Behind the scenes of "This is it" with Michael Jackson as told by John Tobin

Actor John Tobin has been keeping silent since the sudden death of Michael Jackson. He was sworn to secrecy about his role in the newly released “This is it”. Soon after Jackson’s death he shared with me that he had a story to tell but it needed to wait until the time was appropriate, and for reasons of legality. Of course I honored his request until this week when his story can finally be told.

Tobin originally from New York attended the University of Rhode Island. He began acting in Connecticut where he performed in musical Theater. Next he began performing a Humphrey Bogart tribute due to a resemblance that runs in the family. Said Tobin “ My Grandfather looked like Humphrey Bogart, and people started telling me I did too.” Soon after he began doing Bogart he was booked for a factory outlet commercial in Boston.

In 2002 he moved west to California to further pursue his acting career and found that he was able to get more work as Bogart there. Since the move he has had much success appearing in films such as “The Changeling”, “Indiana Jones”, “Mission Impossible 3”, “Amistad” ,”Meet Joe Black” and television shows like “Nip Tuck”, “Desperate Housewives”, “Curb your Enthusiasm”, and “Law and Order”. He has been on set with the likes of mega hunk Brad Pitt , and Oscar winning stars Anthony Hopkins and Clint Eastwood.

But his biggest claim to fame has to be his latest project appearing in “This is it” along side the King of Pop Michael Jackson. Tobin says a friend of his who worked with him on the film “Changeling” saw the call for Bogart and thought of him, so he tried out for the part. He auditioned for the role in front of director Kenny Ortega, Tobin said “It was very easy to audition for him...I did one line from Casablanca, and had to jump across a board.”

Said Tobin, " Bruce Jones who was also a director on the film told me the part mine. “ I was very excited , it’s one the the best jobs I’ve ever had.” They told him “You got the voice, you got the jump, you got the job.” The next day he was sent to a costume fitting and the shoot took place at Culver Studios the following Monday.

The shoot for the “Smooth Criminal” scene lasted 15 hours, and Michael was there for 13 hours of it. I mentioned to Tobin that while watching ”This is it”,  I personally was impressed that Michael was always on top of every little detail of his production. Tobin agreed, sighting that even the hairdresser on set told him “Michael’s all about detail”. Tobin himself said Jackson was “very specific”. The exciting showdown scene between Jackson and Tobin was shot in a “Old Hollywood” style of black and white, complete with pinstripe suits, spats and tommy guns. It also features footage of the real Humphrey Bogart, as well as Rita Hayworth

Jackson spent some "one on one" time with Tobin between takes by talking about old movies. “He asked me if I’d seen Casablanca” , which I’d seen about fifty times" said Tobin. Jackson also told Tobin that he had a “great look” which I sure refers to his close resemblance to Bogart. Tobin told Jackson he enjoyed his 1980 Smooth Criminal video to which Jackson replied “I’m glad you liked it”.

Often projects like these are filmed without the main star so Tobin was really happy to meet Jackson saying that he was surprised Jackson was even there, and “very blessed”. Due to a confidentiality agreement he was sworn to secrecy for the past 4 months. Said Tobin “All I could say is I worked on the film and that was it...it’s hard to do when it’s one of your most exciting gigs”.

So far Tobin has seen the film twice and is headed out to see it again with a friend today. He has of course seen himself on screen numerous times in other films, but said seeing himself with Jackson..." It was really exciting ..it was nice to see i made the cut and to see myself working with him in the same scene ..was a pretty cool,feeling.”

When Tobin first heard Jackson had suffered a heart attack he said to a friend “I guess I won’t be going to London to see a show.” Jackson himself had extended an invitation to Tobin to attend one of his tour dates. Like many he was shocked to hear of Jackson's death, citing that on set “ He seemed healthy ... he looked thin, but he was always thin. I didn't think it was any big deal, and he danced smooth criminal like you see it in the film....I wasn’t worried about him...”

Since shooting the Michael Jackson video John Tobin has appeared in roles on Criminal minds and CSI Las Vegas. He is already booked as Humphrey Bogart for shows in January 2010, and with the release of “This is it” he is bound to be getting more, and more calls.

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