SCREAM Premiere Los Angeles - Oct. 24, 2017
A very long awaited and much needed boost of absolute joy for MJ fans occurred in Hollywood last night at the SCREAM Premiere. It was wonderful to see some familiar MJ fans were able to fly in to attend the one night event. A large German contingent of MJ fans happen to be in Los Angeles and attended. For those who could not make it to L.A. you were with us in our hearts and definitely were missed and thought of during the night. Many local So. Cal. Fans from Michael Jackson Fans of Southern California (MJFSC) and some from neighboring states also made the drive to Hollywood for the festivities.
The Estate and MJ Online Team were of course at the helm with John Branca, Karen Langford and the MJ Online team all working to make this wonderful event and the night a big success. Director John Landis and the incredible award winning, special effects wizard, Rick Baker, and wardrobe people who helped make the Thriller short film the very BEST of all time were in attendance and were shown high appreciation. They sat only a few rows behind us. Also choreographer and dancer Travis Payne, beautiful Ola Ray and Joe and Jackie Jackson were in attendance among other celebs. Nick Cannon was our laid back host and donned gold glittery shoes to honor MJ for the occasion. He proudly talked about how he is/has always been a HUGE MJ fan and was not ashamed to MJ fan boy for all to see.
The sweltering 100 degree Hollywood heat did not dampen our spirits too much as we excitedly waited in line on a side street for over an hour. It was an odd place for us to line up but allowed the ticket organizers from IOTA to ascertain only those with tickets obtained entrance. It was so wonderful to see so many beautiful and wonderful MJ fans together again. And as always greeting and meeting new MJ friends is really awesome. We truly are a special sisterhood… oh yes and wonderful MJ brothers as well. The MJ fam is just the BEST. Finally we were led in groups of 30 to Hollywood Blvd. whooping and whoo hooing our MJ Thriller best along the way. Our group was first to be led to the theater as a witty guide led us down the street admonishing us we'd get lost if we decided to duck in for any fried chicken or stop to take music CDs from hawkers on the street. So down and around the corner we marched together laughing and smiling then across blocked off Hollywood Blvd. I have to say it was a special feeling walking through the barriers past everyone on the street and down the red carpet to the main Graumans theater entrance.
The night was off to a roaring start in a really 80s sort of way when on our walk to the theater along Hollywood Blvd. my heart stopped as I looked up from the Hollywood stars passing under my feet to see a Tom Cruise, in his prime, Top Gun look alike with a dazzling smile and glint in his eye smiling at me. And yes the words “You can be my wingman anytime” sprang to mind.
As we entered the large double lobby doors and walked past glass encased memorabilia from old Hollywood movies I was reminded of the Cleopatra memorabilia I’d previously viewed in the Grauman’s lobby and felt surely Elizabeth Taylor was happy to be represented on this special MJ night just as she had supported her dear friend, Michael, through the thick and thin of his life. We stopped at the counter for free movie popcorn and drinks. MJ’s spirit lifting music played loudly, the notes surrounding us, our hands full of our snacks and drinks, drawing us through the doors of the plush theater. There is just something very special about MJ’s music… it’s uplifting and heals the soul. We made our way down the stairs to our seats.
This is the first time I’ve been in the main Grauman’s theater since it’s been refurbished. They did a simply magnificent job of retaining the wonderful, elegant, Old Hollywood, original Grauman’s look. The only standout, main change is that there is no longer one long sweeping descent down the isle to the stage but now they've created two levels. Each with total viewing access to the screen. As always the best seats at most MJ shows are not in the very front at the stage. Our seats were in the front row of the 2nd tier and only a few rows back were the VIPs and John Branca, Karen Langford, John Landis, Rick Baker, Ola Ray, Joe and Jackie Jackson filled these seats. Rick Baker being directly behind us and John Branca in the outside seat on our right 4 rows back and Joe Jackson and Ola Ray on the left. Again I felt blessed to know without trying we were honored to have the best viewing seats as has happened so many times. Thank You God for special favors you know I love.
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As we waited for the show to begin I enjoyed a big bag of popcorn in a most MJ way as a trailer for Michael Jackson’s Halloween played over and over along with MJ trivia questions. I laughed out loud as I answered the trivia correctly. Most MJ fans can. Seems we have a special compartment in our brains for MJ. The Halloween cartoon which will debut on CBS this Friday, Oct 27, 2017 looks so cool! It is so awesome that Michael’s dream of making Halloween especially MJ is being fulfilled. Thank you to the Estate who has made this happen along with many other dreams Michael outlined in his 'to do list' he outlined when he was rehearsing for 'This Is It'.
Soon Nick Cannon walked out on stage donned in his now typical turban head gear and opened the event. First up... the Ghosts movie/short film in all it’s awesomeness but on the big screen. WOW!!! Viewing Ghosts in a theater is a whole new experience and brings to light details I’ve never noticed while watching it on DVD. The big screen makes Ghosts crisp and NEW! It’s like seeing it for the first time AGAIN… but even better. I felt so much joy thinking Michael must have been feeling so proud as he watched from heaven, glittery socks & loafers dangling over the edge of a cloud as he downed a bag of popcorn while watching the crowd enjoy his work as it was meant to be seen.
Next was the new Blood on the Dance Floor video played to not as much excitement. Jamie King and Cirque dancers putting their spin on MJ’s iconic original short film. All I can say about this one is it was so freaking awesome to see MJ’s gorgeousness in his red Blood On The Dance Floor suit up on the big screen and I wish there were more... much more of MJ in it.
Nick Cannon then introduced John Landis to say a few words and introduce Thriller 3D, saying that he felt Michael would be so happy with the result of Thriller in 3D which was Michael's dream. “PUT ON YOUR GLASSES!!!” he laughed and echoed to us from the wings as an after thought while he exited the stage. Each seat had been supplied with 3D glasses so on they went as Thriller 3D loomed to life and filled the screen to whoops, applause and cheers. WOW! WOW! WOW! From the very first familiar scene that we have viewed probably millions of times by now… it was fresh, new, crisp and PRESENT. I felt a stark deja vu, as if catapulted back to the 80s feeling I was viewing Thriller for the first time… AGAIN! The freaking details you see in Thriller 3D are mind boggling.
What a fantastically amazing job John Landis has done with this short film. I could imagine and feel Michael’s joy at finally having his work of art honored in 3D and another dream of his completed.
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All I can convey is just think about Michael’s face smiling that playful, smirky grin in Thriller as he says, “Yeah, you were scared” in 3D on the big screen. I mean REALLY???? Yeah! That!!!
It was an amazingly joyful and wonderful evening. I do however have to say as always all the joy was countered with the nagging, old sadness that over took us on June 25, 2009. That sadness... the hole left in our collective hearts when the world lost MJ that will simply never go away. As well as the sadness that Michael himself is not present to see so many of his dreams and plans come to fruition. We will always miss you, Michael, and be forever grateful for all the joy, beauty and talent you gave the world. I'm personally so grateful I lived during your lifetime. The world is so much better because “We Had You” and there will forever remain a void in the heart of the world with you gone. Oh how we could use your L.O.V.E. and caring, loving consciousness for what was right and good for ALL in these times we live.
After the screening we began to make our way to the After Party upstairs but not before giving a big MJFSC cheer to John Landis who was greeting people at the seats right behind us. On the count of three we let out a big, “THANK YOU JOHN!!” Yes, thank you, for making MJ’s dream come true and blessing us with another short film work of art which again sets the bar even higher. We have all known for decades that Thriller will simply NEVER be topped… Thriller 3D is the only exception.
At the after party we mingled along side celebs and HUGE MJ fans. Some spontaneously replicating MJ’s moves, quite exquisitely, on the dance floor. We were blessed to meet Puerto Rico born, Esai Morales and my dear friend, Deborah, exuberantly did not hesitate to tell him she loved his work in La Bamba. I was too shy to approach him. He was gracious and gorgeous.
Renowned DJ, Steve Aoki, pumped out the music as we noshed on hors d’oeuvres, enjoyed the open bar, mingled, sang and danced. It was a great night!
MJ fans will be thrilled to know that in the not too distant future 'Ghosts' will also be remade into 3D and Thriller 3D will soon be released world wide.
🎶 Cause this is THRILLER, thriller night! And no one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike! 🎶
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