About Opus
Last Monday, December 7, Michael Jackson Opus was unveiled in a ceremony attended by some prominent figures.
To see photos of the book and the unveiling ceremony, click .
In the days since the book’s unveiling, some interesting and previously unseen photos from it have been made available through news websites. Today, it’s time to introduce some more attractions from this book:
The cover designer of this massive book is a 48-year-old artist from Westal, New York, named Nate Giorgio. He has had a 25-year collaboration with Michael Jackson, and their most recent meeting dates back to about a month before the world’s music superstar passed away.
Giorgio says the cover design is simple yet full of meaning—something that conveys many things about Michael. Other designs by him are also included inside the book. And we should also mention a handwritten note from Michael, written as a tribute.
Giorgio says that once, when Michael was unwell, he called to check on him, and then Michael responded with this short note, thanking him for his kindness.
“He was such a man. I wish people knew this side of his personality.”
Nate’s father, Neil Giorgio, says: “It’s an honor for us that my son’s painting is engraved on the cover of this book.”
Nate and Michael’s collaboration began in the 1980s. Nate mailed some of his designs to Michael, and Michael liked his work. Michael invited him to his home in Encino, California, and from that time on, Nate became Michael’s painter. Among his works, we can mention the design for Michael’s poetry book “Dancing The Dream.” Some of Nate’s works were also hung on the walls of the Neverland home.
Michael once asked him to draw a “Michael Jackson Superman,” and the handwritten order for this commission, along with this drawing, appears in Opus.
When Michael passed away, the two were busy designing a mural of him and his children as they walked through the forest.
In this book, there is a photo from 1994 of Michael in a black, messy suit, with a made-up face—and of course with a fake curled mustache—pinned in the middle of the book on folded pages in four different face expressions of Michael.
Yes, it’s this Michael Jackson—turned into Charlie Chaplin. Michael was a fan of Charlie. The photographer, Steve Witzit, took this photo for use in the Smile video, made in praise of Charles Chaplin.
Smile is a song whose music and lyrics are attributed to Charlie Chaplin. This song was used as the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin film titled “Modern Times.” In 1995, Michael recorded this song for his album History, but contrary to expectations, its single was left unreleased.
At Michael’s memorial ceremony on July 7 this year, actor Brooke Shields—who is an old friend of Michael—shared a secret with the world. She said Michael’s favorite song is not one of the masterpieces made by him, but a song by Charlie Chaplin titled Smile. The theme of the song is an invitation to joy in the midst of sorrow. She says: “Smile, even though your heart is broken. Smile, and then you’ll see that life is still worthwhile. Then when the tears subside, it’s time for another effort.”
Michael made the Smile video using pieces of old Charlie Chaplin film footage, but an order prohibiting its release was issued by the Chaplin Empire commanders—so the video and the Smile single never saw the light of day. Steve kept this photo in his archive.
Three months before his death, Michael had made a deal to publish a luxurious book with the publisher Kraken Opus. Since all the photos and writings in this lasting work had to be first-hand, the photo section editor, Deborah Wald, contacted Steve and asked whether he had anything saved in his archive—something unique that had not been seen before. Steve’s answer was yes.
After news broke about Michael performing 50 concerts in London, Opus called Michael and asked to increase the number of books to two volumes and include the events related to his new tour in the second volume. With Michael’s death, this did not happen.
Opus’s senior advisor, Jordan Samers, says:
“I remember that he asked about the making of the book sheets and its binding, and the color that would be used for printing. He gave us a general instruction about what he wanted. But there was no nitpicking or suspicion in his nature. What stunned me was the curiosity stemming from his innocence and the childlike surprises—combined with a focused, encouraging, and confident personality.”
Opus’s head, Jeff Wald—Deborah Wald’s husband—has known Michael since his teenage years. He also has dealings with two lawyers and Michael’s business and professional affairs executive: John Branca and John McClain. That’s why, when Michael passed away, decisions about the fate of this book as a lasting legacy of art, genius, humanity, and the temperament of a pop-legend were prioritized. The license to publish this book was issued by the Los Angeles court shortly after Michael’s death. Opus is the only book that was approved and stamped by Michael himself, and then by his team.
After Michael’s death, a flood of books about him poured into stores around the world. Jeff Wald considers them copied and glued products—or, in other words, retouched trash.
“Our goal was for all the writing to be first-hand. We didn’t want to lay out a red carpet (in terms of having stars present as authors of the book’s content). We wanted things that had never been seen before to be included in the book. Word for word, this book was reviewed by the supervisors of the Michael Foundation.”
Michael Jackson Opus is a 404-page book in 10 chapters, weighing about 12 kilograms, with pages sized 33 by 46 centimeters. The book includes a handsome, red frame and two white gloves so that, while flipping through the book, no dirt is left on the pages.
In closing, it’s worth noting that this book is Kraken Opus’s best-selling product in the company’s history. Within a few days after the book’s unveiling, the number of purchase orders accepted for it surpassed 20,000—an enormous success. Ordering the book was possible for two months (September and October) at half price (165 US dollars). After this deadline ended, the book’s price doubled, but it’s still possible to place an order. Opus announced that until December 18, it will ship the received orders to all corners of the world. This book will not have a second printing, and after the order acceptance period ends and printing is completed, it will become rare worldwide.
Source: eMJey / LA Times / Binghamton Press / Kranken Opus