WHAT A WEEK!
I have always wanted to participate in the Sundance film festival. I worked in Park City for 5 years and lived 15 min away for 7 but never volunteered. Partly due to working. Partly due to kids ages.
Also, I was already there.
I have walked around main street to "Star gaze /Celeb stalk" almost every year I was up there. I guess I felt like I had covered it enough for the time but I always knew I would join in at some point.
When I saw a link to a sign up I just did it. I would figure out how when the time came. I just know you can't move ahead by standing still so I jumped.
I got called and interviewed and I thought it went well. But then I received an email that the spots were filled so I brushed that off figuring it wasn't time yet. A few days later the Volunteer staff person that interviewed me called me back and said she had a job for me. We set up that I would be at the Eccles ( main theater) working crowd control. I signed up for 5 days/shifts.
I arrive for my first shift (festival day 6) having no idea where to go. I get pointed in a direction and given a job working in the lobby of the Theatre. In that job I get to sneak in and watch 2 films. The 2nd day I was assigned to sit inside the theater by the entry with a flashlight, keep the curtain shut and light the way for people leaving or re- entering. I did such a good job they had me there again the 3rd day. Then I started looking at peoples credentials and realized everyone in the theaters said "Theater Team" Mine said Crowd Liaison. I was in the wrong place. I didn't want to be unable to volunteer next year because I wasn't showing up for my shifts when I was really just in the wrong place so I ratted myself out. :-)
The next day I arrived and was placed in the ticket holder tent. I was kind of bummed. But I was able to talk to the great team members and enjoyed the attendees that I was ordering around.
(nicely and with a smile of course)
I finished my last day with a team switch and met a whole new group of people. So my experience was very broken and I was never "part of a team" But I got to experience a few sides of the work and hopefully expand my usefulness.
I attended the opening party where I glommed onto a nice group of kids that talked to me. (I'm 40, kids are anyone under that age) I also attended the closing party which had decent food, loud music and a great opportunity to say good bye to new friends.
We all got cool jackets. you can see them in this video that was shown before every wednesday movie for Volunteer appreciation day.
As we Loaded the theater for Dear White People I noticed William H. Macey walk by. I said "Mr Macey, It is so nice to see you." He kind of moved to walk on but leaned back and said "It's nice to be seen." Later he came to the back of the theater and stood right next to me for a while. I didn't realize it was him, which was probably good. I just let him be. He spent quite a bit of time around Eccles. He had a movie premiere there (Rudderless) and maybe he wanted to see how it was going to flow. I heard high praise for his film. He also talked with many volunteers. He was just low key and kind. I love when you see the good side of people.
I came home exhausted, sore and with no voice.
I can hardly wait to do it again next year.
I will tell you about the movies I saw. They DID contain language.
Yes. I have stepped onto that "Slippery Slope."
I was at a film fest where you see great projects and well thought out stories.
I also got to see Q&A's with some of the stars and directors.
Following is the movies I saw, their IMDB Summary and my quick comments in Orange.
A Trip To Italy. Two comedians, six meals, six different places on a road trip around Italy. Staring: Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon. Attendees called it Food Porn. It was enjoyable. Lots of talking, impersonations and Pasta. Both actors attended the Q&A
Hellion. A motocross obsessed, 13 year old, Jacob's increasing delinquent behavior forces CPS to place his little brother Wes, with his aunt. Jacob and his emotionally absent father must finally take responsibility for their actions and for each other to bring Wes home. Aaron Paul, Juliette Lewis, Josh Wiggins. I thought this movie was Great. The story was really well done. Acting was fantastic. Especially being carried by a young kid. Probably the Best movie I saw.
Hits. A comedy exploring the nature of fame in 21st century, You Tube america. Takes place in a small upstate New York town. populated by people who trade in unrealistic expectations. It's a story in which fame, delusion, and recklessness meet, shake hands, and disrupt the lives around them. A teen girl wants fame anyway she can get it. But instead, everyone around her keep finding the notoriety she craves. Directed by David Cross who's Q&A was almost a 15 min stand up. This movie tells a great story of You Tube culture and jumping on the wagon before you even know where it might be going.
Skeleton Twins When estranged twins Maggie and Milo feel that the're at the end of their ropes an unexpected reunion forces them to confront why their lives went so wrong. As they reconnect, they realize the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship.
Kristin Wigg, Ty Burrell, Bill Hader. This quickly became a favorite for everyone. It was funny, touching, Well written and acted. Only the director was there for the Q&A It won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
Happy Christmas. Irresponsible 20-something Jenny arrives in Chicago to live with her older brother Jeff, a young filmmaker living a happy existence with his novelist wife and their two-year-old son. Jenny's arrival shakes up their quiet domesticityLena Dunham, Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey. Lots of Pot smoking and lena dunham. My shift ended, I left.
To be perfectly honest, I was not too excited for the next 3 films. But I had just realized I was in the wrong place and didn't want to get booted out when I was totally unprepared for the cold (I had left extra layers home since I was working inside) So I just did my job.
The Voices, A disturbed factory worker who hears advice from his pet dog and cat is implicated in the accidental death of his co-worker. Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick, Ryan Reynolds. This is NOT a Talking Dog movie. This is a DARK comedy. Well written, well acted, well directed. but gruesome and bloody. I had my head down a bit. But in the end, I hate to admit, I thought it was really good. Probably can't recommend it to many though. Director only for Q&A
Life After Beth, Zach is devastated after his girlfriend, Beth, unexpectedly dies. When she suddenly rises from the dead, he sees it as a second chance and decides to do and say every thing he wishes he had while she was still alive. Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Molly Shannon, John C Reilly, Paul Reiser. Not generally a fan of Zombie movies. And the lead photo that they keep putting on everything is probably The Worst shot they could have picked and it is out of context. This movie was hilarious. Not a gory,graphic, flesh eating movie but it IS a zombie movie. In the vein of Warm Bodies.
Dear White People, At a prestigious University, biracial student Samantha White begins her radio show, "Dear White People, the amount of black friends required not to seem racist has just been raised to two. Sorry, your weed man, Tyrone, doesn't count." She becomes president of the all-black residential hall, whose existence is facing extinction in the name of diversification. A TV reality show smells gold in Sam's story and decides to follow it, rejecting the proposal of fellow black student Coco Conners, who pitched her own show and through misguided ways tries to convince them to go with her idea. This also becomes a career-defining opportunity for black misfit Lionel Higgins when he is asked to join the school's lily-white newspaper staff to cover the controversy, even though he secretly knows little about black culture. Didn't think I was their target audience. Wasn't sure I would enjoy it. I was wrong. This movie was really good. Not sure what to say about it. but I thought the cast was great. It was funny and a great story.
winner of U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent
