Part 1: A start in the "biz"

How did you get your start in web design?
Back in April 1997, one of my courses in university had a brief chapter on HTML and we were given an assignment to make a web page on anything. In those days I was looking forward to Spielberg's "Jurassic Park 2," so I decided to make a couple of pages on Steven Spielberg. Although I passed that assignment, I bombed the major test on HTML and ended up dropping the course.

After that I took that same course in the summer (still didn't do good) while I began building a Steven Spielberg page for the Web. That was my introduction.

Why did "Jurassic Park 2" spur your interest in creating a website more than the original movie?
I guess it was the time when the Web was lifting off in 1997. Also, I used to visit the "Lost World" homepage for up to date news and got inspiration from there.

You created the website in appreciation of the movies you enjoy. What motivates you to maintain it on such a large scale?
'Labor of love' is what motivates me. But being a fan alone doesn't really bring all the motivation. You have to be persistent and determined.

Whenever I get tired and exhausted of working on the sites (which happens 1-2 times a month with me), I look back at the days when I used to surf for news and was disappointed when one of my favorite sites wasn't updated. In other words, I don't want my visitors to go through the disappointment that I face sometimes.

How did DreamWorks hear about the site and when did they contact you?
The first time they contacted me was two years ago when anonymous individuals at DreamWorks provided me with some inside scoops. That was the first time I found out that people at the studio were actually aware of my site, which led me to contact them. At first, it was just press kits and screenings but recently I was asked to visit the set of "Evolution" (I sent my L.A. correspondent Brett Eichenberger) and there is more to come.

How do you get all the inside information that you post on the site?
There are many sources. The obvious ones are press releases, other newspapers, and other sites and of course my own visitors informing me of related stories from across the world. Then there are also exclusive scoops, which any webmaster would die for.

What other fan sites do you have?
To put it simply, if there is a DreamWorks and/or Spielberg film, there is a fan site on it. The most successful so far has been "Gladiator."

You have several contributors to your site. What are their roles?
The contributors write editorials, review upcoming DreamWorks film scripts, write movie reviews or create fan trailers. The sub sites are maintained and updated by me.

Continued...