Jennifer Kitzmann
Staff Writer
For the last seven weeks fans have been spending many Jedi knights outside the Chinese Theater in Hollywood waiting in line for the opening of the popular George Lucas film “Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.”
Most of the fans standing in line for the “Star Wars” movie belong to the organization known as the Starlight Starbright Foundation for children and are raising money to brighten the lives of children who are suffering around the world.
“We have had everyone making fun of us,” said a fan who called himself Hollywood. “The payphones around us are ringing around the clock from stations all around the country who want to get involved.”
The charity organization is not wounded by the media’s actions in making fun of the “Star Wars” fans; especially by remarks such as nerds in the wrong theater. Despite the fact that the movie is slated to open at the Arclight, many fans argue that it will open at the Chinese since all of the “Star Wars” movies have opened there.
The reason that the “Star Wars” opening will be taking place in the Cinerama Dome at the Arclight Theater on on May 18 is because Twentieth Century Fox has had the Chinese reserved for the premiere of the “The Longest Yard.”
“We have heard all this before,” said Sarah Sprague, fan and charity organizer. “There have been plenty of rumors that even in 1999 and 2002 that previous Star Wars movies were not opening at the Chinese Theater and the rumors were false so we are hoping the same thing will happen again.”
Members of the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation are standing in line for “Star Wars Episode III” to raise money for the children’s foundation.
“This year the Foundation expected to raise more than $20,000 through sponsorships and individual contributions and raised $30,000 so far,” Sprague said.
“We are raising money here,” Hollywood said. “We even got pizza delivered to us one day because we were so cooperative with a radio station and let them in on what we were doing out here.”
The people standing in line are not only “Star Wars” fans but also teachers, students and people who want to help raise money for the children’s foundation.
“There have been more than 50 volunteers a day,” said Walter Harris, full-time ad executive and fan. “This has been the largest line ever for ‘Star Wars’ events.”
Although the line has become so long, the neighborhood has not had any complaints and the people that live in Hollywood have been very supportive.
“Even the police have been very supportive,” Hollywood said. “They have protected us from a couple of egg bashings but altogether it has been a real positive experience and many of the police are big ‘Star Wars’ fans, too.”
But still die hard fans refuse to give up their place at the Chinese Theater and will split up into two groups to start another line in front of the Arclight Theater, to secure their coveted seats for the first midnight showing.
“We all have name tags, color levels and spoiler levels according to how much we know about ‘Star Wars,’” said fan Otis Chambliss.
The group also has a strategic game plan for the first couple of shows so they don’t lose their places in line in either theater.
All of the members of the Starlight Starbright Foundation have tickets for the “Star Wars” movie but since they all cannot see the first showing starting at midnight on Wednesday, there will be a new set of people to take their place called the “twelve o twoers.”
In the final days of fighting the darkness of the Sith themselves to keep their place in line, “Star Wars” enthusiasts will be having a parade to celebrate the opening of “Star Wars” in Hollywood.
“The 51st Stormtrooper legion nationwide of 40-50 army reserves will armor the event, escorting us down Hollywood and Vine,” Hollywood said.
The block party started as early as 3 p.m. on Thursday on May 18 and more Star Wars fans are expected to start lining up at both the Arclight and the Grauman’s Chinese Theater.
For more information on Lining up with the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation check www.liningup.net or call (323) 462-9609.
Jennifer Kitzmann can be reached at lynnjen88@msn.com.
