5 Reasons why January's Sundance Film Festival may look like its own stepchild. , Slamdance.
1. This inspirational hopey guy is being inaugurated in Washington, DC with celebs and cool kids on the same party weekend. Now he's even drawing the cool away from the snow?!
2. Corporate cocktail sponsorship money is was on fire. It's gone.
3. Nightlife Kingpins Noah Tepperberg(U Miami '97) and Jason Strauss (St. David's - NYC '89, BU '97)are not porting their "internationally known celebrity driven" clubs Marquee and Tao(Most Profitable Restaurant in the Country '07) to Park City at Harry O's again.
Attention Hollywood Marketing Machine: The biggest coming attraction in Park City this January is "A Schedule Conflict".
You see Hopey's presidential inauguration, and its surrounding festivities, falls on the same big opening weekend of Sundance and its parties, gifting suites, and concerts.
The smart money (whatever is left of it) is predicting "Sundance on the Potomac" this January.
Colin Farrell (Castlenock College -Ireland '94, Miami Vice '05), Mary-Kate Olsen (NYU '04-04), William Hurt(Middlesex '68, Tufts '72), and Olivia Thirlby(Juno '07) headline the crop from the Retna Portrait Studio at Sundance on Saturday (20 Jan).
Also waved back and forth through the air: Sir Ben Kingsley, Colin Hanks, and many more.
The In Touch Cafe at Stereo is the center of the gossip universe today. Perez Hilton and E!'s Marc Malkin are hunkered down side by side blogging and yenta'ing back and forth like a tennis doubles team. A CHIMP.net spy overheard Billy Morrison(The Cult '01) asking Perez how long he will be at Sundance ("till Sunday noon, man") to invite him to his own celebrity cover band Camp Freddy's concert tomorrow night (Saturday 19 Jan).The Kenneth Cole Reaction Gifting Disco (complete with mirror ball) under the same roof is rocking like its 3 AM, not 3 PM.
Check in periodically for live on scene reports from 2008 Sundance over the next week. Above, the scene on Main St...Before the flood...Thursday morning, January 17.
Tyler Hilton, starred on "One Tree Hill"for 2 years, played Elvis Presly in "Walk theLine",and no, he is not her brother.
On Tuesday, in the Green House finale channeled classic MTV Unplugged, with a fireside acoustic performance for 40 select invited guests. TRL favorite and teen pin-up rocked out a 6 song set. Not my best videography, but you get the idea here.
Professional swagger Wynona Rydershowed up as one of the few with Bobby Cannavale, the guy from Will and Grace and "Six Feet Under", thinking that she was coming to see dipshit perform and not really sure why. Wynona looked as relieved as the "not guilty" when she heard. Encore! Encore cheered the crowd. Get "one more song" over at the Imeem Concert.
100% of Sundance does not know or care that the State of the Union Address is tonight (Tuesday 1.23). To the 5 or 10 viewers watching, it’s a big deal because the entire federal government comes together for one time in the year – Congress, Supreme Court, the Cabinet, the worst Texan ever, and my mom.
For Sundance, the more germane state, was the union of every branch of the U.S. party scene in one (relatively) small palace last night - TAO/Marquee/Harry O’s for the Blender party and show by Nelly and Akon, and I somehow ended up with walkie/clipboard as quasi Marquee/Tao staff for the night pulling in talent from icy outside with Team Fusion. Bring the chamber to order!
Nightlife Senators:
Jason Strauss
Noah Tepperberg
Billy Dec (Rockit Ranch Chicago/Florida, Jen Scheft Bachlerette ‘05) - revealed to TheCHIMP.net exclusively that yes, they will be doing a satellite club somewhere in Miami during superbowl
Andrew Goldberg (Marquee)
Sean Gallagher (NYC various)
Sasha (Bolthouse/Strategic)
Photography Governors:
Seth Browarnik (‘Miami)
Tracy Lee (‘Napkin Nights /Vegas)
Jamie McCarthy (‘NYC)
Dimitri Kambouris (‘LA)
House of Representatives:
Rappa Dappa (Spinshoppe)
Rembrandt Flores, Jackie Topacio, and Ben Russo (Fusion)
Amy Tsvi (Bragman)
Stacey Wechsler (Hired Gun)
and at least 1700 lbs more of "publicist" lurking around...
Staffers / Wranglers:
A-List, Alliance, Strategic Group, Maxim, Blender
And every governing body has the old-timer drunk, played here Tara Reid (married to Caron Daly with twins Carter and Peyton, living in White Plains) , who unraveled months of image rehab in one Akon humping, butt crack exposing, win-the-wet-t-shirt contest-over-that-bitch-from-Purdue in Cancun moment. Must see exclusive over at Hollyscoop.
Kinda like the Superbowl...which incidentally was just given the same security rating by the FBI as the State of the Union. Speaking of Superbowl, surprise halftime performerNelly (’04, forgotten amidst the Janet boob shock ‘life) performed after AKON, and arrived with the now well documented football team entourage surrounding the QB.
Benched: Every year at the speech, one cabinet member has to stay out at a secure underground remote location in case Osama shows up at the velvet rope and his name isnt on the list. The idea is to provide a line of secession for the presidency and continuation of government, so we dont end up as a country the way the line outside of Mansion ends up at 2 AM.
Vote '07: Who in your opinion was the “one” nightlife superstar sitting it out to preserve the line of secession? Capponi? Nazarian? Criminal Mike? Cast your vote!
Are you Seceding from TheCHIMP.net? We hope only to find more professional Sundance coverage at Imeem's growing colony of writers. Immigrate here.
Justin Timberlake broght his mom to a private dinner at the Green House on Sunday night, preceeding the satellite club SHAG throwing "SHAG in the SNOW" after party.
Justin, his mom, Lynn Harless, (who was the one who came up with the nameN'SYNC), and 28 friends chowed on filet mignon and butternut squash soup prepared in the Green House's own kitchen by celebrity CHEF J. Justin is a crown royal drinker apparently, but wihout any of those funny looking bottles in the house, took a Jack Daniels with water. He is also a very good pool player, and not a very good picture taker. BOOH. BOOH. I guess we will have to wait another 4 seconds to see a photo of him somewhere else. He did not make out with Britney, Cameron, Jessica, or me during the event, so any valentine's news on him will have to wait.
As impressive as his talents are, his magic skills are even better. I stared at the room knowing he was going to come through it in 2 minutes and before I could focus* poof * ....he was gone. On departure, his camoflauge style security (not hulks) blend so well that once again I found myself staring at the place he should be, but just saw an empty door. ..JT is KAIZER SOZE....a total Houdini.
Upstais in the grand room, Zen from SHAG HOLLYWOOD rocked out mashups to a packed room. Door God Pantera Sarah had a line up the driveway, and a second interior velvet rope inside the foyer of the house. Not even professional courtesy applied, as Cinespace owners Kim and Errol Roussell came inside with their friends, and then tossed a few minutes later when a "lapse in arrvial protocol" was discovered.
For Survivor fans, it was nearly a COOK ISLANDS reunion, with Parvati, Yul, and Ozzie all partying. Of note, Yul and Ozzie, despite spending 39 days on an island together and working together to finish #1 and #2 are clearly not friends - in the remote mountains of Utah on a Sunday night, they attend the same exclusive house party, an hour apart from each other, and make no mention of hanging out or coordinating with the other.
Park City Police Blotter: The Green House charity, A Birds Nest, reported a theft on Friday night. A one of a kind scarf made by an Afghani widow went AWOL causing great concern over security and procedure. On Sunday night, a repeat guest at the house was wearing it. (See photo above in the photo player) . When confronted, she refused to give it back saying "I am cold". After several requests, she was relieved of her stolen charity bounty and kicked out. Good luck with your karma, bitch....if you know her and are reading this, please forward it to her and remind her that she sucks. Celebrity Roll Call: Kate Walsh (Grey's Anatomy 'current), Billy Bush (Interviewer of the CHIMP at Real World Auditions '97, Access Hollywood 'current), Stephen Bauer (Scarface '84), Emile Hirsch (Girl next Door '04), Yul Kwon, Parvati Shallow, and Ozzie Lusth (Survivor '06), Lauren (Beauty and Geek '06), Justin Timberlake,G. Love (G. Love and Special Sauce '90s), Ethan Appley and Carol Chi (Imeem 'current) Park City Scoreboad: Movies seen or movie events attended by anyone I know: 2* Litres of Ocean Vodka poured by vodka-masters Shay and Dyanna: 83 Frozen Toes: 10
*LA comic Carol Turner and her bf Avi told me they saw 2 movies. Sam Rockwell something ("sucked") and a total B-Movie fringe thing with the kid from Nip/Tuck about a woman who has teeth on her vag to chop off man meat ("fucking hilarious, amazing").
On Saturday night, Sienna Miller(Jude Law bed buddy '05) hosted a private dinner for her new movie "Interview". Giuliana Depandi and fiancee/Apprentice Bill Rancic came by - her rock is huge, his pockets are empty - and are thinking TomKat and getting married in Italy this fall. Despite this starpower at the Green House, the hot topic was Tom Arnold.
Things I knew about Tom Arnold before he showed up with his pretty blonde wife, Shelby.
He had a lot of sex with Roseanne. Hurl, flush, wipe mouth, brush teeth.
He was a loud, blustering talker that I never wanted to be like on Fox's "Best Damn Sports Show"
He used to be a Federline in the mid 90s, but has emerged to be a enduring presence
He is randomly doing stuff for The Tonight Show now, joining Jon Melendez in the "I didnt see that coming" department.
I didnt think he was cool, or like him much.
The guy showed up around 9:30 - friendly, outgoing, talkative, sober, respectful, legitimately interested in everybody. Everyone was shaking their heads going "Who is that guy? He rules!" Even our british house producer, Paul, who's been off the boat 3 weeks goes, "Christ, that chap has a personality...what a good bloke." For this and other contributions, Tom Arnold is the ANTI-JLO. For a good laugh, check out the plethora of I Hate J-LO themed websites I found here, including one that says ...
J-Lo is Jealous of Monique Taitague: "Jennifer Lopez, The Ugly Old Actress and Fat Butt singer, is jealous of The American Princess Monique Desiree Taitague from Vallejo,California."
Tom Arnold New News: He lived next to Britney and Federline in a high rise and tried to advise them away from self destruction - they breathed off the paparazzi and wouldnt listen. Tom shoots Law and Order SVU this week in NYC, playing that gay evangelical leader who had male prostitutes and was outed right before the elections. He is a staunch democrat but loves Arnold Schwarzenegger. He just shot "Pride" with Terence Howard and Bernie Mac in New Orleans and loved his FEMA trailer living, bad ass female driver. He fell in love again- he requested a rush shipment of Motley Bird to his NYC hotel ASAP to get through production.
Non Tom Arnold celebrity Appearances last night: Steve Buscemi(Every movie ever ' current), Giuliana Depandi and Bill Rancic(Getting Married in Italy '07), Jeremy Sisto(Clueless '95, Six Feet Under '04), Patricia Kara(Deal or No Deal 'current)
Tonight Justin Timberlake comes for dinner! It's Hollywood Club SHAG presenting "Shag in the Snow".
Always more from Efren Ramirez and other celeb bloggers at IMEEM's site: Go Now!
Reading over the other Imeem'ers party credentials on other posts (Tao, Bottles, Models, Nick Cannon), its time to floss a little bit on here so I dont get demoted to "Imeem JV"....
Kari Feinstein's Style Villa at Sundance is the Vanity Fair Oscar Party of Gifting Suites. Seriously, check out the roster from her Golden Globes gifting a few weeks ago in LA. I was especially psyched to lose my gifting virginity, as a recipient, here at the mecca on Main St.
Rappa began her PR career as an assitant to Kari, herself, back in '02, so it was a homecoming of sorts.
Upon arriving, I saw my hero, photographer Todd Williamson (Anti - Perez crusader '06), who told me he had shot Wynona Ryder (Girl Interrupted '00, Bev Hills Jail '01) who came in earlier.... Wynona picking up tons of free stuff and walking out the door...legally!! Even so mildly credentialed as press, and a "blogger", I knew I at least could do no wrong in here.
Shopping alongside me and Rappa? Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm 'current), Tom Arnold (who we would meet formally later in the night), Teri Hatcher (Desperate 'current) and Efren Ramirez (Vote for Pedro '04, Imeem Celebrity Blogger '07). Because 3 days at Sundance feels like 3 months...I have started a "Home From Utah" To-Do List 1. Order Season 2 of LOST from NETFLIX (Thanks Gary),
2. ...or download the season to watch and listen to on the new IMainGo an Ipod speaker bag Tim at Portable Sound Labs threw at us. Rad.
3. Write Thank You Notes to vendors and business partners on Earmark Invitations, which could only come from the mind of two Massachusetts people, Bridgette and Michael, as crazy as me and Rappa. They have cards that say "___________ YOU" for you to fill in. Confirmed that 100% of people say something that rhymes with FUCK in the space.
4. and since I wear the same thermals almost every day and night in the 10 degree heat here, put on some new Hanes t-shirts as they are already the only clean garment I own.
SCOREBOARD TO DATE: Movies or Movie Related Events Attended:0 Business Cards Collected: 42 Other Imeem Writers Met in Person: 7!!
Lots more Sundance Coverage at Imeem's Sundance Hoe-down: Get your butt over HERE!
Sundance is supposed to be about break-through films, right? On Friday night, a band walked in uninvited off Sunnyside Dr. and might walk out with a music career.
The night started off with gifting. Teri Hatcher came with boyfriend, and snagged not only free stuff, but the 1 marquee cover photo selected from about 50 sundance events on Wireimage. SNL alum Molly Shannon went shwagging also. Due to a family emergency, members of Velvet Revolver could not play the living room as planned. A group of guys came to the house and told the house producers...."we heard theres been a change, we would love to play your house tonight." LA Based Dare Devil Jane found some drums and took over the great room for 90 minutes....cut to girls dancing on tables, people giving each other motley bird energy drink showers and a godzilla size domino's order...a classic ski weekend house party. On the way out, Velvet Revolver Bassist Dave Kushner requested their CD to share with label brass ...stay tuned.
That, and other items from the Friday, January 19th scene in Park City.
Dustin Diamond walked right up to the barricades at the Village at the Lift and said "it's me, screech, ....how do i come in?" He walked right in, his reality cameras were canned, and then a minute later he was brought back out. A better reality moment than anything on his eventual show.
All of the usual LA suspects have transplanted. A list party planner Jeffrey Best is running the Village at the Lift, working in conjunction with cane carrying hat-guy/door demon Josh Richman. Inside T-Mobile has taken over an entire diner and converted it in to a functioning Pink Painted, T-Mobile themed diner, with placemats, menus, waitstaff, newspapers, and even wall hangings all branded....the pink on the walls match the pink on the wallpaper of the 15-20 computer screens inside, many of whom were fixed on PerezHilton.com this morning.
Nick Nolte and Dennis Hopper are not only staying together at the Park City Hotel, they attended and sat next to each other last night at the "Chicago 10" screening, the hyped movie about the violence around the 1968 Democratic Convention. Golden Glober Eddie Murphy is also a roommate at that hotel. People said "it was good, but it wont make it to theatres".
Tiger Woods is rumored to be in town, stopping in to Starbucks on Park Ave. before heading out skiing.
Friday night the main event is the Global 3 Green House, promoting eco-friendly causes and featuring lots of drinking, celeb gifting, and an acoustic performance by members of Velvet Revolver in the living room. I always said I would love to have a major act like Dave Matthews or GNR perform in my living room, and tonight they basically will. Pictures to be here soon....
More coverage from other IMEEM Sundance Bloggers here.
1. This inspirational hopey guy is being inaugurated in Washington, DC with celebs and cool kids on the same party weekend. Now he's even drawing the cool away from the snow?! 
2. Corporate cocktail sponsorship money 
4. Two paparazzi magnets at the bottom of Main St. won't be back. The Town Lift Celebrity Gifting center is now an official part of the Festival (means civilians, not swag). But Kari Feinstein's Style Lounge is back.
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