It is March 20th, 2002, and I am sitting in one of the world’s most popular parking lots, otherwise known as the Southbound 101. A quick look at my watch confirms my worst fears. It is a little after six in the evening, and my beat-up Civic is threatening to overheat, leaving me stranded by the SFO on ramp. Tonight is the inaugural meeting of, the brand new MUG-about-town, the Mac Filmmakers User Group. Doors open in less than a half hour at the center of the Mac universe, the Apple Campus, in Cupertino. As that is forty minutes away, I’m probably already very late.
[This article first appeared in the Bay Area's Release Print magazine, in February of 2003.]
But miracles do happen, and less than thirty minutes later, I half-trip-half-run around the corner of the De Anza Three Auditorium to find that I’m not the only one that is late. Noting the frantic volunteer activity behind the large glass doors and the line of attendees waiting patiently to enter, I decide to explore who else is attending this event.
I am surprised and pleased, to say the least, when I find that I’m not the only Film Arts member to have made the trip, nor have I traveled the farthest. For here is a very diverse crowd of people; Long-time Film Arts members; First time Mac owners; Commercial directors, editors; And they’re from as far South as LA and as far North as Mount St Helena. I count one hundred and thirty-four people in line, with more are arriving by the minute.
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