Of course they would not like the sale. I think Michael wanted to move on from Neverland and build something new. Michael realized that Neverland is not a land, but it is wherever his children and innocence are. His children are true angels who came to him and gave him the most happiness in his life. Home is where the heart is.
COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES JULY 8, 2015 | 10:00AM PT Dave McNary Film Reporter @Variety_DMcNary The American Federation of Musicians is suing Sony Music Entertainment for allegedly violating its contract in the Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It.”
The suit, filed in federal court in New York, alleges that the artists were misled to record work for “This Is It” with the understanding that they were working on a phonographic record instead of a film score.
Sony had no immediate response to a request for comment.
“The Sound Recording Labor Agreement, which Sony has signed, covers only recording sessions for records—and prohibits recording film scores,” the union said.
AFM International President Ray Hair said Sony allegedly refused to sign a letter allowing them to use the AFM Motion Picture Agreement for this recording session. As a result, the union asserted, musicians have been unable to collect residuals on the film.
The film, directed by Kenny Ortega, grossed over $260 million worldwide.
“A fan may wonder what difference it makes if musicians record music under one contract versus another, but it makes a huge difference to musicians trying to earn a living,” Hair said. “Musicians have joined together to create industry standards and it is simply unacceptable for greedy corporations to knowingly violate those standards by denying residuals.”
The suit also charges Sony with refusing to make new payments on Pitbull’s 2012 version of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” and sampling of Jackson songs like “Billie Jean” and “Man in the Mirror” in “This Is It.”
“We did not want to go to court, but Sony repeatedly refused to do the right thing and pay the musicians fairly,” Hair said.
The AFM is seeking breach of contract damages, including the payment of wages and benefits that should have been given to musicians.
The suit is AFM’s third filed in recent months. The union sued Paramount Pictures last month for allegedly breaching its master contract by recording the score to Renee Zellweger’s upcoming film “Same Kind of Different as Me” in Slovakia. The union also filed suit against Warner Bros., MGM and Paramount on April 27. AFM claims that the studios violated its master contract for recording film scores outside the U.S. and Canada for “Interstellar” (Warner Bros. and Paramount), “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” (Warner Bros.) and MGM’s reboots of “RoboCop” and “Carrie.” FILED UNDER: Amerian Federation of MusiciansMichael JacksonThis Is It http://variety.com/2015/film/news/musicians-union-sues-sony-over-michael-jacksons-this-is-it-1201536016/#article-comments
I've been remembering Michael a lot in the past 1 1/2 weeks. I remember his vibrant smile and feel his vibrant energy almost as if he is sitting next to me. Very beautiful energy, he looks very happy and hopeful.
At the time I posted earlier today, I was sorting through books in my house and I had picked up the Holy Bible. When I had opened it, it had a bookmark for chapters Isaiah 60-63. I finished reading them now. I don't know if there is a connection.
Thanks Bonnie for the article on Joe. Hope he is doing well. Past week I realized looking back that I'm very similar to Michael in the sense that I was born a "dancer", I was always dancing even before I learned to walk. I was always singing, drawing, and a very fast runner. I never took interest in Michael, but only noticed him after I saw his Heal the World video and saw his interview. In his interview he had shared that he believed that God has a mission for him, to help children who are suffering. I was amazed when I heard him say that because those were the same words that had come to me at the same time he had, like a calling from God. I was amazed that how can 2 different people have the same experience of this calling at the same time. I became a fan when I saw Michael holding and hugging a sick child in his arms. The only difference between me and Michael, is that my father was not like Joe. My father very much discouraged my artistic side. Joe believed in his children's abilities and encouraged them. That was the difference, and an important one.
It is interesting Mons89 that the article regarding Joe seems to be gone. I did not delete it.
Joe's hospitalization did prompt a visit from Michael. Michael said that Joe was being given time to reassess his life and played "Man in the Mirror" in my head. I hope that Joe and his family choose wisely in their interactions going forward.
Hmmm Had that happen to me on here not too long ago. Something I was sure I had posted in response to @Mons89 and checked to see that it was there a few moments later was gone after a day or so. I did not bother reposting. Is the site doing its own filtering? I wonder...
Last Edited by Irina on Aug 13, 2015 11:40 PM
This is really strange that your posts are disappearing! I wonder why? I mean what could anyone get by hacking or deleting posts?
It's good that Joe is getting an opportunity to reassess his life. May be very few people get that blessing. But I don't want myself or people to think that Joe is an evil guy. No one can understand Joe unless one puts oneself in his shoes. One cannot understand one's own father until one becomes a father or parent.
I think like anyone of us humans we do some things better than others in our time here on this planet.
Joe was visionary when it came to his children and their abilities. At the same time he was a very "hands on" disciplinarian, which did not sit well with Michael's sensitive nature.
However I do very much agree with the general premise that without walking in someone else's shoes one should not pass judgement of that person and their life and what influenced their choices.
Joe is lucky to have the opportunity to re-evaluate the relationships in his life.
One must admit he has had an amazing adventurous life.
Not everyone gets the opportunity to come back after their heart stops. I hope he does well with the extra time granted to him...
Thank you for sharing Michael's beautiful Oxford speech.
I am aware that Michael forgave Joe. Parenthood is very much a learning experience, for not just the child but the parent as well. As Michael stated it made him re-assess his own relationship with his Dad and he started to understand what influenced his father on a better level.
And yes I am aware that Joe was blocked from getting to see Michael in the last two months of his life.
Agreeing with Joe here, I am of the belief that had he been able to get to Michael he may have still been with us today.
IMHO
Last Edited by Irina on Aug 18, 2015 12:16 AM
Thanks Irina! Yes, I agree that it would have been nice if father and son were allowed to see each other. It seems maybe reconciliation was lacking. That's the odd thing about the Jackson family. The members are controlled to the extent that they cannot see their own father, son, brother, sister, husband, children, grandchildren and so on. They have been kept divided.
I would like to add my humble opinion to Michael's Oxford speech. I do not mean to be harsh, but just as how Michael said parents should love and accept their children unconditionally, I think children too should love and accept their parents unconditionally. It goes both ways. And while loving and accepting unconditionally and forgiveness are important, the persons or maybe both parties need to make changes in their behaviours. Joe needed to change the way he interacted if Michael's feelings were hurt. Sometimes children who resent their parents' behaviours may also withhold and not express their love for their parents. Maybe it's like if you do not show your love for me then I too will not show my love for you. Maybe what hurt Michael is that Joe never realised nor admitted where he had gone wrong, how his behaviour impacted Michael and that he had to show that change in his behaviours. What is the use of feeling love if you damage the child you love, however unintentionally?
Last Edited by Mons89 on Aug 18, 2015 9:16 PM
it was not the lack of reconciliation it was the AEG clamp down on Michael and security taking orders from them... they would not let him on the property
Michael knew Joe could help him this is why Joe was kept away ...
Last Edited by Irina on Aug 20, 2015 8:18 AM
Maybe you are right. I don't really know what happened because I cannot read Michael nor Joe's minds. But I do agree that AEG did keep many people away, not just Joe. Sounds more like a Frank Dileo idea- the father of all manipulations.
Last Edited by 
