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Report: Columbia Pictures Scores Jackson Rehearsal Footage

8/5/09, 2:43 pm EST

Photo:Kevin Mazur/AEG Live via Getty Images

According to documents that were revealed during the August 3rd hearing over Michael Jackson’s estate, Columbia Pictures, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures, has an offer to purchase the rights for the film featuring Jackson’s This Is It concert rehearsals for $60 million, the AP reports. Final approval of the deal is pending the consent of Jackson’s mother Katherine. Another hearing on the subject has been scheduled for next Monday, August 10th.

Look back at Jackson’s remarkable career, in photos.

Under the terms of the deal, 90 percent of the film’s profits will go to the Michael Jackson Family Trust — with 80 percent of that figure going to Jackson’s children and mother according to Jackson’s 2002 will — and the other 10 percent will go to AEG Live, the concert promoter producing Jackson’s massive This Is It run of 50 concerts at London’s O2 Arena. The more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage comes from Jackson’s time at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, where Jackson practiced a full run-through in the nights before his sudden death on June 25th.

The contract also opens the door for potential tie-ins, like merchandising deals, a director’s cut of the film and special editions. According to the AP, the deal also allows for Jackson’s co-executors John Branca and John McClain to produce one or more television tribute concerts to the King of Pop, as long as those concerts don’t interfere with the film. There are numerous conditions that the film must adhere to: It must secure a PG-rating and it can run no longer than 150 minutes, nor can it show Jackson in a negative fashion in any way, the AP writes. The contract also calls for an October 2nd deadline for the film to be completed edited and screened for Jackson reps, so the film could potentially reach theatres by year’s end.

As Rock Daily previously reported, AEG Live unveiled some potential footage from the final rehearsals with a clip of Jackson and his backup dancers performing “They Don’t Care About Us” from the This Is It! rehearsals. All four major studios competed for the rights to the rehearsal film, but as Sony is home to Jackson’s music catalog, it made the most sense for the film to be distributed through the company’s Columbia Pictures.

Related Stories:

Studios Scramble to Bring Jackson “This Is It” Rehearsals to Theaters
Katherine Jackson Wins Custody, Withdraws Bid for Michael’s Estate
Michael Jackson Photos From “This Is It!” Rehearsals Emerge


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Comments

Anonymous | 8/5/2009, 2:59 pm EST

If 90% of the money is going to the Jackson Estate, and 10% is going to AEG….

… what’s going to Columbia Pictures?

Anonymous | 8/5/2009, 3:45 pm EST

Columbia pictures is buying it dummy.

Anonymous | 8/5/2009, 4:09 pm EST

what money will be left for Columbia when 90% goes to the Jacksons and 10% goes to AEG?

Anonymous | 8/5/2009, 4:29 pm EST

Can you say box office receipts???

coachmaddog | 8/5/2009, 11:20 pm EST

Who cares?

Michael Howard | 8/7/2009, 3:03 am EST

I just hope someone does good things with this footage, so the public can celebrate the life of Michael without getting ripped off and making somone else RICH.

resonable | 8/11/2009, 2:07 am EST

those haters plese do not join MJ king of music the one and forever site thanks how awful are you jelos people we lost the one and the swetest man ever and you I hope you are going to stop

jjas | 8/29/2009, 4:25 am EST

I am out of words I am so overwhelmed and pleased that the accelades and the dream are being kept alive and so many people love him as much as I do. Tv Shows in auz hardly mention him a 20 to 1 show over here about anthems didn t give him a rating. I cry for the damage that has been done to this man through gross misinterpretation I am a bit weird and I have a different interpretation . I see pain suffering reaching loving american indian sharmon tai chi ohm He taught me to hear with the coreographing of the SOUNDS in the Panther video. He worked and worked he opened his heart he was double crossed and hurt . I his playful child like spirit was so mis understood. I fill with tears with all every one is doing to keep his dream alive save the planet love one another and heal the world love to you all

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