News

It's been rumored for some time that Michael Jackson's classic short film/music video Thriller would be getting a 3D conversion. Well, the rumor is true and it will its big debut during the 74th Venice Film Festival!

I have so many wonderful memories of growing up with the John Landis directed short and it would be so cool to fun to have the opportunity to see it on the big screen in 3D. It's explained in the press release that the film has not been re-edited or recut in any way. It goes into detail on the process saying:

Rather Optimum Productions brought Landis in and together they supervised an elaborate and labor intensive process that began with the original 35mm film negative from Michael’s archives and resulted in a 3D conversion of the acclaimed film using the latest available technology.To complement the enhanced visuals, all of the audio,...

Michael Jackson's Thriller 3D, long rumored and highly anticipated by fans, will make its world premiere at the 74th Venice Film Festival 2017, announced the Estate of Michael Jackson today. Creating Michael Jackson's Thriller 3D, the original iconic short film, directed by John Landis and written by Landis and Michael Jackson, was not reedited or recut in any way. Rather Optimum Productions brought Landis in and together they supervised an elaborate and labor intensive process that began with the original 35mm film negative from Michael's archives and resulted in a 3D conversion of the acclaimed film using the latest available technology.

To complement the enhanced visuals, all of the audio, including Michael's music, Elmer Bernstein's score and the sound effects, has also been updated to 5.7, 7.1 and Atmos standards in order to create the highest quality audio and visual experience for in theater viewing which is how Michael and Landis intended the film to be enjoyed.

Welcome to another installment of Movies to Show My Son. This is the blog series were I discuss movies I can’t wait to show my son in the future. I’ll be covering my own personal experience with the movie, movie and life lessons I hope he will learn, and lastly my concerns about showing said film. This week’s film is Alien.

Personal Memories:

I came very late to the Alien franchise. I am not sure why, but for some reason it was not until a decade ago when I first sat down to watch them. Oddly my first introduction into the franchise happened when I watched the Mel Brooks’s comedy Spaceballs. At the very end at the movie there is a spoof of the infamous chest bursting scene. At at the time did not understand why the horrific act I saw was so funny to a...

M. Night Shyamalan’s horror thriller stars James McAvoy as a kidnapper with multiple personalities.

Jason Blum and Marc Bienstock produced the film and Universal holds worldwide rights and will release in North America in January.

Anya Taylor-Joy from The Witch and Betty Buckley also star. AFI Fest runs from November 10-17.

The 10th edition of the Brazil Film Fest returns to Toronto from November 4-6 and will open with Aquarius starring Sonia Brag in one of the most acclaimed performances of the year. The festival will show ten features and documentaries including Neon Bull and Don’t Call Me Son.China’s Fundamental Films has picked up the spec script Hummingbird by John McClain, the story of a female black ops assassin in the vein of Lucy. Fundamental Films will produce alongside Broken Road Productions.Comedian Adam Carolla and director Nate Adams have launched the car-related VOD platform Chassy Media. The sites launches...

Exclusive: Fundamental Films has come out in front of a competitive field to acquire Hummingbird, an action thriller spec by John McClain that is said to be in the vein of John Wick and Lucy. The pic centers on a female black-ops assassin who discovers she's more than just a hired gun but an entirely new breed of weapon. Marcus Kryler and Fredrik Akerström, who recently directed the cinematic content for the latest installment of Electronic Arts’ Battlefield 1 video game…...

Plus: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross to score ‘Patriots Day’

Sundance Institute has announced the 11 original spec projects selected for its third annual Episodic Story Lab.

Selected artists and projects are: Devil’s Due (Connie O’Donahue and Jeremy Nielsen); Dmv (Marlena Rodriguez); Illegal (Rafael Agustin); Lovely Women (Eboni Freeman); and Marfa (John McClain).

Rounding out the participants will be: The North (Donald Joh); The Olympians (Colin McLaughlin); Tales Below Dixie (Mike Flynn); Winterovers (Nilanjana Bose and Jakub Ciupinski); The Wolfman Of Pacoima (Calvin Lee Reeder); and Your Majesty (Hilary Helding).

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, whose credits include The Social Network, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Gone Girl, will compose the score for Patriots Day Mark Wahlberg reunites with his Deepwater Horizon director on the Boston Marathon bombing drama alongside John Goodman, Kevin Bacon, J.K. Simmons and Michelle Monaghan...

Hard to imagine Michael Jackson's Estate getting even richer, but it just happened -- Sony is forking over $750 Million to buy out Mj's share of Sony/ATVMusic Publishing. Sony Corp. announced the deal to take over Jackson's 50% stake in the joint venture that was launched in 1995 -- and owns copyrights for some of the biggest recordings in history. For instance, Sony/Atv controls "New York, New York," "Jailhouse Rock," "I Heard it Through the Grapevine,...

A version of this story first appeared in the Jan. 29 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. John Branca had been Michael Jackson's longtime legal adviser and friend since the 1980s and, as the co-executor of the Michael Jackson estate (along with music executive John McClain), has continued to keep the iconic singer's legacy alive since his death in 2009. After Michael Jackson's This Is It — the 2009 concert documentary that followed Jackson as he prepared for his concert tour — became the top-grossing concert doc of all time

read more...

Alan Rickman, the British actor who portrayed likable villains in films like Die Hard and the Harry Potter series, has passed away. "The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends," his family wrote in a statement confirming the actor's death, the BBC reports.

Rickman's acting career began on the stage with a stint in the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) as well as roles on numerous BBC productions. In 1987, a RSC production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses came to Broadway,...

Michael Jackson's estate is being sued by Sharad Chandra Patel, a producer for the tribute film Messages to Michael, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the suit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Patel alleges his deceased son and friend of Jackson, producer Raju Patel, had a film company with Jackson called Neverland Entertainment and that a 2002 contract details that all proceeds from their films were to be split equally.

Messages to Michael is said to have been a film Jackson wanted to make for his dedicated fans...

Anyone who picks up a print copy of The Hollywood Reporter this week will be treated to a surprise: a full-page ad (see below) from Die Hard fan Eric D. Wilkinson pitching his idea for the upcoming sixth Die Hard movie. (It involves a murder case from the '70s, a handful of terrorists, and John McClain getting wrongfully imprisoned.) Now, Gawker has caught up with Wilkinson, an indie-film vet who produced the well-regarded Man From Earth, and who, it turns out, is very chill about the idea that he's spent all that money for nothing. "I’m not going to hear from them," he admits. "My chances are slim to none." So, why did he waste an unknown, but presumably very large, amount of his savings on the ad? "I’m a fan. I’m no different from anybody else that sits behind their computer and sounds off ideas for good movies.

The executors for the estate of Michael Jackson just got their 10%.John McClain and John Branca had asked the judge for 10% of the profits made from a number of estate-related ventures.The judge just approved the fee request, stating that the arrangement actually could save the estate money -- because the traditional way of making deals with managers, lawyers, etc. costs a bloody fortune.One item excluded from the 10% -- a portion of the profits from the movie,...

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has signed off on a deal giving John Branca and John McClain, the administrators of Michael Jackson’s estate, a ten-percent cut of the estate’s profits. Per the terms of the approved agreement, Branca and McClain will split 10 percent of the profits they net – excluding profits from Jackson’s concert film ‘This is It’ and the late King of Pop’s music catalog interests, says the Associated Press. The judge who okayed the deal will oversee the payments and has set a progress report for September.

[Read full story on The Insider]...

The executors for the estate of Michael Jackson just got their 10%.John McClain and John Branca had asked the judge for 10% of the profits made from a number of estate-related ventures.The judge just approved the fee request, stating that the arrangement actually could save the estate money -- because the traditional way of making deals with managers, lawyers, etc. costs a bloody fortune.One item excluded from the 10% -- a portion of the profits from the movie,...

The administrators of the King of Pop's estate have come into a princely sum. A judge ruled Wednesday that John Branca and John McClain will split 10 percent of the profits reaped by Michael Jackson's estate—with two hefty caveats. Their portion will not include 10 percent of the proceeds from the hit film This Is It or Jackson's interest in Sony/Atv's song catalog. But Branca and McClain, whom Jackson named as administrators in his will, will be handsomely compensated for their work wheeling and dealing on behalf of the pop icon's estimated $500 million estate, just the same. Jackson's family did not raise any objections, agreeing that it's more prudent to give...

Michael Jackson's father will have to wait until May 2010 to learn whether he can pursue a petition for a monthly allowance from his late son's estate. Joe Jackson filed a claim for a monthly stipend of over $15,000 in November 2009, claiming he relied on the King of Pop's help to survive as he had little income of his own.

In legal papers obtained by TMZ, Joe asked for the cash to cover "maintenance expenses" and to "support his children or grandchildren". However, the Jackson family patriarch's bid was met with hostility from the "Thriller" star's estate - administrators John Branca and John McClain filed documents opposing the claim last week, January 22.

The case was heard in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, January 28, when Judge Mitchell Beckloff set a preliminary hearing for 26 May 2010.

Michael Jackson's executors want 10% of the profits from most things Michael Jackson.In legal docs filed today, lawyers for John Branca and John McClain asked the court to green light compensation to the tune of 10% of all profits, excluding profits from "This Is It" and profits from the Sony/Atv and Mijac catalog.Howard Weitzman, Branca and McClain's lawyer, notes that the estates of other big musicians pay out 15 to 25 percent of profits to...

The administrators of Michael Jackson's estate are reportedly requesting 10 percent of profits that they are able to generate from the late King of Pop's work. The Associated Press reports that John Branca and John McClain filed a document Friday asking for compensation that would not include profits from the star's 'This Is It' documentary and interest in the Sony/Atv music catalog. The administrators also noted in their motion that other comparable estate administrators have received profits ranging from 15 to 25 percent, says the AP. On Thursday, Branca and McClain filed legal documents opposing Joe Jackson's bid for an allowance from the King of Pop's estate.

[Read full story on The Insider]...

Michael Jackson's father Joe Jackson isn't feeling sufficiently supported. The controversial Jackson family patriarch has asked John Branca and John McClain, who oversee Jackson's estate, for an allowance of $15,000 per month. Not surprisingly, Branca and McClain think that's a little steep. McClain and Branca had their lawyers file papers, explaining why Joe receiving such a hefty allowance wasn't a good idea. The men claim that giving Joe so much money would substantially deduct from money that could be going to Michael Jackson's children. We're not surprised this doesn't mean much to Joe. The man doesn't have a reputation of putting the ...

Normally it's the parents who give their kids an allowance, but, as the world knows, Joe Jackson is no normal parent. Michael Jackson's estate has filed a legal opposition against Joe, after the music clan's apparently cash-strapped patriarch sought $15,000 per month from his late son's holdings. Guess that record label didn't pan out the way he planned. Estate administrators John Branca and John McClain are seeking to block the payout, arguing that the sum will take away from money earmarked for Jackson's children, who along with Jackson's mother, Katherine, receive $86,000 a month from the estate, and, furthermore, that Jackson himself never intended or desired to bankroll his...

Administrators of Michael Jackson's estate have taken action to oppose the late singer's father's bid for a monthly stipend. In new court papers obtained by "The Insider," attorneys for Jackson estate administrators John Branca and John McClain are opposing Joe Jackson's bid to receive a monthly allowance, saying it would take away money from the late singer's three children. In the papers, the estate attorneys claim that Joe Jackson has failed to prove that the King of Pop financially supported him prior to his June 25 death and that the star's father was not included as a beneficiary of his will. According to the papers, the sole beneficiary of the will is the Michael Jackson Family Trust.

[Read full story on The Insider]...

Michael Jackson's estate executors want to breathe new life into an incredibly valuable asset -- the heavily-collateralized Mijac Music Catalog.The Catalog -- valued this year at around $100 million -- was used by Michael Jackson to secure at least two big loans.According to legal docs obtained by TMZ, co-executors John Branca and John McClain have entered into negotiations with a bank to restructure the two loans with more favorable terms. The new terms...

Michael Jackson's estate executors are asking a judge for a higher statutory fee. John Branca and John McClain claims they have to work long hours to defend the estate from the continuous legal attacks of the late singer's parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson.

Since the King of Pop's death, their business reputations and the singer's reputation and character were repeatedly attacked, which they were forced to correct publicly. Michael and his brands were defendants in 11 separate lawsuits at the time of his death, and the amount of cases got even more demanding after he passed away.

According to the documents filed in court and obtained by TMZ, the two Johns also claim since they were appointed as executors, they have been working 14 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Branca and McClain are asking for "extraordinary compensation" for the work most executors never have to do.

The executors of Michael Jackson's estate have filed documents, explaining why they should be entitled to more than the statutory fee most executors get -- a big reason ... Joe Jackson.According to legal docs filed with the court, co-executors John Branca and John McClain had to defend the estate from a steady barrage of attacks by Joe Jackson and, until recently, by Katherine Jackson. They also claim they've been working 14 hours a day, 7 days...

The executors of Michael Jackson's estate are apparently seeking 5% of its earnings since the popstar's death on June 25. According to The AP, John Branca and John McClain have not received payments for executing the holdings, despite organising the deals for This Is It and other merchandising contracts. The estate itself has grossed over $$100m (£61m) since Jackson's passing, putting the two men in line for cheques worth millions of dollars. However, the Jackson family, including mother Katherine, are said to have contested McClain and Branca's (more)...

The executors of Michael Jackson's estate are requesting most of the fees they have so far earned in carrying out the role, according to court papers. The executors, John Branca and John McClain, have been the centre of controversy since Jackson died as both of his parents have taken issue with their appointments. Now there are reports that they will demand to be paid 70 per cent of the fees they have earned in court papers they have just filed. The papers do not specify the amount Branca and McClain are seeking but state they seek the statutory amount of executor fees for the first $25 million of the estate, which adds up to $188,000. Branca and...

The administrators of Michael Jackson's estate and a host of attorneys are reportedly seeking what could amount to millions of dollars in estate earnings. Estate administrators John Branca and John McClain are seeking five percent of the money the estate has earned following Jackson’s June 25 death, says the Associated Press. The administrators and a host of attorneys claim in court filings they haven’t been paid since the King of Pop died. The AP says Branca is requesting that the five percent be disbursed to his firm; he reportedly isn’t seeking a personal fee for administering the estate. Payments would also be funneled to other firms, including one that represents the Jackson children’s interests. A hearing to determine how much can be paid out is set for Jan 4. The AP says the estate has possibly garnered upwards of $100 million after selling the rights to the King...

Michael Jackson's estate has not paid the Special Administrators a penny, but the day has now come -- at least according to new court docs filed by John Branca and John McClain.The two men -- now officially the Executors of Michael Jackson's estate, are asking for 70% of the fees they have earned, pending court approval of the full amount.The papers do not specify the amount Branca and McClain want. They do...

If you thought Joe Jackson would take being locked out of being one of the executors of Michael's estate lying down, think again. Jackson has filed papers requesting that the California Court of Appeal overturn a Superior Court judge's decision to name music executives John Branca and John McClain the executors of Michael's estate. He also wants Michael's will re-examined because he believes Michael's name was forged. In other words, Joe is having difficulty believing that he was really left out of his son's will. Of course, nobody else is surprised at all because Michael spent decades openly discussing the abuse he suffered at the hands of ...

MTV Networks (a division of Viacom), has acquired the exclusive United States television rights to air one of the most anticipated films of the year -- Michael Jackson's This Is It.

The critically acclaimed and commercially successful film becomes available to MTV Networks in 2011, and continuing through the entire six-year network window. The deal includes all domestic channels under the MTV Networks umbrella, including MTV, VH1, VH1 Classic and Palladia and rounds out the music networks' commitment to celebrating the life and legacy of Michael Jackson. The arrangement also extends to Viacom's Bet Networks, including its newest channel, Centric. Channels and premiere dates will be announced at a later time.

"The film is a true testament to Michael's musical genius, passion and commitment to his craft," said Van Toffler, President of the MTV Networks Music Group. "Michael Jackson has always been inextricably tied to our viewers as they witnessed his...

"The Insider" has learned that Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson, is still seeking to dismiss the executors of his late son's estate with a new appeal filed in court. See the papers here! According to the papers, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jackson objects to the appointment of John Branca and John McClain as executors of the estate and requests that they be dismissed in an appeal of the final order delivered by the judge on November 10. Last week, Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff decided that Jackson cannot challenge the executors of the King of Pop's will or inherit the late star's assets, according to the Associated Press. The judge said that the 81-year-old Jackson patriarch can follow through with a motion to seek a family allowance from Michael's estate -- but he cannot inherit his late son's assets because he is not named in the will.

Joe Jackson will ask the California Court of Appeal to teach the Superior Court judge in the Michael Jackson estate case a thing or two .... We've learned Joe has filed legal papers setting the stage to challenge the decision throwing out his challenge to Michael's will.Joe claims Michael's name was forged on the will ... and he wants John Branca and John McClain booted as executors.Stay tuned ... More Michael Jackson Joe to Mj: Support Me in the Afterlife!

According to new court documents obtained by "The Insider," a judge has approved the executors of Michael Jackson's estate. Read on for details... John Branca and John McClain were appointed coexecutors of Jackson's estate on Thursday, and have been granted limited authority. The appointment expires on January 4, 2010. Just two days ago, a judge decided that Michael's father, Joe Jackson, cannot challenge the executors of the will, according to a report from the Associated Press. Keep checking back here for the latest.

[Read full story on The Insider]...

Michael Jackson's This Is It has reached a box office gross of $200 million worldwide, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today. The film has taken in $61 million domestically and more than $140 million internationally.

Commenting on the announcement, Jeff Blake, Chairman of Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution said, "Moviegoers and film critics everywhere have truly embraced this celebration of Michael Jackson and his music. This special film documents Michael's creative genius. We are seeing repeat business throughout the world because this movie is so rich with Michael performing his most renowned and recognized songs while offering such a unique, never-before-seen perspective on his artistry. Kenny Ortega and the filmmaking team did a brilliant job of capturing Michael creating a masterwork and it's a genuine thrill to see audiences respond to the film as they have."

Outside of North America, the film has performed best in such countries as Japan ($27.2 million), UK ($14.3 million...

Bad news for Joe Jackson, who has been feverishly attempting to worm his way into being named an executor of Michael Jackson's estate. A judge has ruled that attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain will be the co-executors of Michael's estate, as seemed to be the King of Pop's wishes. Joe Jackson had filed court papers on Monday claiming that Michael had believed the men were defrauding him and that he would not have wanted them to be in charge of his estate. But the thing is, when you have the reputation that Joe Jackson has, nobody believes a word you say. Joe, who was cut out of his son's will, had also asked that the est ...

By Reuters

A judge made Michael Jackson's longtime attorney and a music executive the executors of his estate on Tuesday, giving them broad powers to run the late pop star's affairs despite objections from his father.

The judge's ruling came after an attorney for the "Thriller" singer's mother, Katherine Jackson, said she had no objection to John Branca and John McClain running the estate.

Read more at Reuters.

Joe Jackson claims he's entitled to an allowance from his son's estate.

By Gil Kaufman

Joe Jackson

Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images

On Tuesday, Judge Mitchell Beckloff rebuffed Joseph Jackson's bid to block the appointment of attorney John Branca and music exec John McClain to the position of co-executors of Michael Jackson's estate, saying that the family patriarch had no standing on the matter because he was not named a beneficiary in his son's will.

Joseph Jackson had raised an objection to the judge appointing the two men to the official position of executors, filing court papers on Monday claiming that Michael believed Branca and McClain were defrauding him, according to the Los Angeles Times. Joseph, who was cut out of his son's will, also asked the estate to cover more than $20,000 a month in living expenses, claiming that he is entitled to the "same manner" of support as his estranged wife,...

According to a new report, a judge has decided that Michael Jackson's father Joe Jackson cannot challenge the executors of the King of Pop's will or inherit the late star's assets. The Associated Press reports that Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said on Tuesday that the 81-year-old can follow through with a motion to seek a family allowance from Michael's estate -- but he cannot inherit his late son's assets because he is not named in the will. Joe Jackson also cannot challenge the executors of the will, John Branca and John McClain, says the AP. Keep checking back here for the latest.

[Read full story on The Insider]...

The judge in the Michael Jackson estate case just put a quick stop to Joe Jackson's objections to the will and to the executors -- in a nutshell, the judge said Joe had no dog in the fight ... no legal standing.The judge indicated the way is now cleared to formally appoint John Branca and John McClain co-executors of Jackson's estate. See Also Joe Jackson Guns for Branca, McClain ...

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Update: Judge Beckloff ruled that Joe Jackson did not have legal standing to contest the administrators of his late son's estate and cleared the way for John Branca and John McClain to be officially appointed executors of the Jackson fortune. Katherine Jackson's attorney, Adam Streisand, said after court that he does not believe Joe has any legal claim to an allowance from the estate since he was not provided for in the will. ________________________________ When it comes to divvying up Michael Jackson's fortune, Katherine Jackson is getting paid and is happy. Joe Jackson on the other hand... The King of Pop's mom and dad are on opposite sides of the fence now in the battle over the...

What a turn! Katherine and Joe Jackson are fighting each other in court ... right now.Katherine's new lawyer, Adam Streisand, is arguing to the judge that Joe has no legal standing to object to John Branca and John McClain as executors, nor does he have any standing to object to the validity of the will.Streisand is arguing since Michael Jackson cut Joe out of the will, he has no dog in this fight.During the fight,...

Katherine Jackson has just drawn a line in the sand with her husband Joe. Her lawyer just announced in court Katherine has no problem with John Branca and John McClain as executors of Michael Jackson's estate.Joe just filed legal papers yesterday trying to boot Branca and McClain from the case ... and he claims the will is a forgery.Story developing... See Also Joe Jackson Guns For Branca, McClain Joe Jackson Wants Money from...

Michael Jackson's unreleased songs are at the centre of a bidding war. The late singer's unheard music is reportedly being sent out to several record companies who are interested in releasing the tracks he was working on before his death in June. Michael's long-time attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain - who are overseeing Jackson's estate - are said to be speaking with Sony Music, Universal Music Group and one other unnamed interested party about the catalogue. A source said: "Universal and Sony have the two best worldwide distribution systems, so Branca is looking for who can provide the highest bid." According to the New York Post newspaper, the estate is believed to be keen to extend...

On Tuesday, October 27th, the world premiere of Michael Jackson's This Is It! will be webcast live via Ustream, which you can watch in the player provided below:

Free TV : Ustream

When Michael Jackson's This Is It makes its worldwide premiere from Los Angeles tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27, viewers around the world will have a chance to join in during the live webcast of the event, which will take place at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Pdt.

The live webcast can be seen on and . Viewers can interact by commenting and discussing on these pages during the live coverage. The webcast will be streamed in the U.S. and around the world. In the U.S., the webcast will be hosted by radio personalities Big Boy and Luscious Liz, and five international hosts will webcast to their regions.

Columbia Pictures'...

With Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” set for release next week, Sony has released a few clips and a new featurette. While I wondered what the level of interest was going to be and if the studio overpaid for the rights, Sony clearly knew what they were doing as many shows are already sold out and the 2-week limited run looks to be a big hit. So if you’d like a sneak peek at the film, hit the jump to watch some of the footage now.

Here’s the synopsis:

Michael Jackson’s This Is It will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London’s O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full...

"The Insider" has the latest... A hearing is scheduled on Thursday regarding the Michael Jackson estate. Read on for details... John Branca and John McClain, lawyers for Jackson's estate, have filed an application requesting that they be appointed as special administrators and be given general powers, granting them limited authority to administer the estate. Keep checking back here for the latest Michael Jackson news.

[Read full story on The Insider]...

Michael Jackson's estate lawyers want the judge to lay down the law once and for all ... John Branca and John McClain have broad powers to make decisions for all things Mj.The attorneys filed legal papers today asking the court to put in writing what the judge said earlier this month -- outlining what Branca and McClain have authority to do as Special Administrators.The judge gave the duo broader powers than they had...

We've learned ... lawyers representing Michael Jackson's estate are going to court this morning, asking the judge to streamline the administration of the estate -- specifically, clarifying they have the power to make day-to-day decisions without having to go before a judge.Lawyers for John Branca and John McClain claim the judge has already given them broad powers to make decisions over Jackson's estate, and only the biggest ones would require them going into court.

Paul Anka is to receive royalties from the Michael Jackson song 'This It It'. The singer-songwriter had earlier claimed that the new single "ripped off" 'I Never Heard', a song co-written by he and the late King of Pop for R&B singer Safire in 1991. Lawyers John Branca and John McClain, co-administrators of Jackson's estate, later admitted the song had been written by the pair together and would see to it that Anka was given recognition for the track. The 68-year-old said that he was contacted by McClain, who apologised to him on Monday afternoon (more)...

Former '50s teen idol Anka wrote the original song with Jackson in 1983.

By Gil Kaufman

Michael Jackson's <i>This Is It</i>

Photo: Epic

If you feel like you've heard the new Michael Jackson song, "This Is It," before, you are not alone. The title track to the upcoming documentary about rehearsals for the pop icon's planned career comeback was released at midnight on Monday. And though little information was available about it, questions quickly arose about its creation.

One of the people asking those questions was former 1950s teen idol Paul Anka ("Diana," "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"), who, like a number of people, thought the ballad sounded very similar to the 1991 single by Latin R&B singer Safire. The songwriter credit on that song listed Jackson and Anka as co-writers, and when Anka, 68, was not contacted about the release of the Jackson single — which credits Jackson as...