Category Archives: Scene

Come For The Tickets; Stay For The Show! 2014 Warren Miller’s No Turning Back Shines

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It’s not too late to see No Turning Back on the big screen in Utah. You may not have rallied for the world premiere in Salt Lake City or the sold-out shows in Park City but there’s still Logan and Orem. Why should you pay $20 to see ski porn in a crowded theater? Because you get a free lift ticket to Snowbird and a free ticket to Powder Mountain (a $100+ value); because it’s one of the best Warren Miller films since Warren Miller left the building; because it means you’re ready for winter.


From the heart-stopping first descent in Cordova, Alaska, to the speed riding segment that brought out the biggest cheers of the night at Abravanel Hall, NTB finally evolves. Instead of epic powder run after powder run and a handful of jibbing montages that frankly put me to sleep, this 65th installment tells tales. I never thought of skiing Greece but I am tempted after watching Tyler Ceccanti and Josh Bibby scale the mythical Mount Olympus, surrounded by 2,500-year-old ruins. Plus, taking a horse looks way cooler than riding a snowmobile to get there.


There have always been European segments that included Chamonix, France, but never has WM crafted a journey that immerses you in the why it’s the Holy Grail for ski mountaineers. There’s more oral storytelling as well, with the soundtrack enhancing rather than distracting from the sequences. “Is that straight down?” my eight-year-old asked as Points North Heli-Adventures dropped Chris Anthony, Ingrid Backstrom and Jess McMillan onto a spine on the southeastern side of the Chugach Range. Sage has been to every WM film since she was born but this was the first time she cared and the first time I realized that WM isn’t for me anymore, it’s for her.


Her eyes were riveted on Sierra Quitiquit and Julian Carr as they danced through the mom and pop resorts of Montana. Sage turned to me. “Can we go to Montana?” she whispered. I smiled and nodded. She wants to go places.

The athletes aren’t just ripping up the slopes or trying to make stupid skibum jokes. They’re talking about what brought them to the areas in the first place and, aside from the random snowboarding montage snoozefest in the second half of the film (where we have no idea where they are and who they are), the audience is listening.

This particular Warren Miller is one for the generations. Let’s hope they keep up the better work.

Catch No Turning Back tomorrow and Thursday in Orem, Utah, XanGo Grand Theatre at SCERA, 7:30pm and in Logan, Utah: USU, Kent Concert Hall, Friday, November 14, 2014 – 8:00pm

 

Chronicling Ruby: Rehearsal

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The rehearsal went well I think.

Chris Adler had posted on Facebook that he was looking for a woman in her 30s, cough cough, to play the mom in his 6-page script. Unpaid, festival project. Normally, I stay away from these general solicitations, especially if I don’t think I’m a match, so I suggested a friend of mine. Next thing I know I’m getting a personal invite from Chris to play the role and no he doesn’t think I’m too old! I’m a sucker for personal requests. It means I’m doing something right. Plus, I love helping friends out; and I love acting every chance I get. In fact, I don’t have money for those crowdfunding sites but if someone wants me to blog or act for support I’m all over it. (But please, please, don’t ask me to be an unpaid extra. I have to draw the line somewhere.)

We had a brief evening yesterday brainstorming with Chris about wardrobe, characterization and blocking but because we’ll be shooting in a different (i.e. creepier) space this weekend we could only do so much. It was fun to see Sadie and her daughter Skyler in their home. Sage and I run into them a lot at auditions.

Skyler Day. Photo by Sally Meyer.

Sadie’s like the perfect mom so it makes perfect sense to have her coordinating this shoot. She’s super concerned that 12-year-old Sky nails her character and it’s flattering that they look to me for advice. She’s doing great but she’ll need to know her lines inside and outside. The short film we’re about to roll on is basically one giant, twisted monolog for her. I get to sit in a chair and look terrified and tortured. My part is harder. J No seriously, how many people can actually relate to being physically tortured by their own child? Not to mention that if Sage tried anything like this I’d have her down on the ground in an instant. That’s why I was attracted to this Demon Chaser short. 

It’s not every day you get to put this kind of scene on your reel. I’ve died in three shorts (well, in one I wasn’t really dead) and one feature but I’ve never played a victim. It’s not in my nature. Hence the professional challenge. I was about halfway there during the rehearsal. A part of me didn’t want to give anything away. It’s hard to rehearse for a horror pic. You don’t want to lose the surprises and nuances that happen when the camera’s rolling. Tomorrow, you add the set, the makeup, the clothes and the intensity and voile you’re in the moment. At least I hope that’s the way it’ll be for Sky and me.

 

UPDATE:

So here’s how it turned out:

 

Warren Miller’s Back! Warren Miller’s Back!

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Photo Courtesy WME

Damn it, y’all! What’s the rush? It was just the other day that I was writing about the latest Warren Miller ski flick and now it’s not the latest. There’s a new one coming. Again. And whether you are a snowsports movie fan, you’ll want to get your ticket.

Warren Miller’s 65th ski film, No Turning Back, is premiering here- in Salt Lake City- first!
The newest installment pays homage to the 65 years of mountain culture and adventure filmmaking that draws avid powderhounds back year after year. Already the orchestra section of Abravanal Hall is sold out for the 6 p.m. show, Oct. 18.

From beneath the blankets of powder in Niseko, Japan, to the top of Greece’s Mount Olympus, the French Alps, and the mom and pop hills of Montana, each location is sure to provide nothing but stoke. Our Utah resorts didn’t participate in the celluloid adventure this year but here are Utah locals Julian Carr and Sierra Quitiquit tearing up Montana.

You’ll also see Utah Olympian Ted Ligety shred the World Cup in Colorado, Ingrid Backstrom and Jess McMillan push the boundaries of the Alaskan Chugach, and JT Holmes and Ulie Kestenholz take flight high above
the Swiss Alps.

Utah Showdates are:
SLC – Abravanel Hall – October 18 – 6:00 & 9:00
Ogden – Peery’s Egyptian Theater – October 22 & 23 – 7:30
Park City – Eccles CPA – October 24 at 8:00 & October 25 – 6:00
Orem – XanGo Grand Theatre at SCERA – October 29 & 30 – 7:30

 

Presale tickets are just $16 ($20 after Sept. 21) and not only will your WM get you entry into the kickoff event of the winter but you’ll score TWO free lift tickets. One to Snowbird and one to Powder Mountain. There’s also a ski free deal at Steamboat and 20 percent off gear. Talk about your ROI.

Save $4 per ticket when you buy online through Sept. 21 and at select REI locations.

Btw, In honor of this 65th annual event, Warren Miller Entertainment is doing a 65 day countdown with video from the last 64 films on Facebook.

Dogs Love Outdoor Retailers

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One of the best things about the Outdoor Retailer show is all the dog loving. Outdoor lovers seem to be pet lovers too. Our dogs even get their own badges.

My pooch isn’t perfect but he does enjoy giving some lovin’ as much as getting.

 

It’s too bad the rest of the world would rather restrict leash laws, put down pitbulls and deny homeowners insurance based on the breed of their dog.

Get Wet- Literally- At Opening Day For The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market

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It’s been windy; it’s drizzled on and off; but never in my history of summer ORs have the heavens opened up and dropped buckets of rain on the hundreds of retailers, buyers, media and guests attending the annual event like they did today. It didn’t last long however and because the majority of us were at Pineview Reservoir near Ogden to paddle, getting wet wasn’t an issue. So we gathered under tarps and waited it out for a bit. It was back to networking and discovering new products as usual.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xgUtlxMmoA&w=560&h=315]

True to Utah summer rains. The torrent passed in time for us to enjoy the afternoon.

I really do wish they’d move the Demo Day back to Jordanelle, outside of Park City. They relocated to Ogden a few years ago because water levels were drastically low in Summit County but that was only the case for one year. The Ogden location is a haul for most everyone and this year we were all crammed into a small beach space at Cemetery Point. It felt like the manufacturers were on top of each other. I heard those around me grumble the same thing. You hear that organizers? Can we please shoot for Park City again? Not to mention that the day can continue onto Main Street for a killer dinner and drinks before the real work begins.

The Open Air Demo Day is meant for buyers to get some hands-on time with gear before heading inside the Salt Palace Convention Center for four days of weaving up and down aisles that resemble Cabela’s on steroids. I say to any BlogHer participants- if you are overwhelmed there you’ll be freaked out witnessing the OR show for the first time.

Summer Market is the largest outdoor sports show of its kind and attracts nearly 50,000 attendees. The floor opens tomorrow at 9 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. through Saturday. Sunday is truncated- 9 a.m. -3 p.m. but that’s the best day to meet with companies and find some amazing bargains on sample merchandise. If you have friends attending make sure you ask them to shop early for your Christmas gift.

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