KC Confidential.com

When I first heard of Sony Entertainment laying down a reported $60 million for the rights to 80 hours of Michael Jackson rehearsal footage, I thought they’d lost their minds.

But as the October 28 release date of MICHAEL JACKSON: THIS IS IT nears, I’m having second thoughts.

Judging by the film’s trailer, THIS IS IT will provide moviegoers with a rare and unforgettable front row experience compiled from extensive footage shot during Jackson’s meticulous preperations for his planned 2009 London shows.

According to Sony’s Columbia Pictures, the movie will offer Jackson fans and movie lovers worldwide a rare behind-the-scenes look at the performer, his career, and the stage spectacular that might have been.

To raise the film to event status, Columbia Pictures is limiting the theatrical run to strictly two weeks.

Furthermore they’re staging some 25 PREMIERE EVENTS around the globe including in such cities as Rio, Moscow, Berlin, Paris and London.

Here in the U.S., Columbia Pictures is launching the nationwide engagements with simultaniously timed late shows on the previous evening, Tuesday October 27th.

Simulatiously timed?

That’s right! They’ll be timed to the L.A. premiere which happens at 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time, hence 11:00 p.m. Central Time here in K.C. and at 12 Midnight on the East Coast.

Advance tickets for these advance late shows go on sale–online–this Sunday, September 27 at 12:01 a.m., or during regular operating hours of your local megaplex on the 27th.

And what about those ‘Left Coast’ knuckleheads?

Ticket buyers in L.A. can line up beginning this afternoon (9/24) at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time for a chance to purchase premiere tickets—which don’t go on sale ’til just after midnight this Saturday!

So do we have an EVENT on our hands here?

Sony/Columbia’s sure trying hard to  turn it into one.

Jack Poessiger