Buzz

NERD NATION!

Tech TV just aired an episode of Nerd Nation that documented the release of Star Wars:  Episode 1 back in 1999.  It was basically a documentary on the CountingDown.com guys and their staking out of the Chinese Theater in California.  I was, of course, wrapped in the StarWars hysteria back then too.  Watching this documentary has brought back fond memories of which I’ll blog about now.

I’m sure it doesn’t surprise anyone that I had to be at the premiere of StarWars Episode 1.  For big movie releases, I have to be at the first showing! 

It was my senior year in high school, right around finals.  I left school early to wait in line for tickets a week before the movie was released.  Of course I was wearing a Darth Maul costume!  I got my picture in the paper but didn’t get tickets to the midnight showing.  Those sold out in under 15 minutes.  I did manage to get tickets to the first evening showing (7pm) of opening day.  Driving back from New Orleans I was rather upset at not being the FIRST to see this movie.  I stopped off at the crappy Covington theater and picked up a few tickets to their midnight showing.  I figured at least I’d see the movie at midnight.

The day before the show we got to the theater about 6 hours before the showing.  My friends and I were about 10th in line at that point.  Well we saw the movie a day ahead of everyone else.  On the way home (3am) we stopped at Pizza Hut and.....noticed that some Star Wars flags were flying unattended.  Those flags somehow found their way into my closet.

The next day I stopped by the high school and picked up some friends that had just finished taking their finals (I was exempt...go me!) We got to new orleans around 2pm, a good 5 hours before our 7pm showing.  Oddly enough, there was no line for this sold out show.  I planted myself first in line and didn’t move.  It was great.  I’ve got pictures from the event but they’re all back home stashed away.  I’ll have to post them someday.

For StarWars Episode 2, I upped the ante a bit.  I was determined to see the movie at least twice in the same day.  I ended up seeing it 3 times in one day.  I was in line for the midnight showing 6 hours early when someone approached me and asked if I wanted to go to the screening at 7pm.  I had a friend save my place in line and saw the movie before ANYONE.  I rejoined the line just as they were entering for the midnight showing.  After that showing, I drove to Monroe and saw the flick at 7pm with my north Louisiana friends.

What will happen for Episode 3?  All I know is that I must up the ante even more.  Perhaps seeing it 3 times in one day in 3 different cities?  New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Monroe?  Maybe Lucas will have a 6 movie marathon!  If so, I’m there!

Comments