RED CARPET: Janet & Tyler 'Why Did I Get Married" UK Screening

Well I'm home and hungry after attending the UK screening of Why Did I Get Married Too at the Ritzy cinema in Brixton. This is my 2nd time seeing the movie [no not on bootleg - that's not my style] I caught it at the movies in Chicago last month.

I was told that Janet would be introducing the movie and there would be a QandA session afterwards with them both. That didn't quite happen.

Here's a run of tonight's events:

• We were allowed to enter the screen [which seats 345] at approximately 7pm. Myself, family and friends opted for the 2nd row from the front. I arrived early. I was 2nd in the queue. My best friends mother arrived before me.
• The introduction of the movie was due to start at 7:30pm. It didn't, and was late. Whether that was due to Janet and Tyler arriving late or running overtime with red carpet press and pictures I don't know.
• We were told that upon entering Screen 1 we would not be allowed to leave to go to the bathroom once we had taken our seats. "Ummmmm excuse me little white lady, say that again to over 300 black folks about what they can and can't do? Oh I thought so. You were talking out of your neck" I got my seat. Secured it with my bag. Had my mother watch it, whilst I left and came right back in again, as were plenty of other people.
• I wasn't clock watching, so it was hard to say when Tyler and Janet finally arrived.
• Some big shot from Lionsgate in the UK introduced Tyler Perry and threw in a staggering statistic that his movies had grossed half a billion dollars. GET IT T.P.!!! That's what I'm talking about!
• Tyler takes to the stage following a standing ovation and loud cheers and applause and he goes into the 'Madea' mode with the voice telling us to "Siddown" as the people couldn't see. He did this a couple of times. I must admit as a Madea fan it was surreal hearing 'the voice' even is for only a second.
• Tyler mentioned that WDIGM2 would be coming to the UK in September 2010 and there will also be 4 DVD releases of his movies in the UK.
• He thanked Will Smith [he was NOT present] for inviting him to London during the premiere of Seven Pounds, and for letting him know in a nutshell he had to get on the case, bring his movies in the UK, and that there is a whole lot of support for his films outside of the US.
• Tyler asked us if we would like to have the plays brought to the UK. The crowd cheered. He also said if he brings the plays to the UK then we have to come out and see it. More cheers from the crowd.
• Tyler then proceeds to introduce Janet Jackson, as he described an "International Superstar" to the stage. She is escorted by a few security men and the crowd started chanting "JANET, JANET, JANET!" after Tyler starts the chant. Janet looking humbled and slightly embarrassed was like "no don't do that" She seemed very shy. 
• OH MY GOSH that woman was a vision. An absolute vision. You think Halle is all this and that folks. STOP IT. No pictures not even the ones on this blog give that woman justice let me tell you. She was ON POINT from the new hairstyle to the shoes. 
• Yes my black ass did get a lil ghetto with it and shout out "JANET YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL" She looked over in my direction and smiled. 
• Janet spoke very softly and quietly and thanked us for all of the love and the support.
• That was pretty much it. Like a gentleman Tyler helped escort Miss Jackson down the steps and the movie began.
• Unfortunately there was no QandA after the movie. But oh well even if for a few minutes we got to be in the presence of Tyler Perry and Janet Jackson, it was so worth it.

I took a few pictures. I won't be posting them for a few days as I have a pretty hectic day tomorrow, so Sunday it's looking to be.

Enjoy the pics watermarks n all. Monday it's Chris Rock with Good Hair which I haven't seen yet. I'm seated in A10, yes front row biatches. THIS TIME I hope a QandA will be happening with Chris Rock and not just an introduction made. We'll see though. 

 

  

 

Have No Fear Janet and Tyler Are Here! Message From Tyler Perry

I'm in London!

May 19th , 2010

OOOOOOOKKKKK!

I have just gone INTERNATIONAL...LOL

To all my UK friends, you've been emailing me for years asking that I bring my films to London, well I have heard you. I'M HERE! Ms. Janet Jackson and I are in town to promote the release of my latest film called WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO! I will be doing a lot of press around town and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am!

One of the things that Janet and I will be doing is a special screening of WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO at the Ritzy Cinema-Brixton (address: Brixton Oval, SW2) at 8 pm this Friday. I would love to see you there, especially all of you that have practically demanded that I get over here, LOL. I look forward to seeing your faces.

Tyler Perry

IMPORTANT INFO RE: Tyler Perry/Janet Jackson Screening!

I called Ritzy Box Office to confirm the details about the Screening of Why Did I Get Married Too which is going to be attended by Janet Jackson and Tyler Perry. 

I had a 5 minute chat with Emily [Thank You] who was able to answer all of my questions.

• Janet Jackson and Tyler Perry will be there from 7:00pm.
• The time of the screening has now changed to 7:30pm. It was originally 8pm.
• No one will be allowed to enter after 7:30pm.
• Janet Jackson will be introducing the movie on her own.
• Both Janet Jackson and Tyler Perry will be doing a post question and answer session at the end of the movie.
• The screen is for approximately 345 people at 1:30pm today there are roughly 180 tickets left. 
• Errr 179...I just booked one for my mama!
• It is UNRESERVED seating. Meaning sit wherever the hell you like.
• It is STRONGLY ADVISED to collect your tickets BEFORE 4pm [on the day] at the box office, or days earlier than that. Do not expect to collect your tickets at the Box Office that evening IT WILL BE CLOSED.
• You can also print your tickets at home!

Any further info I find out I will come back and edit this blog post!

I want a good seat. I AM NOT PLAYING. This is Tyler Perry and Janet Jackson gottdammit!! Plus it's glad that I know this as I don't fair well in queues or crowd situations, there are always some damn fools wanting to act the fool. I'll be in a state of continuous WOO SAAAH before, during and after.

 I'm coming prepared. Trust!!

Want To See Tyler Perry and Janet Jackson in Brixton???

If it wasn't for @iamnads [THANK YOU GIRL] on Twitter and me deciding to actually read the last 7 hours worth of tweets on my Blackberry at 3am, I would have missed the news that Tyler Perry and Janet Jackson are going to be in Brixton at the Ritzy cinema doing a ONE OFF London screening of Why Did I Get Married Too. I got to see the movie in Chicago, but that is not stopping me from seeing it again.

Old school faithful blog readers will know I am a HUGE Tyler Perry fan. HUGE! If you don't believe me, just see what I've written about him here in the past on my blog. I admire that man for what he has achieved and continues to do, I find him downright inspirational with sugar on top! Look at that, a man hitting the Forbes rich list and making more that Tom Cruise, Bon Jovi and Jennifer Aniston in one year COMBINED and STILL can come to Brixton to introduce his own damn movie. Little old Brixton for a man who is now a member of the Academy and hob nobs with serious black Hollywood royalty in the US. If that's not humble I don't know what is.

I can honestly admit that TP is one of the 5 famous people that I would love to have around my dinner table and actually meet. Well not sure about the dinner or the meeting, but being in the same room as him and Janet....speechless. I'll be bringing ALL of my TP DVD's and my marker pen just incase I can get him to sign something.

You can book tickets for May 21st on-line here [£10.50 Adults]

One website had stated it was a QandA session post movie with Tyler Perry and on the Ritzy website it says the following:

"We're thrilled to welcome revolutionary filmmaker Tyler Perry and international icon Janet Jackson to introduce this special one-off screening."

I don't care as long as I'm in the same room as Janet and Tyler breathing the same air. 

Janet Jackson, well that woman is a living legend. I love, love, love Janet. And without spoiling the movie she acted the hell out of her role in this one. Filming stopped for a brief period during the making of this movie, due to Janet losing her brother Michael. You can REALLY tell from her performance, she used what she was going through at the time and channeled those feelings and raw emotion into her role. I really hope there is a QandA session after the film because there is one question regarding this movie I'd really like to know.

It starts at 8pm I'll be there early. This is one time I do NOT want to be in the back of the cinema.

If any of my blog readers are going hit me up via e-mail [top right], would love to see you, smile, wave, say hi...you catch my drift!

I got my ticket! Get yours!

Rihanna Ain't No Rockstar! Janet, Show Her How It's Done!

I was so very mad at this performance. Being a woman who loves her fair share of rock and alternative music, this was far from a lesson in 'How to Be a Rockstar 101,' and more like...well I don't even know what it was like to be honest.

Rihanna has the nerve to throw down the microphone, pick up a black guitar, and attempted to play next to a budget Slash what looked like 2 chords of what she probably learnt in her dressing room before going on stage.

What was that all about?

NEVER pick up a guitar unless you know how to use it!

I am a huge Prince and Slash fan. Both living legends know how to master the guitar, and when I see it being put to use like that a little part inside of me dies. I am a lover of Slash's guitar solos in classic hits like November Rain and Sweet Child O' Mine. Adding to that his sultry and sexy 59 second intro on Guns N Roses cover of The Dead Boys track 'Ain't it Fun.' [That is one of my 2 'stripper songs'...and if you missed that archived blog you can find it here!]

I like Rihanna, I have her last 2 albums, but what I do not like are the lacklustre performances. She delivers like she is somewhat uncomfortable on stage, and it shows. Not a lot of black female artists go the rock route, but one who temporarily went the rock route for a track was Janet Jackson and she did it well.

As far as attempting to perform and deliver a rock song I think Rihanna should look up 'Black Cat 'on You Tube. She needs to learn from Miss Jackson how you're supposed to headbang to your own song, perform it and deliver.

A great wearer of fashion and a beautiful woman you are Rihanna, but a Rockstar honey you are not!! As for the 101, how dare you!! Plenty of women without a record deal and a PVC bodysuit know how to headbang and to a track with a mirror and a hair brush. We do not need lessons from you! 

Take note!

In Death, Does Aaliyah Get Way Too Much Credit??

I don't know if it's just my generation and older who remembered Aaliyah in the 90's before she passed, but my thought today was "OK how many of you remember the date of the anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King's Birthday or Nelson Mandela's release date from prison?" Not saying the death of Aaliyah cannot be commemorated, but do you feel where I'm coming from? If you're going to be a braniac of historical dates that are prominent in the black community on a global scale then learn a few more and pay homage on those too, and not just Aaliyah, Left Eye, Biggie & 2Pac.

So I've been a lil off Twitter today. I've seen the Aaliyah tweets go by and some folks mention that the whole compare Aaliyah to another artist thing is going on and that they feel it's totally unnecessary...OK, whatever to each their own. You wanna talk about it fine, not a problem, I'll blog about it. 140 characters just aren't cutting it for me right about now.

Maybe it's just me but I'm pretty sure that Ciara would have been doing her thing in the new millennium had Aaliyah been around or not. I'm sorry I'm not about to give Aaliyah that much credit especially when looking at Ci-Ci her huge major influences are Janet and Michael Jackson. Aside from that both are/were vocally not that great, both dance/danced. Aaliyah went to a stage school her choreographed moves weren't all that free flowing [pretty much like how JLO's were] and Ciara is more street/crunk when it comes to her dance flow, which appear to be more natural and not learnt/rehearsed. Aaliyah had it going on in the looks department and they are both black women. Done!

Like I just tweeted to someone, Aaliyah was likeable, attractive and had a great production team behind her. She was pally with the likes of Missy, Timbaland, Ginuwine and DMX who at the time were VERY on top of their game, then some years later Ciara rolled with Missy and Luda.

Times change, music changes. I think it's highly arrogant to assume that Aaliyah was that much of a force in the industry that had there of been no Aaliyah there would have been no Ciara and whoever else that followed. I found her music bearable...meaning, aside from the tracks that were released I had no desire to listen to the rest of her albums. Now I can understand when artists say had it weren't for the likes of Michael Jackson then they don't think they'd be where they are at in terms of their influence. But Aaliyah...no. I hear a lot of "she was an angel. She will be dearly missed" etc etc. Not somebody who set the standard and made a pathway for other young up and coming artists. **shakes head** I have never heard that.

Aaliyah was a beautiful, nice [portrayed in the media] girl, OK so her career started off a lil dramatic with the whole R.Kelly marriage drama. She showed her stomach, wore her hair covered over her eye, wore boxers, danced to a routine and sang softly with no real vocal range and power.

Sorry the only thing she influenced me with was being acceptable to be a tomboy and regain that totally feminine side at the same time. She was one of those girls who you didn't mind your teenage boyfriend liking cause you liked her too [no not in that sense], but like I said she had that nice girl quality about her. Very likeable, like the sister or friend [in your head] knowing that if you met in real life you'd be cool. And yes many years on I still "wave my hands in the air, and wave em round like I just don't care" in the club.

Like today....we have a barrage of female artists whether they are hip-hop, pop or R&B, they are all doing their thing in the industry. And I'm sure that whether Aaliyah had graced the Billboard charts or not they would still be there doing their thing today.

I'm sure Aaliyah would have gotten to a point where the popularity would have died down on the music side, before she passed it seemed as though acting was becoming more of her thing, and I'm sure as the likes of Ciara may have liked her music and respected her as a fellow female artist they would have been both been able to hold their own in the music world today.

If folks want to go there with the whole comparison thing with like for like, and I'm talking in respect to a black recording artist, beautiful, mediocre singer and badass dancer then they need to stop being blinded by Aaliyah and give it up for Janet. I'm sorry, hand on heart I'd be more inclined to say had there been no Janet Jackson then maybe Ciara wouldn't be inspired or motivated to do what she does. Shit y'all... Control, Rhythm Nation 1814 the Janet album, fair enough Miss Jackson "if you're nasty" was never a Whitney or Mariah, but when it comes to "give me a beat!" Janet is on it.

What???? When it comes to female entertainers who fit the mould past and present like Aaliyah, Ciara, Mya etc Janet is the teacher the others merely students.

So no I don't credit Aaliyah for the like of newish-bies like Ciara when it comes to doing what they do. And just because she's passed and has been for 8 years am I about to sport a dunce cap and do a 'we are not worthy' motion in front of her statue like she was the best we ever had. I liked Aaliyah I was just not excited by her like I was by Janet growing up. Although Janet isn't doing it like she was, she's the baddest of em them all in her field...that's if you want to make comparisons......

And all this "there will never be another Aaliyah.." OK as a human being, a presence on this earth yes there will never be, but as an artist, what legacy did she leave behind?

Why do we act the fool when people pass and give them much more credit than we didn't give them when they were here?