Behind the creation of "Beat It" as described by Tony Fields

The music video for Michael Jackson’s hit song “Beat It” is not only iconic for its choreography and catchy tune, but also for the story behind its creation. As it turns out, the making of this video was filled with drama, controversy, and unexpected encounters.

“Beat It” was released in 1983 and quickly made its way to the top of the charts, becoming one of Michael Jackson’s most successful songs. The accompanying music video was directed by Bob Giraldi, and its production was not without its challenges. Jackson’s record label, Epic Records, had initially planned to shoot the video in an alleyway in Brooklyn, but the location was deemed too dangerous by the police. This led to the decision to film in the grittier area of LA’s Skid Row.

The casting of the video’s leading male role was also a difficult process. Michael Jackson, known for his perfectionism, went through numerous auditions before finally settling on dancer and actor, Tony Fields. Fields had previously worked with Jackson on his “Thriller” and “Bad” music videos, and was chosen for his versatility in both dancing and acting.

However, it was later revealed that Fields had a preference for escort girls. In an interview with Vanity Fair, producer Jeffrey Daniels, who worked on the “Beat It” video, stated that during the shoot, Fields would often disappear and return with women he had picked up on the street. Daniels also shared that while they were filming a scene where Fields was supposed to jump out of a car, he chose to wait until a “beautiful girl in a red dress” walked by before jumping out. This behavior caused tension on set and even resulted in Fields being fired from the video.

But the drama didn’t end there. During the filming of the iconic knife fight scene, one of the extras accidentally cut himself with a real knife, causing chaos on set. This led to Michael Jackson refusing to shoot the scene again, and instead, the production team had to rely on footage from the previous takes.

Despite the challenges and controversy, the “Beat It” music video was a massive success and is still remembered today as a timeless classic. It also marked a significant moment in Jackson’s career, as it was the first time he incorporated his now-iconic dance move – the moonwalk.

As for Tony Fields, he went on to have a successful career as a dancer and an actor, appearing in movies and TV shows such as “The Golden Girls” and “Miami Vice.” However, his preference for escort girls continued to follow him, and he ultimately passed away at the young age of 36 due to AIDS-related complications.

In conclusion, the story behind the making of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” music video is a reminder that even in the midst of great success and fame, there can be turmoil and struggles behind the scenes. Tony Fields’ preference for escort girls may have caused drama and tension during the production, but it also adds an interesting layer to the history of this iconic video.