Sundance… When faced with the task of blogging a summary of this trip, I find myself drawing a blank. Not because of lack of memorable moments, but because there were so many amazing moments. From walking down main street and shmoozing to watching films and sitting in on Q and A’s I’ve learned about film and the philosophies each director presents to us. Also I grew tight with many of my fellow bloggers on this trip gaining connections we never had developed before, especially through Tom’s tickling. All together I think this experience has been priceless and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I met incredibly awesome and interesting people that either shared words of wisdom or just simply encouraged me on my life journies in environmental studies. Some stand out experiences were seeing Steven Soderbergh and Gregg Araki in their discussion pannel. Another gratifying experience was meeting 3 of the members of Broken Lizard some of the largest comedic influences on my life, I never thought I would have Farva’s arm around my shoulder. Also it was rewarding meeting Pedro from Napolean Dynamite, though I was disappointed he didn’t have his signature meak accent. (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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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…)

Other than the fact that you feel like there’s a black hole in your wallet, the restaurants in Park City are great and have a good selection of delicious meals… For a heavy and sometimes sickening price. Wondering around Park City and watching some great flicks certainly worked up some hunger pains and finding a decent meal is a must. So I will try to shed some light on some of the finer eating establishments I have visited. This is fine dining at its best at Sundance.

First up is a fine establishment on main street, Cisero’s Ristorante. Jack and I could not find any place for a meal, every where else was packed, and we found Cisero’s. We figured we would give a shot and walked into one of the ritzier italian resturants I’ve seen in Park City. They had everything from candles, good atmospheric music, and friendly service. They start you off with delicious bread and oil and I moved on from that to a large, juicy burger. If anything these folks know how to make a good burger and from what I understand Jack’s sub was awesome as well. If you have 20 bucks laying around, go for it and eat at this joint.

Next up is a great sushi bar, Sushi Maru, a great place for picking up info and seeing some cool people. The sushi was done well, Ali, Alex, Burger, and Lilah all gave raving reviews. Each sushi roll was about 12 bucks, which depending on where you’re from is either a fair price or a little steep. The Philadelphia roll was done really well and I savored every bite and the miso soup was a real treat. Also the atmosphere was awesome with a nice salt water tank with a porcupine fish, various tangs, and a cute clown fish. If you like raw fish this is the place for you.

Going into this documentary I had no idea what to expect. This movie directed by John Maringouin was about Martin Strel, who holds the record for longest distance swam. His past accomplishments were the Yangtze, the Mississippi, and the Danube. The fact that he is in his 50’s, overweight, and a heavy drinker makes these accomplishments even more incredible. Throughout the documentary he takes on a new task, swimming the length of the Amazon, his greatest swim yet. I was settled in for an exciting ride with Strel, his son (also the hilarious narrator), and his insightful guide.

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El Mariachi proved to me that not all awesome action movies have to be high budget blockbusters to rock my socks off. The use of the spanish mosaic really fleshes out what may have been missed in the low budget. The price is almost fitting for this movie due to the minimal and bleak outlook of The Mariachi.

I loved the action scenes and a lot of them left me muttering to myself, “Badass…”. To top it all off it didn’t take a helicopter crashing through a building to evoke that reaction which says a lot. Also the main character’s mishaps through out the movie really leads to a closer affection of the lead.

Even though I thought this was an amazing piece of work the flaws of low budget filming do come through. Some shots are hazy and noticeably not at top calibur footage. I, personally can put this aside and just enjoy this top notch flick made by a great director. If you have seen the spin offs, Desperado and Once Upon a Time In Mexico you will love this one.

This was a movie directed by Dennis Hopper that I watched in my younger days, but didn’t really understand their search for the drug enriched American dream. I could however rock out to it’s awesome soundtrack and smooth vibes while Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper tear up the roads and meet various acquaintances. This movie featured some of the music that inspired the era and embraced the counterculture that was surfacing in America. This movie shot its way to fame due to it’s innovative use of a rock soundtrack and the charm of the main characters Wyatt and Billy.     (more…)

A short film submitted Sam, Jerad, and Tom.

When selecting directors for this blog, my eyes automatically darted to my obvious choices of Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino, and Robert Rodriguez. Instead when asked by Nate Andersen who had Netflix, I rose my hand and was assigned to blog about Gregg Araki. I was not prepared for what this director and pioneer in the New Queer Cinema movement had to offer and his films have successfully managed to take me outside of my comfort zone. His edgy movies and gritty content provided for shocking and uncomfortable moments, but they are understandable in their meaning and are necessary.

Gregg Araki was born on December 17, 1959 in Los Angelos, California, but was raised in Santa Barbara. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies at UC Santa Barbara and an MFA in Film Production from the University of Southern California in 1985. Before creating films he was a music critic for L.A. Weekly, which helps in his unique soundtrack selection which usually comes from the shoe gazer genre. His films usually run with homosexual undertones and the hardships that people go through. 

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