It's the way he makes me feel, say Jackson fans
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday October 29, 2009
A PASSER-BY on George Street had the best line about last night's Australian premiere of This Is It. "Michael Jackson's not coming," he muttered.A small but dedicated crowd gathered at Event Cinemas' George Street theatres to celebrate the opening of the film, compiled from more than 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage from rehearsals for Jackson's aborted 50-show London concert series.But of the fans that were there, their love was clear. Lorin Reid, 19, dressed in a white jacket, hat, and sequined glove, turned up with 16 friends to catch the last moments of Jackson, and has organised 87 people to see the screening tonight.She was part of a 100-person Thriller flash mob €“ gathering to dance and quickly disperse at Town Hall for his birthday in August. Ms Reid said she sat at home after his death for a week or two for watching the news."I'm a bit wary of Sony," she said of her expectations of the film, "just 'cos Michael wasn't a big fan of them ... but I just want to see the movie, 'cos it's the last chance to see him doing what he loves to do."Lalie Rhys-Jones, 75, said she has been a long-time fan of Michael Jackson, recalling a Jackson 5 concert she saw in the early '70s. "He was attractive then," she added. But friend Sally Southam, 71, only really got acquainted with his music once he died."Once he died, I got to listen and I loved it," Ms Southam said.Among the sequined tuxedo jackets, hats, white gloves and the odd "Beat It" style jacket, were several celebrities walking the red carpet.Teddy Riley, who co-produced Jackson's 1991 album Dangerous, described Jackson as "the greatest"."Every day I spent with him I had fun, but ... working on the record was a lot of hard work, because he settles for nothing less than great."Australian Idol winner Wes Carr said Jackson meant everything to him. "[He's] the reason why I do this as a living now," he said.At this stage, This Is It is screening for just two weeks.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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