Jackson was digitally inserted into classic 1940s film noir clips alongside Rita Hayworth and Humphrey Bogart.
In Extras 1, he is a working artist. He is tired. He is brilliant. He is demanding. He is kind.
: Comparison between the green screen footage and the finished 3D effect. The "Thriller" Vignette Focus : The updated graveyard sequence.
: A close-up look at the custom costumes designed for the tour. It features the famous crystal-covered clothing Michael planned to wear. michael jacksons this is it 2009 extras 1
If you haven’t watched the This Is It extras lately (released in 2010), here is why you need to dig that disc out again.
| Bonus Feature | Standard DVD | Blu-ray Edition | | -------------------------------------------- | :----------: | :-------------: | | "Staging the Return" Documentaries (2 parts) | ✓ | ✓ | | "The Gloved One" Costumes Featurette | ✓ | ✓ | | "Memories of Michael" Featurette | ✓ | ✓ | | "Auditions" Dancer Featurette | ✓ | ✓ | | Theatrical Trailer | ✓ | ✓ | | | ✗ | ✓ | | "Thriller" Vignette | ✗ | ✓ | | "Making of Smooth Criminal" | ✗ | ✓ | | BD-Live / movieIQ Features | ✗ | ✓ |
: Follows the rigorous selection process for the dancers who were to join Jackson on stage. Post-Credit Clips Jackson was digitally inserted into classic 1940s film
Michael Jackson's This Is It 2009 Extras 1, This Is It DVD extras, MJ rehearsal footage, Kenny Ortega, Staples Center, Human Nature extended cut.
For the die-hard fans and the production nerds, the treasure trove wasn't the main feature—it was the section labeled (often titled "Staging the Returns" or "The Gloved One" depending on your region). Today, we’re looking back at why these specific extras remain some of the most fascinating footage of MJ’s career.
The main This Is It film is a eulogy. is a testament. It removes the tabloid narrative of "Wacko Jacko" and replaces it with a mundane, beautiful reality: a 50-year-old artist working harder than any 20-year-old in the room. He is brilliant
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of what makes the first wave of This Is It extras a masterclass in modern show production and a poignant look at Jackson's final artistic vision. 1. The Core Documentaries: "Staging the Return"
One major value of Extras 1 is its documentation of Jackson’s leadership style and creative process. The footage frequently shows him directing dancers, critiquing movement, demonstrating phrasing, and obsessing over timing down to fractions of a beat. Those glimpses reinforce the long-standing image of Jackson as meticulous and exacting—someone who controlled every aspect of presentation, from choreography to costume to lighting cues. But the extras nuance that image as well, showing moments of warmth, humor, and encouragement. Crew members and collaborators speak with evident affection for him, recounting instances of generosity and patience. Thus the supplementary material complicates simple caricatures that circulated in tabloid coverage—revealing both the intensity that drove Jackson’s excellence and the relational ties that sustained the production team.
When This Is It hit theaters in October 2009, the world held its breath. It wasn’t just a documentary; it was a ghost story, a celebration, and a eulogy all rolled into one. We watched Michael Jackson rehearse in high definition, looking frail yet ferociously talented, and we collectively mourned what could have been.
For a dancer, landing a spot on a Michael Jackson tour was the ultimate career milestone. Disc 1 dedicates significant time to the grueling global audition process that whittled down over 5,000 hopefuls to a select elite crew. This segment is split into two core narratives:
When Michael Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009, the world lost more than a generational pop star; it lost the chance to witness what promised to be the most technologically advanced and physically breathtaking concert residency in history: the This Is It residency at London's O2 Arena. Released later that year to critical and commercial acclaim, the documentary mastered more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage to show the King of Pop at work.