Bohemian67 said:

I HAVE to see it in the theater... it'll be the next best thing to going to the concert, I think.

Really looking forward to this.

Sony To Screen 'This Is It' in Advance

September 21

Sony has scheduled advance screenings of Michael Jackson's "This Is It" documentary on Oct. 27 - a day ahead of the original release date -- along with 15 simultaneous premiere events.

"Michael Jackson has an army of fans everywhere around the world," said Sony marketing-distribution chief Jeff Blake. He called the rollout plan a chance for auds worldwide "to join together in celebration of Michael Jackson's incredible career."

Sony said the screenings will start three hours after the Los Angeles preem at the Nokia Theater, which will kick off premieres in New York, Rio De Janeiro, London, Berlin, Johannesburg and Seoul with red carpet arrivals and activities from the Los Angeles event broadcast by satellite. Other cities, including Moscow, Tokyo, Sydney and Paris, will host premiere events at a later date.

Sony said the first audiences in Los Angeles will see the film at 9 p.m. local time. Start time will be midnight in New York and 4 a.m. in London.

"This Is It" will run for two weeks with tickets for shows, including advance screenings, going on sale Sunday. The pic covers the period from March through Jackson's death on June 25 as the pop star rehearsed for his comeback series of shows at London's 02 Arena.

Kenny Ortega, director of the stage show, is also directing the film, which is produced by Ortega, Randy Phillips and Paul Gongaware. John Branca and John McClain, the legal eagles who are overseeing Jackson's estate, are exec producers.



http://www.variety.com/ar...Id=13&cs=1

The New song is called THIS IS IT according to roger freakman from fox news.

Exclusive: Jacko Movie, Soundtrack Have New Song


By: Roger Friedman // Monday September 21, 2009
Here’s something new I can tell you now exclusively: Michael Jackson’s “This is It” film will include a brand new song, which Michael wrote for the tour.

The song is called “This is It.” After Jackson died, it was finished by producer John McClain, who is also one of Michael’s executors.

The new song will be included in the film and on the two-CD soundtrack scheduled for release right after the movie has its two-week run. I told you months ago when the movie was being shopped that it would be accompanied by a soundtrack. As I pointed out, Jackson has never had a “live” album.

Even the Jackson family should be surprised by the new song, but they’ll hear it when they see the first draft of the movie, sources say, in the next week.

http://showbiz411.blogs.t...this-is-i/
[Edited 9/21/09 16:45pm]

Damn, 2-disc set? And I'm sure we'll get a 2-DVD set. The circumstances around the release suck, but I'd by lying if I said I wasn't glad we're finally getting some new material.

Superstition said:

one new song, thats pathetic.....I want more

I'll be perfectly content to catch this off the Internet.

Superstition said:

should be good.

Jackson movie to get mass worldwide premiere

LOS ANGELES, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The Michael Jackson movie "This Is It" -- based on footage from concert rehearsals before his death in June -- will have simultaneous premieres in more than 15 cities around the world next month, the studio behind the film said on Monday.

"This Is It" opens to the general public on Oct. 28 for a limited two-week run. While Hollywood movies often have several premieres around the world, they rarely happen at the same time.

But for "This Is It," more than 15 cities, including New York, Rio de Janeiro, London, Berlin and Seoul will host simultaneously premieres with a red carpet event in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, said Sony Pictures, which paid $60 million for rights to the rehearsal footage. Names of the other premiere-night cities were not released.

The opening events will feature satellite transmissions of Hollywood stars arriving at the premiere in Los Angeles. London's premiere will happen after midnight local time on Oct. 28, while Seoul's event is scheduled for the morning of that day.

In all, more than 25 cities worldwide will have premieres for the movie but not all will take place at the same time.

In the days before he died of an overdose of prescription drugs on June 25, Jackson was rehearsing for a comeback with 50 sold-out shows in London.

The $60 million movie deal was made between Jackson's estate and concert promoter AEG Live and Sony Pictures.

Based on proceeds from the movie, business deals and album sales that have arisen since Jackson's death, administrators of his estate expect to generate more than $200 million in revenue before the end of the year.

seeingvoices12 said:

Yeah, but if it's a live album, we'll be hearing new arrangements, instruments and vocals. It's not rehashed material like the stripped mixes and the like.

Superstition said:

Let's wait until we get more details...

Now I'm not sure if I am going to be able to see this in the theater. They are not showing showtimes in my area for this. I am hoping they will as it gets closer to the 28th of October.


The DVD,and soundtrack sound good,but I seriously would do without this for a DVD release of his earlier concerts.












oh and Moonwalker,Making of Thriller,and Captain EO.
[Edited 9/21/09 23:12pm]

EmeraldSkies said:

While I'd love to have the Destiny/Triumph tour, an early J5 concert, Victory, Bad or HIStory concert, I'm much more intrigued by this due to the fact that we really don't know what he was going to do.

My guess is it'll be like the Dangerous/HIStory tour with a bit more live singing and a bit more live instrumentation.

I've really wanted an unplugged style show for ages now. Synths were all the rage since the Jacksons were grown, Destiny/Triumph tour is probably the closest to a somewhat-acoustic set we got. I love watching Babyface's MTV Unplugged show and some Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder shows because of the full, live band and all that live instrumentation. I would've loved to see MJ do a set like that just once. If this is as close as we get, I'll be glad to see/hear it. From the little clips, I can hear way more live instruments than I did on the past tours. The Bad tour had lots of live instruments, but it was all so synthy, and all the songs were sped up so they all sounded too much like each other (shown by the fact MJ was interpolating bits of one song into the other.)
[Edited 9/22/09 2:52am]

I mite pass on the cd. But the DVD is definently on my christmas list.

A live album with no audience??? WTF!!!!!

lilgish said:

A live album with no audience will sound like a session CD. You know how iTunes, AOL and Napster would get artists and bands in the studio to record their tracks? This will probably sound like that, if it is indeed a live album.

lilgish said:

A rehearsal album.

I just received this email for my area.

I think there are a certain number of fans that are setting themselves up for a huge disappointment with this "documentary", particularly when the reality sets in that Michael Jackson will not be making a personal appearance. I know people realize that on an intellectual level, but I feel their emotions are being manipulated. Sadly, I feel Sony is just trying to hype as many dollars out of as many pockets as they can before this thing inevitably hits the web.

Copycat said:

I got that too...The line starts tomorrow, so I know i'm not about to sit out there for 3 days just to see it a day earlier

cool, damn LA peeps get all the luck

ViintageJunkiie said:

Co-sign

L.A. Live Bracing For An Influx of Jackson Fans This Weekend
September 24, 2009

This may not be the weekend to finally try the mai tai at Trader Vic's.

Tickets go on sale Sunday at L.A. Live for the first screenings of "Michael Jackson's This Is It," the Sony Pictures concert documentary that chronicles the making of what would have been Jackson's comeback shows. The film will show on all 14 screens at the new Regal Cinemas at the downtown complex across the street from Staples Center.

The first 500 fans in line will be eligible to receive a "lenticular" ticket commemorating the planned 50-date "This Is It" concert engagement at London's O2 Arena.

The tickets were said to be "inspired and designed" by Jackson, and fans who purchased tickets for the London performances had the option of receiving them in lieu of a refund.

Perhaps that's why AEG is anticipating quite the crowd to descend on the downtown complex this weekend. The line will officially open at 5 p.m. Thursday, and tickets will go on sale just after midnight on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

L.A. Live is the only screening location that will offer the commemorative tickets. There is a two-ticket limit per person, and buyers can receive only one commemorative ticket.

The L.A. Live screenings will mark the opening of the Regal Cinemas. The film will start showing at 9 p.m. Oct. 27, one day before it begins its limited, two-week run at theaters nationwide.

Parking for those camping out is free, and we're told that "music will be provided." The tickets for the initial preview screenings at L.A. Live will be sold only in person. However, all other screenings nationwide will be available for purchase online.

A total of 3,000 tickets will be available, and parking will close after the first 1,500 wristbands have been distributed.



http://latimesblogs.latim...ekend.html

AEG President: Jackson Movie Will Clear The Company's Name
September 25

As dozens of buoyant Michael Jackson fans queued up in the Nokia Plaza to be among the first to see their idol's last performance, others watching the scene expressed mixed emotions.

Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, which bankrolled Jackson's "This is It" tour and is a key player in the film, recalled the moment he got the news of Jackson's death. "Well, at first it lets all the air out of you, and you sit here and you're stunned at how quickly it happened and occurred. You're in denial. You can't believe it. You're looking around, saying, 'What happened?"

Zip ahead some three months, to Thursday afternoon — about an hour before the opening of the nearly two-and-a-half day waiting line for advance tickets to "Michael Jackson's 'This is It'" concert documentary. Leiweke reunited with musicians, singers and dancers from the tour in a press conference held in the plaza, which is directly across the street from the Staples Center, the site of Jackson's rehearsals, the last of which took place just hours before his death June 25.

"It's mixed feelings, first of all, to see these guys again, and to be in this space," noted singer Darryl Phinnessee. "You know, we finished rehearsing at quarter to midnight the night before Michael died, and he was energetic and up and doing his thing, as you'll see in the movie."

Crafted from hundred hours of rehearsal footage, "This is It" is directed by longtime Jackson collaborator Kenny Ortega, who had been working with Jackson on the concerts.

"You see the music, the studios, the rehearsals, the dancers, the auditions, the costumes," Leiweke said. "You see all of the behind-the-scenes, and then you finally see the last few days of the dress rehearsals, and you begin to see the genius of Michael: the dancing, the singing, the choreography, and his concept of creating a one-time performance that no one would ever forget."

Leiweke said the movie also will provide proof that AEG had Jackson's well-being in mind.

"I think we still are hurt," Leiweke said. "Some of the things that people have said about us, which are so untrue, this movie's going to restore his legacy, and prove that we, in fact, gave Michael a second chance here. And an opportunity to make the kind of comeback he was dreaming of. And that we created an environment for him that was probably the best environment that the guy had the last 10 or 15 years of his life. And I'm very proud of the way we treated Michael, and very proud of the partnership that we had with him. And this movie is an opportunity to celebrate that, and we could get past all of the gossip and all of the innuendo."

"This is It" is set to open in cinemas worldwide Oct. 28.





http://www.google.com/hos...gD9AUCIGG0

Sony Pictures To Distribute 'THIS IS IT' to Digital IMAX Theatres Beginning October 28, 2009

September 25

Press release:


IMAX Corporation and Sony Pictures Releasing today announced that the highly-anticipated motion picture Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT will be released for a special run in select digital IMAX(R) theatres worldwide during the film's limited two-week engagement in thousands of theatres globally starting on October 28, 2009.

The film's domestic run at select digital IMAX theatres will be for evening showtimes starting at approximately 9 PM Pacific Standard Time, beginning Tuesday, October 27, 2009. Tickets for the worldwide release go on sale for most locations this Sunday, September 27th at 12:01 AM. To find out which IMAX locations have the film, visit imax.com.

THIS IS IT will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

"The combination of the never seen before rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson preparing for his sold-out London concerts, more than 25 world premieres and special IMAX engagements makes this a once-in-a-lifetime event for moviegoers, music lovers and Michael Jackson fans," said Rory Bruer, President, Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing.

"The rollout of our new digital IMAX locations is expanding the range and frequency of IMAX content available to moviegoers worldwide," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "Our partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment is growing with our theatre network, and we're looking forward to continued success with them as we open more theatres and release more films."

"We're very excited to participate in this special event, where IMAX audiences and fans of Michael Jackson will feel the energy of his talents," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Sony Pictures Entertainment knows how to create an event on a global scale, and their use of our new digital IMAX locations internationally demonstrates how major studios can take advantage of our network in new and exciting ways."

Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London's O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from March through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he has never been seen before.

In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius, and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his final show. Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson's creative partner and the director of the stage show, is also directing the film, which is being produced by Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. Executive producers are John Branca and John McClain.



http://www.stockhouse.com...?n=7464695

Copycat said:

Now THIS I would possibly consider checking out, but only if there were some reasonably sane process for obtaining the tickets. Otherwise, I look forward to my front row seat in front of my monitor when it hits the net 3 weeks later.

Jackson fans line up for 'This Is It' tickets
Sept. 24, 2009 08:25 PM
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Sally Rubio and dozens of Michael Jackson fans were among the first to line up for "This Is It" tickets.

The winding queue for tickets to the first public screenings of the documentary opened late Friday afternoon in the courtyard outside the Nokia Theatre at the L.A. Live complex in downtown Los Angeles. The film features a behind-the-scenes look at Jackson preparing for the series of London shows he was rehearsing for before he died June 25.

"I've never done something like this in my life," said Rubio, 53, "but M.J. is worth it."

A total of 3,000 movie tickets will be available for the early Oct. 27 shows at L.A. Live's new Regal Cinemas Stadium 14, marking the movie theater's grand opening. It's the only screening location offering the advance shows and commemorative tickets. "This Is It" will begin its limited, two-week run at movie theaters nationwide on Oct. 28.

The Sony Pictures film, crafted from hundred hours of rehearsal footage, is directed by longtime Jackson collaborator Kenny Ortega, the "High School Musical" director who had been working with Jackson on the "This Is It" concerts. The movie will feature Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show as well as interviews with his friends and family.

Several of the fans who arrived when the line opened Friday brought chairs - one per person - and umbrellas for the long wait ahead of them. AEG, which operates the L.A. Live complex and organized the Jackson concerts, said that no tents, alcohol, cooking or boom boxes were permitted in line. Onsite monitors would issue passes for restroom and food breaks.

"It was a last-minute decision," said Trudy Miles, who was waiting in line with her daughters. "We were getting ready to go to the park, and my daughter texted me and told me the tickets were going on sell today. We were going to see it at the theater near our house, but we thought this would be special, so we loaded up the car with stuff and came down here."












[Edited 9/26/09 0:02am]

PDogz said:

You can purchase tickets online, starting this Sunday, Sep 27th, at Thisisittickets.com.

DiminutiveRocker said:

I hope so, that's why i'm getting a ticket, Really hope they do a good job with this film, I know the critics will pan-it but that's not the point, I hope the film lets the music speak for it self and mike's words come alive ....

I hope...

Where will this motion picture be playing and how much are tickets? I can't find this information anywhere.