Silence. The screen is blank and credits slowly start to roll. The tennis-courts-turned-movie-theater starts to illuminate before the lights come on. The glow of black berries and iPhones begin to fill the room as the credits roll and the film’s impact is fresh and intense in my mind. I hope everyone is typing what I am thinking: ‘That was one hell of a movie!’

Like most adventures, the reality of Sundance was not what I could have ever imagined. I was here during the inauguration of Barak Obama in my hometown in D.C., and although I was beyond pumped and honored to be involved with arguably the best film festival in the world, I was a little bit reluctant to leave my home town during such a historic and wild event. I was sure that I was going to see some amazing movies and probably get in a little skiing but I would miss all the parties, the important people, the diverse crowd all assembled to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and being able to witness an optimistic future unfold back home. Much to my pleasant surprise, Sundance, as an event, reflected a great deal of the same dynamic that made this inauguration what it was. (more…)

For me, Sundance has been a once in a lifetime experience. Being in Park City surrounded by thousands of people who are all here to watch films and to support independent cinema is very exciting, because everyone is here for the same cause, to support art. Everyone is willing to talk about movies and trade stories about their experiences here. it’s easy to find out which films are good and and bad just by catching the bus and striking up a conversation or even just listening to other people talk about films. I certainly didn’t expect to make friends with two middle aged men, Jim and Rene, who told me they had been coming to the festival for the past twelve years. But that’s just the kind of thing that happens, you’ll be standing in a line for something and soon you’re discussing all of the films you’ve seen and haven’t seen. I ended up talking to both Jim and Rene a handful of times during the festival, as I always seemed to find them at my screenings. Both of them wished me good luck in making films, and they promised they would keep an eye out for a film by me at Sundance after five years or so.

While I’ve been here, I’ve really gotten a sense that I’m part of the festival. For each of the films showing here, the filmmakers have put in lots of time and effort to get their film here, and so being at the each of the screenings is very unique. By simply being there, you’re helping to promote the film and independent films in general. For many of the directors here, these screenings are the only way to get their career off the ground, and since I want to direct films myself, you can really understand why the filmmakers here are so excited to be able to show their work to you. (more…)

Cast From Slammin Salmon 

Who knew that a slamdance film would be the comedy that left me consistently laughing and quoting the movie days after the screening. Slammin Salmon is an amazing comedy written and starring by the guys behind Super Troopers and Beerfest. It is the first of their films that was directed by Kevin Heffernan, that’s right Farva directed Slammin Salmon. This movie had fellow sundance bloggers, Jerad, Jack, and I holding our sides from constant fits of laughter.

The movie is about Cleon “Slammin” Salmon’s (Michael Clarke Duncan) restaurant which he proudly flaunts his title of champ. Champ gets into some money trouble and the restaurant starts a competition to see which waiter can bring in the most money to raise funds. Hilarity ensues as each character has their own ridiculous situations and give amazing comical performances. Michael Clarke Duncan was one of the most hilarious actors in the movie, his timing was perfect and completely ridiculous as he replies “Whatever, MOTHERF****R!” whenever he is corrected. Champ’s character does the most outrageous things everywhere he goes, from killing a swordfish with a punch to the head to riding a horse into the restaurant in a crown and a scepter.

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The New Frontier movies aren’t supposed to be your conventional films; they even claim to be “the next.” I don’t think I could disagree more, or else I am frightened for the future of film making and watching. I wanted to expand my horizons and try something new, take in the whole Sundance experience. I have enjoyed the New Frontier art installations, so I decided to see a screening of Lunch Break. 

The introduction, given by a programmer, spoke about taking your idea of what a film is and forgetting it. I proved that I am not able to do this; I guess I don’t have an open mind. This “film” was eighty minutes of one shot. A long hallway at a factory passing people eat their lunch in slow motion. I can say one positive thing: the slow motion of these workers movements looked beautiful. However, ten minutes of this would have made a lot more sense. I am sure that there is something I am missing, some artistic feature that I wasn’t able to connect with. Had I stayed for the second feature, I would have liked to hear the director explain, but I couldn’t convince myself that my time was worth it. 

I saw more people leave during this one screening than all of the films I have seen combined. The only sound coming from the film was that of factory machines. I started to open my ears to the sounds emanating from the audience. The opening of sodas, the gulping of drinks, the crunching of popcorn and other snacks, the whispers of confusion between peers, the squeaking of chairs; all of these sounds were more interesting than the film. It started to become entertaining to guess how many people were going to make it through the entire feature. I almost regret not staying to see how close my number was, but I prefer keeping some of my intellect.

My friend Matt Went is here at Sundance, although not with our Eckerd College program. He is part of a program called Real Ideas Studios. This program puts a group of aspiring student filmmakers together for the ten days of the festival, and each group produces a final film in one week to be screened at Slamdance on the last day of the fest. There were eight groups, and after the screening I think its safe to say they all put a tremendous amount of effort into their films. Each film was a documentary about various topics in or around Park City, and all were intriguing. Having spent quite a few days in Park City now, I recognized many aspects in their films, or had experienced some of the things their documentaries were about. 

The Real Idea Studios program is open to any filmmaker, or aspiring filmmaker, to compete for best documentary. The program seeks to redefine “real world experience” as a global collaborative and cultural immersion within mentoring creative arts programs. They also have an emerging filmmaker program at Cannes Film Festival. Contact Info: info@realideasstudios.org

Click here to watch them! (more…)

When I found out I was officially going to Sundance, I totally flipped my wig because I knew that meant that I would be seeing celebrities galore. I had no idea that this trip was going to give me opportunities to meet the sheer number of amazing actors and directors that I have encountered. From meeting some of my all time favorite actors to some of my biggest comedic influences, my mind has been blown out of my awesome sockets. 

Vote For Pedro

In the beginning I was very antsy to see anyone of semi-fame, I even got excited when I caught a glimpse of former hobbit and LOST cast member Dominic Monaghan, when Ali pointed him out to me. This was awesome but I didn’t even get to meet him, so I was still antsy to find another star. Finally I got my wish when I saw Efren Ramirez, Pedro of Napolean Dynamite fame, in front of the Rockband Lounge. Luckily I was able to get a few words in before he was mobbed by rabid fans and yes I did say “Vote For Pedro”. (more…)

Adam Salky’s Dare tells the story of three troubled teens struggling to make it through the extremely dramatic years of high school. The story might at first seem a little conventional, but Dare ventures into some new territory by focusing the plot on a love triangle between two boys and one girl. Ben and Alexa have both been best friends since they were young, but soon the two find a rift in their relationship when they are both interested in Johnny Drake, one of the most popular and attractive guys in the school. Alexa seems eager to grow up, and though she dislikes Johnny at first, she forces herself to become intimate with him and becomes very attached in the process. Ben also becomes very attached to Johnny after a drunken night with him, which threatens to destroy his friendship with Alexa.

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If you grow up in New York City or Los Angeles it is common to see famous people. It is even “proper” to act as if they aren’t important. You wouldn’t give them anymore attention then you would give anyone else. I never grew up in the city. For me, it is a weird concept knowing I am in a town that is now over populated with famous people. As much as this baffles and intrigues me, I would never approach the extremes of which some people are going.

I have seen crowds of people standing outside of restaurants waiting for actors to stop eating. I saw a mob of people run across the street to see Ashley Judd. Famous people are being bombarded while they eat; no wonder they don’t want to walk around. 

I understand that these people are “above” us, but I have a hard time understanding why we attack them. Yes my heart might have skipped a beat when I saw Dominic Cooper standing right next to me, and I thought it was cool to be sitting in the  same row as Chris Rock for The Informers, but I wasn’t freaking out. 

Yesterday, I was walking down the street and I saw the Mystery Team all standing there. Had I not been in a hurry, I would have stopped, said how I enjoyed their film, and continued walking. It makes sense to take pictures and ask questions while they are on stage, but when they are eating… personally, I think not. 

Even though I haven’t been star gazing, I have met a lot of amazing people. The first day I was in Park City, I wanted to explore the town. I ended up at coffee shop, writing (see Enslavement to 1,3,7-trimethylaxnthine to read what I thought of the place.) This place had minimal seating, so three people joined my table. Not understanding how communicative people are during Sundance, this surprised me. It ended up being a great first morning. One of them works in publicity and after finding out that I was a communication major, gave me his card and told me to contact him for an internship. 

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Last night as I laid down to try and fall asleep, thoughts and images raced through my head uncontrollably, one after the other. These thoughts and images were of the film I had just seen which was The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle. Talk about use of imagination, this film is the most offbeat, colorful and surreal film I have seen thus far at Sundance. 

David Russo

Director David Russo creates a masterpiece that is just as quirky as him and that is sure to be branded into ones mind forever. There is no doubt this film might weird some people out but as long as one has an open mind when going into it you will definitely get something quite positive out of it. 

Starring Marshall Allman, Natasha Lyonne, Tygh Runyan, Tania Raymonde, Matt Smith and Vince Vieluf, little dizzle is filled with fresh young talent that light up the screen with much intensity. As the film explores strange subject matters it proves to show that almost any idea can be developed successfully is given the correct amount of determination and willingness to explore. Even ideas about impregnated men and blue fish. (more…)

A lot of the excitement that was built up before getting to watch Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape was only amplified when I got into the theatre to find out that Soderbergh and most of the cast would be watching it along with us. I was especially excited, because I had never seen the film before, and I had had no real idea of what to expect. But I knew that it was going to be great, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The story  begins with John Mullany, a young attorney, who doesn’t seem to mind the fact that he and his wife, Ann, have sex only a few times a year. Maybe, it’s because he’s too busy sleeping with Ann’s more liberal sister, Cynthia. Everything seems to be fine for a wile unto John’s old friend Graham moves back into town and sets into motion a string of lies that tests the relationships of each of the characters. At first, Ann thinks Graham is creepy with his videotapes that he makes of girls talking about personal sex experiences, but once she begins to suspect her husband of cheating, she finds that graham is the only person she can talk to.

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