MICHAEL- A Visionary?!
November 15, 2002 Number 606 "I´m A Visionary" Michael Jackson Tells Packed Courtroom Michael arrived for a second day of testimony on 14th November in the case that tour promoter Marcel Avram has brought against him about the cancellation of two Millennium Concerts. Contrary to media spin, the judge granted Michael permission to arrive later than previously anticipated. According to the Independent (UK broadsheet newspaper), the court photographer admitted that before Michael´s arrival, his lawyers filed a complaint with the judge about the fact that photographs from the previous day in court were made available to the media without Michael´s knowledge. According to Reuters, "the judge urged the photographers to be less intrusive in their work but did not ban them from the courtroom." Once in the witness stand, Michael - whose defence is that he was looking forward to the Millennium Concerts and did not want to cancel them - shed some light on his creative and business practices. Reuters quoted Michael as saying, "[I get] an overview of what´s going on financially, but I´m in the creative department. I´m a visionary." Reuters also stated that Mr. Avram´s lawyer, Louis Miller, who called Michael as a hostile witness "made little headway with the singer" during Thursday´s testimony. According to Associated Press, during the first day of testimony on 13th November, Michael told Mr. Miller that he had planned to use magic in the Millennium Shows. "Magic?," Miller repeated. "Yes, magic, as in abracadabra," responded Michael. The Santa Maria Times of 15th November speculates that the case "could last well into December, with a week-long break for Thanksgiving." The paper also reports that Judge Zel Canter asked Michael to consider giving up his trip to Germany next week, where he is due to receive a humanitarian award at the Bambi Awards in Berlin on 21st November. "It is a significant honor for people working with children. I want to encourage more celebrities to do more for children around the world," Michael responded. According to the Santa Maria Times, "the judge dropped the issue, determining that Jackson could return later if the plaintiff´s questioning of the artist is not finished." When asked about a meeting with Mr. Avram in August 1999, Michael said, "God, I have so many meetings, it is hard to pinpoint. They break up my [singing] sessions with meetings." When asked about the logisitcs of managing to do two Millennium concerts on the two extremes of the international date line, Michael said he thought it would have been possible, which is why he signed the contract. But he agreed that it would not have been without its difficulties. "That would have been tough. It would depend on the situation, what happened on stage. Every show I lose 15 pounds. They weigh me before and after the show." Michael admitted it was easier to do three shows in one day, "like vaudeville," when he was 8 years old. THNKS mjni!
November 15, 2002 Number 606 "I´m A Visionary" Michael Jackson Tells Packed Courtroom Michael arrived for a second day of testimony on 14th November in the case that tour promoter Marcel Avram has brought against him about the cancellation of two Millennium Concerts. Contrary to media spin, the judge granted Michael permission to arrive later than previously anticipated. According to the Independent (UK broadsheet newspaper), the court photographer admitted that before Michael´s arrival, his lawyers filed a complaint with the judge about the fact that photographs from the previous day in court were made available to the media without Michael´s knowledge. According to Reuters, "the judge urged the photographers to be less intrusive in their work but did not ban them from the courtroom." Once in the witness stand, Michael - whose defence is that he was looking forward to the Millennium Concerts and did not want to cancel them - shed some light on his creative and business practices. Reuters quoted Michael as saying, "[I get] an overview of what´s going on financially, but I´m in the creative department. I´m a visionary." Reuters also stated that Mr. Avram´s lawyer, Louis Miller, who called Michael as a hostile witness "made little headway with the singer" during Thursday´s testimony. According to Associated Press, during the first day of testimony on 13th November, Michael told Mr. Miller that he had planned to use magic in the Millennium Shows. "Magic?," Miller repeated. "Yes, magic, as in abracadabra," responded Michael. The Santa Maria Times of 15th November speculates that the case "could last well into December, with a week-long break for Thanksgiving." The paper also reports that Judge Zel Canter asked Michael to consider giving up his trip to Germany next week, where he is due to receive a humanitarian award at the Bambi Awards in Berlin on 21st November. "It is a significant honor for people working with children. I want to encourage more celebrities to do more for children around the world," Michael responded. According to the Santa Maria Times, "the judge dropped the issue, determining that Jackson could return later if the plaintiff´s questioning of the artist is not finished." When asked about a meeting with Mr. Avram in August 1999, Michael said, "God, I have so many meetings, it is hard to pinpoint. They break up my [singing] sessions with meetings." When asked about the logisitcs of managing to do two Millennium concerts on the two extremes of the international date line, Michael said he thought it would have been possible, which is why he signed the contract. But he agreed that it would not have been without its difficulties. "That would have been tough. It would depend on the situation, what happened on stage. Every show I lose 15 pounds. They weigh me before and after the show." Michael admitted it was easier to do three shows in one day, "like vaudeville," when he was 8 years old. THNKS mjni!