‘Britney Spears: For The Record’ Premieres
Yesterday afternoon, MTV hosted a screening preview of their new documentary Britney Spears: For The Record here in SoCal and, I am sad to report, it doesn’t sound like things went off as planned. Firstly, MTV worked with a PR company called 1iota to fill the audience with fans and, apparently, over-booked the venue which could only hold 200 guests … sending out 300 tickets and then cherry-picking the prettiest people to seat inside for the screening — leaving a lot of invited fans outside and pissed. Secondly, Britney Spears showed up to surprise the fans by attending the screening with them (appearing for a taped segment that would be aired with the documentary on November 30) but, according to reports from fans who were at the screening, Britney looked entirely uncomfortable the whole time … and then left before answering any questions from the fans. All in all, it doesn’t sound like the screening event was that much of a success in person … it’ll mos def look pretty flawless once (and if) it airs on TV later on. Here is a pic of Britney making her way into the MTV studio for the taping yesterday and a couple of pics of Britney after she left the event early to grab a caffeinated drink at Starbucks:
Regarding the way that some fans were shafted at yesterday’s screening, I’m not really that surprised. These things happen all the time. PR companies tend to over-invite people in order to make sure they have enough people to fill seats AND they do like putting the prettiest people in prime positions, especially if they are filling an audience that will be recorded for TV. Now, about the way Britney acted at the screening … well, this has got me worried. By reading all of the fan reports (posted HERE), it does feel like she didn’t want to be there in the first place and was in no mood to interact with anybody — not a good sign. It is really beginning to sound like she is moving too fast with all of this work on her comeback, which can’t be good for her. If she’s not ready and still presses forward, she risks having another breakdown. At this point, I think it’s far too late for her to call things off completely but I am starting to get worried, especially in light of this new behavior. Regarding the actual documentary itself, despite the fan/Britney drama, it was screened yesterday and People magazine has a review of the 90-minute Britney Spears: For The Record film HERE.
Even still, Britney’s manager Larry Rudolph insists that she is ready to make her comeback and spoke to People magazine about her readiness. After the jump, check out a new promo video for Britney’s album Circus and read some of Rudolph’s comments about Britney and her comeback …
Although Britney Spears admits in a new film that she “totally lost my way, lost focus, lost myself,” that won’t stand in the way of her comeback, says her manager. “She’s definitely ready,” Larry Rudolph tells PEOPLE, following a sneak peek of Spears’s riveting MTV documentary, Britney: For the Record, airing Nov. 30, in Santa Monica, Calif. “She loves to work,” he says. “She’s a very strong person. Everybody goes through setbacks in their lives. [But] every day, I see her getting happier and stronger.” One of her biggest victories this year? Regaining visitation with Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, her sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline. So while her musical comeback is important, Spears has made it clear that motherhood comes first, says Rudolph. “Her kids and balancing her life with her kids is an incredible priority – the No. 1 priority in terms of how I operate with her,” he says. Spears’s boys can be seen in the film, which follows the pop star over three months as she records her upcoming album Circus, wins big at September’s MTV Video Music Awards, and speaks frankly about her problems – including her failed relationships with Federline and Justin Timberlake. The idea for the candid documentary sprung up during a conversation Spears and Rudolph had over dinner several months ago. “It evolved and became a question of, What will she do? What will she say? How will she say it?” he says. “How will people view her after what she’s been through and after all that they’ve seen in the tabloids over the past year or two?” Adds Rudolph: “This became sort of a great way for her to say what she needs to say on her terms.”
While I am very excited to have Britney back on the scene with a new album and a proposed new tour, I am concerned that it may be a little much for her right now. Up until this point, I assumed that she was really ready … but this new behavior has got me worried, y’all. I guess we’ll see how things play out over the coming weeks (and she’s got a lot of work to do — performing on Star Academy in France, X-Factor in the UK, Good Morning America here in the US to name just a few commitments) … I just hope she can really handle it all.
[Photo credit: JFXonline, X17; Source]
Tags: 'Britney: For The Record', Britney Spears
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November 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am
it’s really sad to hear that about her depressive state :( it must be hard, wanting to share your music with your fans but not be ready for that kind of publicity and overwhelming attention. i hope she’s going to be okay.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am
I’m not a very big britney fan but even I knew things were moving too fast, maybe that’s why I could tell since I was able to be objective. Everyone said how happy they were that larry rudolph was back to help her but I really feel he’s the one pushing her to release more albums, even when she’s not ready
November 21st, 2008 at 9:48 am
i am getting the impression she’s not ready as well. she looks great but maybe she needs some time off from the spotlight. can’t she just work out and hang with the babies for a bit?
November 21st, 2008 at 9:55 am
that first pic looks off… are we sure that is britt? she just doesn’t look right in the pic, is she using a look a like these days?
November 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am
She is coming out of a pretty serious state of depression, really, and if you’ve ever suffered from this you know it is difficult to put yourself out there again. You can say you’re fine till you’re blue in the face, but the reality of the situation will always show itself. I hope she can hang in there.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:03 am
i said from the very start (and again once the world tour was annoced) she was moving to fast. its too much stress/pressure. once she got on her feet, she needed atleast 6 months – year to just get everything back to normal.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:04 am
She just had an off day..
She is ready,
she wants it
and she will do great
November 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am
I was there yesterday and i agree with a lot of what the fans said she was really nervous and so not ready for promo for the album. Everything was very unorganized and that could have played a part in everything that happened. I’m not a huge Britney fan but I enjoy her music and it was a pleasure to be so close to her. She looked amazing better then i’ve seen her in years, but that was it chick is still out of it. I found myself just watching Damion the whole time because Britney was boring me to death. I hope for her and her fans sake a comeback is a comin’ but sadly it might not happen until the next album. Brit you aren’t ready take care of yourself and be with your kids.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:09 am
Gotta love MTV and their obsession with the pretties… I can’t say I blame Britney for being uncomfortable, though. All these people are there to see what made her fall and her personal struggles and she doesn’t know them at all. I would probably feel a little wierd, as well.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:12 am
She carted off to psych wards twice, eight months ago. Is it really that big of a shock that it’s too soon for her to be coming back?
November 21st, 2008 at 10:38 am
For all the success she’s having lately, I still think this Larry guy is bad news. He’s a great manager, but doesn’t he seem like a creep? I remember watching the VMA’s this year and when they sat with each other he seemed like her parole officer or something. This woman’s getting back to her right state of health and he wants to overwork her with all this new publicity. I saw this coming a mile away. She’s still being controlled, I think they need to relax on her a lot. This has got to be a lot of stress on a woman who had wayyy too much freedom and got used to it. Now it seems like she’s being forced to do all this work. I think the focus on her kids is wonderful, that’s what counts. But all this work for a new album is becoming too stressful.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:18 am
That really doesn’t look like her in the first pic. More like a morph of Nadine Coyle (sp?) and Rachel Bilson or something.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:25 am
although i am/was excited for her comeback, i always felt she was moving too fast after everything she went through. this stuff takes time and doing promotions takes a lot out of a person. i hope this is what she wants and is not something else being forced on her.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am
I’m sorry but I feel she has serious issues that have yet been dealt with. Yes, she looks much better but I think she really needs to be in some kind of therapy. If she keeps getting pushed, she is going to end up where she was earlier.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:39 am
What concerns me is that in one of the earlier blog posts there was a video where Britney claims dance is her therapy. I think she needs traditional therapy as well to deal with her past and move on with her future…..she needs some coping skills in place to deal with her lifestyle and learn how to parent her small children….to be able to take control of her life. She looks great now but she is not in charge of her affairs-I really wish those in control of her would make her learn how to live first and then make a comeback later. I’m worried about her. I don’t believe a person can undo several years of wild living in just a few months with no therapy.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:52 am
Maybe she just had a Bad Day, Britneyspears.com reported that her fans were left out, so maybe she was upset because she knew that most of the people in the room weren’t real fans and were there just to be shown on t.v. , but really i don’t know, I Think she’s ready to perform, to sing, but that’s it, she doesn’t want to do interviews or interact with anyone, because she’s afraid what they may ask, she just doesn’t wanna talk about it, when something hurts you, you want to totally forget about it, and not talk about it everytime someone asks….
November 21st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
One thing everyone seems to be forgetting is that in the past, in these situations, she was either drinking or self-medicating in some way. She is learning, all-over-again really, to handle these situations sober or at least not over-medicated. Not to go all Dr. Drew on ya, but that is a scary thing. I completely agree with Trent and some of you other posters that she needs to take “baby steps” so that she doesn’t end up back where things began to go bad. I’m pulling for her, but I wish she’d slow it down a bit, for her own good.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I imagine the film might, at points, be hard for Britney to watch. Depression doesnt just go away. i am glad she is back, but I hopes she takes the time she needs to be healthy…
November 21st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Though I have not seen the doc yet, what has been shown in the clips or the People review is very strange. Everything she is saying is promting me to ask why…Why are you not a cool chick anymore, why are you complaing about your life so much, why did you have a breakdown. That is what we want to know and its NOT being said. Like are you bipolar and now you are on medication for it so now you do not act like yourself, that would make sense to me.If she really has mental issues shouldn’t she be an advocate for it and spread the word that life can go on. I don’t like how she is complaing so much now when her father is helping her. This is classic Britney Spears she has ALWAYS complained about not being able to be free and do her own thing. Her answers are just as bizzare and scatter-brained as always. Shame on Larry for thinking she is ready for all this publicity. Oh and don’t think for a minute she isn’t fully medicated look how blazay she acts and she is probably reading cue cards. Sorry just pointing out the obvious.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I have to say, back when I read that Britney had let Larry back in her life again, I was happy, since he seemed to be such a good influence of her, both personal and professional.
However, after reading his comments recently, and reading about her behaviour at the screening, I have to wonder if he’s got her best interest at heart?
I don’t think she’s ready for this kind of commitment. I mean yes, I agree that for the past couple of years, she’s been doing press junkets under the influence, so now she’s re-learning to do things without the “cushion” of drugs, but I don’t think she’s ready.
November 21st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I would be uncomfortable watching a movie about my darkest moments and comeback too! I think it’s amazing that she even showed up!! This movie is something so incredibly personal and probably emotional for her and her family. I think that by her showing up at all shows that she is ready for her comeback. She is basically having to start all over again and that is how any new artist would act if they were showing something so personal as well. I am so happy and proud of her. I think she will be amazing and is dealing with things as expected.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I totally agree that she was probably uncomfortable watching a movie about her darkest times in front of a lot of people. Of course, I find it a little unnerving how much she’s being controlled, she does need help but if she is controlled as if she was a child she won’t be able to build the skills to be a happy healthy adult.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Im sure she is in real therapy, not just dancing, she said she was in therapy in many interviews before.
If she couldnt handle this small event, I hope she can handle a freaking tour!
Then again we were not there (even those who were there were not there behind the scenes), maybe it really was unorganized and she got pissed off and was over it.
I just hope she doesnt fall on her face, do the performances you have been working so hard on, do the tour, Then take like a year or two off, if she realeases like five singles off this album, it will be unforgettable.
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
I wouldn’t get all worried just yet…From what I’ve heard, Britney was just supposed to make an appearance at the screening, no interview. It’s possible that the interview was sprang on her at the last minute, and she has never really liked doing interviews. I don’t think anyone could push her do this…if she didn’t want to do it, she wouldn’t do it.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Ok honestly It was fun. I was there. You had to make it fun for yourself. I’ve been an audience member many times before to know what to expect. I came early at 9am.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:02 am
It was a Pre-show Hype Clip show of Brit’s top 10 MTV moments that airs before the documentry Novmember 30th around 8pm or 9pm
The studio didn’t look like a circus. More like a ballroom. Very classy. Britney is not only beautiful but a natural beauty. We all know she tans but her skin was mroe white than caramel. She has these curves that are there because of her bum. That shakin Bum lol. she was just as flawless as you see on TV and media, but like 3D. Even at like the end of the shoot I was still stoked 1iota.com picked me because after hearing 200 audience members I was like: yea it’s slim to none chance littley me would be picked. I got there at 9am. I woke up at 5am so I was in the zone to beat the crowd. y’all remember the people in the sleeping bags at the Ryan Seacrest show taping 4 years go? yea I thought that was going to happen.
But yea as soon as my friend and I walked on Ivar and turned looked on our left at Delongpre Ave, there were already 9 people ahead of us at 9am. It was sunny very picnic like waiting in line because these awesome girls behind had a nice pink blanket,with scrabble and magazines. Luvs it. Every one in line at the morning was communicative to eachother. Then 10:45am came and BritneySpears.com people came and everyone in line was entertain while we were waiting on 1iota.com to come by. BritneySpears.com, x17online.com (2 guys, 1 buff guy in Ed Hardy gear), and an unknown news team were the only media people there. No kissFm, No KBIG 104fm. No random socilitors. Only a bum across the street beating stuff on the ground.
When 1iota.com showed up and the shuttles came. they re aranged the lines 50 times lol so if you came early or a lil late, you were safe. All these model esque people were escorted by 1iota.com to come in front of the line and got to go in the first bus. They might have been chosen just liek us or SAG, or professional award show, talk show seat fillers. the second bus filled up the people that came early til about half of the line. When we left we saw tons of people in the line so I told my friend: ” Is there going to be another bus? if not will they still buy “Circus”? ” that was sad to look at but no worries because those people did show up in the studio
Once we got off that bus and waited in line, x17online buff Ed Hardy guy walked around and riled up the line. We all got a vouched parking ticket so no parking fee lol. Then we walked towards the studio while being escorted by staff. alot of people were starvinga and stuff, so when they say this studio employee sitting across the studio eating two plates of meat and veggies by us, everyone tried to ignore it.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Then once we got in the studio, people were sighing a lil because it was air conditoned. Because earlier in the day were were waiting in the hot CA sun, the sun was just making out with us lol.
After that there was a high positon stage guy who put everyone ina certain seat and re-arranged peple all around the studio. Color pallet, like what they were wearing color wise, depend where he wanted them. He was serious. about like 20 minutes after that. the director talkded to us and other stage staff. They stoked us up.MTV VJ Damien showed up and shocked people who didn’t know he’ll be there. He was amazing, talking to people, being very bar like. Girls and guys were like yelling “you’re hot” and stuff. I gave him shout outs but wasn’t trying to hook up with him. I said ” Do the soulja boy dance” which he replied :” NOooo that’s something I won’t remember best from TRL,” it was laughs. Then I said “I like your band” and he said “who said that? you? thank you”. About 15 minutes after Damien showed up the director was was ready. It started about a quater til 2pm. People were dying when Britney first walked in. She was so humble during the whole interview as oppose to bragging. It was like she was a new artist. She was kinda shy, which made everyone int he studio love her more. There were multiple takes on segments because either the directot wanted the audience lowder, or softer, or Damien and Britney to repeat theirselves.
She was there for what seemed lie 2 and a half hours then Larry held her hand out in the middle of Damien talking to her and she did a humble yer bashful bye to everyone and left. After that there were mixed emotions within the crowd. Some were still shocked that it was beign filmed on TV. What I think the problem and the reason why everyone got upset was because they really didn’t knw what was going to happen there. Being that 200 ( and a bit more) people were allowed in made a good portin of fans believe they would meet her. And Just the switcharoo and changing of plans with 1iota.com and MTV made majority confused, angry, hungry, and tired.
I totally looked down ont he ground for a moment and just thought happy thoughts and remained happy throughout the whole thing because seriously I was happy to be there. No we didn’t have food, we didn’t get to play wii with Brit lol but I WAS JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE. We all know what trouble shooting, court dealing, contract negotiations Britney and her posse are going through right now. as soon as she left I thought of Sean Preston and Jayden, and that’s why I wasn’t upset. Because in life you have to take your children as priorty. Hardcore truth. After she left. Damien did his hosting duties and we all did TRL like shoutouts to Britney’s TOP 10 MTV moments