This is Street Magazine's 2005 Sundance Film Festival Coverage Web Log! We will give you daily updates of what is happening in Park City! Stay Tuned!
Mike and I had one heck of a week and we are exhausted. Please keep checking back for our photos etc. We have many reviews to post on the films we saw etc. Just getting to them has been something else. Look for my review of Reefer Madness The Movie Musical tonight!
Our final day in Sundance was truly unique and exciting. We actually sat down with Crispin Hellion Glover for an interview in a round table type atmosphere. Mike and I were the only other two besides Sarah Walker with Fangoria Magazine. A couple of other Magazine writers from Spin and London Observer eventually made their way in. We were a little nervous at first being the only three, but it turned out Crispin is the easiest going guy ever, and it was a very fun experience. Crispin was surprised at the reaction of his film. He wasn't prepared for people to react to it in a laughing way. I must admit it had some very humerous momments and I found myself laughing throughout the movie. Crispin told us that he decided to use actors with disabilities because they deserve to be out in the open and not placed in some back room at a special home. He also had many limitations and frustrating momments making the film over the course of 10 years. The film is actually the first of a trilogy. These films are all sexual in nature, and very surprising to some. In fact several people walked out of the press showing during the first 20 minutes. After the interview with Crispin we understood everything about the film better and we realize why he had such graphic images through out the movie. This film isn't for everyone to see, but if you truly believe you can handle salted snails, exessive nudity, Nazis Shirley Temples, etc. then go see it when it is at the Tower Theater next month. I will have more on the interview with Crispin at a later time on www.outcrymagazine.com.
Today started out great! Mike and I were refreshed from sleeping a full night and we were ready to tackle Sundance for everything it had to offer. We hung out at the filmmaker lodge. We perused the Leaf Lounge and talked with people. We also stopped by a gifting house for celebrities. Senet Entertainment (www.senetent.com) was setup in this house. Senet produces extreme gaming environments for PC gaming. They were partnered up this year at Sundance with Vivendi Universal the publishers of Half Life 2. The game of choice was mulitplayer Half Life 2. They had many celebrities stop by this year and frag the Senet crew. I have never seen such an awesome gaming set up as Senet has to offer. The flat screen monitors were huge, crisp and clear. The machines were so fast they would blow you away, and the sound was amazing and so realistic it was as if you were in the game. Mike and I decided to sit at a couple of stations and play Half Life 2 against several other worthy apponents in a multiplayer lan game. They kicked our ass of course. These guys set us up with free copies of Half Life 2, X-box games, X-box head sets, and gaming T-shirts! We were very happy. You can catch there set ups at upcoming gaming and electronics shows around the country. Senet produces a truly unique and comfortable gaming experience. They can be hired to set up Lan parties, Internet Cafe's etc. They are true gaming designers and I would recommend their set up to anyone. You may even see their setups cropping up in theaters around the country and game while you are waiting for your movie to start. This is one company to watch in the gaming world. Mike and I were impressed and we are sure you would be impressed as well. I'm sure a few celebrities are going to utilize their services as well. For more information on Senet please visit their website at: www.senetent.com, or email Jason Anderson at jason@senetentertainment.com.
After playing some games and eating food we decided to hop on the bus and go to the screening of "What is it?" This movie was made by Crispin Hellion Glover. You man know Crispin from such films as Back to the Future (George McFly) and Charlie's Angels (The Thin Man). This was truly one of the most unique and strangest films Mike and I have ever seen. We encourage those that aren't scared to witness nudity, and truly graphic images to check out the film next month at the Tower Theater in Salt Lake City. It was so graphic I can't even relay the information on Street Magazine's site so please go to www.outcrymagazine.com for a complete review of this film and an interview we had with Crispin. It was truly a piece of thought provoking cinema (leave children at the door).
Today didn't start out so well since we were recovering from no sleep. We drove to Park City early on 4 hours sleep, and energy drink highs. Today was the big panel discussion on the new movie format of "Machinima". You are probably wondering what this particular movie making format is right? It is using existing 3D engines from video games etc, to make film. For instance it would be like using the characters of Halo 2 as actors for your film in their own digital world, which is comprised of the video game maps. A website to check out is www.redvsblue.com. These guys were featured in the panel discussion. They have Millions of viewers each week for 5 minute episodes of the comedic Machinima series Red Vs. Blue. Red vs. Blue is actually made using Halo, and Halo 2 video games. The results are quite pleasant and hillarious. Other series are hitting the web probably as I type this. I believe you will see a lot more of this film form as technology progresses.
The day started off well with a round table discussion of the film "The Salon" starring Vivica A. Fox and Brooke Burns. We have photos of this event to come. I encourage everyone to see this film, and I'm sure it will be picked up for distribution. The cast acted like they had a wonderful time making the movie which was set in Balitmore. Everyone was like family on the set and it looked as if they all got along great.
Wow we didn't recover too well from Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. This day was a complete blur and complete fun. What I am doing in these daily blogs is creating an atmosphere of sorts to let our local seen know what is happening in Parky City on a daily basis during the festival. I know we could never cover everything that happens during this festive time, but we can cover some of it. I believe Mike and I only saw 20% of what actually happend during our entire Sundance week. On this day we had one party right after another. The first party we went to was an after screening party for "Who Killed Cock Robin." This party was set in the old Park City museum and jail. It was the perfect setting for the film. The film took place in an old mining town and the main character actually went to jail. It was one of the cooler party atmospheres we have been in during the festival. Music was thumping and people were bobbing in and out of old jail cells. The beverages were good as usual and we had a hell of a good time at this party. We met cast and crew and the producers. We encourage you to see this film when it is distributed.
After the party we strolled down main to what is called "The Leaf Lounge." This wine testing suite is put on by Turning Leaf wine. The guests at this particular event were able to sample all of Turning Leaf's fabulous wines and socialize with filmmakers and film fans alike. This was one of my favorite places to visit during the festival.
The Leaf Lounge started to clear out and it was approacing 10:00 pm. It was time for the "Salon" After party. Mike and I were on the list so we headed down to the Premiere Magazine Lounge. Celebrities a plenty toured this party. Thumping music in the back ground and a grand fire pit made this a very comfortable and pleasant atomsphere for Mike and I. The Music was classic 80's retro remix, and boy could we relate to every song. Celebraties such as Crispin Glover, Brooke Burns, Vivica A. Fox, Michelle Rodriguez, Neve Campbell, and numerous others walked onto the red carpet into the VIP suite. Mike and I hung out at the fire pit. I decided to try some low carb monster energy drinks, and hang out with other reporters and talent agents. We made some great festival contacts this year and hope we see them again in years to come. We also saw two of the cast members of the locally shot television show "Everwood." They were down to earth and very fun to hang out with.
After the party we decided to drive home in the fog at 3:00 am Wednesday morning. We didn't have much juice after this day.
Signature film of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)
This is the best film I have seen so far at Sundance, it's truly inspirational! Storyteller/Narator John Trudell with his calm and warm voice instantly draws you in and connects you to the film. Four storys each one unique but relevant to us all, a Healer, a Little Girl, a Gangster and a Sockbroker, each one finding thier way home. I highly recomend seeing this film!
I rate it: 4.5 Stars - Excellent film all the way through!
By writer/director: Jenni Olson
There really isn't much to say about this film, it's nothing mor than a "Verbal Lesbian Journal" with random video clips of scenery. If you're into adult magazine letters you might want to watch it once, but as for me I never want to see it again.
I'd rate it: 0.5 Star - nothing was good about it, sorry.
Today we didn't waste any time and headed straight for the Activision House again. We felt like we didn't have enough time to see all that it had to offer yesterday due to the press reception. Today we learned that Oxygen Television was promoting a new film with Jennifer Love Hewitt called "Sociopathic Social Climber." They were gifting white and gold shirts which can also be purchased to help St. Judes. Every celebrity that came through signed the shirt and signed a couch so it could be auctioned off to help St. Judes as well. While we were in the suite we hooked up with no other than rock legend Alice Cooper. He made a crack that he would give his woman's t-shirt from Oxygen to Marilyn Manson and we had a good laugh. We talked to him for 10 minutes or so and decided to check out the rest of the space house real quick.
Next we moved on to the filmmakers lounge. Stella Artois and Turning Leaf wine was the drink of choice and everyone seemed to be having a great time. We also saw three films today which we will review through out the course of the week. at around 7:30 we decided to go to the Turning Leaf lounge where we enjoyed wine testing and great conversation with filmmakers and socialites.
9:00 was extravagant! We actually became part of artistic film! More on this and other great movies later! Wouldn't want to spoil it all in one blog!
By Darin Hadley
We begin our adventure in Sundance once again! Today was gorgeous outside, and unexpectedly warm. I was in a short sleeve shirt of all things, and Mike had to take off his extra warm coat. It was a great day to stroll up and down Main Street. As we walked up and down Main we found David Schwimmer talking on his cell phone, and we spotted Jennifer Jason Leigh. Unfortunately our camera was acting up. We decided to look for batteries in case that was the problem, but we couldn't find a battery anywhere on Main Street. We checked everywhere possible. We finally found ourselves in the Mall and a little shop called Names, etc. Had the batteries we were looking for. Unfortunately it was a little more than the batteries plaguing our camera, and causing shutdowns and other abnormalities. After that we went to a photo shoot for the movie "Rize", but it was postponed, so we gathered our stuff and moved on to the "Thumb Dance" Launch Party, Thumb Dance is new this year, and provides digital movies for your cell phone. They are currently looking for new films for this exciting state of the art platform. You can check out more on Thumb Dance at www.thumbdance.com. We enjoyed Stella Artois as usual and exquisite Hor's Douvres. Passing through the crowd was Kevin Bacon and Ian Abercromble (Mr. Pitt/Seinfeld). This was a very happening event in Park City today. Mike and I received free Thumb Dance hats, and we encourage you to check out their website.
After Thumb Dance we decided to check out "Activision House". This was a very cool hospitality and gifting suite. It is also a place where stars can help the St. Judes Children Hospital. Everything in Activision house is to help support this wonderful cause. It was a place where the stars could sit back in a home atmosphere and enjoy a beer and get free gifts. Mike and I scored some free Xbox games and headphones and we were very excited about this. Activision gave us the new game X-Men Legends. Plantronics gave us headsets for the X-Box in assorted colors instead of the usual green. This was cool because they were slated a celebrity only gift. I also received a Plantronic DSP 500 Head set to try on my PC games! This rocked! We bumped into Crispin Glover (George McFly/Back to the Future, Thin Man/Charlie's Angels) while we were in Activision House. He was really cool and we met up with him later at the press reception. Activision House is a must go for any Celebrity!
The press/Filmmaker reception started at 4:00 and we strolled in with our invitations. We met various first time Directors and a few experience ones as well. I will reveal these filmmakers and reviews in later features. Crispin Glover was promoting his film "What is it?" as well and we were invited to an exclusive Round Table discussion with him on Friday at 1:30. We will give more details as this unfolds. We also ran into Penn (Penn and Teller) who wasn't as talkative about his film "The Aristocrats". We tried to get a photo but once again the Camera was acting up. The press reception was wonderful as usual and we came out of their with many interviews and photos (photos when we could).
At around 6:00 we flew the coop on the press/filmmaker reception. We walked down to the Village at the Lift in which we have credentials for. We got into the Stuff Magazine/Crown Royal NFL Party. This was extremely fun. Crown and Coke was the drink of choice for this event. We partied it up and waited until the game was over. New England Patriots led the Pittsburg Steelers 41 to 27. This was an exciting game and everyone in the party enjoyed themselves.
After the NFL party we decided we had enough for one day and retired for the evening. Until tomorrow and this whole week! We will update you on all that's going on in Park City for the Sundance 2005 Film Festival. Look for reviews from Mike and I and our Ogden crew on the hot new films this year. We will update this site daily with fun and photos!
A film by Travis Wilkerson
When I first read about this film I thought it would be fast-paced and verry interesting. It seems that they tried to be spur-of-the-moment type of style, but it comes off being obviously scripted. The story itself is excellent! Unfortunatly, the camera shooting and directing are anoyingly poor which kind-of ruins the experience of the film.
Overall I'd rate this film: 2 Stars - excellent story & decent acting.
I would like to welcome all of you to Street Magazine's Coverage of the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. We thought we would jump on the blogging band wagon and offer our readers up to date continuous news feed of this years festival. We will begin our coverage on January 23, 2005 in Park City Utah. We are extatic! So stay tuned to this site for up to date news, articles and fun!
