blogs.sltrib.com - Sundance Film Festival Coverage from The Salt Lake Tribune

Patton Oswalt gives us some love

Patton Oswalt, who got a lot of kudos at Sundance this year for his performance in Big Fan, gave us a little love in return. In his blog today, he writes about his final few days at Sundance, including his meeting with us and the fact that he turned the tables and interviewed our web producer, Darren Ewing. He even includes the (blurry) picture I shot of them together with his camera.

Thanks Patton, we love you too.

-- Kim McDaniel

Time to go home

It used to be said that Sundance brings the snow.

If the slopes of Park City were a little sparse at Christmas, then by mid-January - just in time for the film festival - the flakes would start falling.

This year, though, the streets of Park City were positively balmy. Temperatures in the 30s, sunshine and blue skies.

So, of course, on the day all of us are leaving Park City, the snow is falling. Just one more wild card in a festival loaded with unpredictability.

The festival will reconvene on Jan. 21, 2010. Until then, see you at the movies.

Sundance winners

Here are the winners of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival:

Grand Jury Prize
U.S. Dramatic: “Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire,” directed by Lee Daniels
U.S. Documentary: “We Live in Public,” directed by Ondi Timoner
World Dramatic: “The Maid (La Nana),” directed by Sebastián Silva (Chile)
World Documentary: “Rough Aunties,” directed by Kim Longinotto (United Kingdom)

Audience Award
U.S. Dramatic: “Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire,” directed by Lee Daniels
U.S. Documentary: “The Cove,” directed by Louie Psihoyos
World Dramatic: “An Education,” directed by Lone Scherfig (United Kingdom)
World Documentary: “Afghan Star,” directed by Havana Marking (Afghanistan/UK)

Directing Award
U.S. Dramatic: Cary Joji Fukunaga, “Sin Nombre”
U.S. Documentary: Natalia Almada, “El General”
World Dramatic: Oliver Hirschbiegel, “Five Minutes to Heaven” (UK/Ireland)
World Documentary: Havana Marking, “Afghan Star” (Afghanistan/UK)

Excellence in Cinematography
U.S. Dramatic: Adriano Goldman, “Sin Nombre”
U.S. Documentary: Bob Richman, “The September Issue”
World Dramatic: John De Borman, “An Education” (United Kingdom)
World Documentary: John Maringouin, “Big River Man” (U.S.A./UK)

Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
U.S. Dramatic: Nicholas Jasenovec and Charlyne Yi, “Paper Heart”

World Cinema Screenwriting Award
World Dramatic: Guy Hibbert, “Five Minutes of Heaven” (UK/Ireland)

Documentary Editing Award
U.S. Documentary: Karen Schmeer, “Sergio”
World Documentary: Janus Billeskov Jansen and Thomas Papapetros, “Burma VJ” (Denmark)

Special Jury Prizes
U.S. Dramatic, for Spirit of Independence: “Humpday,” directed by Lynn Shelton
U.S. Dramatic, for acting: Mo'Nique, “Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire”
U.S. Documentary: “Good Hair,” directed by Jeff Stilson, written by Chris Rock, Jeff Stilson, Lance Crouther and Chuck Sklar
World Dramatic, for originality: “Louise-Michel,” directed by Benoit Delépine and Gustave de Kervern (France)
World Dramatic, for acting: Catalina Saavedra, “The Maid (La Nana)” (Chile)
World Documentary: “Tibet in Song,” directed by Ngawang Choephel (Tibet)

Awards Night: They said it

A smattering of memorable quotes from the Sundance Film Festival's Awards Night ceremony:

"I'm really humbled to stand here. And I'm standing here representing all people in Tibet whose voices are being silenced."
- Ngawang Choephel, director of "Tibet in Song," which won a Special Jury Prize for World Documentary.

"I totally agree with the jury. She gave an astonishing performance."
- Chilean filmmaker Sebastian Silva, director of "The Maid (La Nana)," accepting a Special Jury Prize for his leading lady, Catalina Saavedra.

"Yo, yo, yo, where the brown people at?"
- Actor Benjamin Bratt, before presenting an award.

"These awards are exercises in democracy, and it's a good time for democracy right now."
- Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, presenting the Audience Awards for World Cinema.

"If some of you don't go home with a big rusty clock, remember that you are here, you were accepted at the 2009 Sundnace Film Festival, the year Barack Obama beame our president."
- Actress Virginia Madsen, one of the U.S. Dramatic jurors

"She put her all into the film. I was so glad to work with her. She was wonderful, and you guys were wonderful. Is that good?''
- "Push" star Gabourey Sidibe, accepting the Special Jury Prize for acting for her co-star Mo'Nique.

"This is a strange award to be given for this film, because there was about five pages written down.”
- "Paper Heart" director Nicholas Janesovec, accepting the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award with his star/co-writer Charlyne Yi.

Awards Night: Gilmore's passion

Among the thank-yous he gave in his Awards Night speech - to his staff, the volunteers and the people of Park City - Sundnace Film Festival director Geoff Gilmore got quite passionate about the worrisome future of independent film.

"The future isn't clear, it really is uncertain," Gilmore said. "The independent arena will change, and it has to change in order to prosper. It has to change because there are too many good films here that people have to see. And we have to work out a way for that to happen."

Awards Night: Worth the weight

Awards Night emcee Jane Lynch ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin") had a word of warning to the winners at tonight's show: “The award itself weighs about 17 pounds. As you're giving your speech, you might want to move it along.”

Awards Night: A shout-out to Obama

Sundance Institute executive director Kenneth Brecher got a rousing boo and a big cheer at Saturday's Awards Night introduction.

Here's what he said: "When we began this festival, George Bush was the president of the United States" - boo! - "and we ended with Barack Obama" - yay!

Brecher said he was thrilled that CNN showed the crowd on Park City's Lower Main, standing in the cold watching Obama's inaugural. As soon as the speech was over, Brecher said, he went down to the Sundance credentials office and had a special one printed: "Barack Obama - honorary head, Sundance Festival jury."

Prepping for the party

The Awards Night Ceremony for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival is about a half-hour away from starting, so the folks at the Racquet Club (like the bartenders, above) are getting everything ready to roll for a good party.

The decor follows the 25th anniversary theme that has carried the entire festival - with posters of classic and long-forgotten Sundance titles, and screens featuring trailers from past festivals.

Time of "Reckoning"

When is a film not just a film? When it's "a starting point" for dialogue about a pressing global issue.

That's what the makers of "The Reckoning," a documentary about the International Criminal Court in The Hague, hope will come from their film, which had its last Sundance Film Festival screening Saturday morning at Park City's Holiday Village Cinemas. (Here's the Tribune's review, and here's the web site of the movie's outreach program.)

Former ICC prosecutor Christine Chung, champions the ICC's work in prosecuting genocide and other war crimes in Uganda, the Congo and Darfur - and notes that even though the ICC has yet to get a conviction (their first actual trial, against a Ugandan militia leader, starts on Monday), the fact that someone is trying can be enough to prompt others to act.

Chung points to Gen. Laurent Nkunda, a supposedly untouchable Congolese rebel leader who was arrested by Rwandan troops on Thursday, according to The New York Times.

In the Congo, Chung said, "These are people who have never seen justice, and they want it so badly."

Chung doesn't believe the ICC will ever try to prosecute U.S. leaders for their role in the torture and improper detention at Guantanamo, Cuba. For one thing, the United States is not a signatory to the ICC treaty, something strongly opposed by the Bush administration (and, the filmmakers believe, not high on President Barack Obama's radar). For another, any request to investigate would have to come through the UN Security Council - and the United States has a veto in that body.

More importantly, the ICC only acts when the local government fails to act. "We need to solve whatever problem with Bush and Cheney ourselves," Chung said. "We should be able to handle that as Americans."

Slamdance winners

Mo Perkins' drama "A Quiet Little Marriage," about a husband and wife with different ideas about having a baby, won the Grand Jury Award for narrative features at the 15th Slamdance Film Festival, it was announced Friday night.

The Grand Jury Prize for documentaries went to Zachary Levy's "Strongman," a profile of a muscleman approaching middle age.

Other award winners:

Special Jury Mention for Best Performance: Larry Fessenden in "I Sell the Dead."
Special Jury Mention for Documentaries: "Second Sight," directed by Alison McAlpine.
Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short: "Undone," directed by Hayley Morris.
Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short: "Rare Chicken Rescue," directed by Randall Wood.
Grand Jury Award for Best Experimental Short: "Funny Guy," directed by Frank R. Rinaldi.
Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short: "Princess Margaret Blvd.," directed by Kazik Radwanski.
Special Jury Mention for Best Narrative Short: "Tony Zoreil," directed by Valentin Potier.
Grand Jury Award for Best Music Video: "Don McCloskey 'Mister Novocaine,' " directed by Peter Rhoads.
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature: "Punching the Clown," directed by Gregory Viens.
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature: "Heart of Stone" (formerly "It's Hard to Be an Indian"), directed by Beth Toni Kruvant.
Audience Award for Best Anarchy Film: "The Tides," directed by Eva Flodstrom.
Spirit of Slamdance Award: "Zombie Girl," directed by Aaron Marshall, Erik Mauck, Justin Johnson; and "Vapid Lovelies," directed by Frank Feldman (tie).
Kodak Vision Award for Best Cinematography: Richard Lopez, "I Sell the Dead."
Dos Equis "Most Interesting Film" Award: "You Might As Well Live," directed by Simon Ellis.
IndieRoad Award: "Punching the Clown," directed by Gregory Viens.
Award for Best Screenplay: "Numbered" (Comedy/Thriller), by Neil McGowan.
Award for Best Short Screenplay: "Crybaby" (Thriller), by Mark Seidel.

"Adam" wins prize for science

Max Mayer's romantic drama "Adam," starring Hugh Dancy as an engineer with Asperger's syndrome and Rose Byrne as the teacher who starts to fall for him, has received the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

The award - which comes with a $20,000 cash prize, sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation - goes to a movie that depicts issues of science or technology, or has a scientist, engineer or mathematician as a major character.

The selection jury chose the movie “for its credible and moving portrayal of an engineer with Asperger's Syndrome whose passion for science helps him in his struggle to achieve a meaningful relationship.”

Weaving a tale

Chris Rock is violating the first rule of Sundance celebrity: It's the second Friday of the festival, and he's still here.

Writer-narrator-interviewer Rock and producer Nelson George (pictured) were on hand Friday for the last screening of "Good Hair," a documentary about African-American women's hair. And if you don't think that's a ripe subject for a documentary, you will by the movie's end - and you get a solid dose of Rock's comedy along the way.

Rock has been interested in the topic of black women and their hair - and how they spend thousands of dollars to make it straighter and more like white women's hair - for about 15 years. It was when one of his little daughters asked, "Daddy, why don't I have good hair?" that Rock decided finally to tackle the topic.

"If I had done it 15 years ago, I would have been much more judgmental," Rock said in a post-screening Q&A. "Now I just chalk it up to style."

Rock cajoled a lot of his friends and fellow performers - including Nia Long, Tracie Thoms, Eve, Meagan Good and Raven-Symone - to be interviewed. For an interview with rapper/actor Ice-T, a trade was involved; Rock agreed to appear in a documentary Ice-T is producing.

"When you're making a movie like this, and you're not paying anybody, you kind of take what you can get," Rock said.

Bowie shoots the Moon

Legend David Bowie showed up - late and unexpectedly - to the premiere of Moon tonight at the Eccles In Park City. Most of the press had dispersed from the red carpet, but our photographer Robert Hirschi was tipped off by staff that Bowie might show.

-- Kim McDaniel

Monkey business

This is the point during the Sundance Film Festival, after days of no sleep and too many movies, when the hallucinations set in. So I had to take a picture of this to prove to myself it was real.

Jokes aside, this was the attraction of a PETA protest on Park City's Main Street this morning. PETA is campaigning against the use of live animals - particularly apes and chimps - in movies.

As PETA protests go, though, these folks were nice. They even handed out bananas.

Sundance video recap

Darren Ewing and I have spent a full week up in Park City covering Sundance. We've tweeted, blogged and interviewed our tails off, (producing more than 20 videos!) and it's ALL for you, of course.

While we're catching up on sleep and sanity, you can check out anything you may have missed. We have interviewed Patton Oswalt, Robert Siegel, Kevin Spacey, Sam Rockwell, Rob Corddry, "Zombie Girl" Emily Hagins, Chris Rock, Kevin Corrigan, Carey Mulligan, Lone Scherfig, ChefDance's Bethenny Frankel, Nelson George, Sarah Jones, James C. Strouse, Shareeka Epps, Saffron Burrows, Mark Webber, Keke Palmer and Dallas Roberts.

We visited Keith Bryce's unique fashion exhibition, crashed two mini-reunion performances by The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Kreiger, risked our lives (and butts) sneaking onto the ski run again with the Slamdance Sled-Off crew, ran Main Street in 30 seconds, had Patton Oswalt turn around and interview US and checked out this year's New Frontiers (thanks Robert Hirschi).

It's been a hell of a week. Thanks to those of you who came along for the ride. If you missed anything, the whole playlist is right here or you can browse through below using the little icon to the right of the play button on the bottom bar. See you next year!

-- Kim McDaniel

Hey ya

The last two nights of big shows at Harry O's (427 Main St., Park City) have some of the biggest names all week. Tonight is Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley and Big Boi of OutKast, and Saturday night is Nas and N.E.R.D. with Pharrell Williams.

OK, OK, OK. We know the price to go see these guys is a little steep in these tough economic times. But it's the last night of the Sundance-related concerts at Harry O's, which truly is world-famous for its Sundance parties. Big Boi (seen above in a photo by Mark Seliger) is big with his partner Andre 3000 in "OutKast." Cee-Lo made us all "Crazy" a while ago. Nas is a 35-year-old rapper whose 1994 album "Illmatic" is considered one of the most influential rap albums of the early 1990s, and he still is a force to be reckoned with, as his latest album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. N.E.R.D. is a hip-hop band led by Pharrell Williams, the silky-voiced countertenor who last came to the area with Kanye West's tour in June. This time you can see him up close, as well as any other celebrities who stop by HarryO's before leaving the Beehive State.

Tickets are $100 for each show, and the entertainers don't like coming on stage until well after 11 p.m.

I want my money back

Today is the last day of the ASCAP Music Cafe, and Guggenheim Grotto and Lenka are the stars. You can read about Guggenheim Grotto earlier in this same blog.

Lenka has a hit on top-40 radio with "The Show," a pop ditty with some world music influences. She's from Australia, and is on her first headlining tour after coming to Utah late last year with the Hotel Cafe tour.

"I've always seen lots of pictures in magazines" about the Sundance Film Festival, Lenka said in an interview. "It will be cool to see what all the buzz is about."

While she probably won't wear the interesting headgear she is wearing above, she is prepared for the decidedly un-Outback-esque temperatures. "It will be a new level of cold in Utah," she said before arriving.

She performs at 4 p.m.

Getting shrunk with the cast of Shrink

Actors and actresses, especially at Sundance, can be a little self-important. But Saffron Burrows, Mark Webber, Keke Palmer and Dallas Roberts - a good chunk of the cast of Shrink, also starring Kevin Spacey - were happy to share some tidbits with us yesterday at the Stella Lounge. Check out our best-of video with them:

-- Kim McDaniel

Kevin Spacey, Oscar winner, we got him

As laid back and cool as you think Kevin Spacey is - he's all that and more. The multiple Oscar winner sat down with us in the Stella Lounge today to talk about his Sundance film Shrink, mentoring young actors and filmmakers (on stage and screen), and gave a little shout out to the web geeks out there (and in here). Check it out:

-- Kim McDaniel

Let it Sundance

Kevin Rudolf might not be a household name yet, but you've heard the song above. He and Georgia-based rapper Yung Joc will be at Harry O's (427 Main St., Park City) tonight for only $50, a third of what it cost the night before for Common and Macy Gray (the latter whom I heard was a no-show).

Doors open at 8 p.m. Get your tickets at SmithsTix or YaYaTickets.com.

Good Hair from Sarah Jones and Nelson George

It was a Good Hair day for us yesterday (hee hee), as we got to sit down with several of the people involved in the documentary. Scroll a bit, or check the playlist to the right (-->) for our Chris Rock interview. Below, hear what actress Sarah Jones and producer Nelson George had to say.

They were just prepping for the Salt Lake screening, and George is a Sundance veteran, so there are some interesting comments about potential Mormon hair issues, acclimating to the altitude, and even the Utah Jazz. Check it out:

-- Kim McDaniel

Sundance at the Oscars

Today's Academy Award nominations were loaded with honors for films that first received attention at the Sundance Film Festival.

One of the nominees for animated short - "This Way Up" (pictured above), a tale of two undertakers and a wayward casket, by British animators Adam Foulkes and Adam Smith - is playing in the Animation Spotlight program this week in Park City. (It screens tonight at 9 at the Egyptian Theatre, and Saturday at 3:15 p.m. at the Eccles Theatre.)

"We were actually on the plane when the announcement was made," said producer/co-writer Christopher O'Reilly, who with producer Charlotte Bavasso had just returned home to London from Park City. "We were literally the last people to know." (The directors, who go by the collective name Smith & Foulkes, missed the festival because they are busy finishing animation on a commercial to air during the Super Bowl on Feb. 1.)

Last year's Grand Jury Prize winner for dramatic films, "Frozen River," earned two big nominations: For Melissa Leo's gritty performance, and for Courtney Hunt's original screenplay.

Other Sundance '08 films to receive Oscar nominations:

Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor," got a Best Actor nomination for Richard Jenkins.
Last year's opening-night movie, "In Bruges," took an original screenplay nomination for Martin McDonagh.
Last year's documentary Grand Jury Prize winner, the Katrina chronicle "Trouble the Water," got a nomination for Documentary Feature.
"Man on Wire," which won the jury and audience awards in World Cinema Documentary at Sundance '08, was nominated for Documentary Feature.
Ellen Kuras' "The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)," was also nominated for Documentary Feature.

Nothing Common about this concert

The Wednesday night concert at Harry-O's featuring Chicago-bred rapper Common and Macy Gray got cut in half when a last minute cancellation by Gray put Common in the spotlight. Her loss. The club was jam packed top to bottom. The rapper/actor, who can be seen in the film Smokin' Aces, and the soon-to-be-released Terminator Salvation (with The Dark Knight's Christian Bale) proved that he can hold his own as a headliner. Common riffed his way through a smooth set with on-the-spot rap references to the Utah Utes, Barack Obama and Salt Lake City. All while Eric McCormack (Will and Grace) looked on from the balcony.

- Darren Ewing

Winning shorts

Destin Daniel Cretton's "Short Term 12" - billed in the Sundance program as "a film about kids and the grown-ups who hit them" - has won the Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

The winning short films were announced Tuesday night at a ceremony at Park City's Legacy Lodge.

The Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking went to Swedish director Jonas Odell's "Lies," three interlocking episodes about people who are lying.

Honorable mentions were given to:

"I Live In The Woods," directed by Max Winston.
"Jerrycan," written and directed by Julius Avery (Australia)
"Love You More," directed by Sam Taylor-Wood and written by Patrick Marber (who also wrote "Closer" and "Notes on a Scandal") (UK)
"Omelette," directed by Nadejda Koseva and written by Georgi Gospodinov (Bulgaria)
"Protect You + Me," directed by Brady Corbet (the actor who appeared in "Funny Games")
"Treevenge" directed by Jason Eisener and written by Rob Cotterill (Canada)
"Western Spaghetti", directed by PES.

More Patton Oswalt

Big Fan has made a big splash at Sundance, especially for star Patton Oswalt. We posted a couple of other portions of our interview with him the other day, but here's the more serious first half, where he talks about this film and a little about Ratatouille:

-- Kim McDaniel

Fighting words, part 2: The Dude speaks

Jeff "The Dude" Dowd has issued a statement, in response to today's altercation with Daily Variety critic John Anderson:

"My disagreement with John was not over his critical reaction which he has every right to, but his statement that the film ['Dirt! The Movie'] wouldn't appeal to the public.

"I suggested he come back into the theater for the Q&A and he would observe what we had seen at all for screenings - that audiences felt the film had all kinds of new information and practical solutions. It wasn't homework, but hope made pragmatic on how we can change the planet in keeping with Obama's Inauguration speech.

"I told John one of scores of examples of this was when John Densmore of The Doors stood up at our first screening (after a sustained audience applause at the end) and said 'I have my own film here - which I clearly care about - but here is my ballot which I marked 4 stars because "Dirt!" is the film that should win the Sundance Festival.' That was emblematic of all the great feedback. I just asked John Anderson to put that in the mix before making assumptions that audiences would respond negatively.

"It should also be said that a vast majority of audience members liked the film not just because they 'support the cause.' We have heard dozens of comments about the quality of the filmmaking, as well. In the spirit of John Waters, we even had smell-o-vision at one screening where you could smell the sweet earthy scent of dirt and mother earth."

Rob Corddry and Sam Rockwell have way too much fun together

We met up with the guys, along with the director and an actress from their film The Winning Season, just after a screening and Q&A. They were all hyped up from the audience and Corddry kept the group in stitches the whole time. You just have to watch this:

-- Kim McDaniel

Chris Rock has Good Hair

Chris Rock is known for being funny, but the documentary he produced, Good Hair, delves into some serious cultural issues about black women and their hair. It seems like a thin topic, but he says it turned into something more than anyone involved thought it would.

In our interview today he talks about the movie, riffs a little on Michelle Obama, and is generally hilarious, as usual.

-- Kim McDaniel

Fighting words

Word is spreading around Park City about an altercation between one of Sundance's most venerated producers and one of its longest-attending critics.

According to Spout blog's Karina Longworth, producer/indie guru Jeff Dowd - a k a The Dude - ran into critic John Anderson, who's reviewing Sundance movies for Daily Variety, this morning at The Yarrow hotel.

Dowd wanted to talk to Anderson about the pending review for "Dirt! The Movie," the environmental documentary Dowd co-produced. Anderson didn't want to talk about it. Dowd persisted - and even came back with Jackie Martling (from "The Howard Stern Show") as back-up. Then, Variety's Anne Thompson reported on her blog, Anderson hit Dowd in the shoulder, chest and chin.

A Tribune police reporter checked with the Park City Police, and neither party is pressing charges. But the incident does illustrate an important lesson: Never get between a movie critic and his breakfast.

More deals made

It's a buyer's market at Sundance, and several titles have been picked up.

The big news is that the North American and Latin American rights for Lone Scherfig's British coming-of-age drama "An Education" - one of two movies at Sundance featuring breakout star Carey Mulligan - were picked up for almost $3 million by Sony Pictures Classics.

Also, Lionsgate spent a reported $3 million to pick up "The Winning Season," James C. Strouse's comedy about a hapless coach (Sam Rockwell) of a high school girls' basketball team (whose members include Emma Roberts, Shareeka Epps and Emily Rios).

Meanwhile, IFC picked up the domestic rights to the Norwegian horror film "Dead Snow" - a k a the zombie Nazi movie.

Images from the Rock Band Lounge

Here are a bunch of photographs taken by Jamie McCarthy of Wireimage.com and provided to The Salt Lake Tribune by the Rock Band Lounge, which set up shop on Park City's Main Street next to Harry O's. Stars, like Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, Robin Thicke, Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction and Robby Krieger of the Doors stopped by, and although we don't have a pic, we are told that Utah Jazz b-ball players played Weezer's "Say It Ain't So" on the video game.

Bonus question: can you ID the guy in the pic with Krieger?

A Hard Day's Day

Locksley performs today at 2:40 p.m. at the ASCAP Music Cafe, and the rock band could be confused for Anglophiles, considering their penchant for wearing Beatles-esque suits and touring with Ray Davies.

But singer and guitarist Kai Kennedy said the Brooklyn band prefers America any day.

"I like a good American hamburger," he said.

Will her hair look like this?

Macy Gray and Common perform tonight at Harry O's. Tickets are $150. Weep before, and after.

Two places at once

Author and foreign-policy expert Samantha Power wasn't at Wednesday's screening of "Sergio," the documentary (competing the Sundance Film Festival) based on Power's biography of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the charismatic U.N. envoy who was killed in a 2003 car bombing in Baghdad.

Power was in Park City earlier in the festival, said director Greg Barker, when "she got a call from a guy in D.C., who said, 'Where are you?' " Power told the guy she was at Sundance, and the guy replied, "Don't you know there's a big party here?"

The guy making the call from D.C.? President Barack Obama.

The Cult show no signs of aging

The Cult played to a packed house Tuesday night at Harry-O's in Park City, and proved that just because there's snow on the roof doesn't mean there's not a fire in the house. What could have turned out like some awkward Spinal Tap-ish croakfest from the eighties hit makers, was instead a full-on rock-n-roll throw down. Singer Ian Astbury still has one of the strongest, most recognizable voices in rock history. Interjecting political views between songs, and dealing with a few technical issues during their iconic hit Fire, the Brits pushed ahead and put on one helluva strong show.

The opening act, some bone jangling rockers who's name escapes me at the moment, were joined on stage by blues legend John Popper of the group Blues Traveler. On their own they were strong, but to have a living legend like Popper wail on that "Mississippi sax" for almost 20 minutes was a tremendous climax to the set, and the sort of had-to-be-there-to-see-it moment that only Sundance provides.

Look for some photos later.

- Darren Ewing

"An Education" director Lone Scherfig

On paper, Lone Scherfig is a bulldog of a director. She's a tough Danish lady who brings complicated scripts - usually her own - to life on the screen in mesmerizing dramas like Italian for Beginners. I was a bit intimidated to meet her, but she turned out to be congenial, warm and funny. (She'll be pleased to hear that her film has reportedly sold to Sony Pictures Classics this evening!)

Here is our interview with Lone:

The delightful Carey Mulligan

We had the chance to interview ingenue Carey Mulligan today, the charming British actress who is this year's Miss Sundance. She's in two films - An Education and The Greatest - with some incredible co-stars (Emma Thompson, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Susan Sarandon, Pierce Brosnan) and she's just 23 years old!

This girl is on the verge of being huge. Her resume on IMDB is like a how-to manual for evolving actresses. She told us today she'd like to follow the career path of Emma Thompson. Not a bad choice, huh? She was adorable, engaging and as bright as the Park City sun. Check out the video below.

-- Kim McDaniel

Start getting Real

Chet Cannon, above, is a cast member of "The Real World: Brooklyn" and was spotted at Harry O's Monday night for the Camp Freddy show.

He is a Salt Lake City native, one of two during the "Brooklyn" series. The other Salt Lake City cast member, Baya Voce, was spotted at Harry O's earlier in the week.

Isn't it about time for "The Real World: Salt Lake City"?

Are you listening, MTV?

Join The Cult tonight

One night after Cult guitarist Billy Duffy riffed through his set with Camp Freddy, he will once again take the stage at Harry O's at 427 Main St. tonight.

The legendary English rock band The Cult perform tonight.

Tickets are $100 at Harry O's and YaYaTickets.com.

Fun facts about The Cult:
1. The longest-serving band members are singer Ian Astbury and Duffy, both of whom are the band's songwriters.
2. The band formed in 1981.
3. Drummer Matt Sorum left the band to become the drummer for Guns n' Roses when the band kicked Stephen Adler out for drum problems. Sorum is now the drummer for Velvet Revolver and Camp Freddy.
4. The band plans on releasing its ninth album in 2009.
5. There are 21 former members of the band. No joke.

Saving the dolphins

Louie Psihoyos received a standing ovation Tuesday, not for how well he made his movie, but for the daring and probably illegal things he does in the movie - for a good cause.

Psihoyos is the director of the documentary "The Cove," an amazing and eye-opening look at a secret slaughter of dolphins in a Japanese coastal town - and how Psihoyos and a team of experts banded together, "Mission: Impossible"-style, to get the filmed evidence.

"It's my first film, and I wish I'd started making them earlier," Psihoyos said after the standing O.

Activist Ric O'Barry, who has fought 35 years to free captive dolphins (in part out of guilt for popularizing commercializing dolphins by training the stars of TV's "Flipper"), agreed.

"I wish you had started making movies earlier, too," O'Barry said. "I think the movie you made will have the power to stop this world's largest slaughter of dolphins."

(Here's the review, and here's where you can learn more about the plight of dolphins in Japan.)

Redford and me: Confessions of a Sundance stargazer

Brandon Griggs, the Trib's former Culture Vulture columnist and fellow Sundance celeb stalker — after two days or so, not a job for grownups, he and I agreed during last year's festival — remembers his 15 years covering the festival for the paper at CNN.com.

"I wrangled my way into overcrowded parties, dutifully listened to Robert Redford speak about 'politics in film,' interviewed Michael Moore in his rental car and tried not to stare at Ben Affleck making out with Gwyneth Paltrow in a hotel hallway.

I also spent hours circling traffic-choked Park City for parking, froze my fingers to icy nubs, annoyed Matthew Perry and saw some 150 films — some great and some astoundingly bad."

Read the rest of his column here.

— Ellen Fagg Weist

Return to "Return to Oz"

Pink Floyd fans claim that if you synchronize the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” with the band’s 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon,” there is an eerie similarity between the two, leading some to believe the British band wrote the album to correspond with the film. Pink Floyd, though, has always said that idea is preposterous.

But Wednesday, Salt Lake City’s Eliza Wren (above) is doing that on purpose, in the independent spirit of the Sundance Film Festival. She will perform 110 minutes of original music that correspond to every scene in the 1985 film “Return to Oz,” a dark sequel to “The Wizard of Oz.” The film, with the volume turned all the way down, and Wren will appear at the O.C. Tanner jewelry store at 416 Main St. in Park City.

Before you call Wren preposterous, consider this: Fairuza Balk, who portrayed Dorothy in the 1985 film and who has subsequently become an established actress in films such as “Almost Famous,” “American History X” and “The Waterboy,” will be on hand to introduce the screening and watch Wren’s interpretation.

“I’m surprised how much a cult film it has become,” Balk said in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune. “It was a very special part of my life, and it means a lot to a lot of people. Because of the movie, that’s why I have a career.”

Wren said she always loved “Return Oz” in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune. Most of the time, she said, she only can tolerate watching a movie once. But she has seen “Return to Oz” more than 1,000 times.

“I liked it as a kid,” Wren said. “It was a horror film for kids.”

But why compose 110 minutes of music to a 24-year-old film?

“I guess it’s kind of the same reason a mom goes through the trouble to give birth to a child,” Wren said. “It was something I created and believed in and I wouldn’t feel right not going through with it like I am. I feel it deserves the blood, sweat and tears I’ve put into it. And as far as the film’s date, I feel this is a pretty timeless film — [it] doesn’t seem to be dated — and better than many current fantasy films.”

After spending three years, off and on, writing the alternate score, Wren contacted Balk’s agent. Surprisingly, Balk didn’t find Wren preposterous, and Balk has agreed to come to Park City Wednesday for the sole purpose of watching Wren’s music performed with the screening of the film.

“I’m a big supporter of musicians and up-and-comers,” Balk said. “She seems like an interesting gal.”

Interesting, yes. Preposterous ... maybe. Be the judge Wednesday.

E-mail mhost@superlativeliving.com for free tickets; space is limited. Showtime is 8 p.m.

And another sale: "The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle"

Visit Films has purchased worldwide rights to Sundance Spectrum film "The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle" — a surreal comedy about a male computer programmer who gets laid-off, begins working as a janitor, and becomes "quasi-pregnant" thanks to a bizarre experiment. Seattle filmmaker David Russo's film premiered at Sundance on Monday.

In a press release, Visit Films said it was planning to sell international rights at the upcoming European Film Market. The film production/sales company also purchased the Sundance world cinema documentary "Kimjongilia." (Read Ben Fulton's review here.)
— Ellen Fagg Weist

Common prices

Alert! Alert! Alert!

SmithsTix, the ticketing agent for Harry O's this week during the Sundance Film Festival, has just announced a special discount price for the Macy Gray/Common show on Jan. 21 (Wednesday).

The special discounted price is ... $113.50, including service fee. The original price is $150, not counting the service fee.

In other words, instead of costing an arm and a leg, it only costs an arm.

But this offer only lasts until midnight tonight at SmithsTix outlets (801-468-8499).

It's nice to know that SmithsTix is trying to make the show affordable for the large families in Utah.

Slamdance's "The Ante" is picked up

Another sale: Panorama Entertainment has announced that it has acquired North American rights to director Max Perrier's "The Ante," a Slamdance narrative feature film. "This picture is one-of-a-kind, a dark comedy with offbeat overtones of horror, film noir and western genres; hard to confine into a box," said Valerie Gagnon, of the film's producer Peter Proffit Pictures.

In a press release, Panorama officials say they'll screen the film at festivals this year, before a spring theatrical release.

Here's how Slamdance blurbs the film: "When down-on-his-luck Sam Bailey takes a wrong turn on a remote country road, he ends up with more than a little dirt to wash off his shoes after a miserable farmwife’s hope for a better life becomes his worst nightmare. After Sam’s greedy Russian wife discovers his deadly secret, she ups the ante with her own crazy plot — playing with Sam's life to cover her bet. An offbeat dark comedy with overtones of film noir and western genres, The Ante tells the story of a man’s absurd gamble to save his innocence. Three desperate people who bet everything they have in a brainless high-stakes game of loser-loses-all."

The film screens today at 6 p.m. at the Treasure Mountain Inn, 255 Main St., Park City. Online ticket sales have closed, but there might be a few tickets available prior to the screening; check www.slamdance.com for details.
— Ellen Fagg Weist

Patton Oswalt is a Troll 2 fan

Our interview with Patton Oswalt yesterday started out a little bleak. He was obviously exhausted but congenial enough. However, as soon as web staffer Darren Ewing pulled out the swag and Patton recognized him from Troll 2 (he's a fan of the cult film), he opened right up. He even grabbed the mic and interviewed Darren! Check it out below.

We also got to ask him about the lunch incident the other day on Main. Here's what he said.

-- Kim McDaniel

Breakfast for Obama

It takes a lot to get Sundance Film Festival attendees to think about something larger than movies and dealmaking. It takes a historic presidential inauguration.

This morning, more than 100 people stood out in the cold on Park City's Lower Main Street (pictured above), where big-screen TVs were set to CNN for all to watch Barack Obama take the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States.

In lounges, restaurants and bars up and down Main Street, people gathered to watch the moment.

Jeff Dowd - a k a The Dude, the garrulous indie-film guru and unabashed liberal - hosted an inaugural brunch at the Spur Bar, drawing about 100 invited guests, an eclectic mix of producers, journalists and old friends. (The brunch was also a promo for a documentary in competition at Sundance, "Dirt! The Movie.")

They cheered when Obama first appeared on the platform. They were respectfully silent (mostly) when Rick Warren gave the invocation. They applauded when Aretha Franklin sang "America."

They really applauded when Joe Biden took the vice-presidential oath of office, if only because it meant Dick Cheney was finally out. (The movie buffs in the crowd couldn't help but notice that Cheney, temporarily in a wheelchair after pulling a back muscle, looked more like Mr. Potter from "It's a Wonderful Life!" than ever before.)

And they whooped and hollered at that moment - six minutes behind schedule - when Barack Hussein Obama (yes, he used his full name) took the oath of office. Dowd led the standing ovation.

They listened to Obama's inauguration speech with rapt attention, cheering occasionally - and cheering the loudest when he talked about protecting the environment, finding alternative energy and championing civil rights. When he was finished, the people in the Spur Bar stood and applauded, some with tears in their eyes.

After the ceremony, Dowd noted that this crowd can sway people's opinions and spark them to action through film.

"We're very, very powerful people," Dowd said. "We're the networkers, the builders, the creators. Don't underestimate our power."

And Dowd urged the audience to use that power to further Obama's goals for the nation.

"The challenge for films these days is to see what's possible," Dowd said. "There isn't a single problem in this world where you can't see tens or hundreds or thousands of solutions."

Sundance Sips: Part 2

Jean Louis Restaurant on Heber Ave in Park City is featuring the "Sundance Martini" which is being billed as the "healthy" libation for the festival.

It's all about branding, of course. But your sips are for a good cause.

The drink starts with Sundance brand organic white tea. (The company, an in-kind festival sponsor, is no doubt capitalizing on its shared name.) Then Eco Vodka and lemon juice are added in.

For every drink sold during the festival, $1 will be donated to The Abolish Slavery Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to combating human trafficking. It's a charity supported by actors Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore.

Get money for your next film

Need some cash for your next movie? Enter the Stella Artois Short Film Project, which has a $50,000 cash prize

Actor Kevin Spacey will unveil the new program for independent film makers in the United States Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. at the Sundance Lift.

Entries, which can be no longer than 10 minutes, can be submitted starting Jan. 26. Ten finalists will be selected with the winning film to be considered for various independent film festivals throughout the year.

For submission requirements, visit www.triggerstreet.com.

"Adam," "Humpday" sold

Two movies that debuted this weekend in the Sundance Film Festival's U.S. Dramatic competition have made distribution deals:

Movie City News is reporting that Fox Searchlight has picked up worldwide rights to "Adam," a romance between a man with Asperger's syndrome (Hugh Dancy) and his neighbor (Rose Byrne).
Magnolia Pictures has paid a mid-six-figure sum for the worldwide rights to "Humpday," Lynn Shelton's micro-budget comedy about two college friends (Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard) who dare each other to make a gay porno film. According to Daily Variety, Magnolia will employ an unusual release strategy: Putting the movie out first as a video-on-demand, before an August theatrical release.

Harry O's: Night Five: Raw Power

The best night of music so far in Park City this long weekend was Monday night's Harry O's performance of Camp Freddy, a rock-star supergroup that played covers for 90 minutes.

I originally wasn't going to make the trip to Harry O's from Sugar House because I was battling a fierce cold which make my voice feel the way Tom Waits' voice sounds. But I couldn't pass it up.

The band's Monday incarnation was a who's who of rock: Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), Matt Sorum (Guns n' Roses, Velvet Revolver), Billy Morrison (The Cult, Circus Diablo), Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction), Donovan Lietch Jr. (Nancy Boy), Billy Duffy (The Cult), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol's band), Shaun White (pro snowboarder/skateboarder) and, not least, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. It was great to get up to the stage and fist pump (although mine was covered in snot).

Here's some of the highlights:

-- Gibbons and the band launching into a heavy version of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" that initially sounded like they were going to cover "Nookie"
-- Stevens playing the guitar behind his head during two Idol songs, "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding"
-- McGarth doing his best Johnny Rotten impression when singing the Sex Pistols' "EMI"
-- The band dedicating a cover of the Cars' "Just What I Needed" to Barack Obama
-- Taylor screaming a manic version of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades," and then remarking, "I just had a f_____ aneurysm"
-- McGrath saying Robert Redford requested the band play Ted Nugent, so they played "Cat Scratch Fever"
-- The entire band closing with the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog"

Chronicle of a relationship

"Peter and Vandy" director-screenwriter Jay DiPietro wrote about these characters, a couple at various stages of their relationship, originally as a play in which he played Peter.

The difference between the play and the movie? "The play only had two people in it, and it was all in the living room," DiPietro said in a Q&A Monday night at the Racquet Club Theatre in Park City.

DiPietro filmed his movie in 18 days - a sprint, even by indie-film standards - and shot his main actors, Jason Ritter and Jess Weixler (pictured here with DiPietro), mostly by their characters' chronology. He then edited the movie into a disjointed timeline, so "you get to know this couple, and then you see them at the beginning."

(For a review of the movie, click here.)

Back at Sundance, all grown up

When Emmy Rossum first came to the Sundance Film Festival, in 2000 for Maggie Greenwald's rustic drama "Songcatcher," she was 13 and playing a backwoods innocent with a golden singing voice.

Rossum - whose credits include "The Day After Tomorrow" and "The Phantom of the Opera" - is back at Sundance this year, age 22, starring as a high school student getting into risky sexual territory in "Dare." (Read a review of "Dare" here.)

Rossum (pictured here with "Dare" director Adam Salky) has grown up, but she doesn't think Sundance has changed that much.

"It's still the same kind of community of making films and writing films," Rossum said Monday at a Q&A at the Racquet Club Theatre. "There's just more free stuff."

Hummus

At the Tower Theatre screening of "Cold Souls" Monday night, Paul Giamatti didn't make it for the Q & A, but the director/writer Audry Parenh and her director of photography did.

The amusing film is about a way scientists can extract and store people's souls. In the film, Giamatti's soul looks like a chickpea. When asked where she got the idea for a chickpea, the director revealed that it came to her in a dream, where Woody Allen's soul was a chickpea. What did the director's soul look like, then? The dream ended before she could find out, she said.

Not the Italian Job, but kinda

On tap tonight at Harry O's is for me, the most exciting musical event all week.

Camp Freddy is scheduled to take the stage at 11:30 tonight. Haven't heard of them? Don't feel so bad. They are a supergroup of rock stars. Although Dave Navarro (of Jane's Addiction, above) apparently will be a no-show, the show is supposed to have Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray (above), Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Matt Sorum of Guns n' Roses and Velvet Revolver, and several members of The Cult. It's an all-star cover band, and it should be rockin'.

Obviously, the big draw is the Rev. Billy Gibbons

Robert Siegel and Kevin Corrigan on Big Fan

We got to chat with writer/director Robert Siegel and co-star Kevin Corrigan today. Siegel wrote the script for "Big Fan" (along with the incredible script for "The Wrestler") but this was his first time directing. He said he bought a "for Dummies" book just to find out what a gaffer was. By the way, despite the fact his scripts are pretty serious, he is hilarious! He edited The Onion for several years and it shows.

He compared his experience with both projects coming to fruition at once to having a steak with an ice cream sundae on top. "I wish I could spread it out a little more," he said. "You'd kind of rather eat them [separately]." He was a delight to talk to.

Kevin Corrigan is one of those actors that you know, you just may not know his name. He's been in everything from sitcoms to gangster movies and is a Sundance veteran. He says his experience at the premiere of "Big Fan" was unlike any other he's had at the festival.

We also talked to the star, Patton Oswalt. That went SO well, we're going to do an entirely separate blog entry (or two) on that as soon as it's up. In the meantime, scroll a little for video from Siegel and Corrigan:

Robert Siegel:

Kevin Corrigan:

Coming to "Amreeka"

"I am so in awe of the Sundance audiences," writer-director Cherien Dabis said as she introduced her movie, "Amreeka." "You guys are the bomb, and I probably shouldn't be saying that as an Arab."

Dabis' movie chronicles the American experience of a Palestinian immigrant, Muna (played by Palestinian actress Nisreen Faour), who with her teen son Fadi (Melkar Muallem), moves to suburban Illinois to live with her sister (Haim Abbass, from "The Visitor") and her Americanized family -- just as the Iraq War is starting. (Read the review here.)

Dabis based her characters on her own family, and the story on her upbringing in a small Ohio town at the start of the first Iraq war. But Faour sees her own story in it, too.

"This is part of me, this is my soul," Faour said. "It's my family, it's my story, it's us."

Can luck strike twice?

Twenty years ago, Peter Gallagher said he had a good feeling before the premier of the critically acclaimed "sex, lies and videotape" (He played John, Andie MacDowell's husband)

Could that same Sundance luck strike again this year with his new film "Adam?"

It's the story of an unusual romance between Adam, a man with Asberger Syndrome (played by Hugh Darcy) and his beautiful upstairs neighbor, Beth. (Rose Burn). Gallagher plays Beth's father.

"I'm as excited for this movie as I was back then," Gallagher said Monday just prior to the premier at the Eccles Center. "There's something powerful, true and surprising about the story."

From lab to festival

"Don't Let Me Drown" - a romantic drama about Brooklyn teens from different ethnic backgrounds just after 9/11 - is a Sundance Institute baby from start to finish.

Director Cruz Angeles and his co-writer (and wife) Maria Topete first came to Sundance for the January screenwriters' lab. Then they workshopped the script at the Filmmakers' Lab in June 2005. The film also received the Sundance/NHK Filmmakers Award, which provided start-up funds to make the film, and an Annenberg Foundation fellowship, which helped with more money along the way.

Going through the labs "helped me to grow as a filmmaker," Angeles said, adding that the lab process improved the script. "The heart and the emotion was in there, but it wasn't really fleshed out," he said.

It was in casting for the June 2005 lab that Angeles found his male lead, E.J. Bonilla. "He was a very charismatic young man," Angeles recalled in a post-screening Q&A Monday at the Racquet Club Theatre in Park City.

Bonilla even wrote a rap song, in the voice of his character Lalo, for the female character, Stefanie. Bonilla performed the rap at the Q&A, receiving appreciative applause from the Racquet Club audience.

(For a review of "Don't Let Me Drown," click here.)

"Black Dynamite" Ignites a Sale

Midnight series blaxploitation picture, "Black Dynamite," was an explosive hit with Sony Pictures apparently.

This throwback to the 1970s action picture was sold for $2 million right after its Sunday night premiere at the Library, according to Variety.

The studio says it bought the picture because it sees huge franchise potential. Heck, we could even see "Black Dynamite" action figures (or not).

Expect to see the movie sometime this year.

TV Network Partners with Film Festival. . .Which Isn't Sundance

How rude!

IFC, otherwise known as the Independent Film Channel, took this opportunity at the Sundance Film Festival to announce a partnership with . . . the South By Southwest film festival.

The channel, which happens to be a competitor to that other independent movie channel, the Sundance Channel, announced Monday (Jan. 19) that it was partnering with SXSW to show five of that festival's films on an IFC on-demand service.

The SXSW Film Conference and Festival - which is a competitor to Sundance - is being held March 13 through the 21 in Austin, Texas, in conjunction with its big music festival.

In just a couple of days the IFC on-demand service is going to premiere Steven Soderbergh's latest movie, "Che," starring Benicio del Toro.

The first film in the partnership will be the festival premiere of "Alexander the Last," described as a "a tender exploration of the pleasures and pitfalls of creativity, and the impact that intimate professional relationships can have on a young marriage."

Rock Talks Utah, Hair

On Sunday, before the premiere of his documentary "Good Hair," Comedian Chris Rock (pictured in Park City Sunday with actress Nia Long) told The Tribune he couldn't remember if he had ever brought his stand-up show to Utah. But so far he liked the Beehive State.

While Rock didn't ski, he did "roll around on the slopes" and watched the NFL football playoffs.

Just before sitting down to dinner at the Bon Appetit Supper Club, Rock said he pursued "Good Hair" because "I hadn't seen it. I hadn't seen it done with black people and I thought I could make it funny."

We've got beef

Plenty of foie gras, truffles and Ahi tuna are being served at the Sundance Film Festival. But after checking out a few dining events this weekend, the award for the most popular dish goes to --- drum roll please ---- braised beef short ribs.

Sunday night at Bon Appetit Supper Club, Chef Cat Cora, of "Iron Chef America," served this slow-cooked comfort food to comedian Chris Rock and the rest of the cast and crew of his documentary "Good Hair." It came with herbed potato risotto, chanterelle mushrooms and Stella Artois beer.

On Friday, STK Chef Todd Mark Miller (an East High School graduate and former chef at the Metropolitan, Fresco and Deer Valley) served braised beef short ribs with parsnip puree, sunchokes and port wine to director Spike Lee and friends.

And tonight, at Chefdance, in the Basement of Harry O's nightclub, Utah chefs Adam Vickers and Franck Peissel (Tuscany and Franck's respectively) will be serving Kobe beef short ribs with shaved black truffles. Pomme frites fried in duck fat and pan seared Opakapaka “Hawaiian Pink Snapper” also are on the menu.

"When its snowy and cold, everyone turns to braised food," explained Cora, adding that she'd rather cook lamb, but beef "pleases everyone."

Stars play cards

Just got back from the Barclay Butera Lounge in Park City where tonight's big celebrity poker tournament was held.

Favorite competitor of the night: Law & Order star Christopher Meloni whose Sundance movie "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" premiered this weekend. Wearing a gray fedora and an NBA All-star jacket, Meloni kept his game face on even with all the interruptions from organizer Michael Lohan (aka, Lindsay's daddy)

Second favorite: Jerry Yang, the World Series of Poker champion. I know he's not a award-winning actor, but I found him a lot more interesting than Kim Zolciak, of "Real Housewifes of Atlanta" or actor Danny Baldwin, who folded and left the building about 30 minutes into the charity event.

He's worked with Miles Davis and Eminem. See him.

John Bigham, former guitarist for Fishbone and percussionist for Miles Davis, will perform an opening act set on Monday at Harry O's. (The headliner is Camp Freddy.)

Bigham is supporting a solo album, "The Soul of John Black," which Bigham described as an "adventure in soul, blues and more" in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune. (OK, me.) The album is due in February.

Bigham was last in Salt Lake City as a band member for Nikka Costa, who according to Tribune staffer Darren Ewing, had a blazing set at Club Sound a month or two ago. But this is Bigham's first time out-of-state (he's from California) performing his own new material.

Bigham has also worked with Eminem, who had an impact pn him, he said. "I've learned to be true to myself, to keep my integrity. I try to go with my heart, and if it feels good, let it flow," he said.

"Fan"-demonium

Take one stand-up comic, add the former editor of The Onion, and you've got yourself one funny Q&A.

That was the scene Sunday night at the Racquet Club Theatre, after the debut screening of "Big Fan," one of the U.S. Dramatic competition films at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. (Here's the review of the film.)

When writer-director Robert Siegel (whose resume includes a stint at The Onion, and writing Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler") invited his star, comic Patton Oswalt, up to the mic, Oswalt grabbed it like it was open-mic night at a comedy club.

Pointing to his buxom co-star Serafina Fiore, wearing a black bodysuit so tight she couldn't (not wouldn't, but couldn't) get the zipper past her boobs, Oswalt joked, "I almost wore the exact same outfit."

When asked if he was allowed to ad-lib, Oswalt said he liked the script too much to mess with it. Siegel pointed out something else that limited the improvising: "Patton knows jack s--- about football."

(Photo: From left, "Big Fan" writer-director Robert Siegel, and stars Patton Oswalt and Kevin Corrigan.)

No Kirk Cameron film at Sundance, somehow

Tonight's music performer at Harry O's is Robin Thicke, son of "Growing Pains" star Alan Thicke. Robin, 31, is a successful blue-eyed soul singer-songwriter, which is a change of pace from the hip hop-laden fare of the last three nights of entertainment.

Tickets start at $100 and end at $250. Yes, ouch.

But show me that smile again. Don’t waste another minute on your crying. We're nowhere near the end. The best is ready to begin. Oooohhh. As long as we got each other, we got the world spinning right in our hands. Baby you and me, we gotta be the luckiest dreamers who never quit dreaming. As long as we keep on giving we can take anything that comes our way. Baby, rain or shine, all the time, we got each other, sharing the laughter and love.

"Reporter" Q & A

The Sunday evening screening of the Ben Affleck-produced documentary "Reporter" at the Tower Theatre in Salt Lake City wasn't a star-studded affair, but there were probably about 10 reporters from The Salt Lake Tribune present.

The documentary, about New York Times columnist/reporter Nicholas Kristof and his trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo to investigate genocide, was screened to an approving audience. There was a Q & A afterward, with producer Mikaela Beardsley the sole participant. (No Affleck or Kristof, unfortunately.) She said the initial aim was to make a film about the reporting process, but it ended up exploring the theme about the American public's ignorance about the horrible situation in Darfur, Rwanda and the Congo.

Some of her more interesting comments were about the reporting profession in general, and that even the New York Times isn't immune to the recession. Kristof had wanted to make another trip to Africa this year, but financial pressures prevented him.

There were two questions that I and my companion had that we didn't ask.

My companion, a fellow reporter, wanted to ask about a scene where Kristof appears to give money to a friend of a dying Congo woman to pay for the medical care and to help the companion get back home. My companion thought that act was amounting to paying a woman for her story in a way, something reporters are generally prohibited to do, especially because Kristof ended up writing a column about the dying woman. (David Frost notwithstanding.) Yes, it does show compassion, but it turns the reporter into part of the story, in a way, and gives the impression that payment to a source is OK. But, then again, Kristof has two Pulitzer Prizes, so what do we know?

The question I had concerned the New York Times, which is a substantial sponsor of the Sundance Film Festival. I will leave the film review to my more qualified colleague, movie critic Sean P. Means, but I wondered how this film, which portrays Kristof and the Times in a fairly sympathetic light, was selected. How do you not show favoritism of a tit-for-tat relationship? In other words, was this film selected because of the Times' sponsorship? I presume not, but there could be a perception that the selection process was biased. I just hope, and presume, that one had nothing to do with the other, but if you a documentary filmmaker and had your film denied for selection to the festival, wouldn't you wonder?

It was a mob scene, complete with giggling teen fans, outside the Sunday night screening of "I Love You Phillip Morris" at Park City's Eccles Theatre. Autograph hunters flashed photos of Ewan McGregor from his "Star Wars" and "Trainspotting" days. Security managed the crowd, some of whom stood on piles of snow trying to catch glimpses of McGregor and his co-star (and cinematic love interest) Jim Carrey.

In the movie, Carrey plays a married Texas policeman who turns white-collar criminal, later meeting the love of his life, McGregor's character, while he's serving time. McGregor, returning to Sundance for the first time since 1993, described the film as one of "many love stories." Carrey added: "This is a story about a man who once loved, and will do anything to get it."

McGregor displayed an austere dose of movie-star handsomeness, replete with amber-tinged three-day stubble. And who can't but be bewitched by his Scottish brogue? Carrey appeared to be at least half teeth, the other half eyes, both big-screen sized features working in devastating synch.
— Ben Fulton

What kind of fan?

Perhaps comedian Patton Oswalt was feeling a bit of nerves before the Sunday evening screening of "Big Fan," his dramatic turn as Paul Aufiero, a parking-garage attendant who describes himself as the "world's biggest New York Giants fan." Like the rat character he voiced in "Ratatouille," Oswalt scurried in at the end of the red-carpet walk and posed for a cast photo, but didn't stop to talk to the press. (For more on Oswalt's serious turn, read it here).

Actor Kevin Corrigan ("Pineapple Express" and "Buffalo 66"), who plays Sal, a close friend of Oswalt's character, was talking about the movie, though. Corrigan said the film starts out funny, but takes a serious turn. "It's a bit of a fake-out at the end," the actor said, saying viewers should expect something like a cross between "After Hours" and "Meatballs."
— Ben Fulton

Sledding with Slamdance

In what has become at least a semi-regular tradition among our web staff, we trudged up the roughly 3,577 steps and sneaked our way on to a run at Park City Ski Resort for the 8th annual Slamdance Sled Off.

Filmmakers, and anyone else who wants to tag along, use actual sleds, tarps, cardboard boxes or anything else that will slide - even slick shoes. They climb halfway up a ski run and bust their butts down the hill, hoping the crowd below will catch them before they speed over the edge and into the soft powder below. (They don't always.)

While the event is a challenge to Sundance filmmakers, as usual none bothered to show up.

Check out our video of the event:

-- Kim McDaniel

Keith Bryce and the Martian Elk

Utah fashion designer and Project Runway reject Keith Bryce hosted an eclectic exhibit at Sundance, including live models wearing antlers.

Check out this video from earlier today:

-- Kim McDaniel

Google That Drink

Park City - Now here's something you don't see everyday. At the T-Mobile Diner in the Village at the Yard, you order your drinks by texting the waiter with the new Google phone that's tethered to your table.

The diner is the place to go - if you are credentialed for it - for good food and a chance to mess with the phone, which runs on the new Google-made Android operating system.

Here's my dose of irony for today: What you see above is a picture of the phone taken with my iPhone, the Google phone's chief competitor.

The Google phone, which like the iPhone uses a touchscreen to navigate the applications, came out last fall. A white version of the phone was just released.

So just exactly what does this have to do with independent film? Absolutely nothing, just like all the other corporate hangouts during the festival.

"Faber"-able reception

The romantic comedy "Arlen Faber" got a good reception Sunday night at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, mostly for Jeff Daniels' hilarious turn as a misanthropic author rejoining the world 20 years after writing an influential spiritual book.

Daniels said playing a solitary man wasn't difficult. "I live in Michigan, so I'm a bit of a recluse in Hollywood's terms," Daniels said. "I just poured a little gas on that."

One of the highlights of Daniels' performance is his physical humor, which also wasn't hard for him. "It's an indie, so you only get two or three takes," he said, "and, having done 'Dumb & Dumber,' I tend to start at fearless and over the top."

(For a review of "Arlen Faber," go here.)

Now If We Can Just Get "The Simpsons" Cast Here

Park City - If you've ever had the lucky pleasure of seeing an animated series cast do what's called a "cast reading," you can kill yourself now because it's the best live entertainment anywhere.

I've seen the cast of "The Simpsons" do it in Los Angeles during my annual television critics convention, and it's one of the most hilarious events I've ever been too.

Now, I've been to a second one, this time from another pop culture phenomenon, "SpongeBob SquarePants."

The cast, which included voice actors Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Mr. Lawrence (Plankton), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), and Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), were all in Park City Sunday (Jan. 18) to perform an episode that is airing in April.

And it's a hoot to hear these voices - which we're all familiar coming from the mouths of cartoon drawings - come from human faces. Behind them, they were running stills and some animated clips from the episode. It was about the gang going to Goo Lagoon where they meet a surfing god.

The cast was in town to celebrate the 10th season of "SpongeBob," which is currently airing its sixth season and is in production for its seventh season.

Music mogul Russell Simmons, who also runs a custom diamond jewelry business, was on hand to introduce the cast and to show off his custom-made SpongeBob necklace which is encrusted with diamonds and is expected to fetch more than $100,000 at auction for charity.

Simmons said so far Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Jim Carrey all wore the necklace briefly in the last couple of days in Park City. He all had to tell them, "No, you can't take it with you."

Finally, there was a brief Q & A after the reading, mostly questions that were offered up by a row of kids sitting in the front.

This was the question of the day: A cute blond boy asked actor Clancy Brown (who plays Mr. Krabs and has been in a lot of movies) "What's the most painful thing you've ever seen?"

"What???" everyone said, laughing.

"On the show," the boy clarified.

Thank heavens. After all, Brown's the actor who played a space marine in "Starship Troopers" and stabbed another guy in the hand. That looked pretty painful.

I'm a Believer. . .in Davy Jones

Park City - You know, I hope I look this damn good at 63, which is never going to happen because I don't look this damn good now.

But Davy Jones, aka lead singer of the 1960s pop band The Monkees, was in Park City Sunday (Jan. 18) for the SpongeBob SquarePants cast reading at The Village at the Yard on Kearns Boulevard.

He's an extremely nice guy. We talked for a bit about his four daughters, and he gave me a little advice about raising teen girls — something about praying when it comes to making sure your daughters are not out of countrol.

It was just then that my 8-year-old daughter Ashley - who just got Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob, to sign her shirt with a Sharpie pen - came up to me with a deathly look on her face and whispered, "Daddy, SpongeBob just stole my pen!"

I got the pen back, Kenny was extremely nice to my two daughters, and so was Jones, who posed with them for a picture.

Now if we can just get Davy, Michael, Mickey and Peter back together for just one concert.

Lost "Souls"

So, Paul Giamatti, how was it to play Paul Giamatti?

"It was the hardest role in my life," Giamatti said after Sunday afternoon's screening of "Cold Souls," a surrealist comedy about an actor - named and played by Paul Giamatti - who has his soul extracted, but later regrets it. (Here's a review of the movie.)

"I'm a much more interesting person than this character," Giamatti said. "I had to strip all this away."

"The Greatest" is just that

"I wish every audience could be a Sundance audience," remarked writer-director Shana Feste received a sustained standing ovation Sunday morning at the Racquet Club Theatre for her movie, "The Greatest."

The movie stars Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon as parents in grief after their 18-year-old son Bennett (Aaron Johnson) is killed in a car crash - and later learn that the girl in the car with him, Rose (Carey Mulligan), is carrying Bennett's child. (Read the review here.)

The emotion of Feste's script was so intense, said Brosnan in the Q&A, that he couldn't process it at first. "I thought it was brilliant, and I threw it under the bed," he said. "I didn't want to go there."

Sarandon said that when filming some scenes for hours, the emotion was so strong, "my body chemistry changed." This from an actress who said, "two of the funniest sets I've ever been on were 'Dead Man Walking' and 'Lorenzo's Oil.' Explain that."

(Photo: Writer-director Shana Feste in the foreground, with her cast: Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon and Carey Mulligan, from left.)

"Finest" sold, except for the ending

"Brooklyn's Finest," a gritty cop drama that premiered Friday night to hostile audiences, looks to be the first Sundance Film Festival title to sell.

Daily Variety reports that the movie - starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Wesley Snipes, and directed by Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day") - was bought by Senator Distribution, for a figure rumored to be under $5 million.

Senator expects a late fall release to position the movie for awards consideration. But what audiences this fall won't see is the reportedly nihilistic ending, which was roundly reviled by Sundance audiences.

Crushed

Walking by Stanfield Fine Art gallery (751 Main St., Park City) late Saturday night, I saw a sign in the window: "David Archuleta. Tonight at 9 p.m. Limited tickets.)

Shoot. I was walking by at 10 p.m.

Harry O's: Night Three

Despite my intent to stay away from Harry O's Saturday night, I found myself inside again that night.

The show, featuring T.I., was called "Partying With the Stars," and the nightclub had a red carpet-style area for photographers and TV reporters. (And me.)

There were a bunch of NFL players there who I'll refuse to name because if they were any good, they'd be in the playoffs right now. (The second reason is that I can't for the life of me ID anyone except for Tom Brady, who wasn't there.) John Salley, former Detroit Pistons star and host of "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" on FOX Sports showed up, and compared Main Street to Rodeo Drive. (Note to Salley: Rodeo is a lot warmer.)

One of the guys working the door told me "Komputer" was there. I Googled him. Couldn't find him.

As for T.I., he is smaller than you'd think he'd be. Maybe that's why he always gets caught for carrying weapons and is going to jail soon for that very thing.

When You're Sting

The premiere of the new Doors documentary, "When You're Strange," brought out the musical stars Saturday night.

The three surviving members of the Doors showed up: Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore. I was surprised all three came, because it's no secret that Densmore has a strong dislike for the other two for what he claims is capitalizing on the Doors' success by launching a group called The Doors of the 21st Century with a new lead singer. Densmore has refused to participate in that group or any other attempts to have a "reunion."

So it was no surprise that Densmore stayed on one end of the red carpet while the other two were on the other side, according to a Salt Lake Tribune photographer who was there. (I arrived at the theater and was told there was no red carpet, so I didn't see the photo section, but I saw them walk into the theater.) Manzarek and Kreiger walked in together. Densmore walked into the theater way after the other two.

One of the more pleasant surprises was that Sting and his wife Trudie came for the premiere. He was apparently doing an homage to Rober Redford by having a very "Jeremiah Johnson"-esque beard. He is also very brown-haired. I always thought he was blond.

Another pleasant surprise was the arrival of Perry Farrell, the legendary lead singer of Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros. I followed him stealthily into the theater's cafe, where he and his attractive significant other purchased a king-size Kit Kat and he bought an orange-tangerine Sobe Lifewater, the kind that is also called "Immunity" because it has acerola extract and rosehips. (Check out my fine investigative reporting.)

The same Trib photographer told me that he didn't know who Farrell was initially. When the photographer asked Farrell for his name, the singer politely offered it and said something to the effect of, "It's hard to recognize me without a dress."

In what I called my Method-style of reporting, I bought the same drink he did, for $3.50. I tried it out, and it was pretty gross. At least I got some acerola. Whatever that is. If I get sick within the next few days, I'm blaming that dang Sobe lizard.

The premiere was at Temple Har Shalom, and it didn't cease to amaze me that Sundance has taken over a temple. At least the premiere was after sundown on Saturday.

The Doors at Sundance video

The folks at the Gibson Lounge on Main Street asked our photographer, Robert Hirschi, to loan them some musical equipment for a performance today. He soon found out it was for a Doors mini-reunion of keyboardist Ray Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Kreiger.

Under the guise of a roadie, Web Producer Darren Ewing managed to get in with him for the show, and got two performances on tape! Unfortunately Hirschi got some hassle from the Associated Press people and had to stop taking pictures, but the video rolled the entire time.

Here is the performance of "Riders on the Storm", and below that the band knocking out "Road House Blues"

- Darren Ewing

Riders on the Storm

Road House Blues

Cold, dreamy souls

Director/screenwriter Sophie Barthes says the idea for her debut feature "Cold Soul," starring Paul Giamatti — which screened at Park City's Racquet Club at 5:15 p.m. Saturday — came from a dream she had about three years ago. In the dream, she found herself in a futurist office space, with Woody Allen. Both of their souls had been extracted, and they were carrying them around in a box. When Allen opened his, he found his soul appeared to be a little chick. Unfortunately, Barthes woke up before she was able to see what her soul looked like.

Giamatti described the movie as "science-fiction-y," and said he loved the movie's "deadpan, but smart tone." What was odd during the filming is that the character wasn't just written for the actor, but shares his name. Whenever a colleague would address him by his name, the actor thought they were breaking character.
— Roxana Orellana

500 Days of Summer

At the first screening of "500 Days of Summer" Saturday evening, stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel said they were happy to be reunited. The film, a romantic comedy written by Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber, was a far cry from the last time the actors worked together in a Sundance film, 2001's "Manic."

As for the first-time-at-Sundance screenwriting team, they told reporters that they had been enjoying libations on their visit, stereotypes aside. "It's a myth," one said. "You can definitely get a drink in Utah."

Another light-hearted moment on the red carpet came from 11-year-old Chloe Moretz. The young actor had been busy auditioning and acting in other films since "500 Days of Summer" wrapped, and she had to be reminded that her character's name was Rachel.
— Kathy Stephenson

Stuck in the middle with Michael Madsen

Michael Madsen, who is in town to promote his Slamdance film "You Might As Well Live," was asked why he works so much. He has 27 films in some sort of production status, according to Internet Movie Database.

Well, for one thing, he said, he doesn't trust IMDB, he said. Someone once told him to read a script for a friend of a friend of a friend, so he read it. Next thing he knew, he said, IMDB attached him to the project.

Plus, working means money, he said, frankly. "I have six children and I live in Malibu," Madsen said. "My kids aren't going to move to a trailer park while Daddy waits for the perfect role. I'm used to a certain standard of living."

Madsen, who made a Park City film festival splash years ago as a membr of "Reservoir Dogs," said he always enjoy the Park City film festivals. "It's a bit of an honor to be there," he said. "I enjoy the prestige of the whole thing."

Whatever you like tonight

At Harry O's (427 Main St.) tonight: rapper T.I., who visited West Valley City in November in a U92 concert and is apparently trying to tour as much as possible before he goes to serve a one-year jail term in March.

The theme of the party is called "Partying With the Stars." I'll be there to see if that will be the case.

Tickets at SmithsTix start at $100. But it's a way to stimulate the economy.

Will everything be wonderful now?

You don't need to travel all the way to Washington D.C. to partake in the festivities of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration. You don't even need to leave Main Street.

At The Sidecar at 333 Main St. in Park City on Tuesday, the Summit County Democrats are having an inauguration party that costs $50 to get in (with the proceeds benefiting the dems).

Besides featuring red-hot Kevin Rudolf, who will be performing at Harry O's later in the week, Art Alexakis of Everclear will perform in an acoustic set.

Everclear has seen its better days, but the Portland, Oregon band has regrouped (with different members) and has posted a new song, "Jesus Was a Democrat," on its Web site. In an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, Alexakis said he'll probably play that new song as well as other hits from the band's past.

He said he and his fiancee will spend three days in Park City during Sundance, but the singer, nearing 50, will not be living it up. He has a 14-month-old at home, and while of course there is love, there isn't much rest. "We're not going to be partying," he said. "We'll be sleeping."

Alexakis has been a huge Obama supporter since the singer was an Oregon delegate at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He was at a breakfast caucus meeting when a guy sat next to him and introduced himself as Barry. He and Art had a short but meaningful conversation. A day or two later, Alexakis watched the same guy deliver a keynote address and it gave him "chills."

Ladies Love Patton

A huge crowd of girls and young women were crowded around the windows at Main Street Pasta & Noodle around 3:30 on Saturday. Who were they giggling over and taking photos of? Zac Efron? Justin Timberlake?

Nope, Patton Oswalt! The baby faced comedian and actor, is the star of Big Fan playing at Sundance. He is best known for playing Spence on tv's King of Queens and the voice of Remi, the rat chef in Ratatoullie.

Inaugural stars

Actor Susan Sarandon, on her red carpet walk before the 3:15 Saturday screening of "The Greatest," announced she was looking forward to her upcoming trip to Washington D.C. for President Barack Obama's inauguration. It's her first inauguration, she noted, although that's not the way the press has reported it. "It think I'll enjoy it more than the last one that they said I went to," joked the actor who is noted for her activism, along with partner Tim Robbins.

Others at the

premiere included director/screenwriter Shana Feste, and Sarandon's husband in the movie, Pierce Brosnan, who was in town along with his real-life wife and two sons, Dylan and Paris, who were skiing for the day. Before the screening, the buzz at the Eccles Theatre was favorably comparing the movie to the Robert Redford-directed "Ordinary People." Feste, who admitted she loved that movie, said she was honored by the comparison.
— Kathy Stephenson

Snowtopia

Seen at lower Main Street's Hollywood Life house, during a Saturday afternoon private party by the makers of Toridoki's Snowtopia boots, were actors Dave Annable (who plays Justin Walker, on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters"), Kym Whitley (of "Black Dynamite" and "College Road Trip") and Gael Garcia Bernal, Gullermo Fracella and director Carlos Cuaron of the Sundance premiere "Rudo y Cursi."
— Roxana Orellana

Greetings from Bikini Bottom

You never know which celebrities you're going to run into at the Sundance Film Festival. For example, this guy:

SpongeBob SquarePants made an appearance at the Village at the Yard, a gifting lounge where celebs and media come to check out new products and take home some swag.

Nickelodeon is host to part of the lounge, to mark the big yellow guy's 10th anniversary.

The most glorious swag at the SpongeBob booth was this piece of jewelry, featuring 18 karat white gold and a total weight of 12 carats of colored diamonds. It's got a listed value of $75,000, but is being auctioned off for charity.

Fashionably restrictive

Editors love to ask questions. Being asked questions is another thing.

That may be why Vogue's Anna Wintour (pictured), the imperious subject of R.J. Cutler's documentary "The September Issue" (in the U.S. Documentary competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival) didn't take questions from the audience - as is traditional at Sundance screenings - after the movie's Saturday afternoon showing at the Temple Theatre.

Instead, Sundance programming director John Cooper asked the questions of Wintour and Cutler about the movie, which follows the process of putting together the magazine's all-important September issue - the thickest and most influential of the year.

Wintour admitted "it's quite hard to look at yourself" as a documentary subject. Her staff took time to get used to Cutler's presence as well: "At first, everybody was checking their make-up every five minutes. ... At the end of the nine months, he was just another person coming to work at Vogue."

(For a review of "The September Issue," click here.)

Doors, reunited

The surviving members of legendary rockers The Doors got together for a couple of songs this afternoon at the Gibson Lounge. They performed (yes, Riders on the Storm was one song), signed guitars and posed for pics.

Our sltrib.com team was there! Watch for video at sltrib.com/Sundance as soon as we can get it up.

--Kim McDaniel

'Round midnight

Ask any long-time Sundance enthusiast, and they'll tell you the festival really gets moving at midnight.

The opening screening for director Ryan Shiraki's "Spring Breakdown" was no exception, and not just because it promised big laughs. The movie also brought out the perennial princess of indie filmdom, Parker Posey, plus "Saturday Night Live's" Amy Poehler, still basking in the glow of not only her Hillary Clinton impersonation, but also her status as newly minted parent.

Parker gave reporters short shrift, as she was suffering from both altitude sickness and chattering teeth, she said. Poehler, however, worked the celebrity line like a pro. That was partly due to the presence of many Canadian journalists eager to follow her better half, Canadian Will Arnot. One Canuck journo even presented her with an infant "onesy" adorned by the Canadian maple-leaf flag on front, with the Stars and Stripes on the back.

Poelher also endured the ribbings of "Bob $tencil," the former Branff airline pilot turned mock TV journalist, who told her she was now "on his list of favorite 'milfs.'" "I hate that word," she said, her tone one-part playing along, one part thoroughly annoyed.

Inside the Park City Library, the sold-out crowd sat glued to director Shiraki's every introductory word. "This [movie] is my boost to lady comedy," he said of his 84-minute film about 40-something women coming together for good times under less-than-ideal personal situations. "As an honorary lady myself, I had a great time making it."
— Ben Fulton

Ready, Set, Go!

"Punk'd" pro Ashton Kutcher and Web icon Kevin Rose (pictured) have banded together for a live competition that is being streamed to your computer right now!

"24 Hours @ Sundance" pits four Web celebrities (well, if you can call them that) in a competition where they have to compete in challenges every three hours. The contest started at 9 a.m. today (Jan. 17) and concludes Sunday (Jan. 18) at 9 a.m.

Kutcher, an actor and producer if you didn't know, and Rose, the founder of Digg.com and former host on the old Tech TV, are hosting the competition. I'd tell you who the competitors were, but honestly, you wouldn't know who they are. Actually, I don't know they are, and I'm a tech geek.

But what's unique is that their contest is being streamed from their cell phone cameras directly to you by going to http://www.qik.com/ and to http://www.24hoursatsundance.com/ where they are archiving the footage.

Qik is a nifty program that turns most cell phones into live video cameras. With the application, the video shot with your phone is then streamed live to the world at Qik.com.

Got ads?

Most advertising is awful, admits documentarian Doug Pray, whose movie "Art & Copy" celebrates those rare creative individuals who make good ads.

His movie - a U.S. Documentary entry in the 2009 Sundance Film Festival - interviews the people who created such campaigns as Apple Computer's "1984" ad, Ronald Reagan's "It's morning in America," "got milk?" and Nike's "Just Do It" (which was inspired by, of all things, convicted killer Gary Gilmore's final words before a Utah firing squad executed him: "Let's do it").

After a Saturday morning screening at Park City's Holiday Village Cinemas, Pray defended his choice to highlight the inspiring creative people who do advertising right, rather than the vast majority who create obnoxious, vapid and depressing advertising.

"Advertising is a huge part of our culture," Pray said. "I could either focus on the really bad, or focus on the best of the best of the best. ... It's saying that if advertising is our environment, let's clean up our environment."

(For a review of "Art & Copy," click here.)

Sips at Sundance

If you're watching a film at Park City's Egyptian Theatre, skip the soda and sip a distinctly Utah drink: the High West Whiskey Sour.

The folks at High West, the state's first "legal" distillery since prohibition, came up with this signature cocktail, which features their award winning Rendezvous Rye.

It's made with a cinnamon-vanilla-nutmeg spiced lemonade and served over ice. And, thanks to recent changes in the state liquor laws, it's got 1.5 ounces of the booze.

Tyson comes for dinner

Several top-rated chefs will be working behind the scenes in Park City kitchens this weekend, putting out delectable food for the Sundance stars.

Tonight at Chefdance (the basement of Harry O's on Main) Gene Kato, chef at Japonaise in Chicago and New York will be serving a three-course meal for the cast and crew of "Helen" which stars Ashely Judd and Goran Visnjic.

Down the street at the Bon Appetit Supper Club (Easy Street Brasserie on Heber Ave.) Iron Chef Cat Cora, New Orleans Chef John Besh and New York's Scott Conant of "Scarpetta" restaurant will be feeding a group from "The Greatest" featuring Piece Brosnan and Susan Sarandon.

Ironically, both dining venues list Mike Tyson as a special guest. Hmmmm. I guess even in retirement he can still eat dinner twice.

More on ChefDance in this video:

Harry O's: Night Two

My quest to visit Harry O's every night of the festival might be broken Saturday night, because I think I need a night off after two consecutive nights at the venue.

It's not that I don't enjoy the venue and the girls grinding in bikinis on top of the bar, it's just that the main performers don't come on until well after my normal bedtime. Thursday night, Nick Cannon came on at about midnight, and Friday night (or should I say, Saturday morning), Young Jeezy didn't come on until a few minutes before 1 a.m.

Once again, I only saw one celebrity, and it was the same one as Thursday night: Baya Voce, a current cast member of "The Real World: Brooklyn." I scanned all night the VIP lounges and cordoned-off areas, but only saw normal people like me. It was a little frustrating. If I wanted normal, I'd look in the mirror.

"Push"-ing the envelope

The red carpet at the premiere of the new Sundance film "Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire" was a star-studded one at the park City Racquet Club Friday night.

Not only were cast members Mariah Carey (and her husband Nick Cannon, with hands holding) and Mo'nique (who was wearing a long, long fur coat) there, but Robert DeNiro stopped by although he isn't ostensibly listed in the credits.

Carey received the most attention, though, and not because she took off her long black leather coat to reveal a very revealing black dress with a zipper than ran the entire length of the FRONT of the dress. She was accompanied by a huge entourage of folks.

DeNiro, on the other hand, was accompanied by only his wife and one publicist. He was wearing a low-key black leather jacket, scarf and blue jeans.

One of the last people to arrive for the premiere was a breathtaking Christie Brinkley, who looked like she was 25 years old.

"Push" comes to love

It was a lovefest at the Q&A for "Push" Friday night at Park City's Racquet Club Theatre.

First director Lee Daniels had to thank everybody even remotely involved in the making of this gritty drama - from his kids to the casting director to the stars in attendance: Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, who plays the obese, pregnant and abused 16-year-old at the movie's center.

Then there was the first question in the Q&A, directed to Mo'Nique: "What are you going to wear to the Oscars?" Mo'Nique's reply: "Absolutely nothing."

Then Carey gushed about working with Mo'Nique: "She gave me anything and everything I could ask for."

Later, Mo'Nique returned the favor, saying Carey "was so brilliant."

Finally, in a response to a pointed question about Carey's past movie failures, Daniels got shirty and defended the singer-turned-actress: "Mariah Carey is a certifiable genius, and I loved 'Glitter.' "

(Photo: Director Lee Daniels, foreground, and his "Push" stars: from left, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique.)

Zombie Girl rocks!

When we heard about a 12-year-old girl from Austin, Texas, who made a zombie movie, we couldn't wait to talk to her! Emily Hagins (now 16) wrote the script and she and her mom, Maggie, served as crew on "Pathogen", doing everything themselves with a camcorder, Mac and some ingenuity. Some other filmmakers in the area got wind of it when she posted a casting call, and the resulting documentary, "Zombie Girl: The Movie" is an entry at this year's Slamdance Film Festival.

Tonight was the premiere, and we got to chat with Emily, Maggie and the three directors of the film just after they arrived in Utah and before the big event. She's absolutely as cool as you imagine, and bonus - she loves the Muppets! (You'll have to watch to find out who's her favorite.)

-- Kim McDaniel

No-photo Norah

Just returned from the dessert after-party of the Salt Lake City premiere of "The September Issue." The documentary about the editor of Vogue magazine, Anna Wintour, was enjoyable, with some funny moments, which the audience seemed to appreciate. Local notables at the show included Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, Utah Shakespearean Festival Executive Director Scott Phillips and festival creator Fred Adams.

No star sightings were recorded prior the movie. It wasn't until I ran into the ladies' room to dictate my story to my editor that I noticed jazz singer Norah Jones retouching her makeup. I asked if I could take her picture as she was leaving the bathroom and she brushed me off with a polite, "I've got to go." No biggie.

I ran into her again at the dessert party, where she and her boyfriend Michael Martin, who worked on the movie's crew, served themselves treats. She looked adorable in a gray-ish strapless knee-length dress with a sweetheart neckline. She told me she would rather not have her picture taken because she was there to support her boyfriend.

She was polite but I could tell she was a little freaked out when I told her I dated someone she went to school with. Anyway, I can't help but feel a little odd at playing the "I know someone you know" card with a now-famous singer.

— Roxana Orellana

A little alt-depression reading

At Friday night's screening of "Helen," star Ashley Judd talked about her method of preparing for the role of a successful academic who struggles with severe depression. And it seemed particularly fitting that her research involved reading five books, since the screening was held, appropriately enough, according to Judd, at the Park City's Library Center Theatre.

A couple of the books on her nightstand included William Styron's famed memoir, Darkness Visible, as well as Andrew Solomon's Noonday Demon and Kay Jamison's Night Falls Fast.

The actor was happy to talk about her newest reading material, which is proving to be a bit more uplifting: Van Jones' Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems.
— Ben Fulton

Labels: " depression, "Helen, Ashley Judd, Goran Visnjic

A nice celebrity moment

Some celebrities love their fans.

Take, for example, Lucas Grabeel, best known as playing theater geek Ryan Evans in the three "High School Musical" films.

Grabeel was outside a party Friday night at Park City's Main Street Mall, talking to some friends. While he was doing this, a gaggle of five girls - approximate ages 11 to 14 - were clustered nearby, surreptitiously taking each other's pictures with Grabeel in the background.

Then Grabeel walked up to the girls, and very nicely said, "If you guys wanted a picture, all you had to do was ask." He then graciously posed for pictures with the now-beaming girls.

Doors mini-reunion @ Gibson Lounge

Photographer Robert Hirschi is loaning some equipment to the Gibson Lounge for what could be a blockbuster reunion gig tomorrow. Doors keyboardist Ray Manzerek is playing in the lounge at 2, and rumor has it the other remaining members may show up and join in.

The lounge is hyper exclusive this year, so good luck getting in for that one!
-- Kim McDaniel

I'm awesome

Look who showed up at the T-1 Diner at the Village at the Yard in Park City yesterday.

But where's Demi in a revealing outfit? I feel punk'd.

Slamming you at Slamdance

I recently had back-to-back phone interviews with Michael Madsen and Matthew Lillard as they promoted their Slamdance movies (Madsen is in "You Might As Well Live," and Lillard is in "Spooner").

Of course, everyone knows who Madsen is (pictured above) and his career-defining bad guy roles in "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill."

After I got off the phone with Madsen, Lillard (who is a local fave because of his role in "SLC Punk!) called a little bit late. He immediately apologized for calling late, but I said it was no problem, because I had just finished up with Madsen.

"Oh," Lillard said. What was that like?" He must have seen those Tarantino movies.

"Very intimidating," I responded.

(Actually, Madsen was a nice guy.)

Young skeazy

Tonight at Harry O's (427 Main St., Park City) is Young Jeezy, with Kim Kardashian as the "host."

Doors open at 9 p.m., but don't expect Mr. Jeezy to show up until around 11:30 p.m. at the earliest. But it's not a schoolnight, so cowboy up. Especially if you want to me Ms. Kardashian.

By the way, I almost forgot. Tickets are $100 to $250.

Are we human, or are we dancer?

Downstairs, located at 623 Main St. in Park City, has an enviable list of performers during the week of Sundance with some open to the public, and some by invitation only.

For the general public:
Saturday, Jan. 17 : DJ Josh Madden and Ryan Cabrera, 8 p.m., $10 at the door
Tuesday, Jan. 20: Dirty Vegas, 10 p.m., $10
Friday, Jan. 23: Rise SLC!, a group of local DJs. 9 p.m., $10

By invitation only:
Sunday, Jan. 18: Perry Farrell, at night
Monday, Jan. 19: Paul Oakenfold, at night

If you have an invitation, you will know what time Perry Farrell and Paul Oakenfold will come on. I don't have one at the very second ...

Festival Films Making Their Way to TV

There's nothing worse than going to a movie at the festival and then learning it's going to be on TV in two weeks.

Well, there is a small list of films at this year's festival that are headed for TV sometime this year. Here's a reprint of my column today (Jan. 16) that outlines some of those movies. Most of them are for HBO like "Burma VJ" listed below.

Among the Hollywood buyers at the Sundance Film Festival, trouncing through the snow, searching for gems in a sea of cinema are television network executives hungry for new content.
In the last decade, the festival has become as much a pool for television as it has been for movie theaters.
In the past -- and likely again this year -- networks such as HBO, Showtime, Discovery, PBS and others will have representatives at the festival, scouring for product.
HBO already has a huge presence at the festival. Here's a peek of what's coming soon to your television, not your local theater (premiere dates are unknown at this time).
Taking Chance » (Pictured) Kevin Bacon stars in this HBO Films production about the true story of an Iraq war veteran charged with escorting the remains of a 19-year-old to his family in Wyoming. The movie is in the Dramatic film competition.
Reporter » The value of real newspaper reporting is explored in this documentary competition entry about New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof.
Thriller in Manila » The famous boxing match between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali on Oct. 1, 1975, is the centerpiece of this documentary competition film that also evaluates the political and racial climate at the time. The movie is entered in the World Cinema Documentary competition.
Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech » The daughter of a famous First Amendment attorney and activist chronicles several infamous battles for free speech and the right to assemble. The film is part of the U.S. Documentary competition.
Meanwhile, PBS' "P.O.V.", the network's long-running documentary series, is bringing two films to Sundance that will debut later this year on television.
El General » Filmmaker Natalia Almada profiles her great-grandfather Plutarco Elias Calles, a revolutionary general and former president of Mexico in 1924. The documentary is based on audio recordings made by his daughter.
William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe » Another documentary made by the offspring of its subject, the film is about famous civil rights attorney William Kunstler. His clients included Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Chicago 7. Emily and Sarah Kunstler profile their father's life as a middle-class family man and his rise as "the most hated lawyer in America."

HBO Nabs First Film from the Festival

Could this technically be the first film sale at this year's festival?

HBO has bought up the television rights to the World Documentary Competition film, "Burma VJ," an exploration of the Buddhist monk rebellion in Burma in 2007. Variety reported the story Friday.

While the Burmese government banned media cameras and shut down the Internet so the world could not see the repression happening there, people with video cameras working for the Democratic Voice of Burma took to the streets and documented the violence that was happening.

It's from that footage that Danish director Anders Ostergaard assembled his documentary.

It's unknown when the television premiere will be. There also is a theatrical deal in the works for "Burma VJ" as well, according to Variety.

Bikini Bottom Invades Sundance

SpongeBob fans rejoice!

The hit Nickelodeon animated series, about that crazy yellow sea sponge, is hitting Park City to celebrate the 10th anniversary of "SpongeBob Squarepants."

Nick is holding a Bikini Bottom suite at Village at the Yard, 1251 Kearns Blvd. from Jan. 16 through Jan. 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In addition, the network will be honoring the show with a bunch of new stuff, according to the release:

"Nickelodeon will keep the honors flowing with a new fan website for all things SpongeBob; a first-ever SpongeBob documentary; a new SpongeBob and water conservation-themed element to the network's The Big Green Help pro-social campaign; special TV events; and new lines of apparel, jewelry, toys, games and DVDs."

Best of all is a cast reading of a never-aired episode that will take place Sunday, Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. All of the voice actors will be there including a "special guest."

It's not open to the public, but people with festival badges can go if they RSVP. You can go to the lounge for more details.

Clifton Collins sighting

Actor Clifton Collins Jr. (Capote, Pineapple Express) was spotted in the Sephora Lounge in Park City on Friday. He had a bagful of swag, including a purse for his sister.

Collins, who is at the festival to schmooze with filmmakers and watch movies, said his most exciting accomplishment recently is the video he produced for the Zac Brown Band, "Chicken Fried."

It "finally" passed country sweetheart, Taylor Swift, he said.

Starting on a 'Humpday'

The first U.S. Dramatic competition movie to screen at the Sundance Film Festival is also a really funny movie.

"Humpday," written and directed by Lynn Shelton, centers on two college friends - married Ben (Mark Duplass, the guy at the far right) and roaming Andrew (Joshua Leonard) - who, in a drunken state, agree to co-star in an amateur gay porn film, and then have trouble backing out of it.

In the post-screening Q&A, Shelton said she wrote a strong outline for her story, but developed the dialogue with her actors. As a result, the characters were very close to the actors' personalities.

"That guy is just basically me with short hair and Gap jeans," Duplass said.

Alycia Delmore, the Seattle actress who plays Ben's trying-to-be-understanding wife, said she drew from her life as well. "I asked my husband, 'If you ever did something really stupid, how would I handle it?' "

(Read my review of "Humpday" here.)

Stars and cards

Brothers Alec Baldwin and Steve Baldwin and Rory Caulkin and Kieran Caulkin are supposed to play in the Creative Coalition's "Charity Poker Tournament" Saturday at 9:30 p.m. in the Lounge at Barclay Butera.

For $2,000 average folks can play along side the Hollywood A-listers, which also is suppose to include Emma Roberts, Timothy Hutton and Jill Hennessy.

For $100 you can get into the party, watch the stars and hear Grammy-winning artist Macy Gray perform.

The Creative Coalition -- the non-profit advocacy group founded by Alec Baldwin, Susan Sarandon, Blair Brown -- advocates for First Amendment rights and other issues affecting the entertainment industry.

The Real World: Park City

I just got back from the first night of Sundance at Harry O's at 427 Main St. in Park City, and either the economy is struggling or Nick Cannon is no Mariah Carey (his wife). Or even Akon.

"D.J." Nick Cannon was the featured act of the night, compared to Akon on the same night in 2008. I was at both events, and Akon was the bigger draw, evidenced by more celebrity sightings last year and considerably more elbow room this year.

I like Harry O's, though. It could be the fact that like last year, bikini-wearing young women were gyrating on top of the bar that made it seem like I was in the skanky, unrated director's cut of "Coyote Ugly."

Although the crowd was smaller than last year, it was still a good-sized crowd, and a good-looking one at that. There were more good-looking people in the room than the last time the Osmonds had a family reunion in a wardhouse.

Cannon wasn't a bad D.J., but I can only take so much record-spinning before it becomes mind-numbingly boring, especially when you're sober. I mean, couldn't he sing or rap a little? Throw in some comedy? Ventriolquism? Anything, to break up the monotony.

As for celeb sightings, Danny Masterson of "That '70s Show" was supposed to show up but didn't, according to a friend at the door. The biggest star I saw was Baya Voce, the Salt Lake City native who is currently seen every Wednesday on MTV's "The Real World: Brooklyn." She Deejayed a set the previous night at The Star Bar, and was still in town to enjoy the festivities.

One thing I did hear was that Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore will be at Harry O's on Saturday, when T.I. performs. I'll be there.

Soderbergh screening?

The official Sundance twitter feed posted this little tidbit this evening...

"A little snowbird tells me there'll be a secret screening of Soderbergh's latest next Tuesday night. Mark your dance cards! Details to c..."

You can follow the official feed at twitter.com/sundancefest, or better yet, follow OURS at twitter.com/sundancelive. You can also follow hashtag #sundance for all related tweets on the fest.

-- Kim McDaniel w/ sltrib.com

Cannonballs

Mr. Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon, will open up Harry O's Sundance week line-up tonight.

He should be known for his string of successful Nickelodeon and MTV shows and roles in "Drumline" and "Roll Bounce," but instead he is known for marrying one of the hottest cougars around.

Be prepared: although he will performing tonight, he also wants to be known as a serious actor. For the third year in a row, he is in a Sundance film, this time in "The Killing Room."

His South African director had this to say about Nick: "Nick was amazing. He is a very serious professional and faces any task head on. The character of Paul Brodie is a homeless person and Nick spent couple nights on the streets of Shreveport to see if he could glean anything for the role. I loved that Nick respects his fellow actors on set. He will give his all off camera for any actor, which I appreciate. Its fantastic on any movie to have someone who believes in you and your project and I found a real partner in Nick. I also respect that this is Nicks second or third film at Sundance. He goes after material that he is passionate about, not because it is good for his career."

Tickets for tonight's Harry O's show start at $100. The venue is at 427 Main St. in Park City.

Mixing metaphors

Robert Redford dropped this - shall we say, interesting - quote at Thursday's pre-festival press conference at the Egyptian Theatre, when asked about the ongoing negotiations to launch a Sundance-related festival in Abu Dhabi:

"When you have too many cooks in the kitchen, you slow the parade down."

Labels: Robert Redford

Jean-Georges comes to Utah

Internationally acclaimed chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, will make his first foray into Utah, opening a signature restaurant at the new St. Regis, Deer Crest Resort in Deer Valley in Aug. of 2009.

“I can't wait to combine two of my great passions – cooking and skiing." the Michelin-starred chef said Thursday in a news release announcing the venture.

The restaurant will serve guests and residents of the new St. Regis, Deer Crest but also will be accessible to skiers of Deer Valley Resort and Park City.

Vongerichten's legendary cuisine will be complemented with a stellar wine cellar and the St. Regis Wine Aficionado Program that includes exclusive wine vintages.

Exploring the New Frontier

Do you think a film festival is just large audiences staring at a common screen? Get with the new millenium!

The New Frontier on Main, downstairs in Park City's Main Street Mall (across the street from the Egyptian), is chockablock with exhibits from video artists and scientists pushing the boundaries of how film and video tell stories.

Take, for example, "Mother+Father," Candice Breitz' installation in two rooms. In one room, six hi-def TV screens in an arc show clips of famous movie mothers (Faye Dunaway in "Mommie Dearest," Susan Sarandon in "Stepmom," Meryl Streep in "Kramer vs. Kramer," Diane Keaton in "The Good Mother," Julia Roberts in "Stepmom" and Shirley MacLaine in "Terms of Endearment"). The images are isolated, so all you see is the mother's role - and dialogue is sampled and repeated, showing the common threads between them. In a second room, there is the same video set-up - but with six movie fathers (including Jon Voight in "The Champ," Steve Martin in "Father of the Bride" and the one movie common to both rooms, Dustin Hoffman in "Kramer vs. Kramer").

Other exhibits, like "Universe" and "I Feel Fine" by Jonathan Harris and Sep Kamvar, connect you to a world of options through a few mouse clicks.

These exhibits demonstrate ways technology can change the way we tell stories. But does that new technology, which allows viewers to direct the story, mean that stories can no longer be timeless?

The artists here don't think so.

Jason Underkoffer said that too often, timelessness is conflated with changelessness. "Guttenberg and Edison gave us the idea that it never changes," he said. Technology, he added, allows us to return to the bardic tradition, of stories being passed hand to hand - sometimes altered in the telling.

Brinkley Goes for Three

Supermodel Christie Brinkley will be in Park City Friday, Jan. 16, at 10:30 a.m. to unveil her third Milk Mustache ad at the "Wellness Center" at the Sundance Lift.

The blond beauty was one of the first famous faces to wear a milk mustache in 1995 when the iconic campaign first premiered. Since then, more than 250 other stars have worn the white mustache in the name of healthy living.

Fans may want to stop by the Wellness Center throughout the weekend as Brinkley has invited other Sundance celebrities to pose for a Milk Mustache photo, and, of course, enjoy some ice cold milk.

The tale of the hat - the final chapter

Good news: Hollywood Elsewhere blogger Jeffrey Wells, who arrived in Park City on Wednesday, has been reunited with his cowboy hat.

For those not following the saga, a recap: Wells left his hat at a Park City hotel where he stayed for the past few years - a symbol, he thought, of his intention to return this year. The hotel owner, who lives in the real world and takes credit-card numbers to hold rooms rather than hats, booked the room to somebody else. After Wells complained on his blog, the hotel owner turned the hat over to the Park City Police. That's where Wells picked it up.

But Wells, being who he is, has found something new to complain about: The fold-out bed in his new lodgings.

Festival iFun on the iPhone

This year, you can get all the festival information you want by turning on that spanking new iPhone 3G you just got for Christmas (ain't Santa a wonderful guy?)

Turn on the phone's Safari browser and point it to http://www.quickmobile.com/sundance/ to get the festival guide and film descriptions, festival news, a directory of the events and panel discussions and videos like filmmaker profiles. It's also completely searchable so you can find that specific film in a hurry.

This is the first time the festival planners are using the power of Apple's mobile device to spread the festival love.

While the site should work on other mobile devices that have Internet access, it is specifically formatted for the iPhone. Happy dialing!

Wizard of Oz?

Rumor alert:

There is a 70 percent chance Ozzy Osbourne will be at Harry O's to perform Monday with Camp Freddy, according to Harry O's officials. I'll keep you posted.

Great Pepper Lake

The night before the Sundance Film Festival begins has traditionally been a big night of music at Harry O's, and this year reggae-rockers Pepper have landed the job of starting the partying.

Drummer Yesod Williams said he hopes to bring his snowboard to town, because is he is "totally" into surfing on water and on snow.

Hailing from the Big Island of Hawaii, the three members of Pepper have a laid-back attitude toward most everything except (and sometimes including) music.

The band has toured with The Wailers, 311 and Slightly Stoopid, as well as performing during the entire 2007 Warped Tour.

Pepper is touring behind its 2008 album "Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations," which Williams said finally captures the "essence of us."
When: Tonight. Doors open at 9 p.m.
Where: Harry O's, 427 Main St., Park City
Tickets: $20 at SmithsTix and 24Tix

Green on the street

If you see this woman on the streets of Park City, be prepared to talk about recycling.

She's Annabelle Gurwitch - author of the book Fired! and star of the documentary of the same name, and former co-host of TBS' "Dinner and a Movie."

Gurwitch will be doing "Woman on the Street" interviews during the Sundance Film Festival about carbon footprints, trees and other environmental topics. The interviews are part of a program by festival sponsor Timberland, the footwear and outerwear manufacturer, to get people thinking green - which seems to be a common thread for many festival events this year.

Labels: environment

Best-ever Harry O's line-up revealed

Harry O’s, the premier music venue in Park City during the Sundance Film Festival, will play host to an entire week of top-tier musical acts for the first time.

Usually, the nightclub only has household-name acts for the first weekend, but the president of Harry O’s said that there are two reasons for having 10 nights of big acts: many stars will be coming into town after President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration, and he wants to launch a live streaming Website that will feature the performers of the last three nights of the festival.
Tickets for all concerts range from $100 to $250 for general-admission seats.

Harry O’s is located at 427 Main St.

The list is:

Thursday (Jan. 15): Nick Cannon
Friday: Young Jeezy, hosted by Kim Kardashian (above)
Saturday: T.I.
Sunday: Robin Thicke
Monday: Camp Freddy (Dave Navarro, Matt Sorum) with Mark McGrath and Billy Gibbons. Ozzy Osbourne might come, but he is unconfirmed. The latest I've heard is 80 percent that he WILL come.
Tuesday: The Cult
Wednesday: Macy Gray and Common
Thursday: Yung Joc and Kevin Rudolf
Friday, Jan. 23: C-Lo of Gnarls Barkley and Big Boi of Outkast
Saturday, Jan. 24: Nas and N.E.R.D. with Pharrell Williams

Tickets are scheduled to be made available Wednesday morning at SmithsTix and yayatickets.com.

From snow to heat

For all of you who complain about the snow at Sundance, here's your alternative.

According to Daily Variety, the Sundance Institute is in talks with the Abu Dhabi-based investment group Mubadala to launch a film festival in the Arab emirate.

If the deal goes through, it would match a similar effort by Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Film Festival to start a festival in Doha, Qatar.

Slamdance opening film quite ... different

The opening film at the Sundance Film Festival is a claymation film about a friendship between a chubby, lonely 8-year-old Australian girl and a 44-year-old obese Jewish man who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. The opening film at the Slamdance Film Festival is a horror-comedy about zombies and graverobbers.

In comparing premieres, you can see why Slamdance takes pride in being the premier alternate film festival that’s independent from its slightly stuffier father, Sundance.

“I’ve been to Park City a couple of times,” said Larry Fessenden, who produces and stars in the Slamdance opening film, “I Sell The Dead” (above). “I want to make it clear — I’ve never been invited to Sundance.”

“I Sell The Dead” is a quirky 85-minute film written and directed by Glenn McQuaid. Starring Fessenden and “Lord of the Rings” and “Lost” star Dominic Monaghan, the film details the adventures of two graverobbers in the 18th century who find in some graves more than they bargained for. Ron Perlman, best known for his lead performance in the “Hellboy’ film franchise, is also featured.

“I’m over the moon and very honored” to be chosen as the opening-night film of Slamdance, McQuaid said. While he wants to be taken seriously as a filmmaker, his first film “doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

Yet McQuaid was able to convince experienced actors like Monaghan, Fessenden and Perlman to join the cast. “It was a huge honor for me to step on the set with these actors,” he said.
Monaghan, who will star as a mutant in this summer’s much-anticipated film “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” with Hugh Jackman, said he never makes decisions on films based on money, but always based on the script, fellow actors and the director.

“I found it to have a very unique voice,” Monaghan said. “I was just charmed by it. When I found out Ron Perlman would be involved, it was an easy decision.”

The innovative hybrid of horror and comedy delighted Slamdance programmers, said Drea Clark, executive director and head of feature programming. “It’s really representative of what Slamdance is about,” she said. “It reflects our spirit so well. It doesn’t seem art-directed to death, and it still has a vitality. It’s fresh.”

Fessenden, who is a Slamdance alum, said he was proud to have his latest work screened there. “I have an affection for Slamdance,” he said. “The rogue, bastard son of Sundance.”

A rockin' short

Here's why you sometimes have to dig a bit deeper than the Sundance Film Festival's guide lets you.

Buried in the listings on page 56, a short film accompanying the New Frontier feature "O'er the Land" is mentioned only as " 'Out of Our Minds' U.S.A., 2008, 28 min., color. Director: Tony Stone." You probably skimmed right over it, giving it not a second thought.

Think again. According to this item in the British music mag NME, "Out of Our Minds" is a collaboration between Stone and Melissa Auf Der Maur (pictured), formerly the bass player for Hole and Smashing Pumpkins - and is part of a larger multi-media project that includes the film, an album, a comic and a web site.

This is the true story ...

You can see Baya Voce Wednesday on television as one of the cast members of this season’s “The Real World: Brooklyn,” MTV’s hit reality series.

Or, if you prefer to see Voce in person, you can see her deejaying the same night at The Star Bar in Park City in a pre-Sundance Film Festival benefit party for the Park City Concerts Foundation.

“In Brooklyn, we were lucky enough to pursue our dreams,” said Voce. “I always wanted to D.J.”

Voce was one of eight cast members in the 21st and most recent season of “The Real World,” a reality series that takes eight young people from around the country and places them in the same house together for three months. The season was shot between August and November last year, but the season’s second episode airs tonight.

Voce and another member this season, Chet Cannon, grew up in Salt Lake City. Both auditioned for the show last when casting directors held try-outs at Area 51, a local nightclub.

While Cannon is a devout Mormon, Voce, 21, is not. Early in the season she aspires to be a hip hop dancer, having been trained at the Salt Lake Dance Theater and as a member or East High’s Dance Company. She said as the season progressed, she developed an interest in deejaying dance music, and hopes to the parlay the “once-in-a-lifetime” Real World experience into a career.

“In those four months, I grew more, more than I have in a long time,” Voce said.

She now lives in Manhattan. “I always felt out-of-place in Utah,” she said. “I completely miss the mountains, and I can’t tell you how much I miss nature, but I feel more at home in New York.”

“This is a homecoming for Baya,” said Toby Martin, who runs the Park City Concerts Foundation, a non-profit that funds concerts year-round in Park City. All proceeds from the concert will go to the foundation. “I think a bunch of her friends from East High will be coming.”

This won’t be Voce’s first time at Sundance, but this time she has the face and name that will get her admitted to the high-profile concerts at Harry O’s and The Star Bar.

“I was always the person standing outside in the snow, not getting in,” she said.
DJ Baya Voce When: Wednesday. Doors open at 9 p.m. Where: The Star Bar, 268 Main St., Park City Tickets: $10 at the door or at SmithsTix (467-8499) Also appearing: DJ Bentley, DJ Brooklyn

Slamdance Jury dy-no-mite!

The Slamdance Film Festival has just announced the jury members for this year's festival. Here are the names and the Slamdance-provided biographies of the jury members, so Slamdance competitors can try to suck up to them:

Jeremy Coon is a native Texan who attended film school at BYU, where he met frequent collaborator Jared Hess. After producing/editing their award winning short PELUCA, Coon had his feature-length producing and editing debut NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (pictured above) premiere at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, where it was acquired by Fox Searchlight. He followed with THE SASQUATCH GANG (producer and editor), winning the audience award at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival as well as Best Director and Best Actor (Justin Long) at the 2006 HBO US Comedy Arts Festival. Coon's latest indie comedy AMERICAN FORK premiered at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival and has currently played at over 20 film festivals around the world.

Gideon C. Kennedy has died in urban legend, been worshiped by a fraternal organization of which he was not a part, and had a single barrel scotch that he can't afford named after him. Interested in exploring other such factual fictions, he writes and co-directs with filmmaker and editor Marcus Rosentrater through their independent production company, Climenole. Their last film DICK-GEORGE, TENN-TOM, a sardonic look at the rivalry between President Richard Nixon and Governor George Wallace, won two festival awards and played in over 30 cities in the Southeast. They are currently in the middle of editing a doc/narrative hybrid entitled CLANDESTINE.

Josh Koury is a documentary filmmaker living in Brooklyn, NY. His most recent and 2nd feature documentary, WE ARE WIZARDS opened theatrically on the fall of 2008. He is currently part of the film faculty at Pratt Institute in NYC. Previously, Josh worked as a programmer at the Hamptons International Film Festival and served as the Director of Programming and Co-Founder of the Brooklyn Underground Film Festival. Josh's work has been recognized by a number of publications, including The New York Times, Variety, Entertainment Weekly, Salon, and The New York Post.

Michael Lerman is a programmer for the Woodstock Film Festival as well as a frequent contributor to indieWIRE. Coming from a diverse film industry background, he has worn many hats including one as the co-director/co-producer/co-writer of the 2008 SXSW premiere NATURAL CAUSES and the co-founder of the production company Tiger Industry Films.

Dan Nuxoll has been working with New York’s Rooftop Films since its founding and became their full-time Program Director in 2002. In the 6 years since, he has helped Rooftop bring in more 2,500 submissions a year and Rooftop’s programming has received steadily increasing acclaim. Each summer, Rooftop screens hundreds of new independent films outdoors to huge crowds. He has also worked as a producer, composer and sound designer for film, including the wildly entertaining feature documentary, KISS MY SNAKE.

Kent Osborne wrote and starred in the 2000 Sundance Film Festival feature DROPPING OUT, directed by his brother Mark. He has starred in numerous shorts, including HERD, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, THE PIPE, as well as Joe Swanberg’s 2007 feature HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS. Kent has worked as a writer / storyboard director for "Phineas and Ferb," “ Camp Lazlo,” “The Misadventures of Flapjack” and “SpongeBob Squarepants” -- which earned him three Emmy nominations. He is also the author of the graphic novel "The Day is Today".

David Redmon directed MARDI GRAS: MADE IN CHINA, which was nominated for a Grand Jury Award at Sundance 2005 and went on to win 20 other festival awards before theatrical release. He co-directed KAMP KATRINA and INTIMIDAD with partner Ashley Sabin, and they are currently completing four more documentary projects: TWISTED, INVISIBLE GIRLFRIEND, DARLINGS and MS. PEARL THE MUSICAL.

Adam Roffman has been the Programming Director of the Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston) since its inception in 2003. In 2001 Adam wrote, directed, and starred in the short THE TERROR OF THE INVISIBLE MAN, which was acquired by the Independent Film Channel. In 2007 Adam produced Alex Karpovsky's feature WOODPECKER, which premiered at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival and is still on a successful festival run. In addition, Adam has spent much of the last ten years working in props and set decoration with filmmakers such as Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese, Martin Campbell, Ben Affleck, and Peter Hedges.

Ashley Sabin graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in Art History, then co-directed her feature debut KAMP KATRINA, and follow-up INTIMIDAD with partner David Redmon; both films premiered at SXSW. Sabin and Redmon formed the distribution branch of Carnivalesque Films and are releasing MARDI GRAS: MADE IN CHINA, ORPHANS, HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS: BOUND TO LOSE, MANHATTAN, KANSAS, LOW AND BEHOLD, KAMP KATRINA and INTIMIDAD.

Edward Stencel was the first Filmmaker Advisor at IFP Los Angeles, and served as a freelance Film Festival and Line Producer Consultant for Film Independent. He worked as the Executive Producer of FesTV for the Los Angeles Film Festival, and a producer/director for “Split Screen”, airing on Bravo and IFC. The founder and co-director of the Indy Film Showcase for four years, Stencel has also worked on films and programs for Paramount, Warner Bros, Fox and HBO and serves on the board of directors and as vice president of the Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival.

They, the jury

Sundance has announced the 24 movie professionals who will make up the juries for this year's festival:

U.S. Dramatic: Actress Virginia Madsen ("Sideways," "The Astronaut Farmer") (pictured at left); writer-director Scott McGehee ("The Deep End," "Suture"); producer Maud Nadler (HBO Films); writer-director-actor Mike White ("Year of the Dog," "School of Rock"); director Boaz Yakin ("Remember the Titans," "Fresh").

U.S. Documentary: Director-writer-cinematographer Patrick Creadon ("Wordplay," "I.O.U.S.A."); director Carl Deal "Trouble the Water"); producer Andrea Meditch ("Man on Wire," "In the Shadow of the Moon"); editor Sam Pollard ("When the Levees Broke," "Jungle Fever"); director-writer Marina Zenovich ("Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired")

World Dramatic: Screen International editor Colin Brown; New Zealand director-writer Christine Jeffs ("Rain," "Sunshine Cleaning"); Danish producer Vibeke Windelov ("Dogville," "Breaking the Waves")

World Documentary: Australian director Gillian Armstrong ("Oscar & Lucinda," "Little Women"), Thom Powers, documentary programmer of the Toronto International Film Festival; French director Hubert Sauper ("Darwin’s Nightmare")

Shorts Jury: Writer-director Gerardo Naranjo - ("Voy a explotar," "Malachance," "Perro Negro"), actor Lou Taylor Pucci ("Thumbsucker"), Variety reporter Sharon Swart.

Alfred P. Sloan Jury (which gives a cash prize for a film that focuses on science and technology): Fran Bagenal, professor of astrophysical & planetary sciences, University of Colorado; Rodney Brooks, Panasonic Professor of Robotics, MIT Computer Science & AI Lab; Ray Gesteland, Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah; screenwriter Jeffrey Nachmanoff ("The Day After Tomorrow," "Traitor"); writer-director-editor Alex Rivera ("Sleep Dealer")

Wet and green

If you're feeling thirsty at Sundance, forget about bottled water.

Festival sponsors Brita and Nalgene will be handing out free reusable water bottles to Sundance attendees, as part of the companies' "Filter for Good" campaign. The bottles can be refilled at "hydration stations" to be set up all over Park City, and then taken home as a souvenir.

The environmental impact is significant: Last year, the festival passed out 50,000 single-serve water bottles.

Labels: environment, sponsor

'Tyson' gets a deal

Sony Pictures Classics has finalized a distribution deal for "Tyson," James Toback's documentary about the controversial boxer Mike Tyson.

The movie is getting its North American premiere at Sundance, in the Spectrum program. Sony has been circling the film since its world premiere last May at Cannes, according to Daily Variety. (That's Toback with Tyson in the photo, taken at Cannes.)

As part of Sony's deal, NBA star Carmelo Anthony has signed on as one of the film's executive producers.

Labels: Distribution, documentaries

Rockin' at the airport

Sundance officials complain about "ambush marketers." Now the Utah Film Commission might be feeling a bit ambushed, by someone who used to be one of their own.

The North Carolina Film Commission has put up an eye-catching ad display - a 10-foot-tall installation featuring a giant director's chair with rockers - in the baggage-claim area of the Salt Lake City International Airport, where all the Hollywood types who arrive for Sundance can see it.

"We wanted to make a large impression at Sundance," said Aaron Syrett, director of the North Carolina Film Commission.

Syrett worked for years at the Utah Film Commission, and was its director before leaving for the North Carolina job two years ago. Syrett said he's still friendly with his former colleagues in Utah, but he's also competitive when it comes to getting film productions into his state.

(Photo: Paul Fraughton/The Salt Lake Tribune)

Whatever you like ... provided you have $$$

If you missed your chance to see the most popular rapper of the moment, T.I., when he came to West Valley City in November for a U92 show, here is another chance to see him ... provided you have disposable income.

T.I. will headline Saturday, Jan. 17 at Harry O's (427 Main St., Park City) during the first weekend of Sundance. Harry O's is traditionally loaded with superstar musical acts during the first weekend: last year, during the first weekend alone, Maroon 5, Akon, Velvet Revolver and 50 Cent all performed on separate nights.

But if you want to see T.I., tickets range from $100 to $250.

The show, presented by ICE Entertainment, calls the night "Partying With the Stars Featuring T.I." It looks like stars are the only ones able to afford this show.

Tickets are available at SmithsTix (801-467-8499).

Rotten Tomatoes? You be the judge

Of course, there are other festivals during the Sundance Film Festival, and one of them is the X-Dance Film Festival, held at the Off Broadway Theatre (272 S. Main St.) in Salt Lake City.

This festival puts the spotlight on "action-sports" films, called in other quarters "action porn." (It is not porn as in naked, but "porn" in the same way as "house porn" is.)

ESPN and the Winter X Games will host a special screening of "Shaun White: Don't Look Down," a film that "takes fans on a journey around the globe with Shaun White from the superpipe of Alts Bandai, Japan to the blacktops of Rwanda," as the press release announced. The screening will be Jan. 18 at the festival, with doors opening at 9:15 p.m.

Tickets are now available at www.theobt.com, and there will be a director Q & A and party immediately following at the Broadway Bistro (300 S. Main St.) You can RSVP to the party by e-mailing winterx13@gmail.com.

Shaun White won't be at the screening, as he will be preparing for the Winter X Games 13, held Jan. 22-25 in Aspen.

Your handy how-to guide

Sunday's The Mix, The Salt Lake Tribune's arts and features section, will be your one-stop guide to navigating the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

The section features articles (all now posted online) giving tips and suggestions, such as:

A guide to what's new at this year's festival - and how to get into sold-out screenings.
A rundown of the festival's Salt Lake City activities.
A listing of all the ways to enjoy Sundance at home - including TV and online.
A compilation of the other festivals - Slamdance, X-Dance, etc. - scheduled around Sundance.
A list of celebrities expected to appear in Park City.

Hello, I Talk to You

Ray Manzarek, legendary organist for The Doors, will be coming to Park City to see the premiere of the Doors documentary "When You're Strange."

He was gracious enough to speak to the Salt Lake Tribune about the documentary, which he admitted he didn't have any input in. But he said it's "sensational."

Here is the recorded interview Ray did with the Salt Lake Tribune. The opening has a few moments of quiet, but it's worth it. Especially check out the end of the conversation. He is a creative man, to say the least:

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— David Burger

Meet in the Grotto

The Guggenheim Grotto (above), a folk-pop band from Dublin, will perform at the ASCAP Music Cafe on Friday, Jan. 23 at 3:20 p.m., opening the way for a 4 p.m. performance by Lenka.

The band has never played a show in Utah, though siner-guitarist Kevin May said they traveled through the Beehive State once, on their way to Burning Man.

May and comrade Mick Lynch are happy to be able to spend a few days in Park City, something many musical acts aren't able to do because of other obligations and tours.

Lynch has a goal: "My mum wants me to meet Robert Redford."

— David Burger

Break on through to Sundance

Tom DiCillo, best known for debuting all of his films at Sundance including the indie-film-industry-skewering 'Living in Oblivion," will debut another film at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

His film is about the Doors, "When You're Strange." But unlike all previous efforts by DiCillo, this is a documentary.

DiCillo, in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, said taking the reins of a full-length was "terrifying," because he only wanted to use archival footage of the band while trying to tell a story about the much-documented band that has never been told. His approach, therefore, meant a complete absence of talking heads.

The Jim Morrison-led band is perfect for film, DiCillo said. "The Doors music is very cinematic," he said, adding that the inclusion of "The End" in during the climactic scene in "Apocalypse Now" made the scene more powerful.

DiCillo said he identified in a way with Jim Morrison, who rebelled against everything he could. Morrison's father was a Navy admiral, while DiCillo's father was a colonel in the Marine Corps.

Although he's had a half-dozen films screen at Sundance, DiCillo is nervous about the premiere. The nerves never go away, he said.

It premieres Jan 17 at 9 p.m. at the Temple Theatre in Park City.

— David Burger

Bear market

The Hollywood Reporter's Steven Zeitchik asks the question: "What if Sundance isn't about the sales anymore?"

Some movies may roll the dice with a splashy debut in Park City, Zeitchik writes, but more producers are instead opting for a quieter courtship of potential buyers back in Hollywood. Zeitchik cites the example of "My One and Only," a period romance starring Renee Zellweger and Kevin Bacon, which bypassed Sundance and is being shopped directly to distributors.

"We're starting to screen stuff more and more outside of festivals," said John Sloss, head of the distribution services firm Cinetic Media and one of the most powerful industry people at Sundance. "I'm more unsure about the market than I've ever been."

Labels: Distribution

Picket lines forming

Given the prevalence of TV camera crews roaming Park City every January, it's no surprise that some political activists follow the smell of coaxial cable and try for a little face time.

This year, there's the possibility of gay-rights protesters (picketing the Cinemark-owned Holiday Village Theaters, because of the Cinemark CEO's support of California's Prop. 8) and the annual march of PETA members (this time targeting fur-loving Vogue editor Anna Wintour, subject of the documentary "The September Issue") making some noise.

The civil-rights group CORE - the Congress of Racial Equality - may also show up at Sundance, according to this KSL report, to decry Sundance founder Robert Redford's support of a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management's attempt to sell oil and gas leases in Utah wild lands.

CORE's Nigel Innes argues that blocking oil drilling harms poor people, by raising fuel prices. (As I noted on the Culture Vulture blog, CORE receives money from ExxonMobil - and has been accused of selling out its civil-rights heritage to become a shill for the energy industry.)

The real fun of the KSL report is the file footage of Redford, in his '70s mustache (at right), walking around Utah's rocky landscape with Dan Rather.

An early buy for "Rudo"

If the Sundance Film Festival is like the eBay of independent film - a big auction site - then Sony Pictures Classics is in the process of hitting the "Buy It Now" button, getting a jump on acquisition eight days before the festival starts.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, SPC is in talks to buy the distribution rights to "Rudo y Cursi," a Mexican soccer comedy directed by Carlos Cuaron (brother of "Children of Men" director Alfonso Cuaron) that reunites Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna (pictured), the stars of the Alfonso Cuaron-directed "Y Tu Mama Tambien."

"Rudo y Cursi" will screen in Sundance's Premieres section, and will have its first screening Friday, Jan. 16, at 9:30 p.m. at the Eccles Theatre in Park City.

Labels: Distribution

Best of Fest tickets

Do you miss the tradition of camping out in the cold of Trolley Square for Sundance tickets - a tradition made unnecessary by the festival's new lottery-draw system?

Well, there's still a chance to get frostbite in pursuit of Sundance tickets.

Tickets for the annual "Best of Fest" screenings - the festival's thank-you to the locals after the tourists have left town - will be distributed Saturday morning at the four box offices (in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and the Sundance resort).

The screenings will be at the following times and locations:

Monday, Jan. 26, 3:30, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. - Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts, Salt Lake City
Monday, Jan. 26, 6 and 9 p.m. - Eccles Theatre, Park City
Monday, Jan. 26, 6 and 9 p.m. - Sundance Institute Screening Room, Sundance Resort
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. - Peery's Egyptian Theater, Ogden

Tickets are free, but there is a limit of two per screening (for a total of four per customer).

Honoring the volunteers

Every year, Sundance Film Festival organizers go out of their way to mention that the festival would descend into chaos without the efforts of the thousand-plus volunteers who give their time and freeze their fannies to help run things smoothly.

This year, the festival is going a step further - by giving an award to one volunteer.

The Gayle Stevens Award - named after the longtime chairwoman of the Sundance Institute's Utah Advisory Board, who died in a car crash in August - will go to one longtime volunteer who has "have gone above and beyond in their contributions to the Festival."

The award will get a special mention in the festival catalog (with the 2009 winner receiving a mention in the 2010 catalog). The winning volunteer will get a special ID credential, which will give them an Express Pass to all festival screenings (when they're off duty, of course).

The winner will be announced Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Sundance's staff and volunteer party, at the Park City Mountain Resort's Legacy Lodge.

Ticket takers

The first onslaught of individual-ticket buyers for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival hit this weekend at Salt Lake City's Trolley Square - as well as the box offices at Park City and Ogden.

The nifty part is that these ticket buyers are Utah residents, not industry regulars or Hollywood hangers-on. According to Sundance's estimates, 43 percent of the festival's total audience are Utahns.

"It's the greatest cultural thing Utah has to offer," Shannon Mussett, a philosophy professor at Utah Valley University, told the Tribune's Lisa Schencker. "It's one of these moments where you feel Utah is the best state."

(Photo: Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune)

Talkin' smack

Here's an interesting way to promote your movie: Start an outrageously named charity.

According to The New York Times' Michael Cieply, some reporters have received a postcard with a "holiday appeal" to the media to highlight "the prevalence of smack" in America's orphanages - complete with a picture of a child shooting up heroin.

The appeal includes a web address - fightsmackintheorphanage.org - which leads the reader to the promotional web site of "Black Dynamite," an homage to '70s blaxploitation movies which premieres Jan. 18 at Sundance '09.