ned, 20. ožujka '05 u 05:21
Treba uzeti u obzir da je report od prije dva mjeseca, dakle covjek
kampira jos kojih 60-ak dana vise
Source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/207948_starwarsguy15.html
Saturday, January 15, 2005
One last, long campout for 'the Star Wars guy'
By KRISTIN DIZON
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Jeff Tweiten lives on a periwinkle blue, fold-out futon on the
sidewalk in front of the Cinerama Theatre.
He is not homeless, but camping out for 139 days. Waiting.
For Godot, you wonder? An organ transplant? The end of the world?
Dan DeLong / P-I
Jeff Tweiten is already waiting in line outside the Cinerama in
downtown Seattle for the next "Star Wars" film.
Tweiten is waiting for "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the
Sith," which opens May 19.
To the world, he is "the Star Wars guy," an obsessed Quixote whose
windwills are a series of movies about a long time ago, in a galaxy
far, far away.
"I think 'Star Wars' is the quintessential modern myth," says Tweiten.
"It's the hero story, the breaking away from home and family and
proving yourself in the world."
Just who is this sidewalk Skywalker wearing sunglasses and a wool pea
coat?
Tweiten is a 27-year-old graphic artist who grew up on Bainbridge
Island and attended the Art Institute of Seattle. Before moving to the
street, he dwelled in a Belltown apartment. To make ends meet, he also
makes ceramic raku masks, plays poker and picks up occasional odd
jobs.
His life is not one big homage to "Star Wars," he says, and he has
plenty of other interests, including classical music, modern dance,
fine dining, dive bars, working out and reading about contemporary
art.
But, what made him a bicoastal media darling was when he camped out at
the Cinerama for "Star Wars: Episode I" and "Episode II" -- director
George Lucas' prequels to the original series.
He's been called a loser, a geek, a Peter Pan who refuses to grow up
and get a life. A few days ago, someone called him a "bum" for the
first time.
"I don't really care how people label me," Tweiten says. "If they are
so narrow-minded and can only see that one aspect of me, I kind of
pity them."
Pity him not. He's a smart, articulate guy who is perfectly
comfortable with this life decision. He sees it as a unique experience
and a last opportunity -- "Revenge of the Sith" is the final film in
Lucas' space saga.
"It's about freedom," he explains. "To me, it's exercising my right as
an American to do what I want to do, without hurting anybody."
Picture, you might, Tweiten in Darth Vader or Wookiee costume. But,
wrong you would be, for dress up he does not. Nor does he greet you by
saying, "May the force be with you," or talk like Yoda or dole out
daily Star Wars aphorisms.
He sees grand themes in the "Star Wars" films: the power of
redemption, the rites of passage to manhood, the choice between good
and evil. Probably the most elemental meaning he derives from the
movies' various editions is Yoda's, "Do or do not. There is no try."
It fits in with his approach to life: "If you're going to do
something, do it right. Don't half-ass it."
Though he saw his first "Star Wars" film at age 3, he has no memory of
it. It was in middle school that he began watching the films over and
over.
"As a younger kid, I was into the whole medieval knight thing and this
was sort of the flashier version of that," says Tweiten, a high school
football player who also ran track.
A pop-culture lover who sprinkles references to movies and books and
music in his words, Tweiten sees this quest, which began on Jan. 1, as
the road less traveled.
He sees worth in the waiting, especially in a culture that demands
instant gratification.
"Coming out here and sitting and waiting -- embodying the anticipation
-- I think people need to see that," Tweiten says. "Maybe they'll slow
down. So many people are in such a hurry that they miss the savoring
of time."
A whole community has developed around Tweiten's mission. His friends
bring him changes of clothes, snacks and their company. Nearby
businesses offer a bathroom, a shower or a warm cup of coffee.
Passersby might laugh in amusement, shake their heads in wonder or
strike up a conversation.
Earlier this week, a man from Real Change, a newspaper put out by
homeless and formerly homeless people, tried to sell Tweiten a paper.
"So are you gonna make it, or what?" the man asked.
"I think I'm gonna make it," Tweiten replied, handing a dollar to the
street seller, though he'd already bought that issue of the paper.
"Well, let me know if you need anything," the man said.
There are no sponsors or banners, but Tweiten says he has some money
saved. Above his couch is a piece of paper taped to the wall. It
reads, "Waiting for Star Wars."
Tweiten's living room is right next to a bus stop, and every
afternoon, the buses spew loud decibels and clouds of fumes at him.
Still, he says, "It feels more like home than any apartment I've ever
lived in."
To pass the time, he writes in a journal, posts to his blog, chats on
the phone and touches up old stories from past "Star Wars" campouts,
in hopes that, perhaps, a book deal will be extended one day.
"I think I'm working the hardest I've ever worked."
He knows, from past experience, that in a few months, he will begin
receiving 600 to 700 e-mails, and do seven to 10 radio interviews a
day. Already, the interview calls start at 3:30 a.m., and he has
appeared on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" show on ABC.
Some are inspired by him and most of his e-mail is supportive, but he
does get some hateful mail, and a few people have driven by to yell at
him during previous campouts.
Fortunately, a former job in telemarketing prepared him well for
verbal abuse. "Wow, you hate me so much that you're wasting your time
to tell me that I'm wasting my time. I find that mind-boggling," he
says. "I'm out there enjoying myself, so, why should they care?"
Despite a selectively enforced city law that states, "No person shall
sit or lie down upon a public sidewalk, or upon a blanket, chair,
stool, or any other object placed upon a public sidewalk, during the
hours between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.," in zones including downtown, Tweiten
has not been contacted by police or asked to move.
But, he acknowledges, the campout hasn't been easy and the first two
weeks felt longer than he figured they would.
"I could have gone and sat on the beach, drinking mai tais for four
and a half months," he says. "And some people would say that's a
better choice.
"But I don't want to regret not doing this. If I end up not making it,
and my will is broken, and I go home, at least I'll have tried."
14 days down. 125 to go. Tweiten is traveling his own road -- right
here and right now, on a street corner, close, close at hand.
TWEITEN FAST FACTS
Pounds lost since Jan. 1: 10
Coffee consumption: about 2 pots a day
Hours of sleep each day: about 5
Number of sleeping bags: 3
Cigarettes smoked: "A lot more than I used to and a lot more than I
should"
Handle: Superfan 1138, referring to director George Lucas putting that
number in each of the films, either visually or audibly
Number of times he's seen "Star Wars": about 1,200 (same for "Empire"
and a few more for "Jedi")
Reaction to "Episode I": "I've pretty much blocked it out of my mind."
Too much "blah, blah, blah, yacky-schmacky"
Reaction to "Episode II": Better. He liked the lightsaber duels and
angst
Favorite movies other than "Star Wars": "Cool Hand Luke," "Fight
Club," "Free Enterprise"
Favorite "Star Wars" movie: "The Empire Strikes Back," because of its
dark ending
His most oft-used line from a "Star Wars" flick: "Apology accepted,
Capt. Needa." Darth Vader says this to a commander who has failed him,
just after choking the man to death
Blog: waitingforstarwars.blogspot.com
P-I reporter Kristin Dizon can be reached at 206-448-8118 or
kristindizon@seattlepi.com
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