Meeting the King of Hollywood

It was the last day of shooting for Mr. Speilberg and Tom Cruise and the gang on the 'War of the Worlds' set. It was Nov.11th 2004, and the people that stuck around the area, which was the Ironbound in Newark, NJ, was able to walk onto the grounds that the intense, giant action scene took place in the movie. I had left school to go there, I don't remember if I skipped class or not, all I know I would go there early in the morning trying to get a glimpse of Mr. Speilberg in action, directing...and I did. He stood not that far from me, probably about 15 feet or so, directing Tom Cruise...I stood there watching this very calm and focused man with such skill direct what seemed like a simple set up. But it was just sooo fascinating to watch.
So on their last day of shooting there in the Ironbound, I walked across the street onto the messy streets (it's the scene when the aliens first appear in the movie, creating such destruction) and it was quiet around me, and right across the street was Mr. Speilberg and a small group of his people going from store to store thanking the owners for allowing them to shoot on the block. I went up to him, noone else (fans) was around going up to him. I went up to him, he was wearing a puffy coat (Fall season), glasses, beard, average height, and I hand him my black book, in which I keep other autographs in that I've collected over the years, and I told him how much I admire his movies, especially 'Schindler's List' & 'Saving Private Ryan' (in which he won best director Oscars for), after he signed he looked at me and said 'thank you' and patted me on the arm and said, 'God bless you' and he walked into another store. I went to go find my friend Yuri, whom is a big fan of his, and told him where Mr. Speilberg was . Yuri come over and spoke to Mr. Speilberg as well...
After that the crowd became larger and Mr. Speilberg signed autographs with such ease as the crowd grew and followed him wherever he went. It was so cool to witness and he was very nice to everyone.
But to have that unique opportunity to go up to him, one on one, look him in the eyes, I was able to talk to him for that short moment- it was a moment I've never forgotten. Now when I walk through the Ironbound I'm reminded of that day and the days I went there to watch a master filmmaker at work.