I left the house around 2:30 and caught the bus into downtown San Diego. By 3 o'clock, I was off the bus and making my way toward the Convention Center. I got in line for Badge pick-up and got to chat with an artist named Ryan Archer. He creates web-comics and he's been going to Comic-Con for a few years now, so it was interesting to hear about his career and how Comic-Con has played an integral part in it. After getting my badge, bag and handouts, I stepped off to the side and sat on the floor next to some other attendees to organize my things, read through the guide book and use my laptop. Not a minute after I sat down, an "ELITE" red-shirt (Star Trek fans, you'll understand the irony there) security officer walked by and made an announcement that everyone had to clear the floor because we were a fire safety hazard. So, I repacked my bag and started looking for a place I could sit down. I asked another red-shirt where I could go and use my laptop--told him I was press and he told me I could go upstairs and use the press room. So I walk toward the escalator and, what do you know, a red-shirt stops me. "You have to go outside and use the other set of doors." Really? I was only 20ft from the escalator and I have to turn around to go in the "right way?" Whatever. I followed the directions, went upstairs, asked a volunteer where press could go. "Press? You mean the press room? 28A or C I think." I went to another volunteer and asked the same question, just to verify "I think that room's in the other building." Okay, I was told 28A or C. "Actually, it may be downstairs. Wait, I'll check. It's in 33A" Thank you, mame. Guess this means I can't rely on the staff for directions. I head over to 33A and . . .voila! It's the right room. A few guys were already sitting inside so I chatted with them for a little bit. One of the guys writes for ComicBookResources.com, another for a film-blog, and the other was working on an official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles documentary (he told us a little news about a new Ninja Turtles movie. Besides saying it was Live-action, produced by the founder of Legendary Pictures, and due in 2011, he couldn't give anything else away. He was very excited though. I am too!) 
After checking e-mail and some Twitter updates, I went to get in line for the Preview Night Pilot screenings of The Human Target, V, and Vampire Diaries (I ended up leaving after Human Target and V. As one of the people next to me said "I'm over vampires." Thanks Stephenie Meyer.) While in line I met a nice guy named Richard. This is his fifth Comic-Con, so we talked for a good while about his plans for the rest of the convention along with some other geek stuff. His friends, Jeff and Lindsey, then met up with us and in the end, I got audio interviews with all three. We were then admitted into Ballroom 20 (it's gigantic, has to seat at least 2500) and got to enjoy The Human Target and V (more on those later--I plan on writing reviews.) After I ditched on Vampire Diaries and said bye to Richard, Jeff and Lindsey , I went down to the exhibit hall and wandered for the final hour of Preview Night. I got plenty of free swag. A few movie posters (District-9, Mystery Team) and some comic book poster handouts. 
I did see some celebrities on the floor--Tyrese Gibson, Lou Ferrigno, and Dominic and Dan from Derrick comedy. I talked to Dominic and Dan, but in order to talk to Tyrese or Lou, you had to pay for merchandise (I had a picture taken with Dominic and snapped a photo of Lou, but Tyrese's security blocked me from a distance and yelled "No, you gotta pay!" when I pointed my camera at him. Hehe. So much for that attempt.) Nine o'clock came around fast and it was time to book out of there. I walked a few blocks to my bus stop and that was basically the end of my night. Now, time for sleep--especially considering I want to be at the Convention by 8am :/ Looking forward to tomorrow!
-Andrew
P.S. Loaded some photos on Facebook. I plan on uploading them to Flickr, if not here, eventually
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