London and Oxford 4 March 2001 and File (First Run 0400 Europe - March 5)
LONDON - 4TH MARCH 2001 - POOL
1. POPSTAR MICHAEL JACKSON WALKING ON CRUTCHES ALONG GANGWAY, WALKS UP TO WOMAN AND HUGS HER
2. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) MICHAEL JACKSON, POP SINGER
3. JACKSON WHISPERS TO FRIENDS
4. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) MICHAEL JACKSON, POP SINGER
5. TILT DOWN TO JACKSON'S FEET
6. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) MICHAEL JACKSON, POP SINGER
7. JACKSON WALKING DOWN STAIRS, RECEIVES CRUTCHES, WALKS TOWARDS VAN
APTN MATERIAL BEGINS
8. CLOSE UP OXFORD UNION SIGN
9. MID SHOT UNION BUILDING, STUDENT QUEUING
10. INTERIOR TILT FROM CEILING TO DEBATING CHAMBER WITH STUDENTS IN LINE TO GET JACKSON TICKETS
11. CUTAWAY STATUES
12. SET UP NICK MASON
13. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) NICK MASON, PRESIDENT OF OXFORD UNION
14. WIDE SHOT OXFORD STREET
15. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) CHARLIE SPARLING, OXFORD UNIVERSITY STUDENT
16. MEDIUM SHOT DEBATING CHAMBER WITH STUDENTS
17. CLOSE UP OF JACKSON TICKETS
18. LINE UP RABBI SHMULEY BOTEACH AND MICHAEL JACKSON AT CARNEGIE HALL FOR PRE-LAUNCH OF HEAL THE KIDS CHARITY
19. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) RABBI SHMULEY BOTEACH
20. PAN/TILT ACROSS DEBATING CHAMBER
English/Nat
TITLE: MICHAEL JACKSON PREVIEW
DATE: MARCH 5TH 2001
LOCATION: LONDON AND OXFORD, UK & NEW YORK, USA
The reclusive pop star MICHAEL JACKSON will deliver his first ever public lecture at Britain's Oxford University Union tomorrow (Tuesday 6th March).
He will be launching his new charity, Heal the Kids, while speaking about child welfare and the need for parents to devote more time to their children.
Jackson was accused of child abuse in 1993, but the case was settled out of court and he was never charged.
The hallowed halls of Oxford University are buzzing with excitement about the imminent arrival of a musical legend.
The university's Union has given a platform to a variety of controversial characters in the past, including OJ Simpson and Jerry Springer, but rarely has it seen such anticipation about the arrival of a world famous guest.
Students have been queuing for days in the debating chamber to pick up tickets for the Michael Jackson speech, and they are becoming a prized possession after a deluge of requests to attend.
Some might find it surprising that such a bastion of intellectual prowess should court a pop star to enlighten them about child welfare, but the President of the Union is in no doubt about Michael Jackson's celebrity pulling power.
Students who will not be able to get into the debating chamber because of lack of space will crowd into an ante room which will carry sound from the speeches.
There's no doubting the level of excitement at the prospect of coming face to face with the Moonwalker himself.
The fact that Jackson was investigated by Californian police for allegedly molesting a 12 year old boy has not been lost on the students, but most are willing to give him a fair hearing.
The event at the Union has been organised in large part by the flamboyant New York Rabbi Shmuley Boteach (pronounced BOE-TAY-ACH) who has forged a strong friendship with Michael Jackson over the last couple of years.
Boteach ran the University's most successful student society for eleven years and was introduced to Jackson by the psychic Uri Geller, with whom he has written a book.
The Rabbi firmly refutes any suggestion that Jackson was guilty of child molestation.
Jackson and the Rabbi both headed up a conference on their Heal the Kids charity in New York three weeks ago, prior to the launch at Oxford.
Rabbi Boteach says Jackson's speech will have a stunning impact.
Jackson will be best man at the magician Uri Geller's renewal of wedding vows in Berkshire on Wednesday and Boteach will be officiating at the ceremony.
Jackson hobbled in on crutches to the UK on Sunday evening sporting a plastered foot, which he fractured after falling down some stairs.
However, it's all good news for Jacko, as Geller says that he will heal the superstar's leg in just ten minutes for his wedding on Wednesday.
