January 19, 2012
LGA -> ATL -> SLC -> Park City
My new snow boots were packed, as were my cameras, lenses, and flashes. It was time to fly to Salt Lake City. The trip did not begin well. As soon as the plane doors closed at JFK, a mysterious water leak was discovered and mechanics were sent onboard to drain all the potable water from the lavatories before we could take off. Despite the delay, I still made the quick connection in Atlanta, thanking the Norse gods that I managed to stuff all my things into 2 carry-on items.
Always carry-on. Leaving nothing to chance.
A great view of Williamsburg/Greenpoint from the plane. I can actually see my apartment building.
Never get tired of seeing Manhattan from above.
The scenery on the approach to Salt Lake City is stunning
This was the first night of the festival, so the Salt Lake City airport was pretty chaotic.
The shared airport shuttle van seemed to stop at every hotel and ski resort between SLC and Park City, so by the time I was dropped off at my hotel it was after 6pm, too late for me to pick up my press pass. I had a few minutes to drop my things and take in my comically spacious accommodations (full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, spare bedroom with bunk beds, washer-dryer, etc), and then it was time to hope on one of the many free busses servicing Park City and head to Main Street for the first time.
My hotel in Park City - The Silver King
It was already dark and a gentle snow was falling, which made for an enchanting first impression of this main artery of Park City and the festival itself.
One of the first things you notice in Park City: Sundance may be about independent film, but there’s nothing independent about the festival itself. Branding and sponsorships are everywhere. Take a quick walk down Main Street, and you’ll pass the Bing Bar, the HP tent, the Chase Sapphire photo studio, it goes on and on. Stella Artois and Grey Goose would dominate the many open bars to come, and FreeCreditScore.com was hosting a coffee bar at Sundance Channel HQ. The upside – you get a lot of shit for free at Sundance. In fact, during the entire week to come, I would spend a total of about $20-30, and most of that from tipping bartenders.
I walked up the hill to Sundance Channel HQ at 268 Main Street, my base of operations for the next week. There I met the members of the web team who I didn’t meet in New York, and was quickly assigned to cover the Sundance opening night party happening later that night. I didn’t have my press pass, so I was given a ticket and told to attend as a “guest with a camera”. So off I went.
The Legacy Lodge, where the Sundance Day One party was held.
The Day One Party, as it’s known, is open to filmmakers, actors, and purchasers of some ticket packages. It’s a chance for people to meet other festival goers and enjoy and accelerated effects of alcohol at altitude. There are always more tickets given out than there is capacity, so I went early and waited in line to get in.
The atmosphere was lively – there was a real sense of excitement and anticipation of the 10 days to come in the air. The party had a small squadron of Stella-pushing snow bunnies, and a competing team of Grey Goose vodka girls circulating, flirting, and pouring.
The police were on hand, presumably to enforce Utah's bizarre liquor laws. They didn't much feel like being photographed.
And all the while, the snow kept falling.
In the tradition of Sundance SWAG, all guests were offered a Stella chalice and Grey Goose cocktail shaker by the respective company representatives. I passed on the chalice, knowing it wouldn’t be likely to survive the trip home, but the shaker I couldn’t say no to.
Oh, and I also got this very important picture:
That night I went to bed exhausted, as I would do every night of the week to come.
See the full gallery of my photos from the party on SundanceChannel.com.
Check back here tomorrow for my recap of day 2, which included a tour of Main Street, Park City fashions, Mary J. Blige, and *gulp* Robert Redford.
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