24/06/2025
REMEMBERING MY FILMING OF THE KING OF POP!
Tomorrow marks 16 years since the King of Pop Michael Jackson died. I mark the occasion as it presented me with a lot of "firsts." It marked a turning part of my career. I literally went from being an unknown to people all over the world seeing TV footage and photos of my filming Michael, over the course of his final trip to Japan. I personally filmed him relentlessly over seven days... From his arrival at Tokyo's Narita Airport, to his two VIP Parties; taking his family to Disneyland; his Blackhawk helicopter ride over Tokyo to his visit with U.S. military troops and their families at Camp Zama; autograph sessions he did with hundreds of fans; to a shopping trip he made to Bic Camera, where I talked him into posing with a statue of Superman. The footage I shot and our crews filmed ended up in two MJ documentaries aired on FOX. I found him kind, with a great sense of humor, and talkative about everything from the food he loved, to what type of editing system I had at my house. In fact, I pi**ed off my staff when I turned down his request to visit my house to look over my editing system. At the time I lived next to a neighbor who grew very expensive Bonsai trees. I was worried about the fans and the paparazzi that constantly showed up wherever we film, doing serious damage to those trees. Michael understood but it took my staff a while to forgive me!
