(Written by Marcel Jähde Tuesday 03 September 2002)

Three weeks ago, I read that Harrison Ford will be in Cologne (Germany) for the premiere of his latest movie K-19: The Widowmaker (German title K-19: Showdown in the Depth). At first I couldn't believe it. I live in Recklinghausen that is only 100 km away. I asked my friend if he would join me. That was my chance to meet Harrison Ford.

Now it was time to get access to this event. I tried several times to get tickets for the premiere and the party. At first I called the people from Cinedom (theatre). They referred me to the agency who organized the event. Wrong again! They said without a press ID I can't get a ticket. So I contacted the press officer of Universum Film, but I was one day too late. The list for the press was closed. The only thing I got, was access to the whole press material of the movie. But that was better than nothing. My last chance was to win a ticket. There were two contests in Germany, but I had no luck (like always). I didn't win. Nevertheless we drove to Cologne and we tried to get the best possible place to meet Harrison.

After only one hour we reached Cologne and stood in front of the Cinedom. At the beginning it wasn't as full as I thought before. There were some press people and only a few fans. I gave interviews for the radio and the newspaper about Harrison and why I was there. Now it was time to find a good place to meet Harrison and all the others. Believe it or not, but we found a place at the red carpet. We stood in the first row. That was the best place you could get. After a while the crowd got bigger and bigger. Some of the staff people distributed K-19 T-Shirts to the press and the fans and well I got one of them. Immediately I put it on and the excitement grew. There was only one question. When will he arrive?

After some minutes the first local VIP's arrived. It was almost seven o'clock in the evening and everyone was waiting for the Hollywood star. With a delay of one hour the first limousine arrived. The crowd got crazy and director Cathryn Bigelow was the first person who entered the red carpet. After some seconds or maybe minutes, I don't know exactly, Liam Neeson got out of his car. I took several pictures of these two people. But suddenly the crowd went nuts and Harrison stood on the red carpet together with his girlfriend Calista Flockhart. That was the first time in my life, that I saw Harrison Ford personally. He walked slowly over the red carpet. He seemed to be shy, but friendly. All the people wanted an autograph or picture and they were screaming his name, but he declined politely.

After a while he changed his decision and started to sign some photos. He came nearer and nearer and I took a lot of photos. Suddenly he stood right in front of me and I looked into his eyes. I was only 1 m away from the man I saw so often on TV and on the big screen. I gave him my photo with the request to sign it. He looked down to the photo than in my eyes again. He smiled and after that he gave me the autograph. In the next seconds everything happened in slow motion for me. I was the last person who got an autograph. He gave the pencil away and went over to the press.

After Harrison was in the theatre I was totally happy. Since 12 years I was waiting to meet Harrison Ford and today I made it. I never thought that I could get so near and get an autograph. Later I had luck again. I was able to enter the red carpet. I stood in front of the K-19 posters and pictures, where 15 minutes ago all the stars stood. Now it was time to drive to the Palladium.

Like I wrote before I almost got press ID's for the premiere and the party, but only almost. So we stood in front of the entrance and waited for some people to ask them if there is a chance to enter the party. Like I thought before, we had no chance. But that didn't matter, I had everything I wanted. I saw him, I spoke with him, I took pictures of him and he signed my picture. And so we drove home after this great day and everyone was happy.

After a sleepless night a woke up and started my computer to read my mails. And what a surprise, I got a mail from the press officer of Universum Film (German news agency for K-19). She wrote me that they added some premiere and party photos to their press section.

In the afternoon my telephone rang. It was my friend. He told me that I was on TV, together with Harrison Ford. He described me the whole scene. I was standing in front of Harrison short before he signed my picture. That is amazing. Harrison Ford and I together on TV.

And that was my meeting with Harrison Ford. I'lll never forget this day in my life and I want to thank all people who helped me to see my hero!