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The Inside Scoop from Sundance
You like movies. You like to hit the slopes. You don’t mind the cold. And, you want to party with some celebs. So, where do you go? You head to Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival!
journeyPod dropped in to check out Sundance firsthand this year and we offer some vital tips. Sundance can be lots of fun - if you plan ahead. But it can also eat you alive if you don’t prepare in advance.
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One of the top film festivals in the world, Sundance runs films from the far corners of the globe and offers both documentaries and features. Sundance also allows you to be one of the first few people to see a new movie - since many of the films premiere during the Festival.
Celebrity Spottings
While many of the films are smaller pictures and independent, they definitely don’t lack star power. This year, all the big names from Hollywood either acted, directed or produced Sundance movies including: Sir Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. |
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Jackson, Christina Ricci, Josh Hartnett, Teri Hatcher, Jared Leto, Lindsay Lohan, Kate Beckinsale, Parker Posey, Siena Miller, Dakota Fanning, Keri Russell, among others.
So, with a little luck you could spot a star. Many of the celebs who attend the Festival show up at their movie’s premier showing, so you can look for them at the theater (if you purchase your tickets in advance). Not to mention, the celebs also attend some of the private parties that commence when the sun sets on the slopes. |
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Park
City, Utah is a great little town with cool shops and a good vibe.
It’s a very beautiful destination with a number of outdoor winter
activities - from skiing and snowboarding, to ice skating and snow
mobiling. During the 10 days of Sundance, nearly 40,000 extra people
converge on the town. Many of the 40,000 extras are Hollywood regulars
and movie industry movers and shakers. That means celebrities but
it also means producers, directors, agents, press, and folks like
us. All these insiders are able to see any movie they want at any
time - without waiting in line. They can also pop into many of the
private events and parties along Main Street. |
If you’re familiar with simple supply and demand, you know that too many people trying to get into something that has limited capacity equal very long lines and extremely limited access. Some of the restaurants, movie theaters, and party locations can only physically pack so many people in. This means the average traveler visiting Sundance has got to prepare ahead of time.
Planning Your Trip and Advance Movie Tickets
Let’s first start with when you should try to go. The Festival runs
for two weekends and is nearly 10 days long. Most people try to hit
the opening few nights, so the crowds swell during the first 5 days.
If you can arrive midweek when everyone else is heading home, you
could really take advantage of the shorter lines and less hassles.
Also, if you do wait until the closing weekend, you get the opportunity
to check out the best movies that won the awards. |
Now, let’s talk more about those coveted tickets to the movies during
the Festival. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a Hollywood
insider or have a $3000 movie pass to attend. Unless you plan on cloning
yourself and seeing 85 movies in 10 days, the best option is to simply
buy individual tickets to the movies you actually want to see. You
can buy tickets in advance by registering online for 5 bucks at http://festival.sundance.org
between the middle of November and the first few days of January.
Then you’ll receive an email with instructions during the first week
of January, which will allow you to purchase up to 20 total movie
tickets. That would happen around the second week of January, but
you’ll know your exact day and time to call in. |
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If you still want to see a movie that you didn’t get tix for, you can show up 2-4 hours before the movie starts at the theater and try for the waitlist. Typically they let in 100 to 150 people from the wait list, but that’s not guaranteed - and that’s also not for anything major like an opening night or a Sundance breakout of 2006, “Little Miss Sunshine”, etc. You can also try seeing one of the films in Salt Lake City which is only about 35 minutes away and less crowded.
Partying Sundance Style
Now, let us talk about the fun stuff - the parties. These can definitely be tricky. So, you also want to plan ahead and get on the guest list a few weeks in advance. If you know somebody who works at the venue or is associated with one of the many sponsors of the party, that’s your best chance of entry. So think long and hard about any friends or friends of friends that might have worked for Entertainment Weekly 5 years ago! No worries if you’re still coming up empty. There are some parties that are easier to get into and occasionally open to the public. The best thing to do here is simply stop by or call the venue early in the day when they’re not slammed with people offering their first born to get in. They’ll fill you in on what they have going on that night and who’s in charge of the VIP list and the door. But, have a backup plan as well. Anytime you hear the phrase, “We’re over capacity” or “fire marshal” - that should be your first signal to head down the road to the next party.
Another thing to remember is that just because there’s a really long line of people trying to get into a party at Sundance – it doesn’t mean anything. We got into a few of those parties and they were really weren’t anything to write home about. Ever hear the phrase, “When people are starving in the desert, they’ll drink the sand”? When you’re freezing on Main Street, any place with heat and drinks will suffice. So, don’t waste your time in line and try another spot. Also worth noting is that Park City, Utah is cold and snowy. So leave your high heels at home and bring your boots and Pumas – along with your scarf, hat and gloves. Even inside at most of the parties everyone dresses more casual with ski jackets, hats, and even sweatshirts. If you still want to dress up a bit, you can pair a nicer outfit with boots or sneakers and still be better dressed than half the crowd!
Now let’s cover the dining options. Most restaurants are either packed up or have a 45 minute wait time. You must have dinner reservations every night or you too will be waiting outside in the cold for a table. Our good buddies from FilmThreat.com suggested Main Street Pizza and Noodle. This place was quick, casual, and quite tasty. A big menu - and we saw Adam Brody from the TV show “The O.C.” Thanks for the tip, guys!
Speaking of tips and good karma, the people who attend and volunteer at the Festival are really friendly, helpful, and energetic. There’s an unspoken camaraderie you don’t often see. Everyone is passionate about film and very proud to be involved in such an extraordinary international event. So it is easy to meet new friends, network, and just keep up with local events.
Allow some time for skiing and snowboarding. You’re right there! And, the mountains are some of the best anywhere with Park City Mountain Resort taking home our version of awards for their great ski facilities. This is where the Olympics took place - and now its open to the general public. You also have tons of slope options nearby in the Salt Lake City Area like Snowbird and Alta.
All in all, Utah and Sundance is a great trip with lots of activities day and night. You just need to do some extra planning before you arrive - to keep the good times rolling. If you do, you can party with the big boys and see some cutting-edge movies ahead of the crowd. If you don’t, your head will be spinning and you’ll find yourself asking even the girl at Starbucks if she’s got a guest list for your next latte.
Happy trails fellow jetSetters!
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