(12 Feb 1996) Natural Sound
Pop star Michael Jackson has travelled to Brazil where he'll record scenes for his new music video in one of the country's most miserable slums.
The video, filmed in Rio de Janeiro's Dona Marta slum, has drawn praise from the city's poor but criticism from civic leaders.
They fear the filming would give Rio a bad image and might hurt its chances of playing host to the 2004 Olympics.
Michael Jackson fans and the international press gathered at Rio de Janeiro's Dona Marta slum, waiting for the pop star to arrive.
Residents had spent Friday and Saturday cleaning and preparing for the moment when their hero would land in a helicopter at a local soccer field.
Getting a taste of what was to come, a Michael imitator entertained the waiting fans with his home-made Jackson performance.
The Dona Marta slum, home to about 13-thousand people, is tucked away in Rio's fashionable south side.
It doesn't appear on official maps, despite its proximity to the mayor's palace.
Rio officials, who are battling high crime and widespread poverty, are eager to promote the city as a tourist paradise.
The video could undermine their efforts and they tried to block the filming.
They feared the publicity would give Rio a bad image and might hurt its chances of playing host to the 2004 Olympics.
But in the end, a judge decided to allow the filming - to the delight of the slum dwellers who want the world to see and recognise their living conditions.
Security had been stepped up for Jackson's visit - producers had hired 50 Dona Marta residents at 70 U-S dollar each to protect director Spike Lee and the singer.
Another 80 officers were put in action by the local police.
When the pop star finally arrived, elated fans tried to get a glimpse of their idol, some making desperate efforts to shake hands with the singer.
Walking through a slum alley, Jackson was accompanied by two children who'd been travelling with him.
Then it was time for the show - with Lee directing the cameramen to get the best shots and Jackson giving his usual performance of dance and movements.
The slum-dwellers are overjoyed with Jackson's new video, one fan believes the place will never be the same again.
Jackson is a hero for the people who live in the slum.
They believe by coming to their home, the singer proves he cares about their suffering, while the city officials never come up to check it out.
The video, scheduled for a March release, is to include two or three scenes from Dona Marta.
The video will also include footage from another Brazilian city and the tough New York neighbourhood of the Bronx.
Jackson's song "They Don't Care About Us" deals with violence and police brutality.
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