I’m going to make this quick as I’m about to get the boot from the T-Mobile Diner at the Village at the Yard (on Kearns). Apparently, they’re hosting a VIP luncheon for the filmmakers of the Killing Road. I’m not on the list. Go figure. lol. Breakfast was a lot of fun- texting my drink order via the new G1 phone and slamming down eggs and taters next to Kevin Sorbo and his gorgeous little girl. I’m bringing Sage in for sure. She would love the scene around here. Especially the Sponge Bob corner. On Sunday the cast is doing a live reading of one of the SB episodes. Talk about bedtime stories! Well it’s off to my first round of gifting. Wish me luck! BTW, I was right about the more casual atmosphere this year at Sundance. I dig it. Even the check in girls for the Village from BWR public relations were sweet and attentive. NO attitudes. Very refreshing!
I headed to the New Frontier on Main at noon today with the promise of a ‘luncheon’ and a ticket to the Fest’s Opening Press Conference. We journalists love our free food and the promise of easy entry into the party. The lunch consisted of sandwiches slathered with dressing so I opted for a tiny cup of squash soup and half a brownie- enough to take the edge off while I canvassed the underground venue at the top of Main Street. The space under the Main Street Mall has been transformed into an underground techno nightclub looking place with performance-art-meets-the-web exhibits. It’s free and open to the public so you should definitely stop in. There were journalists from every corner of the world sneaking bites in between note-taking. You could feel the buzz as we anticipated the Fest’s kick off. How eventful will the next 10 days be? Will the celebs come? Will no-name films sell for millions? Who will create the wake Paris Hilton used to at the parties? Will there be big parties during this celebration of American independent film?
Most of them were friendly; a little reserved, maybe, but willing to mingle after a bit. As I scooped ice into a glass, I turned to see Sean Means, a local film critic from the Salt Lake Tribune. He gave me a quick nod before gazing down to my pass. Guess his Express Pass trumps my General Press Pass and he quickly backed away, afraid he might catch what I have. It’s funny how some press actually think theyre more important than the subjects they cover. Or maybe I intimidate him. Yeah. That’s it. But I’m not the one who stands up in front of a crowded theater and yells for everyone to use library voices because “some of us have to work here.” We’re all just doing our jobs and I’m sorry, reviewing films is not the same as solving the world’s economic crisis or inventing the next Facebook. It’s simply a fun, cool way to make a living.
Whoa Is Parking
15 minutes until the Opening Conference across the street at the Egyptian. The clock was ticking. I had hustled up to Main thinking to grab a vacant spot on the street when I saw the no parking signs everywhere. Both sides of Main are loading only and lower Main is pedestrian only. Sure, you can park in a lot on Swede Alley -if you can find a spot and are willing to pay $20. Luckily, the Wasatch Brew Pub lot was still the normal $1/hr today (Thursday) so I slimed in. Tomorrow, when the Fest hits third gear, it’ll be a different story. You probably shouldn’t try to get creative this year with your parking. The City needs revenue so they’ll be out for parking ticket and towing blood. Best bets are to park in the City Park or ski resort lots and ride the bus to Main. Hitching is also an option, and you get to meet some pretty cool people along the way. If you’re coming up from Salt Lake, don’t even bother treading past Redstone. Park in the Park n’ Ride near the Olympic Park and catch the free Express Bus.Today’s calm makes you wonder whether turmoil will ensue or we’re over-estimating the sitch. What I mean is, maybe it won’t be crowded this year. Maybe the economy, Prop. 8, the brilliant sunshine baking what little snow we have will keep the east and west coast hoards at bay. Someone asked Robert Redford at the conference about the economic climate and its effect on Sundance. “Art will always find a way,” he said prophetically. Geoffrey Gilmore, the event’s director said that ticket sales were ahead by substantial numbers and that they were pleased with the sponsor dollars they’ve received. “We’re weathering the crisis,” he added. The times certainly didn’t stymie filmmakers. A total of 118 features (chosen from 3,661 submissions) will screen over the next 10 days.
Sundance’s “Housing” Market Rumors, on the other hand, speak to a lower volume of film sales in 2009. Variety Magazine predicts that film acquisitions will fall below last year’s $15 million mark and that was significantly lower than the $45 million spent on independent films at the 2007 festival. Walking Main Street today, there also looks to be quieter times for what Sundance organizers call ‘ambush marketers ‘. “In recent years, Sundance Film Festival has been overwhelmed by organizations without an official relationship to us who target festival attendees with their swag houses, lounges and nightclubs,” said Sarah Pearce, Director of Festival Operations, Sundance Film Festival. Sundance nabbed a prime location once called The Village at the Lift on Lower Main Street and turned it into “The Sundance Lift”. The area will provide space for press junkets and filmmaker events, free from gifting suites and other non-film-related activity. “Our hope is that it will send a message to those hangers-on who do not support the Festival,” said Pearce. With VAL gone, that leaves The Village at the Yard (Anderson Lumber’s space on Kearns Blvd.), the Style Lounge, The Hollywood Life House, Moving Pictures Magazine Media Lounge, House of Hype, Sephora Lounge, Gibson Lounge, and the Rock Band Lounge. About half the players of last year.
But those gifting suites are so cool! How else would I stay ‘up’ on the latest rocker fashions and hip gear? Certainly not by living in Park City where ‘dressy’ means ‘no jeans.’ Those suites happen all the time at Hollywood events like the Golden Globes and Academy Awards; even at the Superbowl and the X Games. I understand that Sundance is meant to be free of issues like the bottomline but those of us fashion don’ts like to see what walks our streets of Utah in January. I poked my head into the House of Hype today on an invite to visit their sponsors. Livs (livs.biz), the original crochet boot that UGG apparently blatantly copied, was in full gifting mode and I picked up a pair of cute and extremely comfortable pink boots with buttons down the middle. Even with the ‘venting’, my feet stayed warm and dry outdoors. I kind of felt like I was cheating though by wearing slippers as shoes- that’s how cush they feel. I met with members of the Philadelphia Film Commission in the back room. About six films at the Fest were shot in Philly, they figured this would be a good year to draw more attention to their location. True Philly cheese steak sandwiches will be flown in for VIPs Friday- Sunday. Downstairs, I checked out WiiMusic, Wii’s version of Rock Band without the instruments but with the hand controllers, and was handed a hat designed by a woman with a boutique company called Contraband (mycontraband.com). She had been to Sundance as a guest before and decided to make hats and tanktops for the rocker market. Upstairs, I snagged a seated massage and had the girl work in some Nivea lotion. Our dry air brutalizes my hands. Nivea and its brother Aquaphor are in the House showcasing their products; perfect for our climate. One, a new body firming gel called Silhouette, I can’t wait to try.I thanked everyone for their hospitality, grabbed a cup of Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf coffee imported from L.A. and headed over to the Yarrow for the opening night film. Mary and Max was a somewhat warped, funny and sad tale of a 44-year-old, obese New York Jew with Aspberger’s Syndrome who befriends an 8-year-old penpal in Australia. Done entirely in claymation animation, this is no Disney film. Not even close. Mimes die from falling air conditioners, gold fish get toasted in a toaster, moms drink embalming fluid and Max farts. Still, the message of friendship and acceptance in a bleak judgmental world will touch many hearts and the painstaking craft of animating this 92-minute feature won’t fail to astound audiences.
It’s late and I’m back at it again tomorrow. Did I mention that I saw the members of Hoobastank as I left the House of Hype? Bet they’re playing in town somewhere this week. Later!
OMFG. I just break through the holidays only to realize that the Sundance Film Festival, The SIA Show and The OR Show are about to wrestle me to the mat. ARGGGGGHHHH! I just got over the most evil cold. Congestion, chest cough, drippy nose. Then I wind up with food poisoning from the chicken tortilla soup at Loco Lizard, recover the next day only to drive to Jackson Hole for the week. When will it end? Some of you will probably offer no sympathy. After all, why should I whine from skiing 8 days of the last 10? There are worst things to happen to a person. But friends, family, super cold weather and burning the candle at the ends and in the middle destroy your psyche no matter whether you’re playing or working. Plus, I was doing both. Skiing by day, writing by night. and worse- by morning. Sometimes I would finish at 3 a.m., crawl into bed only to wake at 8 to head to the resort. I paid for that and now I’m terrified of a repeat performance. Sigh. A high has set in, causing zero new snow and warm temps. Good news for Sudnance attendees; bad news for locals hungry for more pow. Like a vampire that ha smelled fresh blood, we’re ready to ravage. I will say, though, the economic times have taken their toll. Sundance starts Thursday and all is a bit too calm in town. Where anticipation should be building along with traffic, tonight felt like any other. Traffic into town was manageable, restaurants had seating and I had no trouble finding parking on Main. We’ll see if that changes in a day. If you’ve always wanted to attend Sundance, this may be the year. I hear many of the shows still have tickets available, there are vacancies everywhere (especially after Jan. 20) and deep deep discounts as renters struggle to get at least something for their condos. Chnaging the subject, Sage just came back from checking out pre-schools at the PC Moms preschool fair. I can’t believe she’s ready for something formal but by next August she’ll be three and that’s the time- supposedly. Man, I’m not looking forward to shelling out that kind of cash. But it’s for a good cause we tell ourselves. The place I’d really love to enroll her wants $1100/mo! That’s about as much as I make in an average month. Makes you seriously consider home-schooling. Perhaps I’d make more once she’s in school full-time and then cost would even out. Hmmm. For now, she’s a bright young sprite with a zen for fishies, butterflies, hearts, Finding Nemo and Cars, and realityTV dance shows. She loves bread with peanut butter, eggs (scrambled and hardboiled), graham crackers, bananas, baths and putting diapers on all of her stuffed animals. She wears jeans and dresses equally but demands her Roonwear ‘face’ socks; and at night she insists we turn on her starlight globe (purhcased for .50 at a yard sale last summer) before we kiss her goodnight and shut her door. She still sleeps until 9 or 10 am and takes 2-3 hour naps inthe afternoon- hate me yet? 🙂
The House of Hype brought to you by The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino offered a darkened corridor, cocktail waitresses and a live DJ as you strolled the avenue of sponsors from Goodyear (no tires just cans of Tire Shine and Hotwheels toy cars) to USA Golf and Havaiana Sandals (create your own flipflops). As I crafted my Mongolian Barbecue Basket Shoe at the Puma booth, I felt the heat of cameras and fans. It wasn’t for me; ha ha. Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy) was in the house; picking out her own set of Pumas. Josh promised my custom sneakers would be shipped by the end of the month and I got out of the limelight by scooting over to Oakley. A pixie-like, cool chick named Chelsea handed me a pair of their new Breathless sunglasses. Olsen twin glam with the technical specs of a true Oakley. They definitely give me that Sundance ‘look’. Throw in the Frye Gloria pumps (Frye is making fashion shoes in addition to boots now) and my Utah friends might not recognize me. The style continued at The Boost Mobile Lounge at The Marquee. The New York nightclub has once again assumed the Buddha Lounge space on Main Street during the first four days of the Festival. The boutique clients lining the swanky, intimate bar introduced celebs like Marcia Gay Harden and Rex Lee (Entourage) to Klipsch speakers, Lia Sophia jewelry, cuddly LNA “boyfriend” Tees and Primp cotton/poly hoodies and waffle tops decorated with cute little piggies, pandas, moons or sheep. I got the most fabulous ruffled dress coat from Tulle and it was a tough decision; they have so many charming styles. The bauble on my finger is a Lia Sophia original you can find only on their website (liasophia.com) or through in-home party reps, and the Boost reps insisted I put my Sprint phone in their new Boosted Device Case designed by graffiti artist Madsteez. What I appreciated more was their information on Boost Mobile itself – a Sprint division – that offers unlimited local and long distance cell calls for as little as $35 (no contract, no credit check, no activation fees) depending on your home calling area. Though this probably wouldn’t work for a world-traveler like myself (you pay .15/minute outside your extended area), my boyfriend would save a ton of money and those H1 Visa resort employees will dance circles for this new product. Another company with a fresh cousin is New Balance’s PF Flyers. Sporty, action/fashion shoes like the Journa are the perfect spring shoe for a mountain girl. Finally, I will be anxiously waiting for a Treesje handbag to arrive on my doorstep. The collection of bags on display was gorgeous. We’ll see if it actually shows once the Sundance circus leaves town. I capped off my visit with a smoothy like drink from Lifeway Kefir. With the pro-biotic cultures for a healthier immune system, I might be able to ward off a potential hangover from tonight’s parties: MySpace, The Horrors and Maroon 5. Three hours later…..I did. The open bars stood no chance against my resilience. As I eecked into traffic on Deer Valley Drive at 6 p.m. I said, “Screw it!” and turned around. The mess was obscene. We were at a crawl from every intersection. By the time I got home, changed and back to town it would be 9. Instead, I called Ryan, asked him to bring my Fox Girls top, parked at a friend’s house to do my makeup, and met him on Main. Just in time to watch the ambulance haul away some guy who had tried to steal a plasma screen from the Main Street Mall but wound up plunging off the balcony of Shabu in his attempt to flee. I heard later, he suffered only a concussion. Of course, he was also under arrest. At the Horrors screening of their documentary “Counting in Fives” at The Marquee, the champagne and Maker’s flowed. We sat down behind Jared Leto in a dorky bomber hat, spying on him as he hobnobbed with the punk band members. The flick itself wasn’t really my thing (I’m not into punk nor rockumentaries) but I appreciated the scene. I guess the parties on Friday overloaded city circuits and the power went out all over Main Street. The blackout lasted more than 20 minutes- enough time to sneak next door for the Maroon 5 show at Harry O’s. No one paid attention to us because we randomly happened to have the same color wristband as their guests. I almost wished we had been bounced. The band played well but crowd was overwhelming. The only celeb (?) in sight was Ian Zering. I kept silently wishing someone would call the fire marshal- it was that packed. We got out at 1 and headed over to the T-Mobile Diner at the VAY. Live music wafted amid the yelps from drunk snowtubers outside. We entered and bee-lined for the tureens of gourmet mac n’ cheese, apple crisp and chocolate bread pudding. Former model Rachel Hunter, with fuller hips, stood nearby with friends. Eventually it was time to head home but this time there was no traffic. We hitched and a nice woman from L.A. picked us up and brought us to Ryan’s car at Kimball Junction. You gotta love small towns. Stay tuned for Saturday’s update, the people, the parties and the ginormous Sundance attendance thanks to the writers’ strike.
