As today opens the sundance film festival I found an oh so true blog commentary. Check it out.

What's Wrong With Sundance

As we prepare to navigate the snowy wilds of Sundance, my email has been loading up with the most unseemly litany of items that don't have anything to do with celebrating American independent cinema.

Perhaps, between screenings, I'll pick up a coffee at the Yahoo! Cafe, and grab a drink at the Heineken Green Room, then take a rest on one of those La-Z-Boy chairs or on the InterfaceFLORnd custom carpets, followed by an aperitif at the Crown Royal's Sippin' at Sunset happy hour before getting a bite to eat at the Lean Cuisine food bar.

Why doesn't everything in Park City take a corporate sponsor: I'll just get on the McDonald's shuttle to the Chevrolet Eccles theater and buy me a Microsoft ticket, and drink from the Coca Cola drinking fountain before settling into my Gap seat.

Why not stop there? Every person who arrives in Park City should take a sponsor, too. "Hey, look, there's Gatorade Geoff Gilmore, Wallgreen's Robert Ebert and who might that be, I think it's Staples Sandra Bullock!"

For further gross offenders, prime examples of corporate co-option, repulsive exploitation and shameless marketing, here are a few of my favorite things:

1. $50,000 CELEBRITY GIFT BAGS TO PREMIERE AT THE UPCOMING SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL -- Acclaimed Ultimate Comfort Bag to Benefit A Place Called Home Charity: "At this year’s Sundance Film Festival celebrities will get a lot more than great films and beautiful scenery. They will also be offered the most expensive, decadent gift bags ever distributed to celebrities at a luxurious suite at the Park City Marriott located in the heart of the festival, outdoing last years record setting giveaway."

2. CHEFDANCE -- "For ten days, ChefDance features an all-star line up of celebrity chefs and wine makers from across the country in a series of private dinners that are truly extraordinary in their breadth and range. Invited guests will have the opportunity to indulge in the very finest that the culinary world has to offer."

3. Volkswagen Rides High As Official Automotive Sponsor of Sundance 2005 -- "A number of celebrities will be driving their own Volkswagens, including Steve Buscemi (of Sopranos fame) and David Schwimmer of Friends. . . Finally, Festival Founder Robert Redford will kick off the celebrity signing of the commemorative 2005 Sundance new Jetta. The all-new Jetta, on display throughout the Festival at Main Street and Heber, is slated to be signed by 2005 Festival filmmakers and talent. The signed hood will then be auctioned at the end of the festival. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Sundance Institute."

I'm a huge cynic when it comes to coorperate sponsorship and the like. It kinda loses that independent spirit when every agent and studio head on the planet is watching to see what wins. As long as the selection committee isn't tainted about who gets shown it doesn't really bother me that much.

Except for tons of movies already have inked distribution deals before the movie even shows at Sundance!

You're right there. It's almost become like the minor leagues for movies. WOW, this picture batted .348 and had 45 homers in Toronto last year. Call him up and let the director direct this new Miramax film.

Can you really be an independent film with B-list Hollywood actors in your movie? I guess if they take a pay cut.

Also, do Aiden Quinn and Parker Posey have the most appearances in "independent' films ever?

I'm with you on the utter-lameness of excessive and ridiculous corporate sponsorship, but there is a positive side. At least now, corporate dollars are being used to promote something (independent film) that has substantive value and is worthy of attention.

But corporate sponsorship does tend to exploit things and have shitty results, i.e. the new Jetta extravaganza, the presence of David Schwimmer, and the emergence of feux-indie films.

I'd go to the Sundance Film Festival just for this:


• For the first time ever (but not the last), The Hotel Café is taking their show on the road. First stop: The 2005 Sundance Film Festival. With a slew of Hotel favorites & regulars, and a 900+ seat venue/bar, it will be the “not to miss party” at Sundance this year! In anticipation to the concert, 89.9 KCRW in Los Angeles, a long time supporter of The Hotel Cafe and a staple to Hollywood’s ears, will be officially presenting the event. More details below. Hope to see you in Park City.

•Click HERE for the offical press release.

• With performance by:

• Aqualung
• Ian Ball of Gomez
• Jim Bianco
• Cary Brothers
• Charlotte Martin
• Jason Mraz
• Alexi Murdoch
• Tristan Prettyman
• Joe Purdy
• Joshua Radin
• Butch Walker

• more to confirm soon!

• When: Thursday, January 27th - 6pm-2am
• Where:

1612 Ute. Blvd. Suite 200
Park City, Utah 84098
PH: 435-658-COOL
FX: 435-658-2674
www.suedepc.com
Get Map HERE

• THIS SHOW IS A 21+ SHOW.

• Advance tickets available for purchase at Suede - 435-658-2665
tickets@suedepc.com or tickets.com

• Check back for more information and updates. For questions please email: sundance@hotelcafe.com

South Park did a wonderful send-up of the Sundance film festival in the Chef's Salty Chocolate Balls episode:

Film Festival Director: Why do we hold the Sundance Film Festival here Phillis? It's so painfully crowded.
Phillis: Because, people from LA love to come to a quaint little mountain town for a few days, and this gives them excuse.
FF Director: No this used to be a quaint little mountain town. Now look at it! Sushi restaraunts, upscale clothes stores, 25 dollar parking, leamnissen. I tell you Phillis, I think we've tapped this town's resources out. We must move the festival to another small mountain town and begin again.
Phillis: That's not a bad idea. But where?

Actually, its S-Grade asshats like us taht make uninteresting movies about their ghey boring ass lives that fucked up Sundance.

Its all bs, baby, so who cares? I'll tell you what, when yr. crashing a Red Bull party and monging free food and drinks at SXSW, you'll change yr. tune, E.

I don't even draw the line at "Coca-Cola Hartsfield-Mulatarus Airport" and "Home Depot Peachtree St." At least those fucker's'd keep things clean and tidy.

Seriously, does something automatically suck because its corporate-sponsored. I don't think Jovan Musk or Budweiser are down with slavery and mysogyny (at least not openly) but The Stones still play Brown Sugar.

As long as yr. not writing open jingles or commercials, who gives a flying fizuck?