In the descriptions of the day-to-day experience of Sundance I was told that I would be meeting people, seeing stars, and watching interesting movies. I have thus far seen amazing movies, such as Mystery Team, Lulu and Jimi and Big River Man, met fun people, and seen some B-list celebs. But I had yet to experience the whir wind, surprising, spontaneous day that had been advertised…until today!

I did not have any movies scheduled until 8:30pm so I figured I’d go spend my time waiting in line for the 3:15pm premiere of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. I went to the theater an hour and fifteen minutes before the waitlist line was even formed but there was still a really long line. I sat on the pavement, listened to my ipod and started knitting a hat. A couple came in line behind me, the woman was wearing a huge, sweeping black coat with a fur collar and a black furry hat with cat ears. I watched as she made a mini snowman and had her husband take a picture of her while she laughed hysterically. We moved inside into the actual waitlist line, and I asked the man in front of me for the time in L.A so I could call my brother. It ends up he was a journalist in a major cinematography magazine in L.A. Soon the eccentric couple behind me in line joined the conversation and we discovered that the four of us got alone really well. We all have very absurd sense of humor and clicked instantly. We got numbers 72 through 75.

Jon, the writer, took us over to a remote press cafeteria for a snack while we waited to get back in line. Over cheetos and tea I told them how blogging was a challenge for me because I didn’t feel like I could be funny in writing. From then on they insisted that every joke I cracked should be put into my blog… I told them I needed diapers because I almost peed myself I thought Mystery Team was so funny…not funny? Didn’t think so. Damn blog!

We walked back together, got back into the waitlist line, and I decided to go on a search for a bathroom. While waiting in line for the porter potty, I watched as John Krasinski walked by, I hope he noticed me in my glamorous position! I only knew him as sexy Jim from the Office, but it ends up he did just about everything on the movie I was waiting in line to see. He wrote the screenplay, directed and acted as one of the leading roles. Seeing a major celebrity at Sundance? Check!

Back in the waitlist line it isn’t looking good for numbers in the seventies, they tell us they are letting people in in groups of five. The attendant screams, “you must have correct change”. Oh lord in heaven, I have waited all this time and now I realize that I gave all my cash to my friend. Not only was I embarrassed and pissed at myself but now I had to get out of line and give up because of my crucial oversight. Without a moments hesitation Bridgette’s husband pulls out a twenty and says its on him. Wow, what if I hadn’t asked what time it was in L.A and never made these friends? What if I had gone to the bathroom in the pressroom instead of in John Krasinski’s walking path? Seems my spontaneous day had arrived.

Very surprisingly we all got into the movie. Brief Interviews with Hideous Men was an interesting look into the male psyche regarding women and sex. It was thought provoking, not my absolute favorite, but still valuable in its unique editing style and meaningful dialogue. Coming out from the movie I thought it was interesting the polarities in opinions I overheard. The woman next to me said to her friend in a harsh, unforgiving voice, “well, that was tedious. I didn’t think the audience liked it all that much, they didn’t clap vigorously.” When walking down the stairs I overheard to mainstream twenty-something year old guys comment emphatically how they were blown away by the whole concept and execution of the movie.

The experience was fun and unique on many levels, it was a surprise to make friends for my many slow hours in line. I had a better appreciation for the movie after seeing its star and creator. In general it was a total package Sundance experience that I will never forget. Corny, but true.

Tags: big river man, brief interviews with hideous men, john krazinski, lila lupetin, lulu and jimi, mystery team, sundance

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at 4:25 pm and is filed under Fun. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.