On this day in music history: December 2, 1983 - Michael Jacksons Thriller makes its debut on MTV. Directed by John Landis (National Lampoons Animal House, The Blues Brothers), the nearly fourteen minute long short film based on the title track (written by songwriter Rod Temperton) to Michael Jacksons blockbuster album will become an immediate phenomenon. An homage to the classic horror film genre (particularly the Michael Landon film I Was A Teenage Werewolf, and director Landis An American Werewolf In London), the film stars Jackson with former Playboy model and actress Ola Ray. The films dance sequences are choreographed by MJ and famed choreographer Michael Peters (Beat It, Running With The Night), with make up and prosthetic designed by Oscar winning make up artist Rick Baker. Jacksons signature red leather jacket is designed by costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis, the wife of Thrillers director. Filmed at a cost of $500,000, the clip will take the art of the music video to another level, becoming the most celebrated and honored in the medium. MTV will pay $250,000 for the exclusive rights to air the video, with Showtime paying an additional $300,000 to air it exclusively on their network for a certain period. Its impact will be immediately felt, sending the album back to number one over the Christmas holiday, spending another seventeen consecutive weeks at the top of the Top 200. The Thriller short film will also be released on home video as part of a full length documentary titled The Making Of Michael Jacksons Thriller that will set video sales records (selling a total of nine million copies overall) winning a Grammy Award for Best Video Album in 1985. Thriller is inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library Of Congress in 2009 for its ongoing cultural and historic significance, making it the first time a music video has received an honor normally reserved for feature length films.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 01:05:29 +0000
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