Folks, they are standing in line to raise money for charity. According to their website, these "losers" have already raised $8,100 towards helping seriously ill children and they still have 40 days left.
http://www.starlightcan.org/news/Archive/LiningUP.htm
http://www.liningup.net/
According to their own statements, they knew before hand that the Grauman's Chinese Theatre "wasn't planning on showing the film". However, that's what they were told the first two times...but they lined up there and it was shown there after all. Their plan was to line up at the Chinese Theatre as it's obviously better PR to camp out in front of a world-famous theatre instead of some "no-name" place a block away. More publicity = more money for the kids. If the Chinese Theatre decides that they just can't swing it, everyone was going to walk down the street to the other theatre. Get it? The news articles have made it sound like they didn't know about this and that's not true.
At any rate, it would appear that many of these folks are students and actors who have lots of spare time off. That would explain why they seem to have lots of time. Also, they "clock-in and clock-out" of the line. For those who didn't actually take the time to find out what these fans are doing, they are racking up "line time" over the course of the 6 weeks. If they need to go somewhere, they clock out and then clock back in. The people with the most line time and the end will win places at the front of the line when it's time for the movie. Of course, at the same time, they're taking pledges for hours spent waiting and giving the money to charity.
For what it's worth, I'm not affiliated with this group, I have not waited in line, nor do I intend to wait in line. Heck, I haven't even seen either of the two Star Wars prequels and I probably won't see this one either. The reason I'm defending them today is because some folks from this group came and gave a presentation during one of our events several weeks ago (I work in the "scifi industry"). They were just some nice folks trying to create a fair and orderly system for people waiting in line and, while they were at it, do something to benefit ill children.
.....Kelly
