Sundance Day 6

Sundance Day 6 

1-26-14

In retrospect, Starbucks was a bad idea. I saw one while I was on the bus headed to a screening of Dear White People. I didn't realize the next bus wouldn't come for 45 minutes. Long story short, missed the screening. 

Today is the last day to see any films and the options were minimal. Instead of traveling down to Main St. we stuck closer to the condo at the Holiday Village Cinemas. First on our list is Blind 

"Having recently lost her sight, Ingrid retreats to the safety of her home—a place where she can feel in control, alone with her husband and her thoughts. After a while, Ingrid starts to feel the presence of her husband in the flat when he is supposed to be at work. At the same time, her lonely neighbor who has grown tired of even the most extreme pornography shifts his attention to a woman across the street. Ingrid knows about this, but her real problems lie within, not beyond the walls of her apartment, and her deepest fears and repressed fantasies soon take over.
As the co writer of Reprise and Oslo, August 31st, both of which played at the Sundance Film Festival, it’s not surprising that Eskil Vogt has mastered this solo undertaking—Blind bursts with inventive writing. It also boasts his equally assured direction, as it takes the viewer into the mind of a woman who has lost her sight but is doing whatever she can to hold on to her reality. Intertwining narrative strands that loop in on themselves, Blind is a complex and satisfying trip."

I was a little confused for some of the film because it started as a traditional narrative film following one woman. Then it slightly turned into that woman being able to control the story with her imagination and it was hard to tell what was actually happening and what was she fantasizing. There were interaction between characters that I'm not sure even happened.
I don't mind a little mystery but I didn't trust the story, I didn't know what was real and what I could invest in. 

Next on the cinema list was Dead Snow: Red vs Dead. Which is a sequel to Dead Snow, a nazi zombie movie! It seemed everyone had left Sundance at this point. I was able to get #2 on the wait list and was guaranteed a seat. Matter of fact I was able to sell a voucher while I was in line. $$$!

"If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you’d have to assume that things couldn’t get much worse. In Martin’s case, that was only the beginning. 
Picking up immediately where the original left off, Dead Snow; Red vs. Dead wastes no time getting right to the gore-filled action, leaving a bloody trail of intestines in its wake. Director Tommy Wirkola returns to the helm with a vengeance, coming up with more inventive ways to maim and dismember than you ever thought possible. Combining wry humor with horrific worst-case scenarios, this follow-up to the 2009 Park City at Midnight classic is sure to shock the weak-of-heart and delight even the most hard-core fans of the horror genre. Colonel Herzog is back, and he is not to be f__ked with." 

The very last film I saw at Sundance was very appropriate. A nazi-zombie film with necrophiliac! I have to spoil this because I have no idea when anyone I know will have the opportunity to see this film. But the last scene was amazing! Martin digs up his dead girlfriend (who he accidentally killed in the first movie) They get into his truck and make love all while Turn Around plays. Perfect. 

For the last day of the festival we celebrated at a hole in the wall Sushi bar, that had NO avocado :( 
A late night of games and beer. 

Sundance Day 5

Sundance Day 5

1-25-14

Up early again but Robbie was so generous to give us a ride to the Library Theatre to see the Skeleton Twins. I've been most excited about this film. A few friends from school interned on the film, and Jeremiah has a small cameo that was pretty hilarious.

Living separate lives on opposite sides of the country, estranged siblings Maggie and Milo are at the end of their ropes. But after a moment of crisis reunites them, Milo goes to spend time with Maggie in the small New York town where they grew up. A dental hygienist, Maggie struggles with her unhappy marriage to the painfully good-natured Lance, while Milo tracks down Rich, the English teacher with whom he shares a checkered past. Adrift and wondering how they ended up so far from who they were supposed to be, the siblings try to patch things up.
Craig Johnson’s second feature sensitively explores these lives of quiet desperation with remarkable finesse. It unfolds a rich backstory through subtle interactions between its characters and finds the agility to be funny, melancholic, touching, and devastating within the space of a single scene. Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader give astonishing, dramatic performances. Their connection to the characters and to each other is magical…and funny (Maggie cleaning Milo’s teeth proves that nothing promotes sibling reconciliation like nitrous oxide). 

Hands down my favorite film so far. I'm already a Kristen Wiig fan, but she just reached another level in my book. She plays Bill Hader's twin brother. It was so interesting seeing comedic actors play more serious roles. I mean, the entire film starts with a suicide attempt.

Ty Burrell has a minor part in the film, and plays a role I've never seen him it. I'm trying really hard not to spoil anything because I really just want to write out the entire film here.

Writer/Director Craig Johnson

There is a restaurant I've been dying to try, Main Street Pizza and Noodle. Instead of having pizza or noodles I had their breakfast where I enjoyed (yet again) Juevos rancheros.

After brunch, we rushed on a bus to Eccles Theatre to see Frank.
In line there was an interesting character who made his own "Frank" mask.

"Frank is a comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon, who discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins a band of eccentric pop musicians led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank and his terrifying sidekick, Clara. Frank’s uniqueness lies in the fact that he makes music purely for the joy of creating…and because he wears a giant fake head. After a rocky start, Jon ingratiates himself with the band members, and they retreat to a cabin in the woods to record an album. As his influence waxes, creative tensions mount, and the band’s entire raison d'être is called into question.
Already a presence at the Cannes, Berlin, and Toronto film festivals, director Lenny Abrahamson makes his Sundance debut with a captivating offering featuring a phenomenal cast, including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy, Domhnall Gleeson, and Michael Fassbender as you’ve never seen him before. The ensemble creates lasting images and sounds for a film that playfully examines the nature of art and artists. Frank possesses such creative audacity and thought-provoking observations—propelled by a barrage of wit, performance, and, of course, song—that you are bound to emerge feeling as if you have seen and heard something completely original."

It took the entirety of the film for me to realize that Frank was played by Michael Fassbender. He is in the mask for most of the film. I'm honestly still absorbing this film. I don't know exactly how I feel about it. But I can say that the situation John puts himself in is relatable. Trying to make a change in a situation that may not need change at all. 

There was a little hole in the wall bar type place I kept passing on my bus ride. One day I saw about a dozen snowboarders and ski-ers sitting on the balcony with beers and tacos. I had to try it! Davanzas, I hated that I waited so long to eat here. The beer is so cheap! I feasted on some Blue Moon and a chicken parmesan sub.

Boyhood

"Filmed from 2002 to 2013, Boyhood covers 12 years in the life of a family. Mason and his older sister, Samantha, learn to face the realities of growing up, while their divorced parents cope with the ongoing challenges of parenting in an ever-evolving landscape. Cast: Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater."

Once I heard that this film has been covering 12 years of the lives of these actors I had to watch it! Then when I heard that Richard Linklater also directed the Before Sunrise Trilogy, I was sold. The transitions between years were seamless. There was a chemistry between the family that was consistent. I felt like I really watched Ellar Coltrane grow up.

In my packet of vouchers I also received a ticket for whatever film won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic. While I was in Boyhood I received the text from Robbie that Whiplash won the prize! I hadn't seen it yet so Auggie, Robbie and I jumped in line and watched it in the Eccles theatre.

Whiplash

"Andrew, a promising 19-year-old drummer at a cutthroat Manhattan music conservatory, has little interest in being just a musician. Haunted by his father’s failed writing career and plagued with the fear that mediocrity just might be genetic, Andrew dreams of greatness. Determined not to follow in his father’s footsteps, he practices daily until his hands literally bleed. The pressure of success ratchets into high gear when he is picked to join the school band led by the infamous Terence Fletcher, a brutally savage music instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential. Under Fletcher’s ruthless direction, Andrew begins to pursue perfection at any cost—even his humanity.

Sprung from his 2013 Sundance Film Festival award-winning short film, Whiplash is the brilliantly realized feature that writer/director Damien Chazelle always intended to make. Driven by fierce, searing performances from Miles Teller as Andrew and J.K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher, Whiplash crescendos to a blistering climax that will rattle audiences long after the lights come up. - D.C
Sprung from his 2013 Sundance Film Festival award-winning short film, Whiplash is the brilliantly realized feature that writer/director Damien Chazelle always intended to make. Driven by fierce, searing performances from Miles Teller as Andrew and J.K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher, Whiplash crescendos to a blistering climax that will rattle audiences long after the lights come up. - D.C."

Whiplash was jam-packed with energy for the entire film. If Mile's doesn't actually play the drums you would never know. Talk about commitment. I have never seen J.k. Simmons in a likable role, and this film is no exception. I was at the edge of my seat for most of the film, and maybe not in a good way. From the beginning of the film Mile's had a rough time. In his regular music class there was tension, in his short-lived relationship with Nicole, it was never really enjoyable. And honestly there was no true resolution in the end. It just ended. In the middle of a performance.

Four films in one day is my record at Sundance and enough for me. 

Sundance Day 4

Sundance Day 4  

1-24-14

Every morning, if I have time I like to visit the Sundance Channel on Main st. for a complimentary coffee or latte. They each come with a cool little travel mug! ( I took 3).

This morning, my new friend and neighbor, Robbie, picks me and Auggie up and we head to the Mark Theatre for A Most Wanted Man 

"Anton Corbijn’s adaptation of John Le Carre’s psychological novel follows German spy Gunther Bachmann as he tracks down Issa, a suspicious Chechen-Russian immigrant on the run in Hamburg. Pressured by his German and American colleagues to capture and interrogate his suspect as a Muslim terrorist, Bachmann instead asks for more time to carefully track Issa’s movements and his relationship with his German immigration lawyer, Annabel Richter. Using his secret contacts and keen skill, Bachmann uncovers a connection between a world-renowned Muslim philanthropist and a terrorist group and devises a plan to use Issa and Annabel in a brilliant ploy to expose the scheme.
In a post-9/11 world, the fear of terrorism grips the globe. Corbijn’s captivating storytelling depicts the underbelly of the often-corrupt business of eliminating terrorists. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s portrayal of Bachmann is breathtaking as his complicated character strives to maintain his integrity in a grossly depraved industry awash with furtive motives."

The first thing I notice right off the bat are the interesting accents used by Rachel McAdams and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.  It was a little unclear where they were from at times. I was so happy to see Robin Wright, I'm currently on a House of Cards kick and she is just incredible. And added a little something extra to the film. Although, by the end of the film I felt like some or most of her scenes must have hit the cutting room floor because what should have been a profound moment with her and Phillip's character in the end fell a little flat. Grigorly Dobrygin played the lead and did an awesome job.

I needed a mini-movie break and some "me" time so I headed to Main Street for coffee, a tote, soup and a free mini makeover with Loreal! The lovely ladies curled my hair and did my makeup.

I hopped over to headquarters to catch the Sundance pane.

I left a little early to make the film, The Sleepwalker. The buses can get a little crowded sometimes so it's always a good time to leave for a screening no later than 45 minutes before the screening.

The Sleepwalker  

"Kaia enjoys a quiet life with her boyfriend, Andrew, on her late father’s secluded, 1920s, Le Corbusier–style estate, isolated from the rest of her rural Massachusetts town. Their restoration of the elaborate, but gutted, home is interrupted by the middle-of-the-night arrival of Kaia’s sister, Christine, followed the next morning by Christine’s WASPish fiancé, Ira. Immediate friction develops among the quartet as Christine announces her pregnancy, questions Kaia’s relationship with Andrew, and objects to the relics of her and Kaia’s shared childhood being discarded.
In her feature debut, director Mona Fastvold visually and aurally creates a destabilizing atmosphere, lulling us into the unraveling sisters’ fractured experience of the world. The art direction enhances this dreamy, but unsettling, mood, juxtaposing the sharp exterior angles and the interior decay of the house with its idyllic wooded surroundings. A study in contrasts between Christine’s raging brokenness and Kaia’s repression, Ira’s mild-mannered propriety and Andrew’s bitter blue-collar machismo, The Sleepwalker weaves these compounding clashes into a powerful portrait of the battle to separate the young women’s personal fictions from realities."

I can't remember the exact number, but Mona Fastvold (Director/Writer) (far right) said this film took about 20 something days to shoot. I'm use to short film schedules only taking a weekend to film. And I realize features will take much much longer. But 20 days is not long at all! For a feature? 

The film ends with many questions unanswered and sometimes I take that well and sometimes I don't. This time I didn't really mind because I appreciated the over-all sharing from the Director from the beginning. I didn't feel cheated. I did however, appreciate that someone in the audience had the same questions I had. I just didn't have the balls to ask, and I was right not to because she didn't answer. 

I recognized Christopher Abbott in the street a few days earlier, but no one I was with knew who he was. I had no idea he was here for a film. He is still just Marnie's boyfriend to me. 

There was an infamous film with an infamous photo in the catalogue that was right up my ally. Wetlands. Everyone was talking about it which only meant one thing. I had to see it.

Auggie and I head over to RedStone for some Cafe Rio burritos and to RedStone to see Wetlands.

Wetlands

"Bodily fluid–obsessed teenager Helen describes herself as a living pussy hygiene experiment. After an intimate shaving accident, she ends up stuck in the hospital, where she skateboards through the halls and reminisces about her culinary masturbation experiments, the seductive powers of her unwashed scent, and used-tampon swapping with her equally uninhibited best friend, Corinna. All the while, she charms a handsome male nurse with her nasty sex talk and schemes to reunite her mismatched parents.
Like its protagonist, Wetlands expresses a profound distaste for following the rules and an exuberant playfulness, making this adaptation of Charlotte Roche’s novel a journey that is as joyful as it is raunchy. Carla Juri tempers her character’s bold sexual confidence with an underlying sweetness and sincerity, while director David Wnendt maintains a tone of acceptance and affection for Helen and her provocative antics. Wetlands asserts, as Helen does, that repulsive is nothing more than the new sexy."

It was everything I wanted the film to be and more. I know it's weird, and films like this are not for just anyone. But that is what I love about films. That sometimes I can be taken away from my usually boring life and dropped into people like Helen Memel's. A girl who enjoys rubbing herself on dirty, public restrooms. Who has hemorrhoids and doesn't care. Apart from the very gnarly aspects of the film, there was actually a very charming story. At times, yes, I felt like Wetlands was trying it's best to send you running from the theatre. But it also succeeded in making me care about Helen and the people are her. Easily one of my favorite films thus far.

I have a bit of a marathon of films tomorrow, so it's off to bed for this one. (After a looooong shower.)

Sundance Day 3

Sundance Day 3 

1-23-2014

I have been studying Banksy in every modern art class I've taken. I was pleasantly surprised to bump into one on Main Street. 

I met Matthew Harrison on the bus, a juror for SlamDance and SunDance alumni. We have coffee at the Sundance channel and get to know each other. I had the privilege of watching an exchange with Mathew and his wife over the phone. Then as we parted we created a vine together that I have unfortunately not seen. 

Afterwards, Auggie and I head over to the Eccles Theatre for Life after Beth 

"Zach is devastated by the unexpected death of his girlfriend, Beth. When she miraculously comes back to life, Zach takes full advantage of the opportunity to experience all the things he regretted not doing when she was alive. However, the newly returned Beth isn’t quite the way he remembered her, and before long, Zach’s world takes a turn for the worse.
Imitating what Dr. Frankenstein did with his monster, writer/director Jeff Baena assembles disparate parts of his film into a new whole and jolts fresh life into it. By fusing elements of a young love story and a zombie movie, he concocts a wickedly funny and shockingly poignant film. With its killer soundtrack and all-star cast, including Aubrey Plaza, whose distinctive delivery has never been used to greater effect, and Dane DeHaan, who perfectly embodies the suffering of a young man with a broken heart and a rotting girlfriend, Life After Beth will leave you dying to see it again."

Now I love a good zombie movie. And I'll give every zombie movie a shot. Even Warm Bodies. Dane DeHaan, who plays the lead, is an alumni of my school. I think he did an incredible job. I also appreciate John C Reily. & Molly Shannon. They were saving graces for what would have been a top notch short film. I think it was unfortunate that Aubrey Plaza had to be an aggressive zombie like she was. We get use to a certain way things are suppose to be, and change is good. But I don't know if it worked for these zombies. The people died and then "came back"

Auggie interviewed for Youtube about Sundance

Head Quarters for the institution panel: 

MEET THE INSTITUTE PANELISTSKRISTIN FEELEY is responsible for the DFP's Artist Support Programs and Public Programming for the DFP. She orchestrates five Creative Documentary Labs and cross-program Labs, as well as our Fellows Programs at the Sundance Creative Producing Summit and Sundance Film Festival. She plays a staff advisory role with the Sundance Documentary Fund, and is staff liaison for several Sundance Institutes cross-program initiatives. Feeley earned a Master of Philosophy in Media Studies in Glasgow, Scotland in early American documentary film.
JAROM ROWLAND is a University of Utah graduate that has worked for the Institute on and off for the better part of a decade. Previously, he worked in both the Production and Film Maker Offices and has for the last five years produced and managed the Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival. In addition to managing the Film Music program for Sundance, Jarom is a musician and actor. He could last be seen in the Utah Premiere of Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi. Additional composing credits include the short films The Penny Ante Affair and Nature Nation.
ANNE LAI serves as Creative Producing Initiatives Director in the Feature Film Program at Sundance Institute. There, she oversees the Creative Producing Lab and Fellowship, the Creative Producing Summit, and the Sundance/Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant and Lab Fellowship. She provides year- round development and strategic support to projects coming out of all Feature Film Labs and plays a key role in selection for the Screenwriters and Directors Labs. Upcoming and recent releases include Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale, David Lowery’s Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, Andrew Dosunmu’s Mother of George, and Ritesh Batra’s Lunchbox.
EMILY DOE is a short film programmer for the Sundance Film Festival. She also works in youth education at the San Francisco International Film Festival, bringing films and filmmakers into classrooms around the Bay Area. Previously, she was an editor at Wholphin DVD, a division of McSweeney's. A native of Massachusetts, Emily attended Kenyon College in Ohio before settling in San Francisco.
MEET THE INSTITUTE MODERATOR
MEREDITH LAVITT (Moderator) has over 20 years experience working in the independent film arena and in youth media. Under her direction, FILM FORWARD has reached over 46,000 underserved audience members over the past three years in over 30 locations throughout the US and around the world including China, Colombia, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Turkey, and Puerto Rico. 

Then to Flanagan's Irish pub with some new friends! If you know me, you know I will find an Irish pub anywhere. In Cannes it was Ma Nolan's. Flanagan's did not disappoint with live music as well!

The Egyptian Theatre for Mr. Leo's CaraX where we meet Robbie, young Wisconsiner who, funny enough is staying next door to us. The building Auggie & I broke into.

Mr. Leos CaraX

"Mysterious. Brilliant. Uncontrollable. Many words like these have been used to describe French filmmaker Leos Carax in both rapturous and negative ways. One thing that everyone agrees upon is that Mr. Carax went from fantastic success as a young, poetic filmmaker to having a reputation as a controversial, mad genius who struggled to get a single film made—and then created Holy Motors, one of the most-loved films of the last 10 years. Obsessed with romantic, but destructive, characters, Carax has made breathtaking films with his strong visual style to back up his mythic status.
Combining thoughtful interviews with film critics and members of Carax’s cast and crew and moments with the man himself, director Tessa Louise-Salomé paints a compelling picture of the thoughtful Mr. X using her own visual poetry. The most captivating element in the film is the endless insight from Carax’s main actor and virtual double, Denis Levant, himself both firecracker and unassuming leading man—a perfect alter ego for Carax."

This was by far the most bizarre film I've seen so far at the festival. I'd never heard of Leos Carax nor have I seen any of his films. But after this documentary I'd definitely see something of his, like The Lovers on the Bridge. There were some behind the scenes in the doc that how different Carax's film and directing techniques are. 

Sushi on the brain we head to Oishi with our new Alabama friends, the best (and cheapest sushi) I ordered the luxury roll, kiri beer and miso soup. ($35) whew... Cheap?

I have to admit I'm so happy Auggie is an early bird like me. He's fine with crashing by 10p! 

Sundance Day 2

Sundance Day 2

 1-22-2014

Like most people, I don't sleep well unless I'm in my bed. I don't know if it was the altitude or what but I slept like a rock. I did, however, wake up coooold. I check the weather and low and behold:

Not being from colder climates I'm surprised at how well prepared I was for this trip. I bought a pair of snow boots and brought a pea coat. Those plus a couple of tights and a good scarf, I was golden!

First things first, watch a freaking movie! And with the film student pass we walk right into John Slattery's Gods Pocket. (John plays Roger Sterling in Mad Men). Gods Pocket stars Phillip Seymore Hoffman and Christina Hendricks, naturally.

God's Pocket

"In the gritty, blue-collar neighborhood of God's Pocket, Mickey Scarpato's crazy stepson, Leon, is killed in a construction “accident,” and Mickey quickly tries to bury the bad news with the body. But when a local columnist comes sniffing around for the truth, things go from bad to worse. Mickey finds himself stuck in a life-and-death struggle compounded by a body he can't bury, a wife he can't please, and a debt he can't pay.
Acclaimed actor John Slattery makes an impressive jump behind the camera with an assured directorial debut that shows he has a razor-sharp eye for conveying the absurdity, cruelty, desperation, and tragic optimism of the people he portrays. Like life, his scenes seamlessly fuse humor and heartbreak, but it’s Slattery’s wit and confident style that make the portrait so authentic. Featuring a top-shelf cast and impeccable cinematography, God’s Pocket oozes with talent and marks the emergence of an inspired directorial presence."

While I'm a big fan of both Phillip Seymor Hoffman and Christina Hendricks I feel like she may have been miscast. Mother to a 20something year old she seems more like a step mother who loves her shit head son like a biological son. She never seems to be in love with her husband. Once the journalist comes along, he's immediately in love with Christina and she sleeps with him, again, no chemistry. There didn't seem to be any closure on Lucy after he killed the boy. That was one of the most exciting and unexpected moments of the film. There was a blend of comedy and drama and it's hard to distinguish the tone of the film

Time for free "schwag" on Main Street!  Sundance Channel has great things to do and see, I made this flip book while I enjoyed a complimentary latte. 

 They also had a "make your own Sundance Channel tote" station. (I made 3.)
Down the road at the Chase Sapphire building there was a small Sundance exhibit that had props and costumes from films such as Super Trooper, Napoleon Dynamite and Little Miss Sunshine. The day we went in they were offering a photo shoot where you could dress up as Little Miss Sunshine. How could I refuse? 

Then off to the Marriott Sundance headquarters for the film student workshop where I bump into John Cooper (Director of Sundance) & Brandon Sparks (fellow intern at Cannes). 

John Cooper, Director of Sundance Film Festival

Waiting for Happy Christmas a 2nd time at Eccles Theatre I didn't make it (AGAIN), but fortunately when I met John earlier, he offered to help me get in if I couldn't make the wait list! So guess what!? I called him and he sent his assistant out to grab me. I was so grateful and with the rush did not have a chance to properly thank him. THANK YOU, JOHN & YOUR WONDERFUL ASSISTANT!

Happy Christmas

"It’s almost Christmas, and Jenny just broke up with her boyfriend. Without a real plan, she moves into her brother, Jeff, and sister-in-law, Kelly’s, spacious bachelor-pad basement in Chicago. As she reconnects with old friends and attempts to put her life back together, she continues to self-sabotage by repeatedly getting drunk and high. Kelly becomes fed up with Jenny’s immature behavior but soon realizes that she, too, feels stuck. As Christmas draws near, Jenny and Kelly realize that they can offer each other the solace and support they’ve both been craving.
Director Joe Swanberg returns to Sundance Film Festival (his film Uncle Kent played at the 2011 Festival) with his signature voyeuristic approach to filmmaking, offering a refreshing and candid look at complicated family interactions. His wonderfully imperfect characters pull each other out of their respective ruts and bring a strikingly human element to a story we all know well. The female characters in this film form a tight bond—a drunken sisterhood of sorts—enabling them to discover their true potential."

I was most excited to see Anna Kendrick and Lena Dunham. Anna Kendrick did a great job at playing a jaded 20 something, too many times they are portrayed as smarter than usual put into extreme circumstances while being very witty. I get it, normal people aren't fun to watch in a movie. But Anna played a very normal girl coping with a breakup. Lena had a minute part but really provided some quirky humor to tense scenes. It was a pleasure to Melanie L (after working with her on Goodbye To All That.) Sweet and realistic she is coping with missing her life after having a baby. Something I'm always relived to hear women admit. 

I rush over to the ASCAP Music Cafe to see KT Tunstall perform. It was totally worth the rush and I made it just in time to see her. She was incredible! I grabbed a couple of videos here and there on my phone.

Afterwards I headed over to the HP lounge where I caught a great band, Berel Alexander. They gave copies of their album out, "All Over It."

And saw one of the best DJs I've ever heard. The music ranged from funk to pop and everyone danced.  Every song he played had the corresponding music video on a big screen that transitioned to the next so smoothly. This was a nice pit stop until the concert at the Sundance House.

Next door at the Sundance House was the BMI SnowBall with celebrated singer/songwriters. There were appetizers and free drinks and awesome music!

That was all I needed so afterwards, I went to the casa. 

Sundance Day 1

Sundance Day 1

1-21-2014

Alarm set for 3:30am. 1:30am in Utah. 

Flying into Salt Lake City was like revolving around a 3D postcard. 

Breath taking!

The tops of the mountains looked dusted with salt or powder, what an appropriate name Salt Lake City. I reserved a shuttle which was a great idea because we waited for 20 minutes max then we were on our way to the condo. 

Once we get to the condo we drop our stuff off and  head down to the festival to explore. Busses are free! What a treat! We waited for the bus for maybe 20 minutes. 

About 1 hour later, we arrive at Main Street in Park City, the central hub of the festival. All uphill, or down hill depending on which end you are.. Shops, cafés, bars, theaters and restaurants.

We find the box office to pick up our credentials and I just so happen to bump into Meghan Benedict, from Cannes. We worked in programming together and she is a volunteer this year.

There are lots on little interactive things around promoting films. I pit stop at 52Tuesdays booth to leave 16 year old me a short message.. To Travel more.

jet-lagged much?

My favorite part of traveling is eating at new restaurants. I wish I had a tour guide to tell me the secrets to dining in Park City, because it felt a little limiting. I decided I was craving a burger and some beer so we head into No Name Saloon, for just that. A big bat Buffalo burger and a Polygamy Porter.  

We head right next door to O'Shucks for another beer then embark on another fast tour of Main st.  

I downloaded the Sundance app a while ago and familiarized myself with it. But nothing prepared me for how brutal the e-wait list was. I joined the wait list for Happy Christmas THE SECOND it was available and barely made the list. In seconds it was full.

We jump on a bus and head to RedStone Theatre. Unfortunately, we did not make it into the screening so Auggie & I travel back to the condo by foot. On our walk, which was 1.4 miles up a mountain in snow, (at night) we reach a Walmart.  We shop just a little, enough to carry the rest of the way with us. The walk felt like forever.

We finally reach the condo and enter the exterior pass code. followed by warmth. 

We start to enter the condo code on the door. Nothing. Again. Nothing. I call Kate Miller, no answer. We decide to call Barry the owner of the condo and explain the code doesn't work. He gives us other codes but nothing works. He begins to call the locksmith. I decide to use a credit card to get the door open. Auggie attempts and succeeds, what a relief! Once we walk in I set the groceries on the counter. Everything is clean. (When did the roommates come back to clean?) (is there a cleaning service with the condo?) (is this the wrong room?) I mean, we had only been there once much earlier and we were practically frozen and delusional. We step outside of the building. Sure enough D. We needed E. Auggie calls Barry Back and while we figure out a delicate way to break it to him, Auggie slips on the ice and busts his ass right on the ice. He doesn't flinch, "uh huh, yes sir, as he continues to talk to Barry"

We share a big laugh as we enter the correct building and put the code in, it works. I can't describe the comfort of that bed. I turned on Sons of Anarchy and dozed off.