Sundance Film Festival 2010

Sundance Film Festival 2010 was an experience I will never forget. Even though 4 weeks have past, I still am struggling with how to document it.


I can do it chronologically. List the movies I saw, the celebrities I saw, the friends I met. So many choices.

Unfortunately I was unable to take many pictures since cameras were not allowed during work, when we had an audience and actors/directors/producers in the theater.

Let me start from the beginning. Many people have asked how I came to go to Sundance Film Festival. My long time friend Leslie, lives in Park City with her husband John and daughter Brooke.

She is a returning volunteer for the festival every year. This year, on Wednesday the week before the festival, She announced on facebook that she was unable to work her shifts due to a scheduling conflict. I immediately looked at plane tickets to Utah and booked my trip. Not only was I going to the festival, but I was going to get the opportunity to spend time with Leslie and meet her daughter Brooke for the first time.

Brooke is 100% little princess and we had a ball playing dress up and casting “magic spells” in her room to keep the nightmares away.

Friday evening was my first whirlwind night of work. Considering I had to wake up at 2:30 am to catch my flight. I knew working until 10pm would be a challenge.

Dressed in my volunteer uniform which was a Kenneth Cole Ski Parka, I was off to my first shift at work.

I Like to call this look "Storm Trooper Chic"

To make it more exciting we had two big premiers that evening at the theater I was working at. Including Adrian Grenier’s (star of Entourage) film, staring Paris Hilton.



Yes, Miss Hilton was in the audience. Her skin is orange and she smells like cigarettes. She also likes to smoke in public restrooms. Apparently she doesn’t want any Paparazzi to film her dirty little habits.
By the end of my first night the celebrity spotting was low, I blame it on my exhaustion.

Celebrities sighted:
Adrian Grenier
Paris Hilton

Movies watched:
Teenage Paparazzo
Douchebag

Saturday, after an amazing nights rest, Leslie and I snuck away for a pedicure while her husband John entertained Brooke before I went to work.

The movies I saw Saturday night:
Night Catches Us
Sympathy for Deliciouse
The Perfect Host

Celebrity sightings Saturday Night:
Jake Scott
Seth Rogan
Constatine Morales (from American Idol—I had no idea who he was until someone told me after I had a conversation with him about where he could find the concession stand)
Parker Posey (Love her!)
Orlando Bloom – (oh goodness what an extremely handsome man! I got the pleasure of escorting him to the restroom. Glamorous, I know)
Juliette Lewis –(Very nice!!! She also complimented my shoes. Another fan of the red patten leather danskos, lady has good taste.)
Ron Livingston (aka: Peter from Office Space –I also got to show him to the restroom in the back of the theater. I was getting good at this. Hot, attractive, famous men talking to me and I got to show them where the water closet was. This is not how it happens in my dreams.)
Mark Ruffilo

Sunday was much lighter in the celebrity sightings, but I did see the most powerful movie of the entire festival.
8 A Mormon Proposition. If/when this movie comes to a theater near you. I strongly recommend seeing it. Wow!
At times during the filming you could hear the audiences emotional reactions. It was very moving.
The mayor of San Francisco was in the audience along with some men from the Mormon Church who you could tell were NOT happy about this film.

Movies viewed Sunday:
12th and Delaware
8 A Mormon Proposition
Lovers of Hate
Three Backyards
Monday morning I got up bright and early and rushed downtown to try to catch a viewing of The Runaways. A festival favorite. Unfortunately I missed this movie but it gave me more time with Leslie and Brooke.
I have to include this photo of Brooke since I have the exact same skirt and top. I never thought of mixing the pink cotton top with the black tulle skirt, but since she can pull it off I am sure I can too, no?


At the airport later that day, I was chatting with a young lady, her mother and who I assumed was her aunt. Turns out she was one of the supporting actresses in The Runaways. Now I can’t wait ot see it in the theaters to see her again. She was a delightful girl.

It’s official, I am hooked on Sundance. I will certainly be there again next year!

The Week in Movies

I have always loved movies. This is a passion my mother and I share.
For her birthday this week we went to see Amelia. A fantastic movie about one of my favorite historical heroins.
The ending was no surprise, but interesting enough, just a couple of weeks ago I read an article that they may have recently discovered her final resting spot. Read it here.

Thursday evening, my friend Tina and I stayed up way past our bedtimes, agreeing to cancel our next day 5 am gym appointments and went to see one of the first showings of New Moon. The second in the Twilight saga. I admit, I have a school girl crush on Edward and the Twilight books were a small addiction to me. If you have not read them, don't start unless you have a couple weeks to devote to doing nothing but reading, because that is all you will do.

Finally, Friday afternoon, Liz and I went to see the french movie Coco Avant Chanel; or in English, Coco Before Chanel. Being a lifelong Chanel fan, I loved this movie. It had great insight into the world and mind of Gabrielle, aka Coco and her life as a young girl and designer. It left me with the question, I wonder what she would think of her designs today? She liked simple, classic lines and styles with not a lot of 'fluff'.

INK

Last night I got the opportunity to see INK. An independent film by Jamin Winans.

I would have to say that this is by far the most amazing movie I have seen all year, and possibly of all time.

Since the producers were unable to get large distribution they have their own film tour of this movie around the country.

After the showing last night the writer, director, producer, and multiple actors were in the audience for Q&A.

They will be showing the movie again on Oct. 9th at UCCS campus here in Colorado Springs. I highly encourage all locals in the Springs to check this movie out.

For those of you not in Colorado Springs, may I suggest you go on the website and sign up for email updates for if the movie comes to your area. You will not regret seeing this film.

It is nothing short of amazing!!!

Also, it is to be noted, not only was the entire movie filmed in Colorado, the director, writer and every person on the staff of the film (including all actors) were Colorado natives. That is pretty freaking awesome!!!