Landis sues Jacko over Thriller “profits”
Thursday, 29. January 2009 - 12:40 pm
John Landis, director of Michael Jackson’s Thriller – probably the most celebrated music video of all time – is suing Jackson for profits from the video-cum-mini-film that he believes are owed to him, due to the contract he signed to direct the video back in 1983.
As well as a fee, it appears that Landis’s unusual contract to make Thriller granted him 50% of the net profits earned by the work. More than 25 years after he made it, Landis alleges he is still waiting to see that money.
Now he’s filed a complaint, with the Los Angeles Superior Court – which you can view here – and Landis’s actual contract with Jacko is part of the addendum to the complaint.
Very interesting – and bound to stir up that old debate about video directors’ rights to royalty payments, especially on those odd occasions when music videos actually make money.
More at Video Static and The Wrap – and this, of course, is what the fuss is all about. Over 31m hits on Youtube…
30. January 2009 - 7:47 pm
$513,769 USD, plus up to $200,000 for ‘making of’ in 1983?
Sweet…
14. December 2009 - 4:50 pm
Michael Jackson would always be the best popstar ever. i love all his songs and his live concerts.
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