Ode to Sundance

Do you ever just stop to think what your life was like a year ago today? I just did, and it was crazy! This time last year I was living in Park City; working Full/Over-time for Sundance as a Transportation Coordinator; roommates with my bestest friend; learning all sorts of lessons about working, organization, stress, what sleep-depravation can do, what it is like to live on caffeine, how differing personalities work together…and SO much more; and having the
TIME OF MY LIFE!

Looking back on those 2 1/2 months, it was the hardest most rewarding job I have ever had. So I’d like to take you behind the scenes for a moment to the world of Sundance. Really this is just for me to document some of the highlights, but you are welcome to read along.

*This is a morning picture at HQ, towards the start of Sundance… you can tell because we’re smiling like that. It means the caffeine just kicked in, we got more than 3 hours of sleep the night before and we haven’t been yelled at by some crazy director or publicist yet.*

*Sundance is where I met the love of my life…yes…Ewan McGreggor! Don’t worry ladies, he is just as cute in person as on the big screen {though a lot shorter than I thought}. He is the only one I got starry-eyed over the entire time I was there. The first time he walked by I had to take a double-take, and I got a little weak in the knees ~ how embarrassing! His driver also told me that he is adorable with his wife (which makes him even HOTTER), so I guess I will have to continue admiring him from afar. *Sigh* On his way to his premier he was asking his wife if his hair was too tall – she told him it was. He looked in the mirror and then decided he liked it that way. His wife told him it would probably go flat by the end of the night and then she would like it. I thought that was cute.*
{side note: jim carry was also in this film and he is the funniest looking guy ever. he also looks a lot older in real life!}

*Holly and I at Eccles. This is where all the premiers with the ‘Big Stars’ come, so that is where we were based each night to make sure everything went smoothly!*

Holly and I doing what we do best...

No wait, this is what Holly and I do BEST! ;)*Uma Therman is the tallest woman I have ever seen. When I opened her door and she got out with all her balloons she took my breath away with her beauty and grace – even though she was a tad-bit tipsy. She wasn’t the only one who had a little wine with dinner before their premier, and I can’t say I blame them. If I had to be trapped in a theater watching myself on the screen for 2 hours I might want a little something to help me relax too. ;)*
*Oh Woody Allen – you sir are the highlight story of all Sundance craziness! Upon arrival to his premier he told his driver he wasn’t ready and to pull over. I am standing at the Entrance with Holly and we see our driver leave his route. We freak out because they are already behind schedule, and even though we have no real control over this, it’s our heads that roll…anyways; we radio over to our driver who tells us that Mr. Allen isn’t ready and just needs a minute – whatever that means. When the driver pulls over everyone else gets out of the car – so it’s just the driver and Woody. Our driver looks at him and says, “Would you like me to wait with you?” Then realizing how creepy that sounded he said he would just get out and wait outside the car. So our driver gets out and Holly and I tell him that we don’t care if Woody isn’t ready and to get back in the car and get his butt over to the press line!!!!! So our driver tries to get back in the car, but at this point our dear Mr. Allen has taken a little somethn’- somethn’ for his nerves and is completely out of it! He gets out of the car and insists on walking across the parking lot to the entrance {SECURITY NIGHTMARE}! His speech is slurred, he can’t walk straight and he is being mobbed by fans – UG! Later that night when our driver is taking him to his after-party Woody hands his driver an AVOCADO and asks him to hang on to it for him. He said there is never anything good to eat at these parties, and he would probably need it later. So at the end of the night our driver was left with an Avocado and quite a few fantastic stories. *

There is so much more, I can’t possibly fit it all in…this post may need a sequel, but here are a few more highlights that bring a smile to my face…
* “If Mike Tyson hits on my girlfriend, does that mean I have to fight him?” *scared face*
* Singing to myself in the back hallways of HQ at 2 am because it’s too quiet, and that scares me and at 2 am that seems like the best way to ward off ‘bad guys’.
* “Hmm, I don’t trust him…. make him stand behind the redheads.”
* “It’s really easy, all I need you to do is go to 7/11 and get the biggest white-trash cup they have, fill it about 2 inches from the top with Diet Dr. Pepper, then fill the rest up with Vanilla Coke. See, not that hard – oh, but if you do it wrong, I might die.”
*Trading TV’s and kisses for printers.
* Whatever you do, DON’T eat the volunteers food or they will CRY!
* Australian man says, “Ah, if you have a little accident, No worries, just call me up, and I’ll come fix everything. No worries.” Holly takes the mic “If you wreck the car you will answer to me, and it is a big deal – worry!”
* Sleeping in the closet to protect me from stinky boys.
* Man RUNNING {literally} into the glass wall at September Issue {he hit so hard Holly and I thought it was an earthquake, then we had to remove ourselves from the situation because we were laughing sooo hard, and we didn’t want to look completely heartless as other witnesses where actually checking him for a concussion!}
* “Wow, if you plant the director of DIRT’s business card, a flower will grow.” “Go figure!” {by the way - kindness goes a LONG way. DIRT is case and point. Loved them!}
* If you let one of the drivers take your car back to SLC for you, be warned that you will come home to find your pre-sets all set to the Spanish channels!
* Holly’s special treats {amazing what cottage cheese, yogurt and raw oatmeal all mixed together can do}
*Liam Neeson relieving himself in the airport parking lot ~ it's legal if it's an EmErGenCy.
* OH SANDWICHES (Best volunteer EVER…have I showed you the pictures of my brain surgery?)
* Writing the most important things on your hand/arm so you won’t forget.

Oh Sundance, what an adventure! Thanks for the Memories!