Sundance 2008 Part 2

Day 7 (Thursday): After a busy day at work, we have another fairly slow night at Sundance, despite the films having some big names in them. After the first show, an older gentleman comes up to talk to me. He tells me that he'd really like a McDonald's hamburger but he doesn't walk 3 blocks down the street. I recommend that he go to Squatters across the street and tell him the food is great, but it can be real busy. He tells me he doesn't drink, and I assure him he doesn't have to, the food is great. He comes back an hour or so later, in time for the next show. He thanks me for the recommendation and tells me that the food is great, and that he got escorted to the back room where there was a private party and didn't even have to pay for his dinner. This makes me feel great.

Day 8 (Friday): I have the night off for the festival and do very little. I'm exhausted so I take a nap when I get home, then eat some dinner and watch Pulp Fiction with the HB before I go back to bed again.

Day 9 (Saturday): I sleep in late and barely make it to my shift at the theater by 11. I bargain with the other manager to sit in the first movie, one I really wanted to see. We work it out. It's called "Incendiary" and has Michelle Williams and Ewan McGregor in it. I absolutely loved it. True it was kind of depressing, but even it was beautifully done. The story of a woman who loses her husband and son to a terrorist bombing at a soccer match in London and the aftermath. About 10 minutes before this movie was over I stood up to text the HB back and prepare for the patrons to exit. But momentarily I felt that all-too-familiar sensation that I was going to faint. And like vomitting, I thought I may be able to control it, to hold it back. I sank down to the floor and sat in the aisle leading to the box seats in the balcony. But everything was still going black and suddenly I was sweating everywhere. I think I laid down there for a minute, but kept telling myself I couldn't be there when they came out. I crawled up a few steps and was at the entrance to the regular balcony seating when I laid down again momentarily. Then I made it to the top of the balcony entrance and into the bathroom where I again laid on the floor. And after a minute there, I made it into a stall and sat on the seat for about 10 minutes, resting my head on the wall. I heard the patrons leaving the theater, and some come in and use the bathroom. I had my radio on and just wanted to let the volunteers know I'd be down soon to help out, but I was too exhausted. So I waited there until finally I could feel my body going back to normal. And I walked out and found a chair at the top of the stairs and sat there. Soon, Tyler and Caiden were there with some lunch for me and they helped me get down to the green room where I could take a break out of the public eye.

I soon felt better and resumed my duties. After my shift I stayed to watch the movie "Assassination of a High School President" with Bruce Willis and Mischa Barton. What made this movie great was a killer soundtrack (some Band of Horses songs), and good performances. Plus the director, writers, and some crew members came. Having the filmmakers come for a Q&A is really what makes the experience of seeing a festival movie. The director was so excited to finally have an audience watching his film rather than himself in a dark editing room. It was his first movie and he gave us some great insight into how he was able to get the deal.

Afterwards I headed over to my bro-in-laws to meet up with the HB and some of his family as they finished filming some scenes for his zombie movie. It was a late night.

Day 10 (Sunday): We had a big showing for the first film of the day, a Crosby Stills Nash & Young documentary-type. Other than that, an easy day for us as the festival winds down. Heard some reports from the awards party I didn't attend and finished up some paperwork. I got off at 4 and just enjoyed the rest of the day at home.

Day 11 (Monday): The festival is offically over, but tonight we'll be showing 3 'Best of Fest' screenings at the theater I'm at. Since my shift starts at 2, I took the whole day off work so I could relax a little more.