Wishes come true–Disney's PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END premiere reaches fundraising goal in 14 days!

Fantastic news . . . the Walt Disney Company announced today that all available tickets for the World Premiere of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END have sold out in just 14 days. The AWE premiere fundraiser (tickets were priced at $1,500 each) benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and Make-A-Wish International. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Disney set a noble goal of raising $3 million for Make-A-Wish, since AT WORLD’S END is the third POTC movie; now the celebration of the launch of the new film will also bring new hope and joy to thousands of seriously ill children and their families.

Disney kick-started the fundraising campaign with a donation of $1 million two weeks ago, and that generous act started a chain-reaction. Disney reports receiving ticket orders from 35 U.S. states, but the love of POTC is world-wide; Anaheim will welcome premiere attendees from Australia, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Canada and Mexico as well. “Ticket buyers making the trip to Anaheim next month for the event include a family from Chicago, where the father is having his kids volunteer at a children’s hospital so they can fully appreciate their tickets. A doctor from Canada is sending her mother as a thank you for working multiple jobs to put her through medical school,” reports Disney–now there’s one memorable Mother’s Day gift!

“Disney is dedicated to making dreams come true, and now we’re joined by PIRATES fans from all over the world who are making a difference through their generous support and participation in this event,” said Dick Cook, the chairman of Walt Disney Studios. “The Studio is extremely excited about PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END, and we are looking forward to a spectacular premiere to give the movie the send-off it deserves, while also touching the lives of so many children and their families.”

The Walt Disney Company is donating 100 percent of the ticket proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and underwriting the entire cost of the premiere. Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END World Premiere will take place on May 19 at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, with all of the film’s stars expected to participate in the event. Thanks to DeepinDepp for sharing the story; you can read the full article on the News & Views forum.

The Zone salutes The Walt Disney Company for taking their day of celebration and using it to help others. There will be ripples of good rolling out from that red carpet on May 19th that will touch thousands of lives all over the world. –Part-Time Poet

DEAD MAN'S CHEST nominated for four MTV Movie Awards–vote now!

Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley share MTV Movie Awards Best Performance nominations for their roles as Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST–yes, actors and actresses compete in a single category; the forward-thinking MTV honchos don’t indulge in gender discrimination when handing out gilded tubs of popcorn. Bill Nighy joins his colleagues in the kudos-fest with a nomination as Best Villain for his role as Davy Jones, where he will face off against the devil herself, Meryl Streep in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Should be an interesting evening! DEAD MAN’S CHEST competes for Best Movie honors against 300, BORAT, BLADES OF GLORY, and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. You can vote for your favorites here: http://tinyurl.com/2rrfv6

Another factor making this year’s MTV Movie Awards interesting is that, for the first time, they will be broadcast live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, rather than taped and edited–a move that is sure to send MTV’s Standards and Practices representative (otherwise known as the censor) into cardiac arrest. The 2007 MTV Movie Awards air on Sunday, June 3 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Promises MTV, “We’re on a mission to throw the greatest party Hollywood has ever seen”–and given Hollywood’s history, that’s quite a challenge!

The Zone thanks emma and DeepinDepp for posting the story and voting links on the News & Views forum. We congratulate Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, and Gore Verbinski and the cast and crew on their MTV Movie Awards nominations! –Part-Time Poet