NOVEMBER 16TH, 1998 - WORK:

My digital camera just got delivered to my work. First tip for Indie Filmmakers: If you're making a long form documentary, just bite the bullet and BUY a camera. I can't believe I was renting all these years. This doc is going to cost me a ton of dough, and it scares the living sh** out of me. Why do this? Why submit myself to the heartache of blowing wads of cash on a movie that might never be seen? I guess it's because I WANT to do this and it makes me happy knowing that I'm actually MAKING a film instead of talking about it.

Some of the crew looked at the camera and thought it was pretty cool. When I tell them I'm doing a doc on Star Wars fans, they laugh, wondering why in hell am I doing this. Others think it's a great idea and applaud me on going out and doing what I really want to do. I don't have the heart to tell them I'm skipping work tomorrow to shoot the opening of Episode I Teaser trailer. Was this a good idea? Who the hell knows. All I know is somebody just brought in some Krispy Kremes and I need the sugar rush to keep me up.

NOVEMBER 17TH, 1998 - WESTWOOD:

Smell of coffee and hot bread pumping though my veins. Sixteen years I've been waiting for this moment and I had to choose to shoot movie during it. I know that urge is going to want to get my ass in that theatre and see the trailer, but I must control… you must learn control! It's 7:00AM and there are already two people behind a velvet rope waiting to see the teaser trailer. I can smell the doughnuts cooking from "Stan's Doughnuts" across the street. Damn, I'm hungry but I have to save my money for gas to get back home. Two Krispy Kremes yesterday and one doughnut today equals heart attack tomorrow.

The two guys in line are Daniel and Sam. Both are in their teens. Daniel says he's doesn't go to school. He is taking the high school proficiency exam so he can graduate early… and stand in line for 30 days to see Episode I. He's the about the fourth person I've run into that says he's going stand in line for 30 days. He seems determined, I'll give him that. What do his parents think? 1:00 PM: People have gone to see the trailer. I'm dying to see the trailer myself, but I have to be out here for the reactions. Damn this documentary… but I'd rather be a filmmaker then a filmgoer so I'll quit my whining. If this ever goes anywhere, I want to let the people I used to work with know that I'm having a hell of a time skipping out to shoot than picking up your smokes tuna sandwichs.

1:04 PM - Patrons are now walking out of theatre, skipping the movie! People are actually paying to see just a movie trailer! There were about 400 fans for the first screening on a weekday afternoon. CNN is here interviewing everyone. I have to get a doughnut and go to another job interview that my other job doesn't know about. What I thought was a great idea of taking a break from my editing gigs and getting a simpler job so I could concentrate on this film was wrong. You live and learn. Must feed the monster called movie making. I'll be back here around 6:00PM when people start getting off work.

7:00PM - The 7:30 show for "The Siege" is sold out. I don't think the movie sold out during opening weekend. Daniel has been here off and on the whole day. It seems people around Westwood here know him pretty well; managers, ushers, restaurant owners. He's here for the opening of almost every big movie. I'll finally give the camera to one my friends and see the trailer. It was amazing. Let's only hope the movie is half as good. Skipped the Siege.

FEBRUARY 27TH, 1999:

Just got back from shooting the Star Wars: The Musical segment. The guys were great, but I could feel a scent of distrust in the beginning. They kept asking me questions in a trivial sort of way, wondering if I was a fan or just some filmmaker trying to make a mockery of the whole fan base situation. After a couple of hard knocked "Star Wars: The Holiday Special" questions, I think they knew that I was, "one of them." The musical itself was hilarious. Some of the musical numbers I thought were better than original ones they were spoofing. I just walked into their bathroom and notice John Claude Van Damme and Power Rangers pictures plastered all over the wall. It's like Teen Beat magazine gone horribly wrong. They seem to know about the plot to Episode I, so I let Kevin take over the camera while I go outside. I don't want to know anything about the flick until AFTER I see it. Tomorrow they're trying to get on the ranch. I see this as an impossible feat but it's going to be great to get it on camera. Dragging all that lighting equipment on a plane was a pain in the ass. At first, we couldn't get it in the rent a car and break down some of it. Then we couldn't see out the window while heading down the freeway. One of my D.P.'s, Kevin, had to navigate a little so I could see where the hell I was going.

FEBRUARY 28TH:

We (or should I say they) tried to get on the ranch today. Of course it didn't work. It got to the point where security came out and told us to leave. They were very nice about it but the situation was seemed like something out of a Michael Moore documentary. I don't think we'll be invited to the ranch anytime soon. MARCH 1st I'm watching a couple of docs to get the idea of what NOT to do when making my doc. It seems that some are nothing more than talking heads. It gets boring after fifteen minutes. The really good docs are the ones when the director follows the story.

MARCH 2ND:

Work is really starting to take its toll. Started at 5:00AM. One the grips asked me if I was on drugs because of my pale face and bloodshot eyes. I told him I was making a movie and he laughed his ass off. I can't seem to get a break with main production. Today they bitched me out for not telling them where I was. I was in the bathroom for F*** sake! It almost got into a brawl until one the writers took me out to calm down. I can't believe I took a lower paying job so I could have more time for Starwoids. I was so wrong.

APRIL 8TH, 1999/WESTWOOD VILLAGE THEATER:

I just got a call from Daniel that he's standing in line right now… 42 frigging days before the movie comes out! Kind of reminds me of myself as a kid. I race over to see Dan, Sam, and a bunch of their friends popping tents, watching TV in the car, even setting lawn chairs to cover their spot in line. One guy is even mapping out a diagram on how to get the prime seat in the theatre. He calls it "Runners and Blockers." This is how the plan works: Your "Runner" is the main person. He is the first in line. Once he gets his ticket ripped, he races to get his seat while the "blockers" look for ticket and hold up the line. Once they get in, it's their job to wander slowly to find a seat while the runner gets the best seat in the house. Another tip is ALWAYS go to the THIRD entrance of the theatre. Most patrons will run to the first or second door.

8:48PM SAME DAY:

Within minutes, he starts a chain reaction because now people from Countingdown.com run in line right after him. Rumor has it that because of Daniel; there are already five people in line at the Chinese theater. What if it spreads? Two in Iowa stand in line, then five in Chicago. Soon every theater in America will have Phantom groupies.

SAME DAY/CHINESE THEATER:

I'm at the Chinese and there are about ten people here. The fans age group ranges from 17 to 45. It's a little cold, but people are in high spirits. There's a pay phone right next to them that keeps ringing off the hook. It seems that they put the pay phone number on their website and now they're getting calls from Chicago, Ohio, Vegas, Great Britain, etc. I give them some bottled water and candy from the show to donate to the cause. As I hang out with them, cars ride by honking, rooting them on as they start popping tents. What a great time to be a fan… and filmmaker for that matter. I hang out there until 4:00AM. I have to be at work in one hour.

APRIL 11TH/WESTWOOD VILLAGE THEATER:

Local and national press are interviewing Daniel. Everyone is still in good spirits, though the homeless are a little pissed that they're not getting press for sleeping on the sidewalk since they've been doing it for years. One asks me to share of swig of his root beer Schnapps. I pass and by him dinner at Burger King. Daniel looks a little out of it, but is a trooper, and looks like he'll pull through.

APRIL 12TH/CHINESE THEATER:

It's like a little campsite here. The Chinese Theater gave everyone free popcorn and now they're watching Pulp Fiction on a portable DVD. Cops come by to check on everyone. It's weird, yet cool that all these people (about 30 or so) from different parts of the world, are banding together to just to see a movie. Of course, they're all raising money for charity, but we know the real reason why they're here. The biggest question is where is everyone going to the bathroom?

APRIL 16TH/AFTER LINE:

We just stood in line from 8:00PM to 9:30 AM. Came in to work only to get yelled at that I didn't buy milk that came from organic cows. If they want it any more organic, they can start squeezing it from the cow's tit as far as I'm concerned. Had to take milk back. This is what I went to college for.

APRIL 17TH/CHINESE THEATER:

Found out that while we were watching Pulp Fiction on the DVD, one of the so called "fans" left when the cops came because he's a murder suspect hiding out in Hollywood. Better watch my back around here. I hope there's a reward for him. Then I could fully fund this film.

APRIL 18TH/ AFTER LINE:

Just got back from a 12-hour day of standing in line. I'm working here as an usher at a movie theater that WON'T have The Phantom Menace playing this May, if you can believe that. Between helping this guy make the movie and me cleaning up the crap from people going to the movies, I'm starting to crack. Had a meeting this morning on how we're not supposed to ask customers if they want butter on their popcorn. We must call it "butter flavoring" from now on or the theater will get sued.

APRIL 21ST/WESTWOOD VILLAGE THEATER:

The freaks do come out at night. Lots of college kids on a drinking binge and they just don't know when to stop. I told them, "I remember my first beer." Almost got beat up that night by a bunch of frat boys until the homeless came to my rescue.

APRIL 21ST - WORK:

I can barely move. Between shooting two lines in separate locations almost 12 hours a day, I wake up from the sidewalk and head to work for 12 hours. One of the electricians from the crew lets me hide out in their office and sleep for a couple of hours. They also have that James Bond game for the Playstation. I can hear the gunfire in my head while I nap. The sound dept. gave me a nice microphone to use for better interviews and craft services gave some food for the countingdown group. Most of the people are pretty nice here… most of them. I just hope I have a good doc for people to see.

APRIL 22ND/MORNING AFTER LINE:

I'm on about three hours sleep and the milk "situation" is being brought up at work again. Now I have to make sure that the "Best Buy Before" date on the milk is the latest one AND to make sure the milk is coming from organic cows. With the money they're paying me, I could go on unemployment for only $50 less then my paycheck.

APRIL 22ND/WESTWOOD VILLAGE THEATER:

Just got a call from my friends back home who saw me in line. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" they scream. Told them all my mail is now being forwarded here in line. Learning how to play Tekken 3 on the Playstation with one of the homeless guys. He's beaten me three times already. Haven't seen my wife in days.

APRIL 27TH/CHINESE THEATER:

You would think the nightlife in Hollywood would be all star studded and cool. Guess again. Two so-called "hot" nightclubs are right down the street with all these Hollywood wannabes trying to get discovered. Seems like the prerequisite to get in is a cell phone and a name drop. Every once in a while, they'll laugh at us for standing in line. They should take a look in the mirror. They have to stand behind some dumb ass velvet rope to pay a twenty-dollar cover to get inside a place with bad lighting and $12.00 drinks. See you at the drive-thru, Sweetheart.

APRIL 29TH/WESTWOOD VILLAGE THEATER:

Fans from both lines are planning a trip to Colorado for the Star Wars Celebration. From what it sounds like, this thing in Denver is going to be a Woodstock for Star Wars fans. I hope the trip is going to be worth it. Starting to shower less. APRIL 29TH: Now I have to say 10-100 (Hollywood talk for going to the bathroom) every time I have to take a leak. I'm not even on the set! This is so degrading. It wasn't this bad in Nam!

APRIL 30TH/CHINESE THEATER:

Another group just lined up behind us. They're huffing and puffing about how they're not going to get in for the first show because we're going to get all the tickets. I don't really think that's going to happen. "Countdown TV" is slowly sucking up all our space. I thought this was supposed to be a line for Star Wars fans, not for a 24 hour television show. A couple of people came by and made us a cake wishing us good luck. Now if we only had forks to eat the cake with.

APRIL 31ST:

I'm now unemployed! No more organic milk. No more having to ask to go to the bathroom. No more slave to Hollywood. Just sit back and enjoy the company of my fellow Star Wars fans. Some need to shower a little bit more than others. Just bought a toothbrush and shampoo at the drug store for the quick "Spot Shower" when I need it.

MAY 2ND:

I'm at the Star Wars Celebration. It's raining cats and dogs and people still don't mind standing in a downpour. I love the food choices here: KFC, Taco Bell, or Pizza Hut with a choice of your finer Pepsi products. I wonder if Lucasfilm has a tie-in with these products (wink, wink)? I don't think I'd want to be a vegetarian right now. A lot people around here are saying that Star Wars is the Woodstock of our generation. With all the mud that's around here, I believe them. Note to Star Wars Celebration: Next time, have the celebration in a CONVENTION HALL rather in the middle of nowhere. Later that night, I went to the JAR JAR JAM near downtown Denver. To see Amhed Best rapping the Star Wars theme was worth the price of admission alone.

MAY 3RD:

I'm at Toys R Us in Burbank, CA waiting for the new Phantom Menace figures to go on sale. It's 10:00PM and one person has been here since 4:00PM. There's about 300 people waiting right now and the line is getting bigger by the second. A couple of people from the countingdown.com line are here, including Lincoln.

MAY 4TH - 12:01 AM:

The place is a mad house! It's like the Who concert in 1981. People are grabbing everything they could find. The Darth Mauls seem to be the biggest sellers. Haven't seen this much craziness since the Furby mania. Note to self: buy Hasbro stock.

MAY 5TH:

Seems to be some rumblings in the Chinese line. Some of the fans are getting tired of the cameras in their faces 24 hours a day. Also, one of the fans was pulled out of his tent by a so called "news crew". There's going to be a meeting tonight to find ways of solving these problems and making sure everyone is happy.

MAY 6TH:

I'm in the Westwood line right now. A bunch of people are watching some Pauly Shore movie. I'd rather have red ants eat my flesh then go down that road. Since I'm over 21, I can hit the happy hours around here. It's a great deal, because I walk into a bar and people ask me what my major is (or some other small talk) and I tell them I'm really standing in line for Star Wars. At first they're in shock, then finally come to the conclusion that it's pretty cool and start buying me drinks. One even asked for my autograph. Hope he doesn't try to sell it on Ebay.

MAY 11TH:

Only 24 more hours until tickets go on sale. Getting my last fix of In and Out burger before I take my nap. A couple of homeless guys were mumbling that the people who HAVE homes are now taking over the homeless people's places. They are so right. All that's on my mind right now is getting my tickets. Even though there have been some problems in the line, it seems to be running smoothly at both the Chinese and the Village. It's good that we're all getting along.

MAY 12TH:

There is every network known to mankind here. There is even a South African television station here to interview us. You would think the Pope was coming to town.

MAY14TH:

My car has a terrible stench from the many people using it as a Motel 6. It has now become the lines "guest bedroom". You can sleep, eat, and even dress yourself in my car. The best moments are when people tap on the window to see if you're sleeping. It's like those kids who tap on the glass of the fish tank to startle the fish.

MAY 18TH - 11:02PM - WESTWOOD:

They're letting us in almost two hours in advance! Daniel gets his seat; Row P, Seat 107. I sit a couple of rows back. I'm just happy to be sitting on a seat with a cushion rather than the sidewalk. Beach balls fly through the air as people wait for the film. People dressed in costume run around franticly, posing for pics. This is the end and I'm sad to see it go.

MAY 19TH - AFTER SHOW:

People are saying their good-byes. Will I ever see these people again? It's been a great ride, but it's back to the basics; wife, work, and edit this darn film. I think the total is 87 hours so far and I still have a couple of more interviews to do. Even though the film was not what I was expecting, I met a lot of great people along the way both at the Chinese and the Village. Even though times got rough, everyone worked it out, saw the movie, and had a good time. I'm sure some of these people I'll see later on down the road and this was an experience I'll never forget. I'm going to sleep for days… then find how in the hell I'm going to make an hour and half story with almost 90 hours of footage.

(MORE TO COME...)