Though the dark side might win in the newest and final
installment of the Star Wars series, that doesn’t mean that
something good won’t come from its premiere.
Not only is tonight’s Westwood premiere of “Star
Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith” expected to be larger
and more chaotic than the typical star-studded, fan-crazed event,
but the screening will also benefit charity.
Sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox, the event
features simultaneous debuts in 10 U.S. cities benefiting
children’s charities, including the Children’s Defense
Fund in Washington, D.C., and the Children’s Health Fund in
New York. All proceeds from the Westwood premiere will go to
Artists for a New South Africa and its crusade to provide services
to children orphaned by AIDS in South Africa.
But attending the premiere comes at a weighty price. Tickets
range from the “general”donor level of $500
““ which includes one ticket and an invitation to the Hammer
Museum-hosted after party ““ to the “Jedi Master”
donor level of $100,000 ““ 50 tickets, 15 charity tickets for
people with AIDS, party invitations and other movie-related tokens.
Some “screening-only” tickets were made available at a
mere $150 to previous ANSA donors.
Along with event co-chairs Samuel L. Jackson and his wife, other
actors from the Star Wars saga are expected to attend
tonight’s premiere. Actors such as Billy Dee Williams, who
played Lando Calrissian in the original “Star Wars,”
and Jimmy Smits, who plays Senator Bail Organa in
“Sith,” will strut their stuff, helping to attract
hundreds of screaming fans.
Premieres, which can offer up-close encounters with some of
Hollywood’s biggest stars, are highly anticipated for devoted
fans, such as those expected to attend tonight’s premiere at
the Mann Village and Bruin theaters. But the congestion and large
crowds they create for neighboring businesses can be a lot to
handle.
For Starbucks, which is located directly next to the theaters,
premieres have been extremely good for business.
“In the past, we have always benefited one way or another
by people coming in,” said Eddie Sanchez, manager of the
neighboring Starbucks.
Sanchez said stars are usually very good about giving
autographs.
“About 50 percent of the stars will do some sort of
autograph signing,” he said.
Local businesses such as the coffee shop are given several weeks
warning so they can schedule extra staff during premieres to
accommodate the increased patronage, sometimes including the
celebrities themselves.
“A couple of people have come in during the past, but
usually their assistants come in,” Sanchez said. “They
don’t want to get mobbed.”
The rare mob scene would be a result of lack of security, but
all parties involved say premieres generally run very smoothly.
“The security (the theater hires) does a really good job
of making sure nobody is there that’s not supposed to be.
They usually keep it under control,” Sanchez said.
Rohini Acharya, Mann Village Theater employee and first-year
world arts and cultures student, said both the theater and the
studio provide security. Acharya said additional security will most
likely be present for the “Star Wars” event compared to
past premieres, but usually there are not security problems related
to fans trying to slip inside.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had any real
complications with people trying to sneak in,” said Acharya,
who has worked premieres in the past. “But I definitely think
we will have problems with this premiere because it is “˜Star
Wars.'”
According to the West Los Angeles division of the Los Angeles
Police Department, off-duty police officers are also hired to
control the streets during the premieres. In general, the officers
say they encounter no difficulties during the long-running
events.
For a typical premiere, the Westwood Village area may be used
for 24 hours or more. First, the city grants permits to the studio.
Then, the Westwood streets around the Mann Village are closed off
by officers for anywhere from six to 18 hours during set up,
depending on the size of the event. The red carpet guest arrivals
begin and the film screens, followed by clean up.
Still, with so much going on outside, it’s easy to forget
that most of the real action takes places within the theater
itself. A large portion of Mann staff is used for the event,
ushering people to their seats and constantly cleaning bathrooms,
Acharya said.
“We (usually) provide free popcorn and drinks,” she
said. “So there are a lot of people assigned to filling
popcorn bags and cups.”
For the 75-year-old theater with a seating capacity of 1,341,
that’s a lot of popcorn.