while attempting to calculate in a query from a start time and end time the total length of an event, the query field properties do not allow formatting as date/time. I may be going about this wrong, but wouldn't I use a query to subtract start and end times to get total time to fill my table. The times may be from before and after midnight requiring the entire mm/dd/yy 00:00:00 format for the machine to figure out the total time (i.e. from 11/3/01 22:00 to 11/4/01 02:00 would be 04:00 in time)??

You shouldn't store total time just use a query or calculated control to display the value. If you search the MS knowledge base for when date/time values don't add up there are articles on the subject. It's also a question thats asked here often, if you search the site you should find the answer.
HTH

Here is an article that should help you solve your problem:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q88/6/57.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=q88657&rnk=1&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=ACC2000