Hundreds of pop culture and comics enthusiasts lined up outside of the San Diego Convention Center again Friday for day two of the opening of the star-studded Comic-Con International convention. We all know how the fans feel about the convention (cue the screaming girls at the Twilight screening Thursday night), but how about the stars?
"Comic-Con I think is a global aggregation of fans in a giant feeding frenzy. Kind of like a tuna aggregation. What they do is they not only celebrate fantasy and science fiction and fantastic worlds, but they celebrate each other, and they celebrate their geek-ness, and there's a sense of solidarity,” Director James Cameron said.
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The sold-out Comic-Con is the hottest ticket in town, with more than 125,000 people expected to attend the convention during its four-day run, which will feature hundreds of exhibits, celebrity appearances, film screenings and industry panels.
"It's a very pure form of passion that, you know it transcends business and anything else. Passion is a very good thing. And that's why you make movies that you hope people respond to, and so it's good to see and feel that energy here," Director Tim Burton said.
Kristin Bell, a five-time Comic-Con veteran at the show this year for "Astro Boy," says there is one downside to the convention: She can't make it to the bathroom.
"I am physically unable to go to the restrooms because of requests for pictures and signatures and stuff and it's very flattering, but sometimes when you have to pee, that's just got to be your main priority," Bell said.
"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" actor Andy Samberg likes the good vibes of the con:
"It seems just like a great festival of joy," he said.
And his co-star in the animated film, Anna Faris, is just happy to be in the same building as "Alice in Wonderland" star Johnny Depp.
"I heard that Johnny Depp was wondering around," she said. "That's really exciting for me. I feel so close to him," she said.
Jeff Bridges, star of the original "TRON" and its updated, computer graphics-heavy Disney revamp, likened his role at the convention to a carnival barker.
"It's fun, especially when you're proud and you're excited about your work, to have a convention like this where you've got all these fans in one place to say 'Hey, look what we've got going here! Come to our movie!'," he said.
But perhaps Ben Foster, star of the sci-fi horror film "Pandorum," sums up the convention, packed with costumed fans, best.
"It's a zoo. It's a Halloween zoo. It's the second time I've been here. I have no idea how to process this place. It's funny. And then you have these waves of fear," he said. ""I'm not accustomed to seeing this many people dressed up in samurai outfits and aliens, all in one space, yeah."
Comic-Con International runs through Sunday.
