02.02.08
Posted in Hollywood, Filmmaking, Sundance 2008 at 1:52 am by Laura Modlin
2008 will go down in the history books as the year the celebrity machine devoured the Sundance film festival.
Okay, so it might not actually go down in the history books as such, but that’s definitely how I will remember it.
Last month I attended my 5th Sundance in eight years and the celebrity factor, in my opinion, has officially gotten out of hand. In the past I have been able to avoid or ignore the celebrity aspect at Sundance. But this year it was much more in-your-face than in the past.
My first brush with Sundance celebrity came the first weekend of the festival, which is typically when Hollywood descends on Park City, Utah, the center of the action for the film festival.
I was meeting someone outside the Tisch (NYU) at Sundance party on Main Street that first Saturday. There was a line of people waiting on the sidewalk leading into the restaurant where the party was being held.
I waited between parked cars to be away from the throng.
Since there was a crowd waiting to get into a building, (naturally), the paparazzi showed up. They surrounded me. “What’s going on?” “Who’s in there?” Blech. I felt like the girl in the film, “Open Water,” the Sundance success story from a few years back, surrounded by sharks in the middle of the ocean.
I told them it was just an NYU party. They stayed for a bit. I waited there for my friend. The paparazzi started calling out to passing celebs. Which, although distasteful, wasn’t all that bad since it gave me the opportunity to actually notice them. It was kind of like being at a football game where you know nothing about the game and someone finally fills you in.
Mary Kate Olsen passed by with her entourage. Harvey Weinstein walked by and someone rushed up to him saying how great it was to meet him earlier. Weinstein nodded and said, “Pleasure,” as he kept walking.
Then the paparazzi got excited about someone standing in the line waiting to get in to the NYU party. “Jason! You’re the best celebrity here!” I looked and saw him. Oh, I thought, that must be Jason Patric. I’m pretty sure he’s here with a film.
So, I figured, okay, I’ll get a celebrity photo. And I took out my camera (which I had with me strictly for work purposes) and started to take a picture.
But Jason looked at me so I pointed my camera above his head pretending I wasn’t one of the celebrity gawkers. Eventually, after some extensive stealth maneuvers on my part, or so I imagined, I got a picture of him in a moment when he appeared to not be paying attention to me. Admittedly, I felt kind of dirty.
I went into the party and was hanging out talking to people. Time went by. Oh, there’s someone I know, I thought. Hmm, who is that, I wondered. I kind of stared. He kind of stared back. I was about to go up to him to ask where I knew him from. Then I caught sight of his name tag. “Jason Ritter.” Ohhhh… He’s famous, that’s how I recognize him. Oops.. Then I realized he was the “Jason” from outside. The one the paps were calling to and the one who saw me trying to get his photo.
I stole away to another part of the room.
And so it was. That was my brief moment of getting caught up in, and ultimately embarrassed by, the Sundance celebrity machine.
Celebrity at Sundance was a main topic of discussion throughout the festival. Even Robert Redford paid homage to it during his Opening Night conference, proclaiming that, in spite of the celebrity image Sundance now has, it is still about the films. Well, it’s about the films if you happen to be in the Industry and can get tickets to see them.
People at the festival seemed to fall into one of a few mindsets about the celebrity factor. Some were really into it. Others proclaimed it gross until they got their “in” and then “the celebrity nonsense” became a small, insignificant factor but the festival was still about the films. Still others did their best to ignore it all.
As late as Tuesday, Main Street was swarming with paparazzi. (That was the last time I went to Main Street during the festival.) It was really sad considering that was the same day word of Heath Ledger’s death got out. I saw the paps sticking their cameras into a SUV asking whoever was inside what they thought of Heath Ledger’s death. It was really disturbing and made me extra glad to not live in Los Angeles, where that type of thing seems to be a regular occurrence.
An old NYU friend of mine stayed with me for a few days during the festival. He produced a film that was at the festival. I picked him up at the Opening Night after-party. I pulled my minivan into the parking lot and some goon-bouncer asked me what I was doing there. I said I was picking up a friend. He seemed to be okay with that but proceeded to watch me extremely carefully (he must have heard about the Jason Ritter photo incident from earlier in the festival).
I saw that there was a light show at one end of the parking lot and, of course, wanted to go see what was going on with that. Pretty lights and all. The bouncer dude was still watching me and it all seemed really silly to me. I parked and started to walk over to the light show (let him try and stop me, I thought, the last time I checked this is still a free country) when my friend spotted me.
I told him about how messed up it was that some goon with a clipboard thinks I need to be watched in a parking lot in Park City, Utah of all places. My friend commented, yeah, what does he think you’re going to do, charge the four people at the front door checking names?
But this is what it was like at Sundance this year. At least around the celebrities.
It was sensory overload. When I was sharing details of the festival over the phone with a friend in Connecticut she mentioned that it all made her think of the Beatles. How when they came to the U.S. the girls at the concerts were screaming so loud you couldn’t even hear the music. That seemed like a really apt analogy to me.
How can you really appreciate being there for the independent filmmakers when so much “noise” is being made by “Rocky Mountain Hollywood”?
In spite of it all, I did have fun. If nothing else, it was a sociological experiment of sorts. It was a non-stop event with something for everyone. And watching the filmmakers who were there with their first films and how proud and excited that made them was really special and had a very electric energy to it.
And while some (myself included) have speculated about the future of the festival and how it’s become out of control and contrary to its original intent, when it comes down to it I think it is still worthwhile.
I enjoyed this year’s festival by taking it in small doses. If you wait until the second half of the festival it mellows out a bit and really does become more about the films.
Oh, and let me tell you about the films…. oops, I seem to be out of space. Maybe next year….
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01.17.08
Posted in Sundance 2008 at 6:29 pm by Laura Modlin
I can’t help it - I’m excited for the beginning of the 2008 Sundance film festival. This will be my fifth time at Sundance so you’d think I would be totally jaded or blase about it. But somehow - each time is a special experience.
It just always seems full of so many fresh possibilities ready to burst - there is something so burgeoning about it.
I will be blogging about CT people here on the Connecticut Post site - check it out starting tomorrow
http://forum.connpost.com/sundance/
And this is, of course, the perfect opportunity to try out my new digital camera which makes movies as well as taking photos. Sooo… I am going to try and post some short films on the CT Post site. How much fun is that?!
Tonight’s Opening Night will feature two screenings of “In Bruges,” a UK film about a couple of hitmen who, after a botched hit, are told to hide away in the Flemish town of Bruges. It is being billed as “violent, darkly comic, and surprisingly touching.”
Will let you know what I hear.
Check back to this blog and the one on the CT Post site during the festival for tales of Sundancing.
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01.14.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:33 pm by Laura Modlin
Hello out there.
It was back to work today. But not before I took a little jaunt outside this morning. Just want to mention the shock to my system.. after leaving the 60 degree weather in NYC on Saturday the SIX degree temp this morning was a bit disorienting. After the fog burned off and the sun came out, it was beautiful and warm. (The sun makes a big difference in temperature in the mountains - the sun is very strong.)
I have received some really nice feedback regarding my Connecticut Post article.
Yay.
Sundance starts thursday night.
Stay tuned to more news from Utah…
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01.13.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:45 pm by Laura Modlin
Here I am in snowy Utah. Got in last night and it is beautiful! Of course, I haven’t been outside yet today so it might be cold. It is sunny though.
Sundance starts Thursday night!
Here’s a link to an article I did for today’s Connecticut Post…(copy and paste if it doesn’t work.)
http://www.connpost.com//ci_7946191?IADID=Search-www.connpost.com-www.connpost.com
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01.02.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:55 pm by Laura Modlin
I was looking at the weather forecast for the coming week. 52 in Connecticut next week! Then it occurred to me - I’m heading out to the Wasatch Mountain range. I’d rather not tell you what the forecast is there. But here’s a photo I took at last year’s Sundance festival to give you an idea -
Still, I am really excited to head out there. Since I’m posting photos from last year’s Sundance, here’s one I took of two filmmakers talking after their film, “Crossing the Line.” The documentary tells the story of four young American soldiers who defected to North Korea in August 1962. Hope you get the chance to see it.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 3:28 am by Laura Modlin
Wow, a new year - didn’t THAT happen fast! 2007 was chockful of challenges and lessons. And now that it’s over it seems like a blur.
So, it is time to start fresh, live up to our potential, learn to play nicer with one another… forgive, learn, grow, love… So much potential.
I tried to upload some pictures tonight but technology was uncooperative. Another time perhaps. 
I will be reporting from Sundance again this year. Heading out to oxygen-challenged Park City in about a week and a half.
Am waiting to hear about some Sundance writing assignments.
As I was looking through the Sundance program a name from the past caught my eye. One Mr. Derrick Tseng - an old NYU buddy of mine - has exec produced a film that is screening at Sundance.
Way to go Derrick!!
I emailed Derrick and we will be meeting up in Park City. Yay. The last time we saw each other was also at Sundance. 2003, I think. I was at a screening of “All the Real Girls” and saw him standing at the back of the theater. He was line producer on that film. It is always a real pleasure to see him.
I was going to give an overview of my 2007 but now that it is over I think it best to look forward.
There is plenty to keep me busy as I head into the New Year. I am writing, designing websites, developing my documentaries, taking care of my businesses… on and on it goes….
Stay tuned for an announcement about the launch of a re-designed Aspetuck Media site (not yet).
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11.24.07
Posted in Uncategorized, it's your life at 9:29 pm by Laura Modlin
Okay, if you were aware of music in the 70s, then you might have an inkling that the subject line of this blog entry refers to The Bay City Rollers.
Remember them?!
I have been enjoying their resurgence into my music collection this evening.
Because, well, I have to say I had been dreading the Thanksgiving evening transition to the “holiday season” for one very big reason.
The commercialism? No. (Although it does suck bigger and smellier each year.)
Santa? No.
Rudolph? Of course not!
Then what?
Well, at exactly 7pm on Thanksgiving evening my favorite, much-listened-to radio station becomes “your home for the holidays” with exclusively holiday music until 12:01am on December 26.
It’s not like I don’t save up my wishes all year to hear Dan Fogelberg’s “Same Old Lang Syne” twenty million times. Of course I do - and you’d have to be a cold, heartless beast not to cry at the end when the snow turns into rain - it’s just that I need more.
And let me ask this question - is there anyone out there who would really want 24 hour/day access to Christmas music? And let’s face it, apart from Adam Sandler’s Hanukah song and the aforementioned Fogelberg ballad, there is very little other than *Christmas* songs in most radio holiday music repertoires.
Which is all well and good, and fine, since we’re all pretty much stuck with this manufactured commercialized build-up to the holiest day of the year on some calendars. But, really, how much twinkling stars and holy nights can one person take?
I want variety and fun and pizzazzz….. And “S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT.”
Ay yi yi yi, I just can’t wait…. And after that, “I only wanna be with you.”
“It’s crazy but it’s true.”
Who wouldn’t feel good when they see the tartan design on the album cover?
Hype or hope? Does it matter?
They make you believe in magic and are definitely more than just a Summerlove sensation.
I am adding The Bay City Rollers “Definitive Collection” CD to my holiday wish list, alongside a purple Raleigh bike and digital camera.
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11.05.07
Posted in TV, it's your life at 2:17 pm by Laura Modlin
My first thought upon hearing the news was, bummer, that’s bad for everyone.
But then I got kind of snarky about it.
As many of you know, my roof-top antenna tuned out during a storm on October 11. That makes 25 days with no television for me. And I do not miss it one bit. In fact, I’m finding it’s improved my life in many ways. (Stay tuned to the list I am putting together of the best things about living without television.)
So, knowing that others might be “forced” to stop watching television because of a writers strike gives me hope that the world might just be saved after all. Let’s face it, the dreck that is on nowadays (a third of which is commercials) is doing nothing to enrich our lives and probably much to turn us into morose zombies.
I’d like the producers to go back to talks with the Writers Guild and lay this on the table: “Okay, you can have more money in residuals for Internet but we want the writers to learn how to tell a story in return.”
People managed to get through their days perfectly well for many years before television. In fact, I think the decline in quality workmanship and service might be traced to lives revolving around what’s on television.
I don’t know about you but I didn’t get a thing done the summer I was wondering who shot J.R. - and then the season premiere was delayed until November due to the 1988 writers strike (when an estimated 10 percent of its audience never went back to watching television.)
So as the strike steps solidly into its first day I wish everyone well. Stay strong and get some fresh air. With any luck if you must stop watching sitcoms your own creativity will improve. And I suspect you will find that your imagination is even better than what’s on television.
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10.22.07
Posted in TV, it's your life at 11:33 pm by Laura Modlin
It has been eleven days since I have had television reception. In that time I have only used the television to play my yoga tape and kickboxing dvd (watch out - I’m dangerous now).
I don’t miss television!!
I had set up a cable installation appointment but then canceled it. A lady from the company called today to find out what happened. She also offered me a better price.
My response? I don’t miss television and don’t want it.
Since I stopped watching - My hair is more manageable, my skin is softer, my whites are whiter and colors brighter.
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10.17.07
Posted in Uncategorized, TV, it's your life at 12:56 pm by Laura Modlin
A long, long time ago,
I can still remember
how that television used to rot my brain.
And I thought if I sat
that I could relax for a while.
And maybe I’d be happy for a while.
But “Sex and the City” re-runs were making me queasy
With every one-night stand they’d deliver.
Bad news on CW 11
I couldn’t watch one more hook-up.
I can’t remember if I smiled
When I realized my roof antenna died.
Something touched me deep inside
the day my antenna died.
———–
Okay, kinda silly, I know. But it is my homage to having a pre-television house for the past week.
Last Thursday’s storm took out my television reception. My house had been using a 40 year-old roof antenna. It wasn’t bad. I did not need 80 channels. I really did not watch much television.
In fact, last spring I had sworn off television after the season finale of “Lost.” It snuck back in though. And just before The Incident last week I was watching late night television to chill out every night.
It was bad.
But since losing the antenna reception I haven’t even watched a DVD movie. I listen to music, I do stuff on my computer, I tinker, I enjoy the quiet.
What DID people do before television? Have more conversations perhaps.
One of my favorite things to do is have conversations. But it seems that nowadays people are too tired to talk (hard for me to imagine) and just wanna veg in front of the television.
In my experience, if the conversation is good it’s revitalizing.
But do people want to be vital anymore? Or do they just wanna get through the day?
Perhaps these are questions people could ask themselves. If only they could turn off the television.
I called to find out about getting cable installed. I happened to mention to the sales guy that I had been without television for five days. He was shocked. His response was, and I quote, “If you can live without television for that long, you can survive anything.”
Okay, it is good to know that I am set for life now.
There is so much more I could say now but I gotta get to work organizing my files. Ya know the paper ones, not the e-files.
Take care everyone.
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