LEWIS DODLEY, anchor:
The Internet can help you speak to people from around the world, buy things that a few years ago you never even knew existed, and virtually go places you never dreamed of. Tech Beat reporter Adam Balkin tells us how one Website lets you get closer to the stars.

ADAM BALKIN reporting:
Until now, to get close to the red carpet for a big movie remiere, you had to: a) be one of the stars or producers, b) date or marry one of the stars or producers, c) be a member of the media, or, d) be a really lucky fan. But for this week's premiere of "Minority Report" at the Ziegfeld, you could sit in the comfort of your own home and kind of be part of the crowd, thanks to Axis Communications' popcorn cam, a Web camera right inside the theater.

Ms. HEATHER CHAUVIN (on behalf of Axis Communications): 
They're able to have the celebrities come up to the popcorn cam, see what fans are interacting with them, different types of questions that they're posing, and actually answer the questions in real time.

BALKIN:
Fans who logged onto countingdown.com saw the live stream from the theater. Once they got the low tech heads up that a celebrity was coming, they could quickly type in a question.

Ms. CHAUVIN:
A sign will come up. People will be seeing who comes down the red carpet right at that time. They'll have a few minutes' heads up and they'll be able to see their celebrity walk up to the popcorn cam. And then the celebrity will choose a question that they would like to answer and answer that question. It'll either be typed in or a sign that they'll be able to hold up.

Mr. COLIN FARRELL (Actor):
It's great, man. Jesus Christ, that's great. It's fun. Yeah, cool. Good for it.

BALKIN:
In the chaos of the premiere, these celebs only had enough time to send quick generic messages. But this is not the first time that this camera's given fans this type of behind the scenes access. It was also used during the filming of both "Artificial Intelligence" and "Minority Report." Only then, it was not called the popcorn cam. It was called the bagel cam because it let fans bug the stars and the crew on their way to the breakfast table in the morning.

Mr. STEVEN SPIELBERG (Director):
It's really a wonderful way to let people onto our movie set to see what it's like to make a movie.

BALKIN:
Steven Spielberg also used the Webcam to keep in touch with his family while on location. Axis Communications says many of the actors who saw or used the popcorn cam liked the idea and promised to give it more time next time around.

As for when the next time around will be, it might not be a premiere. Developers say they're working with one of the major networks to get the view behind the scenes for the making of an entire fall TV line-up. In Manhattan, Adam Balkin, NY1.