Michael Jackson's Ghosts

Background Info.| Film Facts l Story

Background Information

"I've always wanted to be able to tell stories, stories that came from my soul. I'd like to sit by a fire and tell people stories - make them see pictures, make the cry and laugh, take them anywhere emotionally. I'd like to tell tales to move their souls and transform them. I've always wanted to be able to do that. I sometimes feel I could do that. . . "

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's 38-minute short-film Ghosts originally premiered in selected Sony movie theaters in the USA, in the fall of 1996. It was later presented to the international public by Michael himself at the 50th Film Festival in Cannes, in May 1997. In August 1997 Ghosts was also shown at the opening night of the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival in California. The film was released commercially in 1997 on videocassette in most parts of the world. It was never released in North America.

The story is written by Michael Jackson and famous writer Stephen King. Michael recalls having fun writing the story with King, and describes him as a gentle sweet kind man who is great to work with. (Stephen King's Official Website - http://www.stephenking.com)

The film is directed by Oscar-winner Stan Winston, the world's foremost creator of creatures. Winston is the man behind characters such as 'The Terminator', the extra-terrestrial monstrosities of 'Aliens' and the amazing dinosaurs of 'Jurassic Park'. (Stan Winston Studio Official Website - http://www.swfx.com)

Film Facts

THE DANCE

ALL DANCE SEQUENCES CONCEIVED AND STAGED BY: Michael Jackson

CHOREOGRAPHY BY: Michael Jackson, Lavelle Smith, Travis Payne & Barry Lather

CHOREOGRAPHY CONSULTANTS: Bruno "Taco" Falcon & Jeffrey Daniels

GHOST DANCERS:

THE SPECIAL FX

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS AND DIGITAL ANIMATION BY: Digital Domain - Venice, CA

ADDITIONAL DIGITAL EFFECTS BY: Pacific Data Images - Palo Alto, CA

MATTE PAINTINGS BY: Syd Dutton and Bill Taylor, A.S.C. - Illusions Arts, Inc.

MAKE-UP AND ANIMATRONIC EFFECTS DESIGNED AND CREATED AT: Stan Winston Studio

MAYOR MAKE-UP DESIGNER & KEY ARTIST: Richie Alonzo

MAYOR MAKE-UP ARTIST: Nick Marra

MICHAEL JACKSON GHOUL MAKE-UP: Mike Smithson

GHOUL MAKE-UP ARTIST & DESIGNER: Bruce Spauldin Fuller

THE FILMMAKERS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Caroline Baron

CO-PRODUCER: Mary Montiforte

SCORE COMPOSED AND PERFORMED BY: Michael Jackson

ORIGINAL MUSIC BY: Nicholas Pike

EDITOR: Marcus Manton

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Russel Carpenter

BASED UPON AN ORIGINAL CONCEPT BY: Michael Jackson & Stephen King

SCREENPLAY BY: Stan Winston & Mick Garris

PRODUCED BY: Michael Jackson, Stan Winston & David Nicksay

AN OPIUM FILMS PRODUCTION

CAST OF CARACTERS:

MAESTRO: Michael Jackson
MAYOR: Michael Jackson
GHOUL MAYOR: Michael Jackson
SUPERGHOUL: Michael Jackson
SKELETON: Michael Jackson
PAT: Pat Dade
AMY: Amy Smallman
EDWINA: Edwina Moore
DANTE: Dante Beze
SETH: Seth Smith
KENDALL: Kendall Cunningham
LOREN: Loren Randolph
HEATHER: Heather Ehlers

The Story

It's night and dark out. A group of people carrying burning tourches march through 'Normal Valley' heading for a lonely house on the outskirts of the town. They come to a halt in front of a gate, beside which is a sign that reads 'Someplace Else'.

Black boy: Why don't we just leave him alone?

White young boy: He hasn't hurt anybody. Can't we just go?

White older boy: [Slaps his younger brother's head] Your fault jerk! Couldn't keep your mouth shut.

White mother: [Slaps the older brother] He did the right thing.

Mayor: He's a weirdo. There's no place in this town for weirdos.

The gates open.

Black man: [scared] See, that . . .that. . .that. . .that ain't a good sign!

They walk in the gates, and the doors to the house in front of them open.

White young boy: (to his older bother) Just like last time. It's the ghost!

White older boy: [Slaps his brother again] Shut up!

White mother: [Slaps the older brother again] Don't hit your brother!

Black boy's mother: (to her son) There is no such thing as ghosts, honey.

Mayor: (to black boy) I'm gonna prove it to you kid. Let's go!

The mayor leads them in.

White woman 2: [Nervous] Did anyone call and make sure this is a good time . . . ? Maybe we should come back later . . .

Black woman 2: Yeah, like when it's light out . . . you know, like daytime.

They walk all the way into the house. The doors close behind them. Lightening strikes.

Black man: [really scared] Oh damn!

They walk along a corridor and the door in front of them closes. Another door opens, and they walk in. They come into a big hallroom. They all scream as a raven flies over their heads and disappear into darkness.

Villagers: What was that??

They see a flick of a black cape disappear where the raven landed. Lightening strikes and for a split second they see a person standing there. They walk a bit closer and suddenly see the person's face: a scull!

They all jump and the skelleton with the black cape walks towards them. But to their relief the 'skelleton' is only a mask which the person takes off, and they discover the Maestro's face behind it.

Maestro: Did I scare you?

Woman: Uh-huh!!

Black boy: That's him mom!

Black boy's mother: I see.

White young boy: Hi!

White older boy: Sorry...

Mayor: No you didn't scare me. Maybe you scared them, but you didn't scare me.

Maestro: [Smiles] Well that's too bad isn't is? I guess I have to try harder next time.

Mayor: There won't be a next time.

Maestro: Oh really?

Mayor: Oh really.

Maestro: No next time huh? Why is that?

Mayor: We want you out of town. We have a nice normal town. Normal people. Normal kids. We don't need freaks like you telling them ghoststories.

Maestro: So you don't believe in ghosts?

Black boy: I do!

Black woman 2: Me too!

Black boy's mother: Hush up! You see what you've done? Aren't you ashamed? Young people are impressionable!

White young boy: Show them the neat stuff you did for us!

White older brother: [Slaps his brother] Shut up, that's supposed to be a secret!

White mother: [Slaps the older brother] Don't hit your brother!

'Something' slaps the mothers head. They all look scared.

Mayor: You're weird. You're strange. And I don't like you. You're scaring these kids, living up here all alone..

Maestro: I'm not alone. And you're right, I do like scaring people, yes. But it's just for fun! Don't you kids. . . uh. . . enjoy when. . . I do my little. . . you know. . .

The kids smile and nod.

Mayor: But the fun's over. Back to the circus you freak! And do yourself a favour, ok, don't force us to get rough with you, 'cause we will if we have to.

The rest of the villagers begin to protest a little.

Maestro: You're trying to scare me, aren't you? I'll tell you what, we'll play a game. [rises his voice] Anybody here like playing games? Hello?! [claps] GAMETIME!

The kids smile.

White older brother: Yes!

Maestro: The first person who gets scared has to leave. How about that?

White woman 2: I'll go please!

Mayor: I don't play games with freaks.

Maestro: There's no need to be rude.

White woman 2: Yes, I agree, there's no need to be rude. You have a very lovely home, but I'm afraid we overstayed our welcome, so we're gonna go, ok, can we go...?

The Maestro snaps and points at her. She stops talking.

Mayor: Are you gonna leave, or am I gonna have to hurt you?

Maestro: You ARE trying to scare me, I guess I have no choice. I guess I have to scare you. Watch this! [laughs] Tell me, do you think this is scary?

He pulls a face and the kids start to laugh.

Black woman: Is that it?

Mayor: That's ridiculous! That's not funny.

Maestro: Ok fine, what about this one?

He pulls another face and the kids laugh again.

White mother: Is that it?

Maestro: Did that scare you?

Mayor: Did you hear what I said? Freaky boy, it's time for you to go.

Maestro: [angry voice] Is THIS scary?

The Maestro grabs his skin by the eyes and mouth and pulls it out. The Villagers gasp and scream. He takes his chin and pulls down his jaw, the Villagers scream louder and back up.

Black kid: Wow!!

The Maestro grabs his skin again and tears his whole face off, only the scull is left. He then knocks on both sides if his head, the scull breaks and his own face shows up again. The Villagers run towards the the door, but he closes it before they get a chance to escape. The black man starts to sob.

Maestro: Are we going somewhere? Hello?! It's too late, you're my guests! [smiles] And by the way, did I tell you I wasn't alone? Meet the family!

Lots of ghosts appear. Maestro leads them in a humouros dance routine without music, which the kids enjoy, and then they start to dance to the song 2 Bad.

2 BAD

Told me that you're doin' wrong
Word out shockin' all alone
Cryin' wolf ain't like a man
Throwin' stones to hide your hand

You ain't done enough for me
You ain't done enough for me
You are disgustin' me, yeah yeah
You're aiming just for me
You are disgustin' me
Just want your cut from me
But too bad, too bad

Look who just walked in the place
Dead and stuffy in the face
Look who's standing if you please
Though you tired to bring me to my kneew

Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it
Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it

Hell all up in Hollywood
Sayin' that you got it good
Creepin' from a dusty hole
Tales of what somebody told

Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it
Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it

Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it
Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you scream and shout it
Too bad too bad about it
Why don't you just scream and shout it

Halfway through the song the ghosts start to climb the walls and walk upsidedown on the roof. All the villagers except the Mayor seem to enjoy the show and have a good time.

The music stops, the Maestro rips his clothes off, turns into a skelleton and dances to the song Ghosts. The Mayor looks scared to death.

The skelleton pulls the Mayor towards him and then jumps up on a shelf on the wall. He turns all the ghosts into some really scary looking - rotten - ghosts who start to mob the Mayor. Everybody gets scared.

They start to dance to 2 Bad again and the villagers seem to have fun again.

The Mayor tries to escape as the ghosts surround him. Maestro-skelleton snaps and they stop. He jumps down from the wall, spins around in the air and turns into a huge scary rotten looking version of the Maestro -SUPERGHOUL.

Superghoul: Are you scared yet? *hehehe*

The SUPERGHOUL opens the Mayor's mouth and flies into him. He posesses him. He's inside of him and he makes the Mayor dance. The Mayor tries to stop, but can't, he just keeps dancing.

Mayor: STOOOOOP!!!

The Mayor's stomach makes a lot of funny noices, and then suddenly an arm (the Superghoul's) holding a mirror pops out of it. The Mayor looks at himself in the mirror, and turns into a very ugly version of himself - GHOUL MAYOR.

Ghoul Mayor: Who's scary now? Who's the freak now? Freakyboy! Freak circus freak! Who's scary? *HAHAHA* Who's weird now?

He drops the mirror to the floor and the Superghoul flies out of his mouth again. The Mayor looks exhausted. He puts on his glasses and looks up at the Maestro (who's back to his normal self again). The Maestro smiles. He walks around the Mayor and then makes a bow.

Maestro: So, do you still want me to go?

Mayor: Yes! yes!

Maestro: Fine, I'll go.

The Maestro bangs his hands and head into the floor and crumbles into dust. The wind sweeps the rest of him away. The Villagers look sad and the kids cry.

Mayor: Good riddance. Let's go! Let's go!

The Villagers hesitate. The kids look at the place the Maestro disappeard.

Mayor: Let's go!! I showed that freak.

The Mayor opens the door, and the Superghoul's face peakes out of the entire door!

The Mayor gets terrified, turns in his tracks and legs towards a closed window. He runs right through it and only leaves a pattern of his body in the window. The Maestro walks to the Villagers.

Maestro: Did I scare you?

Everybody starts to talk in each others mouths. They laugh and tell him their experiences. "For a minute there I thought I was gonna lose it!" blah . . blah . . blah. . .

Maestro: But did we have a good time here? [big grin] Hello?!

Everybody: Yeah!

As the Villagers continue to talk, a shadow sneaks up behing the Maestro's back. He can't see anything, but he notices the scared looks in the Villager's eyes.

The Maestro: What?

One of the woman points at the shadow behind the Maestro. He slowly turns around, sees a scull face and jumps back. The mask comes off and they see that it's only a couple of the kids having fun with them.

White young boy: Did I scare ya?

The Maestro: No. Well, maybe.. How about that? Maybe! [smiles]

The Maestro lifts the boy off the other boy's shoulders.

Older white brother: Excuse me? Excuse me, yeah, um.. Is THIS scary?

The boy takes his hands to his mouth like the Maestro did earlier when he pulled his skin off.

[Shot from outside the house] Everyone screams.

~ The End ~

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