Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez – together with Jermaine, Tito, and Marlon Jackson – were among the thousands who attended Wednesday’s much-anticipated world premiere of This is it at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. The concert movie/documentary, which chronicles Michael Jackson’s final days as he prepared for a worldwide tour, opens today.
Silver rhinestone gloves were distributed to fans, many of whom arrived already showing off Jackson T-shirts and tattoos. Even Amy Pascal, the co-chairman of Sony, which is distributing the film, came wearing a Jackson-like fedora and rhinestone-adorned slacks. Also among the dozens of celebrity attendees were Paula Abdul, Neil Patrick Harris, Martin Lawrence, Adam Lambert, David Cook, and Rosanna Arquette.
Before the two-hour film began, Director Kenny Ortega (pictured with Jermaine) tried to explain what the late pop singer was hoping to accomplish with the tour and why they chose the massive Nokia Theatre to premiere the movie. “Tonight we come together in the name of one of the greatest entertainers known in our times and a man whose heart pumped to make this world a better place: Michael Jackson,” Ortega said. “This Is It is, and always has been from the time we started, for the fans. The Nokia became our first residence. It is where we held auditions and where Michael hand-selected many of the creative artists who joined him for this. It is with great pride that we are premiering it here tonight.”
Reactions to the film varied from the occasional fan yelling, “I Love You, Michael!” to people laughing and giving standing ovations, and a few even shedding some tears. The movie will hit 15,000 theaters this weekend. “Michael and I were giving everything to creating this show and perfecting it, and we all brought that same spirit and dedication to creating this mosaic,” Ortega told EW.com. “It is wall-to-wall music. It is all the real Michael. It is unguarded and real and passionate. I am very proud of the outcome of the film.”
Ortega added that the director’s cut of the movie will likely be released early next year, but even that is not expected to contain some of the more macabre moments from the day of Jackson’s death – like when Ortega and the dance team learned of the singer’s sudden passing. “Those moments were private, for one thing,” explained Ortega. “And this is meant to be a celebration of Michael’s genius and was meant to add to his legacy. He was a master of his craft. It is his sacred and final theatrical work, and we wanted it to be a celebration. Those scenes would bring it down, and that is not the point. So it is all Michael and he is up and enthusiastic and working hard and strong, and that’s what we wanted to show.”
Jermaine Jackson called the movie “the most exquisite production anyone has ever seen,” adding that it demonstrates how his brother was attempting to create the best concert ever. “It is a wonderful idea for a film,” he told EW.com. “It shows that with hard work and dedication you can achieve anything. You can make your dreams come true. That’s what Michael was all about and this is probably the most personal look fans will ever get of his process, and I think he would be happy if the movie inspired one person to write a song or follow their dream, and I think it will probably inspire a lot more. He loved his fans and I think he’d be thrilled to give them something extra. All the work on the show did not go to waste this way, either.” — Reporting by Carrie Bell
Photo Credit: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters/Landov
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I just can’t say enough about how I as an MJ fan am missing him. I’m just glad I was around to experience his genius. I don’t know of any artist I’ve ever was anxious to make sure I got home to watch his new videos be shown for the first time! I enjoyed it so much watching him. We laughed with him, we cried with him and to me, like a family member, it’ll take a year (and longer) for me to mourn his passing. God rest your soul Michael Jackson.
I think 15,000 screens is an error. Maybe it’s 1,500?
I don’t think 15,000 is a mistake. If that were just in the US that’s still only 300 screens per state. I think that’s about right for a film that is supposedly only going to be playing for 2 weeks, although I won’t be seeing it.
To think a pedophile could profit even in death….
you’re a jacka**
Because I know not to support a pedophile or any other criminal for that matter?
Please!
You’re a hypocrite!
Agreed!
Amen.
Anyone who believes the crap that has been spread around about him, is just plain ignorant. He loved souls for who they were, not what they could do for him. He loved earth and it’s beauty. Most of us could stand to follow in his footsteps. There are more fans of Michael Jackson than there are non-believers. To you open minded people that don’t listen to tabloids and rumors, KUDOS!
RIP MJ… We will always love and miss you!!!! xoxo
I read on another that the brothers were shopping for someone to give them free outfits for the premier. Someone maybe missing a pair of drapes this morning.
I think it was TMZ that reported it. Nothing new. All the stars when it comes to galas go to the designers for clothing. And the designers sometimes approach them to wear the clothes.
after the movie the jacksons went to the opening of an envelope because they heard five dollars were inside.
Am I the only one that thinks that Lotoya and Jermaine are the biggest Jackson tools?
Ha, and don’t leave out Papa Joe.
MJ remains INNOCENT in the eyes of his fans, the eyes of the LAW and the eyes of God
Now as for your twisted perception, it is purely in YOUR eyes without any support or backing, whatsoever…LOL!!!
OPINIONS are like assholes, everybody has one!
That IS why I RELY mainly on FACTS and NOT gossips!
Mmmmmmmm….sorry still a drug addicted pedophile!
mmmmmmmmm…. sorry, you’re still a scumbag and don’t know squat.
I think anybody who tries to defend this idiot needs to have their own mental state looked at by a professional.
Seems like Reno and others are factually correct(gave 17 million to settle a molestation suit and he 100% died b/c he was a drug addict) but then they get personally attacked for stating facts. Odd behavior.
How do you know how much the lawsuit was settled for?
He did a drug addict? YET the only thing that contributed to his death as Propofol, a drug that is not physically addicted.
If you were smart instead of going by what the media says you would get your OWN facts.
Yes Michael settled the CIVIL suit but the Criminal case was still up and running. You know why the Criminal case got dropped? Because there was NO facts, NO evidence.
Here try some reading:http://jetzi-mjvideo.com/books/gq/gq3.html
If you don’t take the time to read the article I’d know for sure your just spewing bull Sh*t
Would you let your children sleep in the same bed with this person?
Something Jackson has admitted doing and seeing no harm in.
if the criminal case was dropped due to lack of evidence then why in god’s green earth would anyone willingly pay $17m if they are innocent? if i had that kind of money and someone was accusing me of something that horrible, i would spend that cash on my defense.
i’m sorry but he was a drug addict. you don’t routinely take propofol via your in-home set-up and live-in doctor if you are not. any it wasn;t JUSt the propofol, it was the on-going combination of drugs his doctor was giving him all night that seemed pretty standard for mj. if mj wasn’t an addict then neither was anna nicole.
Can somebody please put all the MJ crap to rest. It is over and done. He is dead.
I am sick of hearing about anything to do with him.
BTW …. yes I loved THRILLER but that was long ago.