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Kenny Ortega was responsible for some of Michael Jackson's biggest concerts, including what were to be his big comeback shows in London. But in the singer's final days, the producer-director-choreographer felt like he needed to take on another responsibility - making sure Jackson stayed healthy.
"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?'" Mr. Ortega said in an interview Thursday to promote the new Jackson documentary, "This is It."
When Jackson would say he had, a skeptical Mr. Ortega would say, "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."
Mr. Ortega's work with Jackson included world tours for Jackson's "Dangerous" and "HIStory" albums. He was directing the "This is It" shows - which would have marked the performer's comeback concerts in London's O2 Arena in July - and was brought on to direct a film adaptation of those taped rehearsals after Jackson's death.
"This is It" will premiere globally Tuesday and run for two weeks. The soundtrack for the film, which includes the newly released title track as well as some of his best-known hits, is being released Monday.
In a 12-minute clip previewed for media on Thursday. a strong-voiced King of Pop is shown enthusiastically practicing some of his biggest hits.
Jackson, though frail-looking, is shown warming up his vocals during a performance of "Human Nature." That's followed by the singer running through the song in various outfits.
Later, he playfully dances with a woman as he sings "The Way You Make Me Feel," touching her thigh and holding her waist.
"One more time," Jackson says toward the end of the song after being told the last eight bars were to be cut.
Mr. Ortega says although he worried about Jackson's health, he doesn't believe the preparation for the shows wore the singer down. In fact, he says it was 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.
"From the very beginning Michael was very vocal, and very upfront about what he wanted to do and why he wanted to do it," Mr. Ortega said.
"That's what 'This is It,' Michael Jackson's 'This is It' the film, is about - it's a privileged peek into the final creative process of Michael's last theatrical work."
