A day in the life of Park City, Sundance Style, as reported on by myself and guest bloggers Amotz Zakai, Garrick Dion, Ryan Seashore and Sheri Fults.

Tamara Krinsky
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Documentary magazine

GETTING HERE
RYAN: My alarm went off at 4am; begrudgingly I woke up. I made it to the airport with plenty of time to catch my flight at 6:10am. As I sat and waited to board, I watched as Hollywood was ever present at 5:30am. Some people were working on laptops, others on cell phones. People! Who do you really need to speak with at 5:30am!!! Flight went smooth; I passed out before take off. Three hours of sleep will do that to you.

Five of the last six Sundance’s, I have attended opening weekend. Every year I become more and more frustrated with the crowds. This year I decided to fly out on Sunday and hopefully miss them.

SNOW ANGELS
GARRICK: I'm a big David Gordon Green fan and I really wanted to see this one above all else at the Fest. I targeted the Sunday am Eccles show...even though my company (Bold) was throwing a party the night before, and the likelihood of my getting up 2 hrs. ahead of time for a 9:15am show was...well, ambitious at best.

TAMARA: I woke up far too early on Sunday morning, determined to finally make it to a movie. I’d been looking forward to seeing David Gordon Green’s SNOW ANGELS since it was announced in the line up. Getting to the Eccles for a 9 a.m. screening is always a challenge when staying on Main Street; I had the added complication of needing to stop by the press office first to see if I’d even been able to get a ticket to the film. Luckily, my early alarm was not in vain…a ticket was waiting, and I got to Eccles with just enough time to slide in next to Richard Roeper.

[SIDEBAR: Sitting in a screening next to an established critic whose opinions are widely read and seen is slightly disorienting. I found myself listening to both of our responses. Were we laughing in the same places? Would we walk out with similar reviews? There’s the disconcerting feeling that his reaction to the film is somehow more valid than mine.]

Sam Rockwell & Kate Beckinsdale

GARRICK: Long story short, I did make it, and made it into the movie. It was WELL worth the effort. After UNDERTOW really disappointed me, SNOW ANGELS did not...yes, it's a tad on the grim side, as many said. But really great blend of comedy and drama, featuring DGG's usual fantastic look at small-town industrial America, and fantastic music/score choices. Best of all, the cast and performances were uniformly wonderful, particularly the always-dependable Sam Rockwell. Great to see him do something other than a 2nd banana/character actor role....a meaty, tough character and he delivers.

TAMARA: I’m not sure what Roeper thought of the film, but I’ll put myself on the line by saying I’m really glad that I dragged myself out of bed to catch it. The story revolves around several characters in a small, chilly town dealing with familiar indie film topics: messy divorces, child custody, fighting parents, first love. Alternately funny and disturbing and finally tragic, the script is enhanced by strong performances that help bolster it beyond any trappings of the genre. The two kids in the film (Michael Angarano and Olivia Thirlby) touchingly embody all of the awkward angst of teenage romance as they search for warmth in the cold landscape of their lives (Wow. Did I really just write that? Cheesy review line of the day. But it’s true, so I’ll leave it in). I found myself responding viscerally as Angarano and Thirlby charmingly, hesitantly negotiate the ritual dance of flirtation and first kisses. In one of her best roles, Kate Beckinsdale gives a gritty, grounded performance and manages to inject sympathy into a difficult character. It’s nice to see her demonstrate her range.

BACK ON MAIN STREET
AMOTZ: Where is Starbucks? Yes you anti-globalization supporters, I asked where is the one and only Starbucks on Main Street in Park City. It's gone I am afraid, and now my many planned meetings there have to be changed. The Java Cow on Main Street is cool but I did get some attitude when I ordered a decaf-soy-caramel-white-chocolate-cappuccino-in-a-small cup. What?

RYAN: After settling in at my Condo I went to lunch with a couple of writers. Good guys with creative ideas. From there I milled around Main Street. It’s amazing how much construction is taking place in Park City.

BRUNCH WITH WOMEN IN FILM
SHERI: The Los Angeles chapter of Women in Film hosted a brunch that showcased some of the top women directors. The new WIF president, Jane Fleming, is bringing a fresh new direction to the organization and the panel was a reflection of that. The theme of the panel was "women who do it all” and there was much discussion about the extra burden women have to meet just such a perception. As discussion ensued, I realized that this panel of writer-directors really is changing the paradigm of women's stories, and that each one of their films is not only restructuring our perceptions about age, story structure, and themes, but also our perceptions about what it means to be a filmmaker.

The panel included Sarah Polley (AWAY FROM HER, staring Julie Christie), Nina Menkes (PHANTOM LOVE), Cecilia Miniucchi (EXPIRED with Ileana Douglas & Jason Patrick), Jennifer Fox (FLYING: CONFESSIONS OF A FREE WOMAN), producer Rosilyn Heller (TRADE) and Tamara Jenkins (THE SAVAGES starring Philip Seymore Hoffman & Laura Linney).

A few highlights:
**Sarah said she wanted her first film to really celebrate age and that she has never understood why actors are 'aged out' at 40, when they are far more interesting and more mature as artists as they get older.
**Menkes’ film is a story about a woman and her love told as an interior dreamscape, with little dialogue and music, using audio cues to reveal the theme. Very bold. A story structure that is like Chinese boxes, where each scene opens into a new scene.
**Fox’s FLYING is a six hour project that she filmed around the world. She realized that she was having the same conversations with other women she met in Soweto and across Europe. Jennifer does something innovative w/the camera, moving it in a circular way, passing it among the women, whose stories comprise the narrative.
**Heller’s TRADE is about the int'l sex trade market. Roz started in Hollywood in the 70s and she had some great war stories to tell. She's untiring in her producing efforts.
**Tamara Jenkins wanted to show love between brother & sister, a love that is as equally intense as romantic love.

I left this brunch totally inspired and awed that Sundance is undeniable in its ability to foster and mature our generation’s cinematic voices.

QUEER BRUNCH
TAMARA: After the screening, I booked over to the Queer Brunch at Grub Steakhouse, where David Au (our fantastic DP/Editor) and I ate eggs & fruit and shot interviews with Angela Robinson, Ilene Chaiken and the team from SAVE ME, among others. Judith Light and Chad Allen spoke passionately about making sure their film presented different sides of the issue and would encourage dialogue, rather than making narrow piece of propaganda that would only appeal to those on one side of the issue.

[Note to self: Wear gloves when standing outside for long periods of time interviewing filmmakers on the red carpet. It may be sunny, but it’s still damn cold.]

DRAG SWAG
RYAN: Eventually I ended up at the Silver King Hotel. While there I realized I was on the list for the Penn House Lounge so I checked it out. I was checked in by a person in drag. The Lounge was made up of multiple suites advertising different companies: Film commissions, jackets which turn into backpacks, beauty products, and sex toys. I've seen a lot of things given out at Sundance but sex toys are a first. They have something for everyone!

QUEER LOUNGE PANEL
SHERI: The Queer Lounge panel on ONLINE & ORIGINAL: FILMED CONTENT ON THE WEB was the perfect compliment to the WIF brunch. These panelists are driving an equally important distribution medium that is giving artists an unedited voice and the potential to share in the revenues their work generates. The panelists included: Matt Farber (Glee.com), Ilene Chaiken & Angela Robinson (The L Word & OurChart.com), Fenton Bailey (WOW.tv).

Each online website has a slightly different mission and POV on how best to share view-created content. Ilene sees OURCHART as a new media company that will birth new voices, and Angela's new feature GIRLTRASH --a girl LA gang-war noir, inspired by THE DEPARTED -- will debut. We saw clips of the concept and characters and it has the Angela visual style and sexy gunplay. Fenton’s website is designed to capture the 'viral' aspect of user-created content. He showed some clips of BAD GIRL from the PRETTY THINGS creators. Fenton's long time success in TV ensures that WOW will be one to watch.

I had to leave before this panel concluded to get ready for the GLAAD nominee announcement party at Sidecar. More on that later....

PARTICIPANT PARTY
TAMARA: Sunday afternoon I went to the Participant Productions party at Zoom. Classy and elegant, it was a welcome respite from the harried production insanity of my Sundance experience thus far. Participant has been a wonderful friend to the documentary community (their film CHICAGO 10 opened the festival) and so it was no surprise that many doc folks were in attendance.

One of my favorite things about Sundance and fests in general is the opportunity to finally meet in person those filmmakers and execs I have interviewed throughout the years. Many thanks to superstar editor Kate Amend (Thin, The World According to Sesame Street, Pandemic: Facing AIDS) for introducing me to EVP of Documentary Production Diane Weyermann. I had done a profile on Diane for Documentary magazine when she moved from the Sundance Institute to Participant, but had never actually met her in person. Amend is currently working on Participant’s Jimmy Carter doc And He Comes in Peace… directed by Jonathan Demme, and as we joined in conversation with Participant Founder/Chairman Jeff Skoll and director Alex Gibney, it was exciting to listen to them update one another on their assorted projects. They joked with me that they were providing oodles of material for my next Documentary piece; I assured them I was not taking notes.

In everyone’s bio on the Participant website, there are answers to a few personal question, ranging from “Inspirations” to “Role models” to “Favorite charities”. Skoll’s answer to what he likes most about his work: “Every day, whether it is in the social sector, the entertainment community, or the world at large, I get to meet many inspiring, fascinating and talented people.” That’s exactly how I felt at their party.

EVENING ACTIVITIES
AMOTZ: And finally, Albertsons. Yes, the supermarket in Park City. Went there to pick up food as their yummy rotisserie chicken can feed four people for $5.95 instead of that equally tasty $35 filet mignon you can get at a restaurant on Main Street that feeds half a person. Albertsons is the new Starbucks. I met Danish filmmakers in the produce section, an ex-entertainment lawyer in the milk aisle, and some skinny blonde girls who told me they want to act at the meat counter. And I was thrilled to meet a friend who I see all the time in Los Angeles at the checkout line. I am rescheduling all meetings to the Albertsons.

RYAN: The night consisted of party hoping. I started at the script magazine party where Brett Morgan director of Chicago 10 was honored. Then I dropped by The Ray Ban Party to pick up wrist bands for later. Next I went to the Hollywood Reporter Party at the Deer Valley Lodge. This was the nicest party of the evening, good food and after a massage I was ready to fall asleep. With all the effort that went into this event why did they have a cash bar, except for Stella?

TAMARA: Had dinner at Wahso on Main Street, where the kitchen was kind enough to get us in and out in record speed so that we could get back to Zoom to set up our shoot at the Discovery Films party. Not sure why the parties at Zoom are always so much fun, but I always end up having a good time there! Discovery Films had created a very kool Meerkat Klub upstairs, complete with lottery ticket-style raffles for Meerkat puppets, and “meer-tinis” at the bar.

[Note: If you are unfamiliar with Meerkats, they’re the stars of Meerkat Manor, the hit Animal Planet series. I’ll be honest…I’m still not exactly sure what a Meerkat is, but they’re ridiculously cute! Discovery is currently working on a Meerkat movie].

Much less mingling for me at the Discovery party than at Participant since we were filming. But who cares about mingling when “work” means interviewing Buzz Aldrin!?!?!

Tamara Krinsky & astronaut Buzz Aldrin

Yep, that’s right. I may never make it to the moon, but now I’m only one degree away. Aldrin, of course, was at the festival celebrating the film IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON , directed by David Sington, which looks at the Apollo space program and includes interviews with all surviving crew members of the Apollo missions. I grew up making my parents wake me up at 2 a.m. to watch lunar eclipses…needless to say, I cannot wait to see this film.

[SIDEBAR: North American rights to IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON were picked up by ThinkFilm a bit later in the week]

During the party, I had the opportunity to sit down with the team from Discovery Films and talk with them about their mandate. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by how open they are to working with new talent. Billy Campbell, President, Discovery Networks U.S., told me that they want to do 3-4 projects per year that they can really get behind and support, both theatrically and via broadcast on at least one of their channels. They don’t have a set model – they tailor distribution and marketing plans to each specific film’s needs, just like they did for GRIZZLY MAN and THE KILLER WITHIN. Ultimately, the most important elements for the projects they take on are compelling stories and passionate filmmakers. He told me that if filmmakers have a project they think would be right for Discovery, they should call. That’s right. Just call them. Talk to them. Tell them about what you want to do, why you want to do it and if possible, show them sample footage. Not what I expected to hear from a big ol’ corporation!

[NOTE: For a video clip of the conversation with Discovery Execs, click here]

RYAN: Eyes nearly closed, I headed to the Johnson-Rossler Party which was fun. Finally I ended back at the Ray Ban Party, which was the High and Low of my evening. I met great people and ran into others whom I have not seen in a while. The great thing about Sundance is it feels like a reunion at times.

My favorite part of the night was Matisyahu performing. He was incredible. His combination of beat boxing and lyrical style was great. He brought great energy to a tired crowd. I am now a fan.

My least favorite part of the evening was standing around the Ray Ban party until 1:30 waiting for Justin Timberlake to perform. I am not really a JT fan but I was looking forward to seeing him in such a small venue. I am unsure what happened but he never showed. We were stuck watching random people dance on stage, not my idea of a good time. The whole thing was handled poorly. The crowd was not happy standing around for a few hours. Every 20 minutes the DJ would drop a beat or the hype man would act like they performance was about to start. Which was uncool!!! They should have informed the crowd. I give a lot of credit to Modest Mouse for jumping in to bring some excitement to the evening. I finally arrived home around 2:30am. A relatively early night for Sundance.

TAMARA: After Discovery, we headed over the Hollywood Life Lounge ADRIFT IN MANHATTAN party at the bottom of Main St. where we grabbed a quickie interview with Heather Graham (yes, that was quickie INTERVIEW, not quickie). As the party wound down, I got a call from friends of mine who were ready to leave the party at the Airborne Lounge. We met halfway up Main, and continued on to the suite at Treasure Mountain Inn, once again ending the night with good friends & good wine (and a few too many Doritos).