Sundance Moments

Me and the Nesquick Bunny on Main Street.


There are many reasons we pay over $15 a ticket to see movies at Sundance, but first and foremost, it is those small moments throughout the day that could only occur in that environment. Sure the money helps fund a non-profit institute that supports aspiring filmmakers. Yes, there is added value in the interactive session with the directors, writers, actors, producers etc. that occurs after almost every movie. But, most of all, it's the unscripted moments before and after movies -- in line, on the shuttle, in restaurants, etc. -- that we really enjoy. Here are some examples from this year.

Before Prom Night in Mississippi started, Jois struck up a conversation with the man in the seat next to her. It turns out he is a Senior V.P. for Paramount. She then mined him for information and opinions on all the Festival movies he had seen so far. As he sees five a day, he was a wealth of information. Both agreed that Prom was excellent.

I said "hello" to a familiar face in passing and it wasn't until I was way past her that I realized I only knew her because I had seen her in the lead role of Toe to Toe two days ago. I wished it would have clicked sooner, so I could have told her how much I enjoyed her performance.

Dede having a "Tourettes moment" in the lobby when she realized the familiar face she was seeing was the director of one of the shorts we saw. After loudly shouting, Jerrycan!, she recovered nicely and had a lovely conversation with him about that film and his next project.

The young couple who came out from Boise to volunteer at the Festival that we met in line. We sort of adopted them (by sharing our licorice) and invited them to stay with us if they ever come to Portland. We saw them the next morning and Gaby stands in front of a full theatre and asks "Where are my teacher friends? Did you bring me any snacks?"

The mother and her 18-year-old son we met who have been going to the festival every year for the past six years. She buys an all-access pass (that's what I will buy when I win the lottery) for both of them. We told him he has a really nice mother. In response, he put his arm around her and said he has the best mother in the world. Awww.

Being moved by a simple documentary about a high school in Mississippi. Then being even more moved when two of the high school girls in the film make the trip to Sundance (one of whom had never been on a plane) and stand in front of large audience to answer their questions.

Trying to figure out how to discreetly tell the guy standing up in the row in front of us that his fly is down. Not so discreetly telling the people in the row behind us to stop talking. For those of you who know Jois, you won't be surprised to hear that she handled both situations.

Meeting the woman from upstate New York who writes for a Hispanic publication, runs a public library and operates a theatre dedicated to Independent films. Meeting a guy who does set design for major motion pictures and started the Boston Film Festival, because no one else would. Joking with two couples on the shuttle as if we have known them forever.

Sundance is a shared experience. Thousands of people from around the world gather together for a few days in a freezing cold, small town in the mountains of Utah. Most check their egos at the door and almost all share a love of storytelling through film. It's just a privilege to be a part of it.