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In 2006, Flavorpill covered the Sundance Film Festival firsthand, dispatching daily video and blog posts from Park City. Relive some of the highlights here.

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Living La Vida Sundance

Sundrunk Love

I think Lisa spoke for both of us with her tremendous Sundance '06 wrap-up piece below. As with all film fests, we saw some truly inspirational flicks, met a boatload of incredibly kind people, and jumpstarted more than one dance floor. Now drunk on Sundance, we're officially closing the Flavorpill Sundance blog for this year. But all of the content will live on here in the ether, so don't be shy about continuing to troll through our archived reviews and video interviews — or telling your friends to.

Down from the Mountains

Now that Jocelyn and I have safely wended our way back to our NYC headquarters, we'll be posting our wrap-ups — as well as those of a few others — through tomorrow, so keep checking back. Man, we are so into the higher oxygen levels here at sea level.

What Becomes a Sundance Legend Most?

(We'll give you a hint: It ain't Blackglama.)

Yo, Silent Bob, love the Vans, but Dogtown screened five years ago. Somebody get Kevin Smith to the swag suite for some socks, stat!

Brazilian Girls on Main Street

In addition to the films, Sundance also brings a flurry of big-name musicians to town. Broken Social Scene, Metallica, and Liz Phair have all played gigs, and the Music Café series showcased artists like Rufus Wainwright, Mike Doughty, and Inara George.

But the biggest show in Park City is the Music on Main concert. The night was exceedingly cold, with intermittent (and very picturesque) snowfall. DJ WildeStyle got the crowd warmed up, then rockers Robbers on High Street played, and Brazilian Girls headlined. We captured Flavorpill favorites the Brazilian Girls onstage as they seduced the crowd with their sexed-up, electro tropicalia.

Homos Away from Home

Since January 20th, the Queer Lounge has been creating a haven for the LGBT community amidst the Sundance storm — and given that we're in Utah, where Brokeback Mountain's release lasted for about a heartbeat, it's not a bad idea. In addition to hosting conversations with directors Gus Van Sant, Kirby Dick, and Maria Maggenti, the QL has thrown some of the fest's best parties. We stopped by their last shindig, the Homos Away from Home party, where we hung out with the super-nice QL staff, drank the free-flowing Absolut, and learned that you can't actually put money in the go-go dancers' undies in UT.

Rumor Milling

Some amusing, thoroughly unsubstantiated stories flying about the festival: Scarlett Johansson nearly came to blows with a festival volunteer who wouldn't grant her early access to a screening. "Don't you know who I am?" the girl with the bee-stung lips reportedly bellowed before she threw out a pair of elbows. Another volunteer who did not recognize Glenn Close reportedly refused the actress/Sundance Board member entrance to a roped-in Board section. The less collagen-laden thespian is said to have not pulled a Johansson. Winona Ryder was as wild-eyed as ever at the premiere of her movie The Darwin Awards. Anne Heche brandished a cute-as-pie parka but, alas, no extraterrestial dialects. Tres-thin Fairuza Balk pushed her food around on her plate, actress style, at Grub Steak. Director Wim Wenders chastised a journalist for using too much cream in his coffee. Twice. An identified member of the Syriana team failed to suppress a yawn when a cab driver of Arabian descent told him he'd seen his film four times. Meanwhile, in a cab across town, Jennifer Aniston, en route to a Chefdance event, sat with a driver while her entourage lounged in the back. "I want to be in the front!" she reportedly declared while exhaling fumes of a no-doubt fine vintage of red wine. Should have thought of that before you made Rumor Has It, Jennie. And lastly, Corey Feldman just being Corey on Main Street. Really, his mere presence is enough to fuel a rumor or two, don't you think?

What Not to Wear 7: Hats Off, Redux

Looks like Joe Fiennes and Liz Phair missed our memo, as did Robert Downey, Jr., and Michael Rapaport. You're indoors, people.

Starbucking the System

After over a week in Park City, our veins are now coursing with pure Starbucks. It seems to be the only easily obtainable coffee in town, and we've also conducted numerous interviews within the cozy confines of their "pop-up" Starbucks Salon on Main Street. Here, we take you inside the Salon, which has been sponsoring a number of packed peripheral Sundance events, from readings to live music. Witness Salvage actress Lauren Currie Lewis (who we chatted with earlier in the week) reading from J.T. Leroy's The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things and hip-hop artist Buck 65 laying down an eerie soundtrack to David Lynch's Eraserhead — plus comic relief from Adult Swim's Brendan Smalls.

Queue It Up

It may not be pretty, but standing on line to get into films is a quintessential part of the Sundance experience. Flavorpill Sundance crashed a queueing party one bitterly cold night to talk to die-hard cineastes about what the wait is all about.

Don't Believe the Hype

Somebody had better slip Adrian Grenier some Public Enemy, stat. It sounds like the altitude at Sundance has the Entourage star confusing reality with the show's plotlines. How else to explain his busy week?

Late Monday night, he rescued a pretty PR flack when she passed out cold at a party. Tuesday, the pseudo star scored some very real sex toys from the Booty Parlor at Canyons Hotel, then took them for a test drive with two lovely unnamed ladies. Bonding tape, vibrating couples ring, and a beaded blindfold — oh, my! Is this HBO's new viral marketing scheme?

What Not to Wear 6: Hoods; Arty Glasses

German director Wim Wenders just doesn't give a f*ck. Rock on, Wim!

Powder-white Ghost Town

A full week into the festival, I finally hit the slopes for a few hours yesterday to do some "research" about Sundance attitudes on the mountain. As one old-school Sundancer we talked to reminisced, the festival used to be about skiing from 9am until 3pm, and then watching movies till 3am. These days, non-movie-watching time seems to be much more focused on wheeling and dealing.

The happy side effect of this drift away from ski-and-a-movie culture, however, is that during the ten days of Sundance the slopes are relatively deserted. Many of the usual ski and snowboarding tourists are scared off by the herds of film- and party-goers, while the locals hole up at home for the duration of the attack. But, riding the lifts at Park City Mountain Resort yesterday, I discovered a small set of savvy skiers — from North Carolina to the District of Colombia to southern California — who travel to Utah every year specifically to ski during Sundance because they get the mountains all to themselves.

Of course, one can still run into trouble even in a pristine natural environment: as we rode up the lift for a final run, we saw a snowboarder wipe out while carving through a stand of aspens. Half-laughing, half-crying, he shouted out to his friend, "that tree totally did not move!"

Waist-Deep in 'Danceland

Yesterday marked the festival's halfway point, and to commemorate the occasion Lisa and I stopped off at Sundance HQ to shoot the breeze about what we've learned thus far. Listen in for the firsthand scoop on movie trends, details on the 'danceland environment, and whether all this talk of schwag is really true.

What Not to Wear 5: Lose the Zero

Dear Corey Feldman,

White boy former child actors throwing gang signs are not fashionable at any altitude.

PS: Nice overbite.

AntioxiDance

I spotted (and felt the need to consume) this 16% fruit juice beverage whilst awaiting a video shoot at Starbucks. But it wasn't until after my purchase that I observed this Odwalla's oh-so-apt nomenclature. Was this drink tailor-made to be drunk at Sundance? Or is it a mere coincidance?

A Supermarket Love Song

Yes, we've all heard about Roger Ebert's tragic search for 7-11 sustenance by now, but what was in John Waters' shopping cart at Albertsons that night? [You got the picture but missed the story, indieWire.] And why didn't Karina Longworth immediately dispatch a phalanx of Cinematical bloggers to cover the supermarket?

Never fear. Thanks to the hard-hitting reporting of the Salt Lake Tribune, we can reveal what America's best Friend with Money supped on at Sundance.

Jennifer Aniston got ahi tuna with two caviars, Alaskan butterfish, and flourless chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream. Sting and Paris Hilton were served beef tenderloin with oxtail ravioli and Krispy Kreme bread pudding. Paul Giamatti and Jessica Biel slurped seafood stew with shrimp, scallops, and mussels.

Of course, these meals were prepared by celebrity chefs like Ming Tsai as part of the invite-only ChefDance. According to the SLT:

Each night, a different chef prepares a four-course meal for the cast of festival films — along with the 250 other influential folks who manage to get on the guest list.

Still, you should feel free to replicate the Park City epicurean experience in the even more exclusive comfort of your own homes.

A votre sante!

Fahrenheit 501

We've already talked about brand presence at Sundance via commentary on the slew of Moviefoners scurrying around town (and our endless references to schwag), but AOL ain't the only company hitching its cart to the Sundance wagon. While we were busy in the dressing room finding the perfect pair of 501s, DivX talked with the Levi's staff about their "pop-up" dry goods store on Main Street and how you can give back by buying bootcut jeans.

Pedro for President

I lost my mansion party virginity at the Fuel TV chalet, so it will always be special to me. Here, Flavorpill Sundance takes you inside this den of x-treme sports action for a special tour with Napoleon Dynamite's Pedro (aka Efren Ramirez), who talks about his slew of upcoming projects and his love of Salvador Dali in between hamming it up for the camera and stacking up the schwag.

What Not to Wear 4: Hats Off

What percentage of your body heat allegedly escapes through your head? We can't remember, either, but we know it's enough that you should heed your mother's advice and slap on a cap when it's cold outside.

Ahhh, but what kind of lid sends the right message in see-and-be-seen Park City? After conducting a scientific study, we can conclusively report that the chapeux of Sundance break down something like this:

The Hat Squad: Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man... in a fedora. Giancarlo Esposito, Danny Houston, and Nick "Nice Shirt" Nolte chose style over comfort.

Knit Wits: What can we say? Watch-caps may be dorky, but they are warm. Note the toasty ears on Paul Giamatti, Terrence Howard, Sting, James Van Der Beek, D.B. Sweeney, and Jack Osbourne (more of a git than a wit), as well as our own Lisa Rosman.

Newsies: Who knew? Fans of the Christian Bale Disney flick were out in force. Note O.G. indie icon Dennis Hopper in a snapshot by Roger Ebert, as well as Julianne Nicholson in a scally, and Tim Hutton busting out a Greek fisherman variant.

Surprising no one, Bai Ling went her own way in a fuzzy fuschia beret.

Thank You For Loitering, Moviefone!

Like Sundance's own special army of red ants, Moviefone drones scurry up and down Main Street — the most ubiquitous fixture at the fest beyond timesucks (e.g. getting a sandwich, waiting for the shuttle bus, standing on line). But, despite their omnipresence, it's unclear just exactly why the Moviefoners are on hand. They're not handing out promo literature; they're not (more tragically) passing out swag. They just loom. Seeing so many of them, everyone naturally assumes that the MFs are here to help: Where can I get pizza? Where can I find a bathroom? Where's the Levi's store? These are questions they can answer. But today, I tried the vaunted Flavorpill Five (the questions we ask In Transit) on an MF, and we couldn't get past Question 1. Apparently, the existentialness of "Why are you here?" was a bit too much, so my man-on-the-street interview request was denied. Guess that's what you get when you try to talk to branding!

Seen But Not Snapped

Cruising down Main Street today in search of the Levi's store — yes, denim is the order of the day at Sundance — I happened upon the grand poo-bah himself, Robert Redford. He gave me a friendly smile and I had my digital camera at the ready, but alas, the battery was dead. (In lieu of that stifled snapshot, I give you this goofy 2005 picture of a fresher-faced Bob with an unidentified Flavorpill contributor.)

Other "I spy"s include SNL's Amy Poehler getting good-naturedly roped into conversation with a number one fan, Crispin Glover (gone all gray) striding out of the North Face lodge with multiple bags o' schwag, and director Michael Rapaport being whisked away for a heli-skiing trip. Stay tuned for forthcoming video footage that takes you inside North Face's uber-posh "experience" lodge.

What Not to Wear 3: Coffee, Tea, or Me?

Plucky indie darling Robin Tunney models the latest in straitjacket chic. We hear it's what all the servers will be wearing at the Racquet Club diner next season.

The Inevitable Paris Hilton

Flavorpill and DivX crash the TAO nightclub to scope out the inaugural Blender Sessions party, with a live performance by Damian "Junior Gong" Marley, the youngest (and possibly coolest) of the brothers. Packed to the gills, it was the party par excellence of the evening, indicated by the presence of — oh yes — Paris Hilton herself. Some say Sundance is still about the movies, but we'd wager Paris might disagree.

Overheard But Not Overlooked

While Jocelyn has been running the gamut of extra-festival activities, I've been taking in the art and science of La Festival itself. For sure, some people are suffering from a little cinennui, but most are eager to talk about what they've seen and what they're doing here. A few highlights, in absolutely no order:

Kelly Osbourne — gamine, with a regrettable blond bowl cut — speaking for all in attendance at the midnight Destricted screening when she announced to her posse of Brit boys in girls' designer jeans: "I'm never having sex again."

Former model-cum-actor Yasmine Bleeth holding forth sternly at the Marriott while a bevy of male journalists tried unsuccessfully to control their salivary glands. [KEEP READING...]

What Not to Wear 2: Electric Boogaloo

Savvy cinemaphiles know that the most fashionable man at Sundance is John Waters. However, respect must be paid to today's coverboy, Anand Jon, whose leather ensemble leaves even Snow Pimp Joey Pants in the dust.

Are those ski boots, sir?

From the Familiar Faces Dept.

"Movie to a party ratio: a pathetic 0/6." Instead of seeing the films, Defamer publishes fictional interviews with Al Gore. John Waters is making faces. Paris strikes a pose. Redford really wants to direct. Bai Ling gyrates on Main Street, and the Reeler sings along with Liz Phair. And these guys collect celebs like others collect rats.

What Not to Wear

Looks like the stylists have hit the slopes. It's tough to pick a favorite here: the couture straitcapelet, matronly Smurfette, or Key West casual with just the suggestion of assless chaps and acid wash?

Adding Fuel to the Fodder

Nearly acclimated to the thin mountain air now, I finally plunged more fully into la vida Sundance yesterday — via shuttle bus of course. The secondary focus here in Park City after the films seems to be figuring out how to get to the films; and since parking in such a bear (see our earlier post), the extensive bus system is what everyone relies on when they can't afford a cab. Each ride is a funny little vignette, with characters ranging from the chatty, madcap Portuguese bus driver to the rowdy drunk with a plastic cocktail cup in his parka pocket to the stressed-out PA confessing to her coworker with tears streaming down her face. Lest we lose any opportunity for reportage, we created the "In Transit" interviews we've been running the past few days to start getting the man-on-the-bus take on the fest.

First, I stopped in at the press office at the Marriott, a venue always abuzz with industry folk and purposeful-looking journalists pounding coffee and typing away on computers — oh press headquarters, you bastion of wireless! In a random side note, the heart and soul of the press office is an adorable crew of young Brooklynites (represent!) who are infinitely helpful and kind. Then, it was off to Main St, the main drag of Park City, to head to the Starbucks Salon to chat with Lauren Currie Lewis, the star of the forthcoming slasher flick, Salvage. Look out for the video interview with Miss Lewis (also from Brooklyn!) here soon. [KEEP READING...]

She Was Nice to Mice

No one would ever confuse the cinetrix with a corporate shill, but I have to plug an event tomorrow afternoon that just happens to take place at a certain coffee conglomerate's Park City location. Indie actresses extraordinaire Lili Taylor and Ally Sheedy will be reading at St*rb*ck's at 1pm on Sunday. But it's what they'll be reading that makes this midday respite from filmgoing a must.

Taylor throws down with selections from the edgy Charles Bukowski novel Factotum — the actress stars in the film adaptation, which debuts at Sundance this year. And Sheedy? Well, she'll be reading from She Was Nice to Mice, a book written by one Alexandra Elizabeth Sheedy when she was all of 12. The clever and moving novel [a personal fave] gives a mouse-eye view of "the other side of Elizabeth I's character never before revealed by previous historians." Hearing the grown-up Sheedy read her pubescent prose promises to be a rare treat. Go!

[And if someone has any of the movie reviews Sheedy reportedly penned for the Times and the Voice when she was a kid, send 'em along.]

A Thousand Words

Cinetrix here, living the festival vicariously while Jocelyn and Lisa shiver for cinema in Park City.

One of my favorite stops during the ten days of Sundance is the Yahoo photo gallery. Not much action there yet — by which I mean underclad starlets in the snow — but I did come across this gem by the delightfully named Jeff Vespa, so I thought I'd inaugurate a contest. Ready?

What are Terence Howard, Nancy Schreiber, and Alan Rudolph up to in this shot? Email me with your cleverest caption candidates, and I'll announce a winner later this weekend.

Remember: Keep it clean, folks.

Trouble in No-Parking City

Apparently, for Park City year-rounders, a mad boon to the local economy is all fine and dandy until people start messing with their parking. Frankly, who can blame them? The festival must be like ten days of Fourth of July weekend in the Hamptons for the natives.

Blogging 'Til We're Blue in the Face — For You!

Hello from Flavorpill's very first festival blog. Bringing you the full gamut of coverage from the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, we're coming at you live and direct from Park City, UT, with daily video and blog posts for the duration of the fest.

While the real "Day One" doesn't land until this Thursday, January 19th, when the film(ish) frenzy officially launches, the buzz is already well underway — so jump into the fray now and stick with us through January. We promise to keep you stone-cold updated even if it means losing a finger or two to frostbite.

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