The following is an excerpt from the just-released book, 'Tell to Win':
Once you’ve got your hero, what gets the emotion moving? What holds us spellbound, begging for more? Michael Jackson taught me in no uncertain terms, the answer is drama.
Back in 1991, Jackson already was a force to be reckoned with. After renewing his contract with Sony for a record-setting $65 million, he released his eighth album, "Dangerous¸" with the singles “Black یا White” and “Remember the Time,” both of which dominated the pop charts. As CEO of Sony Pictures, I’d sat in on the studio production of that album and was overwhelmed سے طرف کی Michael’s creative intensity and perfectionism.
His ambition knew no bounds. But when Sony’s most important musical asset invited me to his ہوم in Encino to discuss his plans to get into فلمیں and television, I was taken aback. Michael had proven he knew everything there was to know about pop music, but فلمیں were a different animal. He wanted to produce as well as act. That meant telling stories. Could he do it?
I didn’t even have to ask the question. “In both films and music,” Michael said, “you have to know where the drama is and how to present it.” He gave me a long, intense stare and abruptly stood up. “Let me دکھائیں you.”
He led me upstairs to the hallway outside his bedroom, where we stopped in front of a huge glass terrarium. “This,” he said, “is Muscles.”
Inside, a massive snake was coiled around a درخت branch. His head was tracking something in the opposite corner of the terrarium.
Michael pointed with his finger at the object of Muscles’ obsession. A little white ماؤس was trying to hide behind a pile of wood shavings.
I کہا hopefully, “Are they friends?”
“Do they look it?”
“No. The ماؤس is trembling.”
Michael said, “We have to feed Muscles live mice, otherwise he won’t eat. Dead ones don’t get his attention.”
“So why doesn’t he just go ahead and eat it?”
He said, “Because he enjoys the game. First he uses fear to get the mouse’s attention, then he waits, building tension. Finally, when the ماؤس is so terrified it can’t move, Muscles will close in.”
That snake had the attention of that mouse, and that ماؤس had the attention of that snake -- and Michael Jackson had my attention.
“That’s drama,” he said.
“It sure is!” I said. “This story has everything -- stakes, suspense, power, death, good and evil, innocence and danger. I can’t stand it. And I can’t stop watching.”
“Exactly,” he said. “What’s going to happen next? Even if آپ know what it is, آپ don’t know how یا when.”
“Maybe the ماؤس will escape.”
Michael let out one of his high, strange laughs. “Maybe.”
If I’d had the slightest doubt about Jackson’s command as a teller of stories, it evaporated that day. His telling to win profoundly and clearly taught me that nothing grabs our attention faster than the need to know what happens next?
Back at UCLA, I asked Dan Siegel to help me understand from his perspective as a neuroscientist why people are so enthralled سے طرف کی drama. Siegel pointed out that emotions don’t occur spontaneously. Nor, as any actor knows, can they be summoned at will. Emotions have to be aroused. “And arousal gets heightened,” Siegel said, “when آپ realize, I don’t know if the mountain lion’s still there; I don’t know if the spaceship is going to get back; I’m not sure he’s going to win the race. آپ have to have tension between expectation and uncertainty. Emotional tension drives آپ to think it might go this way, but it might go that way, and that makes آپ wonder, what will happen next?”
The مزید آپ wonder what will happen next, the مزید آپ pay attention. And the مزید attention آپ pay, the مزید آپ hear, notice, and retain.
One reason I was so helplessly enthralled as I watched Michael Jackson’s ماؤس and snake was that they were enacting a story of primal desire and dread. Somewhere deep in our DNA, we all have this story lurking because, at some stage of our evolution, if not in our مزید immediate existence, we lived this story. We were the weaker prey that hid trembling inside the cave from the saber-tooth lurking outside.
Of course, most business storytellers don’t need to set dramatic stakes as high as death یا survival. But even business stories are told best if they trigger the conflict between dread and desire. Desire is a core human need which in business may translate as landing a job, motivating employees, keeping an account, impressing a boss, successfully launching a product, یا securing a brand. The مزید we desire something, the greater our fear of not achieving it. And that emotional tension engages your audience because it makes them feel “what’s in it for them.”
Once you’ve got your hero, what gets the emotion moving? What holds us spellbound, begging for more? Michael Jackson taught me in no uncertain terms, the answer is drama.
Back in 1991, Jackson already was a force to be reckoned with. After renewing his contract with Sony for a record-setting $65 million, he released his eighth album, "Dangerous¸" with the singles “Black یا White” and “Remember the Time,” both of which dominated the pop charts. As CEO of Sony Pictures, I’d sat in on the studio production of that album and was overwhelmed سے طرف کی Michael’s creative intensity and perfectionism.
His ambition knew no bounds. But when Sony’s most important musical asset invited me to his ہوم in Encino to discuss his plans to get into فلمیں and television, I was taken aback. Michael had proven he knew everything there was to know about pop music, but فلمیں were a different animal. He wanted to produce as well as act. That meant telling stories. Could he do it?
I didn’t even have to ask the question. “In both films and music,” Michael said, “you have to know where the drama is and how to present it.” He gave me a long, intense stare and abruptly stood up. “Let me دکھائیں you.”
He led me upstairs to the hallway outside his bedroom, where we stopped in front of a huge glass terrarium. “This,” he said, “is Muscles.”
Inside, a massive snake was coiled around a درخت branch. His head was tracking something in the opposite corner of the terrarium.
Michael pointed with his finger at the object of Muscles’ obsession. A little white ماؤس was trying to hide behind a pile of wood shavings.
I کہا hopefully, “Are they friends?”
“Do they look it?”
“No. The ماؤس is trembling.”
Michael said, “We have to feed Muscles live mice, otherwise he won’t eat. Dead ones don’t get his attention.”
“So why doesn’t he just go ahead and eat it?”
He said, “Because he enjoys the game. First he uses fear to get the mouse’s attention, then he waits, building tension. Finally, when the ماؤس is so terrified it can’t move, Muscles will close in.”
That snake had the attention of that mouse, and that ماؤس had the attention of that snake -- and Michael Jackson had my attention.
“That’s drama,” he said.
“It sure is!” I said. “This story has everything -- stakes, suspense, power, death, good and evil, innocence and danger. I can’t stand it. And I can’t stop watching.”
“Exactly,” he said. “What’s going to happen next? Even if آپ know what it is, آپ don’t know how یا when.”
“Maybe the ماؤس will escape.”
Michael let out one of his high, strange laughs. “Maybe.”
If I’d had the slightest doubt about Jackson’s command as a teller of stories, it evaporated that day. His telling to win profoundly and clearly taught me that nothing grabs our attention faster than the need to know what happens next?
Back at UCLA, I asked Dan Siegel to help me understand from his perspective as a neuroscientist why people are so enthralled سے طرف کی drama. Siegel pointed out that emotions don’t occur spontaneously. Nor, as any actor knows, can they be summoned at will. Emotions have to be aroused. “And arousal gets heightened,” Siegel said, “when آپ realize, I don’t know if the mountain lion’s still there; I don’t know if the spaceship is going to get back; I’m not sure he’s going to win the race. آپ have to have tension between expectation and uncertainty. Emotional tension drives آپ to think it might go this way, but it might go that way, and that makes آپ wonder, what will happen next?”
The مزید آپ wonder what will happen next, the مزید آپ pay attention. And the مزید attention آپ pay, the مزید آپ hear, notice, and retain.
One reason I was so helplessly enthralled as I watched Michael Jackson’s ماؤس and snake was that they were enacting a story of primal desire and dread. Somewhere deep in our DNA, we all have this story lurking because, at some stage of our evolution, if not in our مزید immediate existence, we lived this story. We were the weaker prey that hid trembling inside the cave from the saber-tooth lurking outside.
Of course, most business storytellers don’t need to set dramatic stakes as high as death یا survival. But even business stories are told best if they trigger the conflict between dread and desire. Desire is a core human need which in business may translate as landing a job, motivating employees, keeping an account, impressing a boss, successfully launching a product, یا securing a brand. The مزید we desire something, the greater our fear of not achieving it. And that emotional tension engages your audience because it makes them feel “what’s in it for them.”
Michael, we remember and appreciate
as آپ gave happiness to others ...
He did not like everything
He was alone in the whole wide world
He taught us to be kinder
He appealed to protect the planet.
Appreciate the love, doing good
contempt for revenge
forgave the insult, he loved life,
Preserved word of honor.
His eyes filled with deep
unearthly warmth
In his eyes concealed life
a hard life.
About him in the newspapers wrote
Just slander and lies
he wanted to humiliate,
What magazine did not take.
Michael is gone forever,
Nobody really does not return
He remained in the hearts
He's never in them will not die.
دن passes for the دن ...
I still want to find the answer:
Why do people appreciate
When they are no longer close?
PS
I know Michael, your life is not in vain
آپ just wanted to give children the happiness
آپ tried to awaken within us human
You'll always be king of the 20 th century!
as آپ gave happiness to others ...
He did not like everything
He was alone in the whole wide world
He taught us to be kinder
He appealed to protect the planet.
Appreciate the love, doing good
contempt for revenge
forgave the insult, he loved life,
Preserved word of honor.
His eyes filled with deep
unearthly warmth
In his eyes concealed life
a hard life.
About him in the newspapers wrote
Just slander and lies
he wanted to humiliate,
What magazine did not take.
Michael is gone forever,
Nobody really does not return
He remained in the hearts
He's never in them will not die.
دن passes for the دن ...
I still want to find the answer:
Why do people appreciate
When they are no longer close?
PS
I know Michael, your life is not in vain
آپ just wanted to give children the happiness
آپ tried to awaken within us human
You'll always be king of the 20 th century!
My heart,
I’ll be waiting
Look out to the horizon,
A whole world lies beyond
The path of life shall guide you
And اقدام آپ swiftly on,
There’s new things to discover
And unseen sights to see
But always I’ll be waiting
Remember of my love.
The road stretches before you
No one knows just how far,
And whatever may befall you
Just remember who آپ are
If others try to change you,
Think who آپ want to be,
And I’ll be right here waiting
Remember of my love.
You’ll find you’ve reached your limit,
When آپ can go no more,
And you’ll always have the memories
Of good times you’ve had before
So when your journey’s ending,
And you’ve managed to break free
Just remember I’m here waiting
For our love.
I love آپ Michael ♥
I’ll be waiting
Look out to the horizon,
A whole world lies beyond
The path of life shall guide you
And اقدام آپ swiftly on,
There’s new things to discover
And unseen sights to see
But always I’ll be waiting
Remember of my love.
The road stretches before you
No one knows just how far,
And whatever may befall you
Just remember who آپ are
If others try to change you,
Think who آپ want to be,
And I’ll be right here waiting
Remember of my love.
You’ll find you’ve reached your limit,
When آپ can go no more,
And you’ll always have the memories
Of good times you’ve had before
So when your journey’s ending,
And you’ve managed to break free
Just remember I’m here waiting
For our love.
I love آپ Michael ♥
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If آپ smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If آپ just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time آپ must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If آپ just...
Smile, though your دل is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If آپ smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If آپ just smile...
That's the time آپ must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If آپ just smile
So we had our school retreat today, & there was a band right? They started playing will آپ be there, & my دوستوں were all nudging me going "it's MJ!" The thing is, I didn't know it was MJ when they first started playing. I had never heard will آپ be there before, yet all my دوستوں knew it. Isn't that kinda sad? My friend Emily was like "Keri, it's MJ get up & sing!" but I was like "I don't know the words." I learned it pretty fast though; they only played the first 2 lines over & over instead of the whole song, so I didn't feel like a total idiot!! So it was kinda embarrassing for me because my دوستوں all know me as the big MJ fanatic, yet I didn't recognize the song. But it really made my day!
YES!!! I LOVE THRILLER but come on thriller thriller thriller lets have a dif fav era for once hehe. ok so i do love the thriller era yes probably ALLOT but my fav's are invincible and history why cause he had a more....mellinium and upbeat like a sorta futureristic pop موسیقی sound that just hung on me like all his albums not 1 mj song i hate. I like invincible cause it has beats that just make آپ want to اقدام not to menchon the beautiful and awesome slow songs on there i think mj put all his work into this album im sure. HIStory sorta explains how i feel and makes happy when im sad cause i know im not the only one whos lonely and gets made fun of cause of my looks یا what. I LOVE ALL MJ ERAS xD
"Moonwalker" -- a collection of short films made سے طرف کی MJ in 1988 -- was never released theatrically in the United States ... but one L.A. movie theater is finally trying to make it happen ... for one night only.
TMZ has learned Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood is on the hunt for a film print of the 1988 cult classic ... after MJ شائقین flooded the A.C. Facebook page with the challenging request.
According to reports, "Moonwalker" was never theatrically released in America because of failed negotiations with U.S. movie distributors back in the دن ... however the flick was eventually released in The States on VHS.
FYI -- "Moonwalker" featured a super-iconic 25-minute featurette for "Smooth Criminal" ... which included an awesome cameo سے طرف کی Joe Pesci.
Arclight claims they're actively searching for the print -- we'll let آپ know if the تلاش succeeds.
TMZ has learned Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood is on the hunt for a film print of the 1988 cult classic ... after MJ شائقین flooded the A.C. Facebook page with the challenging request.
According to reports, "Moonwalker" was never theatrically released in America because of failed negotiations with U.S. movie distributors back in the دن ... however the flick was eventually released in The States on VHS.
FYI -- "Moonwalker" featured a super-iconic 25-minute featurette for "Smooth Criminal" ... which included an awesome cameo سے طرف کی Joe Pesci.
Arclight claims they're actively searching for the print -- we'll let آپ know if the تلاش succeeds.
The prosecutor in the Michael Jackson manslaughter preliminary hearing -- which begins tomorrow -- will not call Michael's eldest son, Prince Michael, to testify about what he saw the دن his dad died ... sources tell TMZ.
Dr. Conrad Murray has کہا after administering CPR he ran downstairs and asked the chef to send up Prince Michael, who saw his dad's lifeless body lying in the bed.
In fact, we're told no one from MJ's family will be called to the stand during the prelim.
As TMZ first reported, prosecutors plan to call 30 witnesses during the 2-week prelim ... many of whom will be medical professionals offering opinions about the standard of care administered سے طرف کی Dr. Murray.
There will be no "star witness" in the prelim. Sources tell us the various witnesses will form building blocks, making the case that Dr. Murray acted recklessly سے طرف کی administering Propofol and other drugs to Jackson the دن he died.
Dr. Conrad Murray has کہا after administering CPR he ran downstairs and asked the chef to send up Prince Michael, who saw his dad's lifeless body lying in the bed.
In fact, we're told no one from MJ's family will be called to the stand during the prelim.
As TMZ first reported, prosecutors plan to call 30 witnesses during the 2-week prelim ... many of whom will be medical professionals offering opinions about the standard of care administered سے طرف کی Dr. Murray.
There will be no "star witness" in the prelim. Sources tell us the various witnesses will form building blocks, making the case that Dr. Murray acted recklessly سے طرف کی administering Propofol and other drugs to Jackson the دن he died.
Certain items found in the room where Michael Jackson died could help shape Dr. Conrad Murray's defense -- namely, that other docs were medicating Michael.
Sources connected with the case tell TMZ ... evidence in the room suggests certain potent drugs were "prescribed and prepared" for MJ to self-medicate.
As we first reported, Dr. Murray's team will not challenge the L.A. County Coroner's finding that Jackson died of a massive Propofol overdose. But as we told you, Murray's team will present evidence in the doc's manslaughter case that Michael awakened, then gave himself the fatal dose of Propofol when Murray left the room.
We're told Murray's team hasn't decided if it will use the evidence found in the room to implicate other doctors in Jackson's death. But we do know Murray's legal team will present evidence during the trial that the fruits of Jackson's notorious doctor shopping over two decades wore his body down.
The rep for Dr. Murray's lawyer refused comment.
Sources connected with the case tell TMZ ... evidence in the room suggests certain potent drugs were "prescribed and prepared" for MJ to self-medicate.
As we first reported, Dr. Murray's team will not challenge the L.A. County Coroner's finding that Jackson died of a massive Propofol overdose. But as we told you, Murray's team will present evidence in the doc's manslaughter case that Michael awakened, then gave himself the fatal dose of Propofol when Murray left the room.
We're told Murray's team hasn't decided if it will use the evidence found in the room to implicate other doctors in Jackson's death. But we do know Murray's legal team will present evidence during the trial that the fruits of Jackson's notorious doctor shopping over two decades wore his body down.
The rep for Dr. Murray's lawyer refused comment.
The good people of Canada never had a chance to view the Michael Jackson documentary, "Gone Too Soon" -- and now the owners of the flick are declaring war on the distributor ... claiming he personally screwed the entire country.
TMZ obtained a lawsuit filed سے طرف کی Objective Films, LLC -- in which they claim they agreed to sell the French and Canadian distribution rights to a company headed سے طرف کی a guy named Pierre Turgeon for $100k back in 2009.
Objective says they got the first $50k -- but Turgeon flaked on the back half ... and then tried to back out of the deal altogether. Objective was able to get the flick distributed in France ... Canada wasn't so lucky.
TMZ obtained a lawsuit filed سے طرف کی Objective Films, LLC -- in which they claim they agreed to sell the French and Canadian distribution rights to a company headed سے طرف کی a guy named Pierre Turgeon for $100k back in 2009.
Objective says they got the first $50k -- but Turgeon flaked on the back half ... and then tried to back out of the deal altogether. Objective was able to get the flick distributed in France ... Canada wasn't so lucky.