In the hopes of catching a glimpse of the stars walking down the red carpet, that's just what many film fanatics have been doing lately, pitching tents atop a concrete sidewalk near the Shrine Auditorium.

Lindsay Peters, a college student from San Diego who traveled to Los Angeles with four friends told Reuters, "It's, like, a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and it's so accessible, we were, like, 'Why not go and do it?'"

Peters and her friends dubbed themselves as the "Almost Famous Girls," after Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous, nominated for Best Original Screenplay. The film also garnered a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Kate Hudson.

A few tents behind them is Tommy Korioth, who drove to the event from his native Texas in hopes to catch a glimpse of his favorite movie star.

"I don't really like the movies," Korioth told Reuters. "I'm a professional stalker, and I thought, well, there are so many stars out there on the carpet that if I came here, I wouldn't have to stalk again until next year," he joked.

The Academy Awards take place tonight at 8:30 ET at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The show will be televised on ABC.