On the first day of shooting we had a 7am call, except Michael was detained until mid-afternoon. Then hair and make-up, get him to the set and it's 4:30 pm before we roll. It became clear that we would be shooting nights for the next twenty or so days. It was also clear that Michael liked it this way...working at night, that is.
Finally, we got down to business. Michael makes his entrance and is met by Mark who explains the shot. The first footage we shoot with Michael is of him dancing on one of the many white floors seen throughout the video. Michael finds his position, about six feet from the camera, does a couple takes, then mentions how the floor (white vinyl linoleum) was feeling "slick." I move in with my tools, a fine grade steel wool, rag and a spray bottle with the "special sauce" and it dries to a sparkle. When I get up from my kneeling position Michael is smiling at me and says, "I remember you from the tour rehearsal." I say, "That's right," and he asks me how my kids are doing, I say "great, amazing." And then everything is back to normal, Michael does his bit and we're off to a good start.
As predicted, crew call switched from 7am to 4pm, and we worked throughout each night until 4-6am. In the final hours of the last night of shooting, we had moved to the "Zen" set. That was it, last day, last set, last series of shots. The art department had prepped the set with the final touches before Michael was brought in to take his place on the zen podium in the center of the set. Michael surveyed the scene and commented on how beautiful the set looked. He seemed very relaxed and it was obvious he enjoyed sitting in the middle of this temporary temple.
When Mark called out for a piece of the ceiling to be trimmed, I grabbed a 12-step ladder, scrambled to the top and began sawing. In an unfortunate moment the portable saw kicked back and amputated a third of my left ring finger. Without word, I reached in my back pocket for my rag, wrapped my finger with it and stepped down off the ladder and exited the set. I passed Tom on the way out and showed him what happened. Tom escorted me to the edge of the stage and I laid down on the concrete. It wasn't longer before an entire film crew of towering bodies was in a half circle looking down at me. Union guys chewing gum. 3am. Right?
Suddenly the crowd parts and Michael appears and stands there for a moment, leaning over me, looking down. He looks at my lend hand held in the air and then he looks to me. Then just like that he is on his knees by my right side and he picks up my right hand and holds it in his. He looks me straight in the eye and tells me how sorry he was, he kept repeating how sorry he was, and then he had tears in his eyes and he held my hand until the ambulance came and took me away.
That next week, recovering at home, the gifts began arriving from Michael and Janet, tasteful and cool things like great soaps, a bathrobe, incense, a card. Anyway, that's my story. Michael Jackson held my hand. Michael, if you read this, thanks for caring.
-Doug Lewis
Finally, we got down to business. Michael makes his entrance and is met by Mark who explains the shot. The first footage we shoot with Michael is of him dancing on one of the many white floors seen throughout the video. Michael finds his position, about six feet from the camera, does a couple takes, then mentions how the floor (white vinyl linoleum) was feeling "slick." I move in with my tools, a fine grade steel wool, rag and a spray bottle with the "special sauce" and it dries to a sparkle. When I get up from my kneeling position Michael is smiling at me and says, "I remember you from the tour rehearsal." I say, "That's right," and he asks me how my kids are doing, I say "great, amazing." And then everything is back to normal, Michael does his bit and we're off to a good start.
As predicted, crew call switched from 7am to 4pm, and we worked throughout each night until 4-6am. In the final hours of the last night of shooting, we had moved to the "Zen" set. That was it, last day, last set, last series of shots. The art department had prepped the set with the final touches before Michael was brought in to take his place on the zen podium in the center of the set. Michael surveyed the scene and commented on how beautiful the set looked. He seemed very relaxed and it was obvious he enjoyed sitting in the middle of this temporary temple.
When Mark called out for a piece of the ceiling to be trimmed, I grabbed a 12-step ladder, scrambled to the top and began sawing. In an unfortunate moment the portable saw kicked back and amputated a third of my left ring finger. Without word, I reached in my back pocket for my rag, wrapped my finger with it and stepped down off the ladder and exited the set. I passed Tom on the way out and showed him what happened. Tom escorted me to the edge of the stage and I laid down on the concrete. It wasn't longer before an entire film crew of towering bodies was in a half circle looking down at me. Union guys chewing gum. 3am. Right?
Suddenly the crowd parts and Michael appears and stands there for a moment, leaning over me, looking down. He looks at my lend hand held in the air and then he looks to me. Then just like that he is on his knees by my right side and he picks up my right hand and holds it in his. He looks me straight in the eye and tells me how sorry he was, he kept repeating how sorry he was, and then he had tears in his eyes and he held my hand until the ambulance came and took me away.
That next week, recovering at home, the gifts began arriving from Michael and Janet, tasteful and cool things like great soaps, a bathrobe, incense, a card. Anyway, that's my story. Michael Jackson held my hand. Michael, if you read this, thanks for caring.
-Doug Lewis
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