A Friday night movie premiere in San Marcos, and the stars would be arriving at any minute. Gaggles of fans had positioned themselves along the red carpet, contending for the best views.

It was a long red carpet, the kind you see on TV or in magazines. It began where the ticket collector stood and ran through the lobby of the Starplex Cinema in San Marcos, shooting beneath the double doors, right on out to the curb, where many people were waiting in the cold.

One shivering teenager was Jason Torres. Jason, who is 16, had heard about the debut film “Campus Radio” when the film’s director spoke to Jason’s class at San Marcos High School.

“I said, ‘You know what, I’m gonna go see that film,’” Torres said. “It took place in Austin and San Marcos, so I’m gonna go see it.”

To escape the cold, the less dedicated fans waited inside the theater. They milled around, rubbing shoulders with teenagers and earnest college journalists who gripped digital voice recorders. One middle-aged man stood alone with a bucket of popcorn, stray kernels gathering around his feet.

You could feel the anticipation in the air. You could smell the popcorn.

Then cameras started flashing. Fans rushed forward, pressing against the velvet ropes that kept them from stepping on the carpet. The stars were here.

Read the rest of the story at the San Marcos Mercury.