SCREAM - THRILLER 3D 🎶 Oh What A Night 🎶

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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Watch Full Show Here!

 'Michael Jackson Halloween'

Michael Jackson 8 Years Gone ♥ ♥ ♥

    "I will forever be counting backward from June 25, 2009" ~ Betty Byrnes

This June 25, 2017 is the 8th anniversary of the tragic loss of Michael Jackson... the King of Pop... the King of Hearts. At the time of his death I'd been living a very private, limited life.... protecting my children and myself from the world, licking wounds from a nightmarish marriage ravaged by drug addiction, abuse and divorce, the loss of my mother and more than one company lay off.  I was already numb... had been numb for years. Michael Jackson's death obliterated the numbness and served as the catalyst that tore open my heart exposing years of pain. There simply was no time to deal with or heal from the chasm of grief as I attempted to just survive the crap storm of my life. His death magnified every loss, exposing it all fresh and anew. His death also served as the tool which ripped me out of the protected, limited, sedate 'church' world I'd been hiding in, catapulting me into a public, worldwide sisterhood, the axis of my life forever altered. Ultimately Michael Jackson's death was the synergy needed for healing and growth in my life.

One of Michael's greatest wishes was that the world connect in love. It seems that in death this wish was somewhat achieved as millions have connected in love for him and now for each other as we have grown to know and love one another. I have made beautiful friendships I will always cherish. Grief they say is experienced in stages. I've felt at times on this roller coaster of grief like I was treading muddy water, yet at other times I've felt as though I was on the highest spiritual mountain feeling a very special touch from above. Then again if you do not allow yourself to experience each stage fully they say you will need to loop back and continue to experience it over and over. I've seen that in some MJ fans who continue to sob hysterically over his loss as if it were yesterday. My heart breaks for them as they stagnant in any particular stage. Personally for the most part I have been able to move on to 'Acceptance'... thank God. Now I know and feel 'Time' is the answer. It's been 8 years now and although Michael will never be forgotten there is so much happening in this world that demands immediate attention and passion to carry L.O.V.E. and 'freedom' forward. Hopefully I can now practice Michael's message to "Make That Change" as best I can in this crazy, unjust world.

In my heart I will forever be grateful to Michael Jackson, a man I never knew, an incredible loving, kind and generous man who spent his entire life bringing music, joy, love and CHANGE for the better into the lives of people around the world. He truly was God's chosen child of love, a child prodigy who forever retained the magic of a child's heart and an adult icon that will never be forgotten. It still amazes me how he globally radiated more talent than any one human has ever shown the world. His love for the hurting and this planet was stratospheric.

My family at times did not quite understand my love and gratitude for Michael Jackson. Sometimes it's hard for people to accept change in those they love. There is a comfort in keeping people limited and unchanged, because as those they love stretch and grow it also requires they too stretch their own acceptance and understanding... sometimes they simply are not ready for that... simply do not want change. However my family for the most part saw my joy, the new energy MJ and the incredible journeys, friends and experiences that Michaeling ushered into my life... and were happy for me. Several of my grandchildren totally 'get it' and when they visit with me ask to see his short films and hear his music and clearly love it as it's impossible to listen to Michael's music and not be lifted by the positive energy. They also enjoy a visit to his Hollywood walk of fame star and other Hollywood landmarks on outings together. My youngest grand daughter who has such a sensitive heart and spirit enjoyed a visit to the Neverland gates while on a trip up north with grandma to see the Monarch Butterfly Grove. These moments are so special for me. One Christmas my son thrilled me with a present of a giant 'This Is It' theater poster to add to my MJ collectibles. I truly felt he 'got it'. I hold on to these precious moments as it is always so nice to feel accepted and loved by those we love so deeply.... and so very heartbreaking when they reject us after we show our true heart.

So here it is 8 years after losing Michael... way too soon... the MJ family around the world has gone through much. We have come to know each other amidst our common bond. In observation some remain stagnant... maybe comfortable in the pain... or stuck in emotional problems that were there before his death and manifested openly with his death... who knows? Some have turned Michael into their personal god and literally pray to him. Yikes... but to each their own.  My personal choice is to pray to the God who created the world and all of us in it... as Michael did... always pointing upward and acknowledging that he and all his gifts came from God. Some sit on their self appointed perch judging others finding some lack what makes a fan a fan, comfortable in their superior fandom... this attitude boggles my mind. Some exhaustively need to tell everyone over and over they are the 'biggest and bestest' MJ fan EVER, know 'everything', have been 'everywhere' MJ related and met 'everyone' connected to MJ in any way shape or form. Maybe this validates them on MJ's level somehow... who knows? Some have taken a small real life interaction with Michael to a whole other level turning themselves into self proclaimed fan type celebrities. Some take these small real life encounters they had with Michael... sometimes only a picture or a moment and create an entire book jammed with fiction and lies all for the sake of making money off the fans. Some continue to also exhaust everyone constantly stirring the pot of controversy instigating drama and unfounded rumors never able to grasp the love and peace message Michael shared with the world. UGH! At the other end of that spectrum some have tired of the drama or life circumstances have moved them on and they have disappeared from the MJ community completely. Some, the number seems to dwindle each year, continue to make the loving pilgrimage to Los Angeles each June when funds allow especially for the beautiful One Rose for Michael J. Jackson event. Personally for me at this point in my life I have learned to lead a more rounded, full life... less obsessing over/about Michael and more inspired by Michael's example to expand my boundaries, appreciate trying new things, learn more, read more, listen to more different types of music and artists, embrace art, creativity and design, enjoy museums and treasure hunting in antique and thrift stores, which I love, and when funds allow travel. I have expanded my 'Michaeling' to 'Make That Change' even in the smallest of ways in my family, life, neighborhood and community by becoming more politically educated and active in my personal tiny sphere of influence. His touch and influence on my life always present in all I do with the Lord, my source, as my guide.

The one thing I will ALWAYS hold dear from the MJ community are the very close friends that the Lord brought into my life via Michael Jackson. I hold those friendships close to my heart and cherish all the unique qualities of each one. I am so grateful and thankful for the those who have traveled this journey of grief recovery with me whether online or in person. God bless each and every one of you wherever you may live in this world. May we all heal where we are at this moment in time and may our journey continue in joy and love.