For some, the Sundance Film Festival is 11 days of movie magic. For others, not so much.

Consider this blog post by Mona Elyafi, a Hollywood publicist: "While the festival has seemingly become a Mecca for the myriad wannabes who unanimously fool themselves into believing that some Jesus Christ will jump start their pending fabulously famous acting career, for the likes of moi – slightly sarcastic entertainment publicist -- it is as hellishly painful as Jesus’ own crucifixion."

Elyafi describes the horrors of guiding not-quite A-list celebs through Sundance's "beauty lounges," being turned away at the door by smiling blonde women with clipboards with vague (and never fulfilled) promises to have merchandise shipped to her clients back in Cali.

But, in her trashing of shallow celebrity (and burning a bridge or two by dissing David Schwimmer and Scott Wolf), Elyafi does recount a glorious moment of an accidental celebrity
encounter with none other than shock-rocker Alice Cooper.

"As big of a fiasco as Sundance can be," Elyafi concludes, "it obviously also can deliver some of the most memorable moments in a lifetime. In the end the extravaganza becomes absolutely worthwhile but only when the real stars dance like no one is watching."

Labels: Gifting suites, publicists

They are like trick-or-treat for grown-ups - or, at least, for famous grown-ups.

They are the "gifting suites," the rooms set up at celebrity-studded events (like award shows or the Sundance Film Festival) where companies give products to stars - in the hope that those stars will get themselves photographed with those products. (Here's an Los Angeles Times photo of actress Emily Mortimer loading up at the Village at the Yard suite at Sundance '08.)

But, according to this article in Daily Variety, the suites may be fading into oblivion.

"Slowly, each year, the suites are dying down and losing their appeal," Elissa Kravetz, founder of Kravetz PR, told Daily Variety. "I don't want one of my brands to pay a hefty participation fee to be a part of a suite when there's no guarantee of a return on their investment. There are more effective ways to raise brand awareness."

The reasons the suites are not so sweet? Fewer A-list celebrities want to go - because it's tacky to go scrounging for freebies, or because the companies will deliver. And the suites are getting clogged with D-listers and reality-show stars trying to get some publicity for themselves.

(Photo: Myung J. Chung / Los Angeles Times)

Labels: Gifting suites