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]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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