Sundance Film Festival: A Shocking Surprise

It's off to my second year as a Sundance Film Festival full time volunteer. Every January, Park City, Utah transforms itself into little Hollywood as it hosts the annual Sundance Film Festival. Meanwhile, a chosen few wannabe filmmakers participate in Robert Redford's original vision of Sundance Institute - the numerous writers' and filmmakers' workshops held at Sundance Resort, about an hour from Salt Lake City, Utah.

My reason for volunteering at Sundance Film Festival is simple: to give back to Robert Redford for all the years of helping to save Austin, Texas from environmental destruction by developers. I met Robert Redford while he was filming Indecent Proposal in Las Vegas. At the time, Austin environmentalists organized the "Save Our Springs" coalition to stop developers from polluting the natural Barton Springs that feeds into Town Lake in the heart of downtown Austin. Mr. Redford made several public appearances in Austin in support of Save Our Springs and he was gracious enough to meet with me in Las Vegas to let me thank him and learn how I could do more for Barton Springs.

I was completely shocked during my first Sundance Film Festival in 2007. It is the most exciting event I have ever attended, but not at all what I imagined as the vision of Robert Redford or something he would enjoy. What started out to be an informal venue for unknown independent filmmakers is now a venue for major movie stars, a barrage of vendors including those not officially affiliated with the Sundance Film Festival, streets full of young, gorgeous dolly divas waiting to be discovered, media trucks from all over the world, and traffic jams despised by the locals. To say it is wild and crazy is a complete understatement. It is a giant mixmaster of moviemakers and movie lovers, swirling around in circles for two weeks, with only adrenaline keeping the body going.

There are many perks and privileges associated with being a Sundance Film Festival volunteer. You can see movies for free, get branded uniforms to keep, experience two weeks of fun, food, wine, beer, and music, and occasionally catch a glimpse of movie stars. I am not ungrateful and probably risk sounding a bit selfish, but with all due respect to Mr. Redford and the team that organizes the amazing Sundance Film Festival, I was hoping to see Mr. Redford personally thank the 1,500 volunteers at the Volunteer Kick-Off Party. That would have meant more to me than the plate full of meatballs, chicken wings, and an open bar. After all, it is that personal, caring quality about Robert Redford that gives young filmmakers hope and made me want to volunteer for the festival. Not to worry - I quickly forgive him and return for year two of hard work and play.

The films I was able to see at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival were indescribably outstanding: Nanking, In the Shadow of the Moon, Padre Nuestro, War Dance, No End in Sight, Hot House, and a dozen more. I was totally captured by the quality of the independent films. The documentaries have especially increased in popularity over the years, and the topics cover every aspect of life, history, emotions, experiences, challenges, and courage. They will make you laugh, cry, and some will rip your heart out. They will make you proud, angry, and humble - all in a week's time.

This year, I am looking forward to seeing films starring Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Bruce Willis, David Bowie, Danny Glover, William H. Macy, Meg Ryan, Colin Ferrell, Ralph Fiennes, Tom Hanks, John Malkovich, and also those starring unknowns. It is easy to see how the independent filmmakers feel that having a big movie star will help their film. In reality, it is these big names that the average movie lover targets as they attend Sundance Film Festival. With 200 films screened at Sundance Film Festival, one must have some criteria for whittling down their list of screenings they can possibly attend. Other than star power, criteria might include genre or topic. I go to all sappy love stories and numerous documentaries to broaden my horizons.

It was exciting in 2007 to see stars like Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Winona Ryder, M.C. Hammer, Kevin Bacon, and Timothy Hutton while I was strolling Main Street and working in the theater. My age was painfully revealed, though, as I was snapping a picture of Timothy Hutton and Kevin Bacon through a Main Street window while they were being interviewed. A bunch of those young dolly divas ran up with their cameras at eye level, ready to snap, and said, "Who's in there, who's in there?" When I excitedly replied, "Timothy Hutton and Kevin Bacon," they glared at me in a puzzled way and asked, "Who are they?" Oh my gosh! The heartthrobs of my youth were right in front of me, looking sexier than ever - I was in Hollywood stargazer heaven - and the cute little girls did not know who they were.

I truly expected everyone from around the world to be friendly and interestingly converse about their hometowns over wine offered free at the Turning Leaf Lounge. I have to admit that with no experience in filmmaking and no personal agenda to advance my filmmaking career, I was somewhat shunned in Main Street social settings. It seems that most people strike up conversations only in order to see if you are someone important that can advance their agenda. But, in true Texas fashion, I didn't let that stop me from mingling, talking about Austin, and enjoying the bitter disappointment on people's faces when they learned that I was nobody of any importance; just a theater volunteer from Texas at Sundance Film Festival.

Among the other exciting events at Sundance Film Festival for people who are not filmmakers:

The drive up a mountain in a VW four-wheel-drive, brand new sports utility vehicle where they film you being a first-time stunt driver. WOOOHOOO

Skiing in Park City, Utah - the slopes are probably where you will see more movie stars than on Main Street.

Being from Austin, Texas - live music capital of the Hill Country, I most enjoyed the live music performed from sound tracks of independent films. My favorite was the Irish band Glen Hansard and The Frames who performed in the movie Once. Once is a musical based on the real life story of an Irish street musician and a Czech immigrant who met, wrote music, and fell in love.

Getting a free, trendy, chic haircut and style at the Paul Mitchell beauty salon.

No matter what your purpose is for attending the Sundance Film Festival, plan to have the best two weeks that any January can offer. Take an empty suitcase for all the free SWAG given away by vendors. Splurge on some really good snow boots, coats, sweaters, and bundle up accessories during the after Christmas sales. Recharge those camera batteries and get a 4-gig memory card for your 7.2 megapixel digital. OOPS - there's my age again - just pack your camera cell phone with the charger and ENJOY the Sundance Film Festival!