Category Archives: Scene

Who’s Coming To Sundance 2014?

Jill Adler Leave a comment

Sundance Credential approved! But just as important as checking out the independent films in Park City, Utah, this week is checking out the independent filmmakers themselves. The buzz on the street is this year’s Sundance Film Festival is going to blow up. Which means you should expect to see hundreds of indie darling celebs- actors, musicians, producers and directors. You’ll catch them at the movie premiere QnA’s but it’s way cooler to run into them on the street –literally.

I’m not really a ‘star’ gazer but when a friend of mine told me I needed to get photos of them at Sundance, I accepted the challenge. “You can’t just take a picture,” Scott followed up. “I don’t want to see that. I can see those anywhere. I want to see YOU with them.” Game on.

Last year, a very hammered Eric Roberts swayed outside Flight Boutique, corralling passersby for photos like Cinderella at Disneyland. That one was easy pickings.

So buckle up and grab your camera because Park City is going over to the dark side starting Thursday and you won’t want to miss a moment. Here are just some of the faces to play Where’s Waldo with:

(P.S. If you don’t recognize a name go to IMDB for stats and photos

Michael C. Hall

Sam Shepard

Don Johnson

Vinessa Shaw

Wyatt Russell

Anna Kendrick

John C. Reilly

Molly Shannon

Paul Reiser

Elijah Wood

Tom Sizemore

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Philip Seymour Hoffman

John Turturro

Zoe Saldana

Mark Ruffalo

Kristen Wiig

Luke Wilson

Ty Burrell

Rachel McAdams

Willem Dafoe

Robin Wright

William H. Macy

Billy Crudup

Anton Yelchin

Selena Gomez

Ryan Reynolds

Gemma Arterton

Brendan Gleeson

Chris O’Dowd

Nicholas Hoult

Elle Fanning

Michael Shannon

Aaron Ashmore

Gilles Marini

Diane Kruger

Rose McGowan

Zach Braff

Kate Hudson

Ashley Greene

Glenn Close

Flea

Liv Tyler

Kevin Smith

Kristen Stewart

John Lithgow

Alfred Molina

Marisa Tomei

Cheyenne Jackson

Bill Hader

Elizabeth Banks

Jesse Eisenberg

Felicity Huffman

Jason Schwartzman

Amy Poehler

Paul Rudd

Ed Helms

Aaron Paul

Juliette Lewis

Brit Marling

Katie Couric

Anne Hathaway

Mary Steenburgen

Josh Gad

Joey King

Jim Parsons

Mandy Patinkin

Ashley Greene

Elisabeth Moss

Morgan Spurlock

Brooke Burke

Big Boi from Outkast

Effie Brown

Happy Hunting!

Sundance Kids

Jill Adler Leave a comment

Proving you don’t have to be edgy to be a Sundance Film, a new slate of kids options will debut this January at the Sundance Film Festival. The Sundance Kids program is being launched in conjunction with the Utah Film Center’s Tumbleweeds Film Festival.

“This unique collaboration between the Utah Film Center and Sundance Institute is a great opportunity to elevate the profile of international and independent films for kids,” said UFC’s Patrick Hubley. “We launched our Tumbleweeds programming four years ago with the goal of fostering the next generation of filmmakers and film fans, and we hope this programming will inspire the creativity and imaginations of young film-goers not only in Utah but across the country.” UFC’s Tumbleweeds Film Fest features content for children and teens and is the only one of its kind in the intermountain west.

This January, kids 8 and older will have the chance to see the world premiere of “Ernest & Celestine,” a film about a mouse who forms an unlikely bond with a bear, and the U.S. premiere of “Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang,” a movie about twin brothers who uncover a hidden secret at school.

“The addition of Sundance Kids allows us to engage younger audiences around the power of independent film,” said Trevor Groth, the festival’s director of programming.

The 2014 Sundance festival runs Jan. 16-24 with films, documentaries and shorts in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and at the Sundance Resort. Visit sundance.org/festival for more information about screening dates, times and locations.

Film

Powder Awards Winners and The Morning After Hit Snowbird

Jill Adler Leave a comment

They got kind of buried among the hype surrounding the Sundance Film Festival last year so this year Powder Magazine stepped out of the shadows with their own blowout tonight in Salt Lake City.

The 14^th Annual Powder Awards at The Depot downtown celebrated the best in cinematography, photography, and athletic achievement in ski films at The Depot downtown.

Congrats to Sweetgrass Productions‘ Valhalla for Movie of the Year. Tim Durtschi won Best Male Performance in TGR’s Way of Life, and Elyse Saugstad took Best Female for her work in TGR’s Co-Lab. Sherpa Cinema’s Into The Mind won for best cinematography and McConkey
was named Best Documentary.

“This was one of the most challenging years to be a judge of the Powder Awards,” says POWDER Editor John Stifter. “Between Best Jib and Best Line alone, we had more deliberation with the panel than ever. It really speaks to the high level of skiing and cinematography in our sport.”

In addition to recognizing ski porn and pro athletes, the Powder Awards also showcased readers’ favorite skiers with the annual Powder Poll. Seth Morrison and Ingrid Backstrom rose above the rest. Click here for all of the results.

It makes sense to hold the event in Utah where the best of the best not only patron but park it. The Powder Awards attract a who’s who of the industry, including professional skiers, ski legends, ski film production crews, industry brands, media, and celebrities and they’ll be at Snowbird tomorrow for the Morning After sesh.

The day appropriately begins at the crack of noon Saturday, December 7, where you can rub elbows with your favorite athletes and filmmakers on the Tram Plaza or even stalk them on the hill. There’s a BBQ and DJ music planned until 2:30 and “the largest athlete signing in the world” at 3 p.m. Dress warmly. The forecast calls for a high of 10 degrees in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Events
Film

Santa Paws Is Coming

Jill Adler One comment

We leave a plate of cookies out for Santa. We wrap gifts for a newborn. Why not put some things under the tree for your best friends? Cats and dogs may not know what Christmas is but they know a new toy or treat when they see it. Get them super excited with these cool items this holiday season.

Ruffwear Cloudchaser

A romp in the mountains could send a chill through their bones if they’re not a fluffy St. Bernard. The softshell Cloudchaser hugs your pooch all the way around his body and insulates him from cold, wet, inclement weather. The waterproof, windproof, breathable three-layer soft-shell upper fabric has four-way stretch and a zippered closure for a snug fit and easy on/off. The belly panel is coated to repel water, snow and dirt. It also has reflective piping for afterwork strolls. $79.95, www.ruffwear.com.

Orvis Toy Box

In a nutshell, this piece of reclaimed wood is gorgeous. The medium-sized box should fit into anyone’s home décor and despite its compact size will handle every toy in the house. Now you don’t have to hide that unsightly pile of squeakers and tugs. The antique mountain look will be a conversation starter. Add a personalized name plate and your dog just may clean up his own toys. $129-149. http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=8R93

Petprojekt Squeaky Snowman

It’s easy for Fido to celebrate the holidays when he’s trotting around with a Snowman in his mouth. The squeaky toy is made from 100 percent non-toxic, durable materials and should last you well past New Year’s. Get the Reindeer and Santa Claws Cat designs for extra stocking stuffers. $8-12, www.petprojekt.com

SnugglePuppie

When you’re gone all day skiing, let the SnugglePuppie take your place. This soft, cuddly pup makes a best friend unlike other toys that beg to be tossed, chewed and dragged around. A removable plastic heart beats in the middle and the pocket for handwarmers provides the comfort a mother’s body might. But your pet doesn’t have to be a newborn to discover the warmth of a best friend. Children, seniors and adult dogs too will cuddle with this slipper-sized softie. Heartbeat comes with batteries, it’s machine washable, and because there’s nothing small to chew off it’s safe for all. $39,
http://www.snugglepetproducts.com/snuggle-pets/snuggle-puppies

Dog-e-Glow

OK, a collar is more for you than her but you’ll both feel motivated to take those winter’s night strolls with a Dog-e-Glow. The light-up collar and matching leash come in all sorts of cute designs and stand out even in the dead of night. Whether it’s the bones, plaids or a Cougars or Utes style you’ll love how the little LED bulbs shine along the entire length and can be seen up to 1000 feet away. The weather-resistant collars and leashes can be set to flash, steady and off mode so the replaceable lithium coin cell batteries last up to 150 hours. $9, www.petsmart.com.

Bravo Cat treats

Cats too deserve healthy snacks and with those carnivorous attitudes, Bravo! will surely please the king and queen of the house. The Feline Healthy Medley treats of 100 percent pure muscle meat are freeze-dried to lock in flavor. They’re grain-free and created specifically to nurture the nutritional needs of cats by providing ingredients filled with easily absorbable vitamins and minerals. Use them to train your cat to come indoors, get off the counters and maybe even take that cupcake out of your hand. $8, www.BravoRawDiet.com

Power Paws Socks

Therapy animal owners can tell you dogs’ paws can pick up all sorts of nasties from the floor. So a pair of Power Paws is not just about protecting pads from cold days and slippery floors. The “Advanced” style is a non-slip, reinforced-toe canine sock for indoor/outdoor wear to prevent frostbite, improve traction, keep snow from clumping between toes without sacrificing dexterity and avoid germs at your next trip to the vet. When you don’t need the beefiness of a dog booty try the Power Paws. $24.99; http://woodrowwear.com/.

Go Get It

Move over Chuck-It. The Go Get It is no ordinary ball launcher. The retractable, ergonomic handle extends and retracts for maximum portability. Never touch a slobbery ball again. Hook the thrower to a belt loop or leash handle with the convenient end clip and there’s no excuse not to take it out to play with your buds. $17, http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-Go-Get-ball-launcher/dp/B000R7XPSA/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Aussie Floppie

If you’ve ever witnessed the mess your dog makes shredding the insides of a stuffed toy you’ll appreciate the Floppie. This 2 in 1 rodent is filling free, and has two squeakers and a braided cotton rope hidden inside for all sorts of all-day fun. $8, http://aussienaturals.us.

Dreamables Bone bowl

www.prestigepet.com.

Events
Pets

Ski Porn Review: Warren Miller’s Ticket To Ride

Jill Adler One comment

Halfway through the first part of Warren Miller’s new ski flick, Ticket to Ride, my seven year-old daughter Sage leaned over and whispered, “Momma, will you let me miss a couple of days of school this winter so I can ski with you?” I smiled proudly, my heart tickled. I said, “Of course I will.”

Warren Miller comes through again. I didn’t really expect it from Sage…yet. In fact, just before we went into the screening at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah, she asked if she could play around in the lobby if she was bored.

Bringing on the stoke of the season, Warren Miller traditionally inspires people of all ages to dream of those epic days where they come down with the powder flu to miss work and school; where they buy that ticket to ride.

But was it Sage’s age that made the difference or did the vibe of this new installment change from past years? Sage has been to a WM screening ever season since she was born. And she has fidgeted, whined, complained, and slept through each film until now. I gotta say, Ticket to Ride reminded me more of that light-hearted, playful epitome of skiing that WM used to be before his son took over the biz. There was well-placed humor (thank God they dropped that stupid Yeti idea from last season) and even added a sequence that was a throwback to the old Miller flicks with classic crash footages and old Warren narrating. Sage was laughing with glee. She loved the ninjas and the soothsayer on the mountain too. These were a bit out there for me but when ski porn runs two hours (inc. intermission) you need silly stuff for the kiddos. You also need more scenes with kids in them, WM. Just saying.

Anyway, back to the movie itself. It was more fun than it has been since Jonny Mosely first came on board to narrate (2008). He’s still narrating but the writing and the delivery are better.

We got to see the athletes as people and characters while they visited places like the Alaskan Tordrillos, Switzerland’s Jungfrau, Iceland’s Troll Peninsula, Kazakhstan, Norway, and Montana. Intense segments like Chris Davenport skiing the West face of the Eiger and JT Holmes speed flying off massive cliffs drew you out of that “ho-hum it’s another jibfest” mentality.

There were no scenes from Utah’s backcountry and the stuff from Aspen and Mammoth went by as a rapid afterthought. The only true lower 48 showing came from Montana. My biggest criticism of these 21^st-century WM films is the failure to label athletes and places. I get that this type of filmmaking is pay-to-play and if the payment comes from the state rather than the resort they won’t call out any particular areas but that does the audience a disservice. I want to know WHERE those skiers are- even if it’s the backside of Big Sky, out of bounds. I also want to know who is who. The athletes are always introduced in some random clip before they start skiing and once the skiing starts they all look alike. I waste the entire segment trying to figure out if that’s Sierra Quitiquit or Julia Mancuso by the clothes they’re wearing.

If you don’t really care, then you’re in luck. There’s an adequate mix of big mountain skiing, park and rail riding, humor and tree shots in Ticket to Ride to get the heart engaged and psyched for missing a day or two of school this winter.

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