PARK CITY — The actor who played the part of Shaggy in the movie adaptation of the animated Scooby Doo series had a bit of fear in his eyes as he retreated Friday from an adoring fan whose T-shirt read, "I see famous people."

Scott "Skippy" Jessop was nearing the end of a barrage of praise when actor Matt Lillard replied in retreat, "Dude, that's a little creepy."

Jessop didn't hear the response and later seemed only to care that he was able to catch Lillard long enough to take a photograph with him.

The self-proclaimed Skippy is among a handful of star stalkers who come to the Sundance Film Festival every year seeking photos and autographs of celebrities and quasi-famous people.

Brothers Matt and Jordon Burton flew from North Carolina to spend several days in Park City hauling 8x10 glossy photos up and down Main Street, in search of signatures from people like Spike Lee and Ashton Kutcher.

The Burton boys, men with jobs actually, call it a fun, harmless hobby that they've been pursuing at the festival since 2002.

Others like freelance photographer Giles Harrison take the celebrity hunt a little more seriously. Call him part of the paparazzi or just a hard-working dude, the Los Angeles-based Harrison spent about $4,000 on a trip he hopes to have paid for by Jan. 25, the end of Sundance.

"I'll make the money back, and that's about it," Harrison said. "I do it for the fun. It all works out in the long run."

Every star he shoots, Harrison added, is one he didn't have yesterday. By Friday he had nabbed Mariah Carey, Spike Lee, Christie Brinkley and John Cleese. Back in L.A., his clients include People, US Weekly and various tabloids.

One photo of Britney Spears can bring Harrison between $5,000 and $10,000. No word on whether Spears will be attending Sundance.

Not everyone wants their photo taken or John Hancock recorded with some stranger's pen.

The Burtons were rebuffed, yet again in 2009, by Robert Redford, who moments earlier signed for someone else. Harrison and Jessop both reported that an off-putting Cleese was not happy about being the target of their cameras.

Jessop said Cleese asked him, "Why on earth would you take my photo? We don't even know each other."

Jessop rebounded quickly with introducing himself and offering his hand, which Jessop said prompted Cleese to say, "You should do something more with your life."

But getting his man, or woman, is Skippy's life during Sundance, netting dozens of stars every year.

"There's a dream that one day somebody will use me as one of their people," Jessop said. "So far, it's just a really fun hobby meeting celebrities."

The Orem resident doesn't get paid and the promise of free "stuff" from a local radio station that posts his photos may be the only tangible reward for all of Jessop's relentless efforts while taking 10 days off from his job as a "gofer boy" for a hotel.

While talking, constantly looks around, scanning the crowds, ready to rush the next star he sees.

"Meeting celebrities is my hobby that I hope to one day get paid to do," Jessop said. "Some people are good at singing, some people are good at dancing, I'm good at running up to celebrities and throwing a camera in their face and taking a picture."

E-mail: saspeckman@yahoo.com