Guitarist Orianthi Panagaris states in an interview that she received an invite to audition for a spot on the tour via MySpace. When she showed up to audition, Jackson and other producers asked her to play the solo from the song "Beat It." After playing the piece, Jackson approached Panagaris, took her arm, and asked if she could play the solo walking across the stage at a specific speed. When she responded she could handle the assignment, Jackson hired her on the spot.
The footage was originally intended for the private library of Michael Jackson. It was also to be used to help the concert's creative team analyze, review and alter aspects of the show before completion.
Through most of the film, Michael Jackson is singing with half-voice, doing what singers call "marking" - rehearsing at a lower vocal volume so he can save his full voice for the actual performances. At least twice he tells his producers and technicians he's "conserving my voice," while they argue that they can't work out the vocal balances for the concert unless he sings at full voice. At the end of the song "The Way You Make Me Feel" you can hear Michael Jackson in full voice.
The concert was supposed to be in full 3D experience that was to be displayed in full jumbo LED screen. These works can be seen during Thriller, Smooth Criminal and Earth Song.
The blimp in background of the "Smooth Criminal" section says "MJ Air". This was the name given to the airline in the unfinished 3D finale of the concert in which Michael and his dancers would board a plane and take off over the audience.