Michael Jackson's THRILLER is Set to Make It's 3D Debut Next Month! Also Watch a "Making Of" Documentary
It's been rumored for some time that Michael Jackson's classic short film/music video Thriller would be getting a 3D conversion. Well, the rumor is true and it will its big debut during the 74th Venice Film Festival!
I have so many wonderful memories of growing up with the John Landis directed short and it would be so cool to fun to have the opportunity to see it on the big screen in 3D. It's explained in the press release that the film has not been re-edited or recut in any way. It goes into detail on the process saying:
Rather Optimum Productions brought Landis in and together they supervised an elaborate and labor intensive process that began with the original 35mm film negative from Michael’s archives and resulted in a 3D conversion of the acclaimed film using the latest available technology.
To complement the enhanced visuals, all of the audio, including Michael’s music, Elmer Bernstein’s score and the sound effects, has also been updated to 5.7, 7.1 and Atmos standards in order to create the highest-quality audio and visual experience for in-theater viewing, which is how Michael and Landis intended the film to be enjoyed.
John Landis had this to say in a statement:
“I am so happy to have had the chance not only to restore but enhance Michael Jackson’s Thriller! We took full advantage of the remarkable advances in technology to add new dimensions to both the visual and the audio bringing it to a whole new level. Even though Thriller was shot traditionally, I was able to use the 3-D creatively. Let me just warn you, there is a rather shocking surprise in there!"
John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson added:
“Michael Jackson made Thriller a rich theatrical experience: fun, funny, scary and wildly entertaining. No one before or since has made anything like it. Michael Jackson’s Thriller 3D is a modern day technical enhancement of his and John Landis’ original vision, and I think fans will love it.”
Jackson was a huge fan of An American Werewolf in London, which is why he brought Landis on board to collaborate on the Thriller project. Of course, Academy Award-winning make-up artist Rick Baker was brought in for the create the amazing prosthetic transformation of Michael and the cast.
There was also a "Making Of" documentary made for Thriller back in the 80s for MTV and Showtime, which you can check out below. If you've never seen it, it's definitely worth checking out!