Overhanging Above Egyptian Theatre

To all us film buffs, or wanna be film buffs, or filmmakers in the beginnings: We did it. We did the Sundance Thing. How awesome is that, really? I know whenever I meet new people, that has been a conversation starter, even my dental technician called me up the other night asking how the trip was. Sundance is a way bigger deal than we can ever believe. I don’t think I’ve spent so much money before going to see movies. Normally, I wait to get Hollywood movies for around 5 bucks on Amazon, even if I do get them six or seven years later. Sundance is a big deal. We got lucky and had a trip pretty well paid for so that we could go and watch quality films, and then schmooze with the director and the entire cast.

I was talking to Emma Lord before one of the shows, and we were both commenting how we would never be able to believe Muvico movie premieres. Those aren’t the authentic film premieres we grew accustomed to in Park City.  She and I both agreed that we would stick around to the end of the hypothetical movies we would see in our home theaters, and not be able to ask questions of the director, and how strange that would be. To be totally honest, I’m still not used to it! Sundance and Slamdance spoiled me! I vowed to go back one day, hopefully being 21 on those days I am there, so that I may help out with the Sundance Festival.

Classes back in regular ordinary life started on Tuesday, and yet I still feel in a daze. I feel like I should be getting out of a giant king sized bed Aprille and I shared downstairs, trudging into my sloppy morning routine, putting on my snowy gear, and going to 830am films. The other day, I even felt like I should have gotten out my snowboots and put them on, just to remember everything.

I know, here comes the part where you can definitely call me a cheeseball or even a suck up, but I have to thank Nate Andersen for setting the entire trip up for us. I thought about how much work it took to create the trip, and believe that on my own, I would have been helpless for planning. So here’s my thank-you-holy-cow-wow and reality checker all mashed into one.

In Park City, Utah, on MLK Day, I was trying to get breakfast, and didn’t even realize that places wouldn’t be open.  My friend Lila and I walked up Main Street to the Morning Ray Café Where I had been fortunate enough to completely enjoy a breakfast only days before. As we reached the Ray Café, we found they closed at 11am, and it was 11:15. We trudged back down the street, and the first open coffee-serving establishment we found had a waiting line for about 25 minutes til we’d be seated, and we were beyond hungry. We walked down the street another block further, when (cue angels singing in heaven, “Alleluia’s”) we saw Java Cow.

As an ice cream bar, coffee house, and bakery, Java Cow is amazing. It has the perfect mocha and the greatest carmel machiatto, a phenominal chocolate croissant which has gooey fresh dark chocolate inside, not that petrified once melted chocolate chip kind either.

I have only met one kind of caffine which I have not enjoyed, and even Java Cow, everything seems to have that extra touch. All of the coffee beans used are shade grown, organic, and fair trade coffee. As far as environmentally friendly, it definitely has my money.

Everything (and I mean everything) was cow themed

The pastries are all beautifully arranged, and I can personally attest that there is only one delicious item which I didn’t like, their tiramisu, has been well over looked by myself and friends who visit the coffee shop on a daily basis. I have done my best to try every single coffee they serve, one a day, and each of them is unique and so far from Starbucks, it’s really fantastic. 

To top it off, Java Cow has the best ice cream, hands down. I have eaten about 5 flavors, my favorite being one called Wowie Cowie, consisting of vanilla ice cream, soft carmel and soft toffee, and carmel filled chocolate cups hidden in the cream greatness. I recommend this café to anyone who has a love for coffee, an eye for environmentally and people friendly beans, and taste buds not burned with over-roasted coffee.

Sundance is over, and it’s kind of a kick in the butt to get back into reality. I loved this false world I was living in, at the same time that it was real life. It was one man’s livelyhood on the line for his film, and another woman’s family backing her entire production costs. Real life and great worlds blended together to create a phenominal experience, and I want to share it with you now.

Friday Jan 16th

“Before Tomorrow” Sundance

Probably one of the most amazing films I have ever seen, it told the story of a family, and later a grandson and his grandmother. It definitely was amazing as my first film, and so beautifully shot. It had me and my seat neighbors in tears at the finale.

“Unmade Beds” Sundance

As I was one of the first to see the film for the class, and this was only my second film, I was excited for it. And I was excited for one of the great films at Sundance this year. While it had little plot line, I loved that it followed only the main characters around their less seen city. It was definitely a great coming of age film. (more…)

Robert R. Mutt on his bus ride home

 You Might As Well Live is honestly one of the worst films I have seen since Jackass. I remember coming back to the house here in Park City after watching this and feeling like I had wasted my money, and more importantly my brain cells, just by watching this film. It begins where this man named Robert R Mutt is attempting to committ suicide by jumping off a bridge over no more than a few feet of river. He doesn’t succeed and gets taken to an insane asylum where they are permitted to participate in several activities such as air hockey and eating contests.

When a new doctor comes along, and challenges him to an air hockey competition, Robert wins, and video tape later confirms that the air hockey game he played helped to pull him out of depression. Because he was no longer depressed, he was released from the psych ward and told to go home. (more…)

The importance of family: Sammy, his mother, and sister

“Coming out of Sundance is probably one of the greatest films ever,” a common line you hear often enough. But rare is a film heard of picked up out of Slamdance. In this case, I am recommending that any film company that wants a great film should be checking out Mississippi Damned. Based on director Tina Mabry’s young life story, the family and friends followed have difficulties, including deaths and murders, rapes, and general fights as well as parties. The film also explores sexual differences including connecting with a young lesbian couple, and adultery, as well as boyfriends and girlfriends, and wives and their husbands. (more…)

Yesterday was probably one of my best days here since the day we got here. Actually, to be totally honest, everyday has been great. But yesterday I got to meet Robin Williams, my childhood hero and my all time favorite actor, tied of course by Jim Carry (whose movie I believe I missed). Before I knew it, I was shaking like I never have before in my life, and yet I was able to talk with him about my favorite movie of his, “Hook” as well as his entire career. He was an extremely down to earth man, however he was being rushed out of the theatre as we talked. 

Robin Williams and director Bobcat Goldthwait, taken by Lizzy Kirkham

I went to the world premiere of “World’s Greatest Dad” which was expected to be amazing without a doubt, especially with a director like Bobcat Goldthwait. One of the people in the Q&A section actually described the film as a “bipolar comedy” because you are laughing one minute at the ridiculousness of the characters and their dialogue, and then crying over the actions and reactions of actions which happen not even 5 minutes later. Bobcat himself said he was honestly surprised with the audience, because we all laughed and cried at the correct parts. Even Robin Williams was in tears at the end of the film.

Robin Williams, with co-stars Daryl Sabara (left) and Evan Martin (right), taken by Lizzy Kirkham

I honestly can’t tell you how amazing this film is, you have to go and see it yourself! The Q&A was probably the highlight of the film for me, just because it was as though Bobcat and Robin WIlliams, plus his fellow cast mates, were doing a random stand up comedy act with questions as their outline. It was some of the best fun I’ve had in a while. It was truly something I will never forget, meeting Robin Williams had been a dream of mine since I first saw him in his first film and then as a stand up comedian, and seeing a film with a discussion afterwards where he was present was really the best topping to an amazing sundae on Sunday.

Hunt With Squirrels: The Story of Gerald North

A look into the life of squirrel hunter Gerald North.

A short documentary by Aprille Brooker and Lizzy Kirkham

[Quoted from the film's poster, left] “In October of 1994, three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland while shooting a documentary… A year later their footage was found.”

I’m probably one of the biggest chickens to bring with you to see a scary movie. Especially one about wooded areas and being lost in a forest, because this is the scenery surrounding my childhood home. I scream, I hide, I squeeze the heck out of anything I can grab, and I am petrified to leave my seat after the film. The Blair Witch Project happens to be one of those such movies which I’m terrible at watching, so this experience was quite thrilling one for me.

As a horror film, it did an excellent job showing reduced blood and guts, and using only character’s breathing patterns and noises. The Blair Witch Project used several good tactics of its bag of tricks. (more…)

I know we’ve all heard the stories about the supposed ax murder Lizzie Borden, convicted for killing her own parents. Brutal and sad, we all have determined she must have had her reasons for the murders. While this Lizzie Borden is not the same Lizzie Borden ax murderer, her name is in fact inspired by the very same woman.

Born as Linda, and learning about Lizzie Borden’s case when she was about 11 years old, Linda decided to change from Linda Elizabeth Borden to Lizzie Borden. And thus her amazing story began. As a bisexual film maker, Borden created her fame through several different television career explorations, as well as film creation. She brought feminism into her films, and drew in a largely gay and independent film loving crowd with varied success. She experimented with sexuality in many of her films, her most famous being Born in Flames. She learned her filming techniques from what she taught herself.

(more…)