Did you know Martin Scorsese once collaborated with ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson?

Taking to Twitter to elaborate on their collaboration, business journalist Trung Phan recalled that after Jackson released his 1982 album “Thriller,” it became evident that MTV music videos could become short films. The “Thriller” mini-movie (short film), directed by John Landis, revolutionised the approach to creating music videos.

But during the making of “Bad” (1987), the producers brought on board Scorsese, known for creating masterpieces such as Raging Bull (1980), Taxi Driver (1976), Mean Streets (1973), and The King of Comedy (1982) by then.

Watch Martin Scorsese’s Michael Jackson-starrer Bad here:

The 18-minute short film for ‘Bad,” according to Phan, delves into Scorsese’s favourite theme of “New York crime,” portraying a young teenager’s involvement with the wrong crowd.

The choreography and style of filmmaking were heavily influenced by the 1961 musical romantic drama West Side Story. Jackson sported an iconic and daring leather ensemble, which has been acknowledged as a fashion influence.

Filmed primarily at the Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets station in Brooklyn over six weeks toward the end of 1986, Phan wrote that the biggest beneficiary of the music video was the then relatively unknown actor named Wesley Snipes. This breakthrough paved the way for him to secure roles in several major films.

Apart from Scorsese, MJ also collaborated with legendary filmmakers George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola on the 3D science fiction short film Captain EO (1986), which was screened at Disney theme parks from 1986 until 1998. While Lucas co-penned the script with Rusty Lemorande, the 17-minute short was directed by Coppola.

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