Kenny Ortega Worked To Keep Michael Healthy

Kenny Ortega, the producer-director-choregrapher responsible for some of Michael Jackson's largest hit concerts including the London shows, felt that he needed to take on another responsibility - that of making certain Michael stayed healthy.

Ortega spoke about this in an interview on Thursday. "Michael had sleepless nights and we had to look after him. (I'd say to him), 'Stay hydrated. Have a protein shake. Did you eat today before you came?" And when Michael would say that he dad, Ortega would skeptically query - "Michael?"

"Michael's an adult. We didn't want to baby him," he said. "(But) I had concerns and we had conversations wanting to make sure he was doing everything he could to build himself and not break himself down."

"Michael's an adult. ... We didn't want to baby him," he said. "(But) I had concerns and we had conversations,

In a 12-minute film clip that previewed for media on Thursday, Michael is enthusiastic and strong - voiced performing some of his greatest musical pieces. Although thin, he is shown warming up his vocals during "Human Nature." That is followed by Michael running through the song in varous outfits. Later, he dances playfully with a female partner while performing "The Way You Make Me Feel," touching her thigh and holding her around the waist.

"One more time," Michael says toward the end of the song after being told the last eight bars were to be cut.

Although Ortega says that he was concerned about Michael's health, he does not believe that the preparation for the shows in London were wearing him down. In fact, he says, it was just the opposite.

"I can tell you this experience, working on this show, was invigorating, was nourishing. ... (it) wasn't taking away from Michael," he said.

A choreographer who worked on "This Is It" and other tours says that he spent one-on-one time with Michael and remembers especially visiting web sites like YouTube with him.

."I used to love sitting and just surfing the 'net with him," Payne said. "And we would just do that and we would be able to have our creative reference time in a different way now."

Michael Bearden, the musical director, recalls Michael's lofty goal to try to capture all of his music in one, over-the-top show.

"He had so, so much music that we tried to get everything in but not cheat the audience at the same time, which is a delicate balance if you will to try to get everything in and still feel like you're getting a full song," he said.

Ortega says Jackson was very adamant about the look of the tour - from the length of the songs to the stage lighting. "From the very beginning Michael was very vocal, and very upfront about what he wanted to do and why he wanted to do it," he said.

"That's what 'This Is It,' Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' the film, is about - it's a privileged peak into the final creative process of Michael's last theatrical work."

Source: MJFC / AP