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Thriller 40th Anniversary

Victorious said:
I bumped into this story by someone (anonymous) on Quora, sort of on topic:


I worked as a producer on the set of Thriller back in 1982. There was so much drama and emotion behind the scenes, it was a miracle if we were able to shoot even 1 scene a day. Even 38 years later, I still look back and laugh at wild those times could be.
  • During the shooting of Thriller, Michael was very highly strung, emotional, bratty, & stressed. He would often have fits of anger or run to the bathroom crying, saying he would “never be able to get it [the video] done”. To be frank, Michael was quite a crybaby during it.
  • Michael once sobbed uncontrollably in a corner of the hotel room for 45 minutes all because he didn’t like the pants of his costume. It took 3 people to console him.
  • Whenever Joseph was on set, he would repeatedly say or do things he knew would upset Michael, such as taunting him to make him scream or yelling at him to make him cry.
    • Although these would usually be nothing more than inconviences, there were a few times Joseph would actually screw things up. One instance was when he chose to hit Michael 2 minutes before he had to be on set. Michael cried, causing his make up to run. The make up artist got fed up & yelled at him, leading to more tears. Michael was at least an hour late that day.
  • When Michael wasn’t crying or screaming, he was extremely hyper. Somebody gave him a soda one day & Michael was a ball of energy. Nobody could get him to sit still for even 2 minutes since he would get up from the make up chair whenever he felt like it. To make matters worse, he crashed by the time they got him on set & he spent the whole day sleeping on a chair.
  • John Landis once ran to the dollar store and bought Michael a red, plastic necklace just to keep him happy so they could get some work done that day.
  • They’d sometimes give Michael a coloring book & some crayons to keep him busy while they did his hair, since he was very fidgety and prone to boredom.
  • However, there were good times on Thriller. I went on a walk with Michael, Ola, & Joseph once & Michael was surprisingly good. When he wasn’t being annoying, he could be quite fun. He spent most of the walk making jokes and giggling to himself.
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Lol. Why post this nonsense? The person who wrote this must have had too much free time on their hands.
 
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Victorious said:
I bumped into this story by someone (anonymous) on Quora, sort of on topic:


I worked as a producer on the set of Thriller back in 1982. There was so much drama and emotion behind the scenes, it was a miracle if we were able to shoot even 1 scene a day. Even 38 years later, I still look back and laugh at wild those times could be.
  • During the shooting of Thriller, Michael was very highly strung, emotional, bratty, & stressed. He would often have fits of anger or run to the bathroom crying, saying he would “never be able to get it [the video] done”. To be frank, Michael was quite a crybaby during it.
  • Michael once sobbed uncontrollably in a corner of the hotel room for 45 minutes all because he didn’t like the pants of his costume. It took 3 people to console him.
  • Whenever Joseph was on set, he would repeatedly say or do things he knew would upset Michael, such as taunting him to make him scream or yelling at him to make him cry.
    • Although these would usually be nothing more than inconviences, there were a few times Joseph would actually screw things up. One instance was when he chose to hit Michael 2 minutes before he had to be on set. Michael cried, causing his make up to run. The make up artist got fed up & yelled at him, leading to more tears. Michael was at least an hour late that day.
  • When Michael wasn’t crying or screaming, he was extremely hyper. Somebody gave him a soda one day & Michael was a ball of energy. Nobody could get him to sit still for even 2 minutes since he would get up from the make up chair whenever he felt like it. To make matters worse, he crashed by the time they got him on set & he spent the whole day sleeping on a chair.
  • John Landis once ran to the dollar store and bought Michael a red, plastic necklace just to keep him happy so they could get some work done that day.
  • They’d sometimes give Michael a coloring book & some crayons to keep him busy while they did his hair, since he was very fidgety and prone to boredom.
  • However, there were good times on Thriller. I went on a walk with Michael, Ola, & Joseph once & Michael was surprisingly good. When he wasn’t being annoying, he could be quite fun. He spent most of the walk making jokes and giggling to himself.
Click to expand...
I wonder why it was posted by Anonymous… 🙄
 
Victorious said:
I bumped into this story by someone (anonymous) on Quora, sort of on topic:


I worked as a producer on the set of Thriller back in 1982. There was so much drama and emotion behind the scenes, it was a miracle if we were able to shoot even 1 scene a day. Even 38 years later, I still look back and laugh at wild those times could be.
  • During the shooting of Thriller, Michael was very highly strung, emotional, bratty, & stressed. He would often have fits of anger or run to the bathroom crying, saying he would “never be able to get it [the video] done”. To be frank, Michael was quite a crybaby during it.
  • Michael once sobbed uncontrollably in a corner of the hotel room for 45 minutes all because he didn’t like the pants of his costume. It took 3 people to console him.
  • Whenever Joseph was on set, he would repeatedly say or do things he knew would upset Michael, such as taunting him to make him scream or yelling at him to make him cry.
    • Although these would usually be nothing more than inconviences, there were a few times Joseph would actually screw things up. One instance was when he chose to hit Michael 2 minutes before he had to be on set. Michael cried, causing his make up to run. The make up artist got fed up & yelled at him, leading to more tears. Michael was at least an hour late that day.
  • When Michael wasn’t crying or screaming, he was extremely hyper. Somebody gave him a soda one day & Michael was a ball of energy. Nobody could get him to sit still for even 2 minutes since he would get up from the make up chair whenever he felt like it. To make matters worse, he crashed by the time they got him on set & he spent the whole day sleeping on a chair.
  • John Landis once ran to the dollar store and bought Michael a red, plastic necklace just to keep him happy so they could get some work done that day.
  • They’d sometimes give Michael a coloring book & some crayons to keep him busy while they did his hair, since he was very fidgety and prone to boredom.
  • However, there were good times on Thriller. I went on a walk with Michael, Ola, & Joseph once & Michael was surprisingly good. When he wasn’t being annoying, he could be quite fun. He spent most of the walk making jokes and giggling to himself.
Click to expand...
They lost me after “back in 1982”. lol. Besides, if the person in question is not George Folsey Jr., Michael Jackson or John Landis, they could not have been a “producer” on the set of Thriller. Clearly written by someone who had no involvement whatsoever.
 
Themidwestcowboy said:
Lol. Why post this nonsense? The person who wrote this must have had too much free time their hands.
Click to expand...
Since it's about Thriller and this is a thread about..Thriller..?
Anyway it might be nonsense yes, that is up to you. There is also story on there (Quora) that is not totally anonymous and is similar (but then again, maybe too similar):

R DeAngelo
Longtime family friend of the Jacksons

Can you name any celebrities who were known for being very difficult and causing problems on set when they were younger?
Michael Jackson was the most difficult person to work with while shooting Thriller. According to Joseph at least. Joe would always tell me about how he’d throw these fits over costumes and make up and other little things that just set him off.

Before they even started shooting Michael decided he didn’t like the pants to his costume and had a mental breakdown about it for an hour, Joe was annoyed with all the workers on set for trying to calm his kid down, told them mulitple times to stop babying him but they didn’t listen. Another time Michael was having a meltdown about something stupid, Joe couldn’t remember what when he told me but at some point he walked in on Michael laying on the bathroom floor crying. Unlike the crew who was trying to console him, Joseph simply said “Oh my god Michael, get up. This is like Prince behavior right here” 😂 Not sure how Joe made that connection, as I don’t think Prince acted like that, but don’t quote me on that.

One time Michael had been difficult with everybody all day, just being a brat and having a tone with everyone. Apparently after Michael got done a screaming fit, Joseph calmly took him to a bathroom on set before whopping the hell out of him with a hairbrush and yelling at him. When they came out people were asking if everything was okay in there, if Michael was okay (Joe used to tell me the kid looked traumatized afterward 😂). All Joe had to say was “Yup everything’s all good, we just had a little conversation”. Michael did not act up for the rest of the day.
 
dethorro said:
They lost me after “back in 1982”. lol. Besides, if the person in question is not George Folsey Jr., Michael Jackson or John Landis, they could not have been a “producer” on the set of Thriller. Clearly written by someone who had no involvement whatsoever.
Click to expand...
Not saying it's real or defending anything anonymous per se, but there are a lot of people who can be called producer on a production as big as Thriller
 
Victorious said:
Since it's about Thriller and this is a thread about..Thriller..?
Anyway it might be nonsense yes, that is up to you. There is also story on there (Quora) that is not totally anonymous and is similar (but then again, maybe too similar):

R DeAngelo
Longtime family friend of the Jacksons

Can you name any celebrities who were known for being very difficult and causing problems on set when they were younger?
Michael Jackson was the most difficult person to work with while shooting Thriller. According to Joseph at least. Joe would always tell me about how he’d throw these fits over costumes and make up and other little things that just set him off.

Before they even started shooting Michael decided he didn’t like the pants to his costume and had a mental breakdown about it for an hour, Joe was annoyed with all the workers on set for trying to calm his kid down, told them mulitple times to stop babying him but they didn’t listen. Another time Michael was having a meltdown about something stupid, Joe couldn’t remember what when he told me but at some point he walked in on Michael laying on the bathroom floor crying. Unlike the crew who was trying to console him, Joseph simply said “Oh my god Michael, get up. This is like Prince behavior right here” 😂 Not sure how Joe made that connection, as I don’t think Prince acted like that, but don’t quote me on that.

One time Michael had been difficult with everybody all day, just being a brat and having a tone with everyone. Apparently after Michael got done a screaming fit, Joseph calmly took him to a bathroom on set before whopping the hell out of him with a hairbrush and yelling at him. When they came out people were asking if everything was okay in there, if Michael was okay (Joe used to tell me the kid looked traumatized afterward 😂). All Joe had to say was “Yup everything’s all good, we just had a little conversation”. Michael did not act up for the rest of the day.
Click to expand...
You're losing my respect as you post these. Mj_frenzy esque crap
 
Victorious said:
Since it's about Thriller and this is a thread about..Thriller..?
Anyway it might be nonsense yes, that is up to you. There is also story on there (Quora) that is not totally anonymous and is similar (but then again, maybe too similar):

R DeAngelo
Longtime family friend of the Jacksons

Can you name any celebrities who were known for being very difficult and causing problems on set when they were younger?
Michael Jackson was the most difficult person to work with while shooting Thriller. According to Joseph at least. Joe would always tell me about how he’d throw these fits over costumes and make up and other little things that just set him off.

Before they even started shooting Michael decided he didn’t like the pants to his costume and had a mental breakdown about it for an hour, Joe was annoyed with all the workers on set for trying to calm his kid down, told them mulitple times to stop babying him but they didn’t listen. Another time Michael was having a meltdown about something stupid, Joe couldn’t remember what when he told me but at some point he walked in on Michael laying on the bathroom floor crying. Unlike the crew who was trying to console him, Joseph simply said “Oh my god Michael, get up. This is like Prince behavior right here” 😂 Not sure how Joe made that connection, as I don’t think Prince acted like that, but don’t quote me on that.

One time Michael had been difficult with everybody all day, just being a brat and having a tone with everyone. Apparently after Michael got done a screaming fit, Joseph calmly took him to a bathroom on set before whopping the hell out of him with a hairbrush and yelling at him. When they came out people were asking if everything was okay in there, if Michael was okay (Joe used to tell me the kid looked traumatized afterward 😂). All Joe had to say was “Yup everything’s all good, we just had a little conversation”. Michael did not act up for the rest of the day.
Click to expand...
This is complete and utter rubbish. Straight up made up.
 
Victorious said:
Why is that? It's about Thriller..?

It might be true too, as it definitely matches everything else I know about MJ
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Oh yeah? So, in your view, Michael was a whiny brat, extremely difficult to work with, who would have mental breakdowns on set because he didn’t like his pants (lol). Where exactly does this idea come from? Most of his collaborators give the exact opposite view.

And yeah, I’m suuure it’s true when it is basically the only account of this, 40 years later, and written on Quora or whatever.
 
dethorro said:
Oh yeah? So, in your view, Michael was a whiny brat, extremely difficult to work with, who would have mental breakdowns on set because he didn’t like his pants (lol). Where exactly does this idea come from? Most of his collaborators give the exact opposite view.

And yeah, I’m suuure it’s true when it is basically the only account of this, 40 years later, and written on Quora or whatever.
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This "behaviour" that's described is literal toddler behaviour to a tee (crayons and colouring book, really? )May as well be describing my kids when they were toddlers lol
Seems to me like whoever wrote this just wanted to see if anyone would actually believe it lol
 
Victorious said:
Why is that? It's about Thriller..?

It might be true too, as it definitely matches everything else I know about MJ
Click to expand...
Yeah but you have to be able to take it when others call out such click bait anonymous nonsense. Just because you came across it on the internet doesn't mean it merits a discussion in a thread dedicated to the Thriller 40 anniversary.

There are enough holes in the posts alone for you to have questioned their authenticity.
 
I bumped onto these stories on Quora and thought they quite were fascinating, so I shared them on this forum, to discuss.You know, what a forum is all about. I don't know if I believe them, so that's why I emphasized the 'might' and the 'anonymous'...
Not enough apparantly because now I am the guy that 'believes' that 'nonsense', yeah gtfo

BUT I do not dismiss it as easily as you either, that's true. Although these are extreme anecdotes (that's why I posted it), I do know MJ could be very difficult (after being a fan since the early 80s). I would never use the words that Quora guy used or 'spoiled brat' or whatever BUT Michael did have mental breakdowns, he was a very lonely, very stubborn, very perfectionistic person, very shy at times but also very determined, a control freak, rather hung out with seniors and minors, he did cry a lot and for the weirdest things, and the relationship with his father was, like this guy said, very different than those of his siblings; or they downplayed it or he dramatized it. Of course you wouldn't see any of that in the 'making of Thriller, no shit Sherlock

Anyway, you guys are clearly the experts and know for a fact, without any facts, that it's all BS, good for you

I'm out, so long!
 
Victorious said:
I bumped onto these stories on Quora and thought they quite were fascinating, so I shared them on this forum, to discuss.You know, what a forum is all about. I don't know if I believe them, so that's why I emphasized the 'might' and the 'anonymous'..

I'm out, so long!
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:( come back
 
Victorious said:
I bumped onto these stories on Quora and thought they quite were fascinating, so I shared them on this forum, to discuss.You know, what a forum is all about. I don't know if I believe them, so that's why I emphasized the 'might' and the 'anonymous'...
Not enough apparantly because now I am the guy that 'believes' that 'nonsense', yeah gtfo

BUT I do not dismiss it as easily as you either, that's true. Although these are extreme anecdotes (that's why I posted it), I do know MJ could be very difficult (after being a fan since the early 80s). I would never use the words that Quora guy used or 'spoiled brat' or whatever BUT Michael did have mental breakdowns, he was a very lonely, very stubborn, very perfectionistic person, very shy at times but also very determined, a control freak, rather hung out with seniors and minors, he did cry a lot and for the weirdest things, and the relationship with his father was, like this guy said, very different than those of his siblings; or they downplayed it or he dramatized it. Of course you wouldn't see any of that in the 'making of Thriller, no shit Sherlock

Anyway, you guys are clearly the experts and know for a fact, without any facts, that it's all BS, good for you

I'm out, so long!
Click to expand...
Nobody was interested in discussing what you posted because it's clearly crap. No need to throw a hissy fit.
 
I never seen any photos or videos of Joseph on the set but if I'm not mistaken...I think in moonwalker or maybe it was John Landis that said Michael actually kicked/ wanted jo off the set at some point. So no... beating Michael with a brush??? On the set of Thriller?????? After motown 25 & etc....Foh🙄🙄
 
John Landis once ran to the dollar store and bought Michael a red, plastic necklace just to keep him happy so they could get some work done that day

Wait.....did they have dollar stores back in the early '80s?? lmao
 
Victorious said:
BUT I do not dismiss it as easily as you either, that's true. Although these are extreme anecdotes (that's why I posted it), I do know MJ could be very difficult (after being a fan since the early 80s). I would never use the words that Quora guy used or 'spoiled brat' or whatever BUT Michael did have mental breakdowns, he was a very lonely, very stubborn, very perfectionistic person, very shy at times but also very determined, a control freak, rather hung out with seniors and minors, he did cry a lot and for the weirdest things, and the relationship with his father was, like this guy said, very different than those of his siblings; or they downplayed it or he dramatized it. Of course you wouldn't see any of that in the 'making of Thriller, no shit Sherlock
Click to expand...
No, they wouldn’t directly show it, but had any of this been true I doubt a making of documentary would have been possible, because you can get a great idea of what the energy and vibe was like on set, based on the footage shown in it. They weren’t shooting a 2 hour long film, but a music video, so there was a limited number of days on which shooting took place. Around 2-3 weeks, I believe.

It’s very hard for me to believe that what was shown in the doc is just a facade and that in actuality Michael was getting beaten on set by his dad and such, when seeing how excited, happy and exuberant Michael was during this period. That’s what I meant by what I wrote above. But, of course, you can and should believe whatever you like.
 
dethorro said:
No, they wouldn’t directly show it, but had any of this been true I doubt a making of documentary would have been possible, because you can get a great idea of what the energy and vibe was like on set, based on the footage shown in it. They weren’t shooting a 2 hour long film, but a music video, so there was a limited number of days on which shooting took place. Around 2-3 weeks, I believe.

It’s very hard for me to believe that what was shown in the doc is just a facade and that in actuality Michael was getting beaten on set by his dad and such, when seeing how excited, happy and exuberant Michael was during this period. That’s what I meant by what I wrote above. But, of course, you can and should believe whatever you like.
Click to expand...
Again I am not sure if I believe it, but I think it's not that far stretched to straight away dismiss it the way it was done here. I know Michael was very nervous during the recording and cried a lot, had a lot of small nervous breakdowns in life and even panic attacks, I also know he had a very dualistic relationship with his father, which was definitely not just fear but also amazing admiration, so a scenario where Joseph (or even other family members) would have to come in to calm MJ down (forcefully or not) after being hysteric from something small just doesn't seem that unbelievable to me, sorry. Again not saying this guy tells the truth or twisted it
 
wonderouzmj said:
I never seen any photos or videos of Joseph on the set but if I'm not mistaken...I think in moonwalker or maybe it was John Landis that said Michael actually kicked/ wanted jo off the set at some point. So no... beating Michael with a brush??? On the set of Thriller?????? After motown 25 & etc....Foh🙄🙄
Click to expand...
People with mental problems don't like (family) interventions
 
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