The short film for “Beat It”, directed by Bob Giraldi and choreographed by Michael Peters, helped establish Jackson as an international pop icon.The film was Jackson’s first treatment of black youth and the streets. Both “Beat It” and Thriller are notable for their “mass choreography” of synchronized dancers, a Jackson trademark. The video included around 80 genuine gang members—to add authenticity to the production—and 18 professional dancers. Inspired by the Broadway musical West Side Story, the video cost Jackson $150,000 to create after CBS refused to finance it. The video’s featured choreography opened up many job opportunities for dancers in the US.
The music video opens with the news of a fight circulating at a diner. This scene repeats itself at a pool hall, where gang members arrive via foot, forklift, and out of sewers. The camera cuts to a scene of Jackson lying on a bed, contemplating the senseless violence. The singer leaves the room upon hearing the commotion caused by the rival gangs. Donning a red leather jacket, Jackson dances his way through the diner and pool hall, towards the fight. Arriving at the scene, the singer breaks up the fight and launches into a dance routine. The video ends with the gang members joining him in the dance, agreeing that violence is not the solution to their problems.
Source: wikipedia.org
