Yesterday was our first full day at the Sundance Film Festival and it went above and beyond our expectations. We spent the entire day in Park City. First, on Main Street, the hub of the festival, and then at the Eccles Theater, which is about two miles from Main St.
Main St. still has some of the mining flavor Utah is known for though it is hard to see behind all of the white tents, flashing lights, temporary VIP lounges, and hoards of industry types there to see and more importantly, be seen. We spent part of the afternoon outside the Sky360 Delta Lounge on Main St. We had heard the lounge was popular with celebrities, what an understatement! We, along with paps and fans from around the globe, waited outside Sky360 and saw more than a dozen celebs come and go in just a few hours. We also had a delicious lunch and did a little shopping, even when we weren’t trying we saw celebrities! You know you are at the center of the universe when you pass Jack Black then Mary Kate Olsen in the same block! Jack Black wins our coolest celeb of the day prize. He was totally laid back, talked to anyone who approached him, and was able to pull off a gorilla chest t-shirt! Celeb we saw the most? Ben Lyons, E!’s film critic. For someone who should be watching films, he was spending a lot of time out hanging out on the street.
At about 6 PM we headed over to Eccles. Robert DeNiro and Bruce Willis were premiering What Just Happened Here followed by U23D. We missed Bobby and Bruce but we did see and talk to U2. (Yes, all four of them!) They arrived at the theater around 9:15 and were very generous talking and signing for fans who were waiting outside. (Did I mention Bono touched me?!?) We did try to get tickets to the showing via the wait list but had no luck, it was the hottest ticket of the festival after all. We also heard from one of the theater employees that they let 25 wait-listers into the DeNiro screening just to kick them out (with a refund) after the movie started because “a bunch of celebrities showed up late”. So much for Redford’s whole “this festival is about film” thing. Come on Bob, we all know it is really about stroking the egos of celebrities.
After U2 was safely inside the theater (with will.iam, Al Gore, & Colin Farrell) we headed back to Main St. via one of the city’s free shuttles. Main St. is a whole different animal at night, it is like the French Quarter (with more clothing). Tao Park City was insane, there were at least 200 people waiting outside hoping to get in for the 50 Cent show. The only celeb we saw on the street was Jared Leto (who totally scares me ever since I saw Requiem for a Dream). Any celeb worth their salt spends their evenings at private house parties during the festival, who can blame them?
Today we are headed back to Park City and tonight we will be at the premiere of Savage Grace starring Julianne Moore. We will keep you posted once again and we do have pics which will be posted ASAP so stay tuned!!
Here is a complete list of the celebrities we spotted around town (without getting into exclusive parties or press junkets):
Jared Leto, will.i.am, U2, Nicky Hilton, The Rancics, Ben Lyons, Sal (from E!), Kevin Sorbo, Brad William Henke (Owen on October Road), Mary Kate Olsen, Danny Glover, Emily Mortimer (Lars and the Real Girl), Tilda Swinton, Pat Monahan (singer, Train), Randy Quaid, Kate Mara (Shooter, Brokeback Mountain), Woody Harrelson, Dylan Walsh(Nip/Tuck), & Jack Black
-Christine, editor, OLV
Sounds like Park City is full of action. I enjoyed this entry and I’m very excited to hear more about your U2 encounter. Post some pics soon!
Once again, OLV has DELIVE(RED).