Let's say you are in Park City, Utah, and you are dying to see a new Sundance film during the festival, yet you can't get any tickets to a showing. What do you do? You participate in what my friends and I always called "Sundancing." Sundance is the true great film festival of all time, but it's not the only festival taking place in Park City at the same time. There are tons more such as: Troma-dance, Slam-dance, No-dance, and Slam-dunk. The alternative festivals play very well-made movies at little or no cost and are quite entertaining. The short comedy films are my personal favorites, and are, usually, extremely funny.

I have compiled a little list of things you can do in Park City for several days and never get bored. The following things are what "Sundancing" is all about. I do the following things every year. Some of them are pathetic and a bit stupid, but I have the greatest time doing them.

1) See how long you can stand the cold while icicles form from your running nose. Park City has some of the coldest weather during January. My friend Fink and I love strolling up and down Main Street seeing how long we can last without heat. It is so cold that we become numb and the cold doesn't bother us.

2) Bring binoculars and spot as many movie stars as you possibly can and keep points based on how popular they are. The Star Gazing Game is an old favorite of ours. You simply spot a star and write down who it is. If they have won an Academy Award you give them five stars. If they are a character actor who isn't as popular you give them one to two stars. If they are semi popular, you can give them three to four stars. Robin Williams would be five stars, yet Robert Redford (The Unicorn, or King of Sundance) would be five plus bonus points. We have yet to see Mr. Redford.

3) Hang out in Starbucks and discuss filmmaking and LA. One of our favorite things to do while "Sundancing" is hang out in Starbucks. Not only can you spot movie stars, but you can also discuss filmmaking and other film-related things while sipping on a hot mocha latte double shot espresso with plenty of froth and nutmeg. While discussing your film "Suicide Knights" you will often find eavesdroppers wondering who you are and thinking they are listening to someone famous or important. It's fun to do and gets you out of the cold.

4) Talk on your cell phone as you walk up Main Street shouting, "You'd better have him on the set Monday or I am shutting this film down!" Now this is my personal favorite. If you thought the Starbucks thing attracted attention, then try the cell phone thing. You won't be the only one walking up and down the street with a cell phone blasting off about a movie set, believe me.

5) Get tons of free stuff such as beer and snacks at one of the small festivals while pretending to be a filmmaker yourself. This is always fun. My friend Fink and I like the free beer, but we also get to rub shoulders with the top alternative filmmakers and discuss filmmaking. Fink and I will make a film someday, I'm sure, but for now we can act like we have one in the works.

6) Go to all the free workshops at Sundance on how to make films and other such issues. You may not know this, but Sundance offers many free, open- discussion forums on various filmmaking subjects. Chances are, if you are into independent film, you may want to learn a thing or two about the independent (or indie) filmmaking process. We especially enjoy the digital filmmaking discussions. You can make cheap films nowadays that don't look bad with digital video cameras. It's fun to learn about the current technologies being used.

7) Try to find parking for hours. I suggest paying and parking at the orange and white concrete building behind Main Street. If you have ever been to the Sundance film festival Monday-Wednesday, you will find that you can't drive, let alone find a parking spot. I won't tell you again: pay to park and walk, believe me.

8) Try to get into some of the free filmmaking parties at the alternative small festivals and mingle with the talent. Now this is something I haven't done, but I hear they are a blast. Fink and I have been invited to many of these parties but haven't been able to attend. I will be sure to make it this year to one of the underground indie parties.

9) Wear fake badges and tell everyone you are working on a major digital video production of "Suicide Knights," your first full-length feature. Mike, a cohort, makes badges every year with our names, and we wear them around our necks as if we are Sundance participants. People ask us many questions about our current film projects and we are happy to answer them. It's all a bunch of bologna, we're never going to see these people again, right?

There's a ton you can do at the Sundance Film Festival besides watching films as you can see above. Hope to see you up there! Just don't use "Suicide Knights," that's my movie. Until next time, have fun and don't get arrested!

For more information about the Sundance Film Festival, visit www.sundance.org

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