'Beliebers' flock to film premiere
Los Angeles caught a bad case of Bieber fever when hundreds of Justin Bieber fans – along with his famous friends Miley Cyrus, Will Smith, Usher and Selena Gomez – filled the LA Live complex for the premiere of the teenage pop star’s first film, 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never'.
The mostly ’tween and teen crowd, many in home-made T-shirts proclaiming themselves to be Bieber’s No 1 fan, packed the LA Live plaza hours ahead of the screening, hoping for a sighting.
“We just wanted to see if we could get a glimpse of Justin,” said 15-year-old Hanna Hamersley, who wore a purple hand-painted T-shirt, a home-made Justin Bieber headband and purple Never Say Never 3D glasses.
Part concert film and part biopic, 'Never Say Never' tells the story of Bieber’s rise from small-town street performer to pop sensation with hit songs, a best-selling book and more than seven million followers on Twitter.
It shows a young Bieber pounding away on the drums and busking on the streets of Ontario, Canada, before rising to fame through YouTube and Twitter, and eventually performing at Madison Square Garden.
“It was the greatest movie ever,” said 13-year-old Hanna Zeile. “I would watch it over and over.”
Indeed, she and her two friends said they planned to see the film again today and on Friday, when it opens nationwide.
Twelve-year-old Bella Garcia said she planned to see the movie at least twice more.
“I loved all the baby videos and footage of him as a kid,” she said. “He had no music lessons as a kid. That really inspired me.”
Sisters Megan and Emily Bratta also appreciated seeing Bieber’s childhood home videos and deep musical roots. Their mother, Gayla, said she was unexpectedly taken with the young musician.
“I was very impressed,” she said. “I didn’t know he had such raw, true talent.”
Bieber’s fans – who call themselves “Beliebers” – play a big role in 'Never Say Never'. They are shown throughout the film in their T-shirts, singing along with his songs and crying from sheer joy at seeing him in person.
Fans in the theatre screamed and waved glow sticks during the 3D concert footage, just like fans at his actual concerts. (Note to cinema-bound parents: Take earplugs.)
“I’m so happy I have such amazing fans,” Bieber said as he introduced the film. “Tonight isn’t even about me. It’s about spreading the message that anything is possible.”
