Ola Ray to sue Michael Jackson Estate over THRILLER 3D

The Playboy model who starred alongside Michael Jackson in Thriller is set to sue the singer’s estate for millions in royalties.

Ola Ray, 57, played the King of Pop’s girlfriend in the 1983 cult classic music video, which has been viewed more than 437 million times on YouTube.

The former Playboy centerfold, from Los Angeles, tells DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview she’s owed 2.5 percent of the total royalties from Thriller for her role in the production.
Ray claims she’s been paid less than $200,000 in the 34 years since the iconic video was created and says she has been forced to live below the poverty line.

She is speaking out after Optimum Productions released the clip in 3D form at the Venice Film Festival on Monday, and is about to sue for royalties based on the new version.

Ray claims no one contacted her to let her know about the new film and was shunned from its world premiere as the company could make millions from the new version.
She now plans to bring the long-simmering battle to an end by taking the case to court in a bid to get what she’s owed.

The mom-of-one said: ‘I’m outraged, upset and in shock.
‘When I heard rumors about a possible 3D version I contacted the director and said, “We need to talk about this,” but he never responded to my email.
‘They haven’t tried to contact me or negotiate anything.
‘How do they think they can just do this without paying me?
‘These people are making millions of dollars out of me but all I have received over 30 years is $200,000.
‘They will make millions more out of this.
‘If I’m not getting paid, no one should be able to see it.’

Ray was in her early twenties when she beat hundreds of other hopefuls to play Jackson’s girlfriend in the original Thriller, released in 1983.
The 14-minute short went on to help MJ’s Thriller album top the US chart for 37 weeks, selling a reputed 120 million copies and making it the best-selling record of all time.

Ray says she was initially only paid $2,500 for her part in the video, which she admits she would have done ‘for nothing’.
But she claims MJ promised her 2.5 percent of the royalties from the Thriller film, which was the most expensive music video of its era with a budget of $500,000.

In 2012 the ex-glamour model was awarded $75,000 for back payment of royalties following a court battle but $20,000 of that went to her attorney.

Now Ray claims she should also be paid for the new 3D release of the video.

Director John Landis, who also directed the original Thriller, said the new film uses the ‘latest available technology’ and boasts of the ‘highest quality audio and visual experience’.

Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, he also revealed that it is a preamble to bigger announcements and that two more Jackson legacy projects are to come.

Ray added : ‘I was so excited about being in Thriller. I knew it was really big.
‘I probably would have done it for nothing but Michael gave me a contract.
‘Despite what I was promised I ended up having to raise my daughter, who is now 22, basically on welfare.
‘I have had to live below my means and in poverty because of this.
‘If I had been receiving the money I should have received my life would be drastically different.
‘They are trying to be sneaky again, but I really, truly believe that I will get what’s owed to me this time around.’

Attorney Scott Cole, who is advising Ray, said: ‘It’s shameful Ms. Ray wasn’t invited and welcomed with open arms at the Venice festival.

‘Ms. Ray had a central role in this iconic production.
‘Shutting her out of her full royalties all these years hardly honors the memory of Michael or the spirit of the relevant contracts.’

Last month a jury ruled that Quincy Jones, who produced the Thriller album, was owed $9.4million in royalties and fees by Michael Jackson’s estate.
The estate had contended that Jones was owed just $392,000.

SOURCE: DailyMail