreds of millions of dollars just on the stuff we have worldwide and then the estate could eradicate its debt,” Phillips said in early July.

The contract states Columbia Pictures paid sixty million for rights to the project.

The deal was negotiated by long time attorney John Branca and music executive and Jackson family friend John McClain.

It calls for Jackson’s company to receive 90 percent of the film’s profits, with the remainder going to AEG Live. Jackson’s stake would move into a private trust the singer ordered established, of which his mother and three children are slated to receive a combined 80 percent share. The remainder is designated for unspecified charities.

The contract notes that Branca and McClain may produce one or more tribute concerts to the King of Pop, and sets out terms so that its broadcast doesn’t conflict with the film. The contract doesn’t state which network, if any, has been selected to air the tribute. A possible date for the concert’s airing has been redacted.”

Source: googlenews & MJWN