Spike Lee worked with and considered him a friend, but the director says even he learned a lot combing through footage of the icon for a planned documentary about the singer's "Bad" album.

Lee calls it a "treasure chest of findings."

"We have footage in this documentary that no one's ever seen, stuff that Michael shot himself, behind-the-scenes stuff," he said in an interview Monday. "We had complete access to the vaults of Michael Jackson. ... He wrote 60 demos for the `Bad' record. Only 11 made it. So we got to hear a lot of that stuff, too, so it was just a great experience."

He added: "You don't have to be a Michael Jackson-head to enjoy this."

Lee's documentary, which does not yet have an official title, will be part of a flood of material to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the "Bad" album, Jackson's follow-up to "Thriller" that included hits like the title track, "Smooth Criminal," `'The Way You Make Me Feel" and more. The album is being rereleased Sept.18 with additional tracks, a DVD and other bonus material; Lee's film is due to come out later this year, but no date has been set.

Besides Jackson's artistry, Lee said the documentary will show a more personal side of the late legend.

"He had a great sense of humor, and he was funny - so you'll see a lot of that stuff," he said.

Lee interviewed people ranging from Kanye West to Mariah Carey to L.A. Reid to Sheryl Crow, who was Jackson's background singer on the "Bad" tour.

"We really divided it into two things: Artists today who were influenced by Michael, and then people who worked side by side - musicians, songwriters, technicians, engineers, people at the label, who were all committed to Michael, to the follow-up to the biggest record of all time, which still is `Thriller.'"

Besides the documentary, Lee also plans to hold his now annual birthday tribute to Jackson in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 25; Jackson would have turned 54 this year.

"This year we're going to focus on the `Bad' album, we're going to focus on the 25th anniversary, but at the same time we're going to play his full catalog, including the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons," he said. "It's going to be even bigger and better this year."

http://www.billboard.com/...3352.story

this project sounds promising

SoulAlive said:

this project sounds promising

I love "Bad." This is my second favorite after "Dangerous."
I have a question: why can not we create another theme "Bad 25" .. to put all the information only about the project?

LiLi1992 said:

I love "Bad." This is my second favorite after "Dangerous."
I have a question: why can not we create another theme "Bad 25" .. to put all the information only about the project?

Same. Do you mean a thread?

Should be good Spike never half asses.

will this be in theatres? Or just shown on TV?

SoulAlive said:

will this be in theatres? Or just shown on TV?

I was asking myself this same question, I dont think its been announced how it will be released yet...my guess it will either be a DVD release or shown on TV. Cant see it being released in a theater.

SoulAlive said:

will this be in theatres? Or just shown on TV?

Would u actually pay $$$ 2 see this at a theatre?

Graycap23 said:

Would u actually pay $$$ 2 see this at a theatre?

I would, and I rarely watch new movies, let alone go to a movie theater. The last time I went to one was for This Is It.

MickyDolenz said:

Graycap23 said:

Would u actually pay $$$ 2 see this at a theatre?

I would, and I rarely watch new movies, let alone go to a movie theater. The last time I went to one was for This Is It.

I love your signature.

smoothcriminal12 said:

MickyDolenz said:

I would, and I rarely watch new movies, let alone go to a movie theater. The last time I went to one was for This Is It.

I love your signature.

RIP Robin.

smoothcriminal12 said:

MickyDolenz said:

I would, and I rarely watch new movies, let alone go to a movie theater. The last time I went to one was for This Is It.

I love your signature.

Thanks

Graycap23 said:

SoulAlive said:

will this be in theatres? Or just shown on TV?

Would u actually pay $$$ 2 see this at a theatre?

Yes! and I am sure you would pay your money, too.
I have not watched This Is It at a theatre , because MJ was not in good physical shape, but Вad.. . He was the greatest at that time.

LiLi1992 said:

Graycap23 said:

Would u actually pay $$$ 2 see this at a theatre?

Yes! and I am sure you would pay your money, too.

Sure, if it was a documentary about Mint Condition.

MickyDolenz said:

LiLi1992 said:

Yes! and I am sure you would pay your money, too.

Sure, if it was a documentary about Mint Condition.

Lowkey shade.

MickyDolenz said:

LiLi1992 said:

Yes! and I am sure you would pay your money, too.

Sure, if it was a documentary about Mint Condition.

Mint...4 sho but they would NOT rip off their fans that way.

[Edited 7/11/12 13:15pm]

NaughtyKitty said:

SoulAlive said:

will this be in theatres? Or just shown on TV?

I was asking myself this same question, I dont think its been announced how it will be released yet...my guess it will either be a DVD release or shown on TV. Cant see it being released in a theater.

They should release it as a bonus disc with the album remaster.That would make sense.

Graycap23 said:

SoulAlive said:

will this be in theatres? Or just shown on TV?

Would u actually pay $$$ 2 see this at a theatre?

This is far more interesting than a documentary about Katy Perry someone who wasn't even famous five years ago,lol

...

[Edited 7/11/12 14:06pm]

shucks I don't know...."Bad" has always been my top favorite MJ album and I loved that era.

I don't know if the documentary is going to be release in theaters unless they're going to do a limited viewing in New York & LA if they want it to be eligible for an oscar nomination in the documentary catagory. It was said that Sony is shopping the documentary to major tv networks worldwide & sent them a 20 mintue preview

HAPPYPERSON said:

I don't know if the documentary is going to be release in theaters unless they're going to do a limited viewing in New York & LA if they want it to be eligible for an oscar nomination in the documentary catagory. It was said that Sony is shopping the documentary to major tv networks worldwide & sent them a 20 mintue preview

Even if it was in theaters, documentaries usually don't get wide release, and are mostly shown in "art film" theaters, not the multiplex.

here's a snippet

[img:$uid]http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2103/39253344813977521311410.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2850/57494444813983521310810.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/401572_442238925790982_228973190450891_1863521_2006762291_n.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/536694_442684002413141_228973190450891_1865302_1379569779_n.jpg[/img:$uid]

"Chris Brown And I Having Fun On The Set Of The Documentary Of The 25th Anniversary Of MJ's BAD Album."
[img:$uid]http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg814/scaled.php?tn=0&server=814&filename=e7bsy.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640[/img:$uid]

[img]

Yes, I felt very protected sandwiched between Big Gipp and Cee Lo Green during my 2nd interview for the BAD25 documentary being directed by Spike Lee. Very touching stories of the impact that Michael Jackson has had on our lives.

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s720x720/527599_245175525587316_1604180253_n.jpg[/img]

[img:$uid]http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg532/scaled.php?tn=0&server=532&filename=g13wp.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640[/img:$uid]

[img]https://p.twimg.com/Avtlb1ACIAAkvXs.jpg[/img]

[img]https://yfrog.com/h7bn3axkj:iphone[/img]

[Edited 7/11/12 15:09pm]

The last two documentaries Spike has done were released through HBO I believe. This one I'm not sure.

over 40 people will be in the documentary. For now we know:

Spike Lee himself confirmed: Bruce Swedien, Greg Phillinganes, Siedah Garrett, Glen Ballard, Steve Stevens, Wesley Snipes, Jeffrey Daniel, Stevie Wonder, Questlove, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey

Richard Lecocq from mjdatabank confirmed: Walter Yetnikoff, Larry Stessel, John Robinson, Ollie E. Brown, Jim Blashfield

Michael Jackson's Estate confirmed in the announcement: Cee Lo Green, Sheryl Crow, Martin Scorcese, Joe Pytka, Matt Forger, Vincent Paterson and Tatianna Thumbtzen

BAD25 DOCUMENTARY - Confirmed interviews (so far):

[Album Recording / Bad Tour]
* Bruce Swedien
* Siedah Garrett
* Stevie Wonder
* Sheryl Crow
* Glen Ballard
* Steve Stevens
* Greg Phillinganes
* John Robinson
* Ollie E. Brown
* Matt Forger

[Short-Films]
* Martin Scorcese
* Joe Pytka
* Jim Blashfield
* Jeffrey Daniel
* Vincent Paterson

[CBS / Sony Music]
* Walter Yetnikoff
* Larry Stessel

[Artists influenced by Michael Jackson]
* Mariah Carey (MJ's friend)
* Wesley Snipes (MJ's friend)

* Chris Brown (singer)
* Kanye West (singer)
* Justin Bieber (singer)
* Cee Lo Green (singer)
* Big Gipp (singer)

* Questlove (producer)

* Jason King (journalist)

Graycap23 said:

MickyDolenz said:

Sure, if it was a documentary about Mint Condition.

Mint...4 sho but they would NOT rip off their fans that way.

[Edited 7/11/12 13:15pm]

This isnt an option... you spend money on THE KING... watever it is

LiLi1992 said:

Graycap23 said:

Would u actually pay $$$ 2 see this at a theatre?

Yes! and I am sure you would pay your money, too.
I have not watched This Is It at a theatre , because MJ was not in good physical shape, but Вad.. . He was the greatest at that time.