SUNDANCE: Day Two - Artists In Trouble, Rebels in the Desert, Celebs on Main Street

Craggy icon Robert Redford chats at the Sundance opening press conference thingy.



Maybe Redford can hook this lady up with movie tix? Yep, people line up and really get into this festival stuff.

The first full day at the Sundance Film Festival (in the ski town of Park City, Utah) came and went. And with it films about artists arrested and investigated by the FBI, a Slamdance film about crazy, indie rebels living off the grid in New Mexico, stumbling in to filmmakers (queer and otherwise) and the invasion of celebs (of sorts) into town.

Your morning view in Park City (actually, Deer Valley, a few minutes away) might look something like this. See on the far left? Ski slopes! Yep, it's really Utah.

The day began sunnily in the early morning at a temp of 5 degrees. Things warmed up nicely during the day into the 20’s… (Yes, 25 degrees makes for a warm afternoon here.) And you also get warmed up by the wild sense of the excitement of first-time filmmakers of being here, the mad rush of press charging around, and the oddness of trying to figure out which shuttle bus to whoosh you around town.

Outside when it’s really cold (early morning, or at night) it hurts to breathe. And given the altitude you’re super-thirsty. But who’s whining? It’s a nonstop parade of movies and watching crazy people rush around to them. And there are nice volunteers all over the place.

First stop: Press check-in when one gets one’s credentials, greets familiar journalist pals also checking in, and runs into the CBS News on Logo folks all hunkered around a teensy table in the press lounge, plotting their course for the day. Jason Bellini, Itay Hod, their assistant/producers Matt and Kimberly and Will Wikle are all looking sporty in their wintry gear. (Actually, I think everyone here looks great in parkas and chunky boots. So sporty…)



The CBS News on Logo guys (that's Itay and Jason on the right) peruse all their Sundance stuff to get a grip on all the newsworthy movie-ness.

Hanging in the press lounge, I end up meeting an actress in a film called Year of the Fish, an arty film about a woman struggling to establish a life in NYC’s Chinatown. Then the actress, An Nguyen,gives me a red promotional fortune cookie. Then her director, David Kaplan comes by and they’re both so nice I snap a photo.



YEAR OF THE FISH: Director David Kaplan and actor An Nguyen; so nice, especially when giving out treats!

A few minutes later queer director Marco Kreuzpaintner (who directed the German indie gay crew-team coming-of-age favorite, Summer Storm) strolls in. He’s nice and so is his producer, Rosilyn Heller. Kreuzpaintner’s new film, Trade, is getting its premiere here. It’s about kids being sold into sexual slavery in Mexico City. And it’s his American film debut. Whoa: Global-licious!



Nice, gay German filmmaker Marco Kreuzpaintner (right) and his producer, Rosilyn Heller. Their film TRADE tackles modern-day sex slavers. And it's premiering at Sundance. Rockin' coat, Marco.

Soon, it’s off to a screening of the film Strange Culture an affecting and creatively put-together movie about the artist Steve Kurtz, who was arrested in 2004 for the absurd suspicion that he was a bio-terrorist. After his wife died suddenly in her sleep, Kurtz called 911; but medics and cops found his scientific bio-supplies he used in his art, called in the FBI, who arrested Kurtz, confiscated his late wife’s body and kicked off a lengthy case (still pending) that’s becoming a landmark battle between alarmist government bureaucracy and freedom of speech and artistic expression). The film features Tilda Swinton as Kurtz’s wife, and is mix of narrative and documentary, and agit-prop activism. I liked it.



Tilda Swinton playing an artist's wife in the politically charged, passionate "Strange Culture." Her death opens a whole can of post-9/11, Patriot Act-crazed can of worms.

Then I off to see a film at Slamdance, the Sundance’s fest’s punky younger sibling. The flick was Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa, a documentary about wildly eccentric, even volatile, renegade types living out in the harsh desert, since they’re fed up of dealing with “the system.” They don’t have water or power, but they do have pot, guns and an impressive communal ethic and regard for each other. The doc was well-made, and heartfelt, put together by NYC-based brother and sister Jeremy and Randy Stulberg. Jeremy’s a nice gay guy, and his boyfriend Eric Juhola produced the film. Expect more from these sure-handed filmmaking siblings.



Filmmakers and siblings Randy & Jeremy Stulberg; their film "Off the Grid" is a cool doc debuting at Slamdance. Props to them! And he's a nice gay boy... Yay!

The rest of the day involved dashing around, hearing bits and pieces about films, and witnessing the loopy street life of sundance. Like strange promotional gangs of leggy women all dressed in monochrome beige/cream outfits handing out coupons to download free films from Blockbuster.com. Yep, Park City become shill central as brands and companies set up shops and “lounges” all down Main Street to hawk their stuff. There’s an Airborne Lounge (you know, the travelly cold medicine), the “Hanes Comfort Lounge” (free undies?), the Stella Artois Patio (mmmm… beer!), a MySpace venue, a “Bon Appetit” supper club, and so on!



These women want to you download movies online. They're wearing stickers on their backs which say "Total Access." And they're cool with that.

Tomorrow evening I’ll check out a PlanetOut Queer Brunch, some more movies, some kind of L-Word party at the Queer Lounge, and more!

And yes, there are celebs (and weird muppet-like creatures) dashing around Park City. Enjoy these pics!



Whoa. Nick Nolte looks ruddy. He's at Thursday night's premiere of the Sundance documentary "Chicago 10." He did voiceover work on the movie, so who cares if he's a bit red-faced, eh?



Nick Cannon hits Park City, to promote his gritty indie, "Weapons." Bang, bang...



He was gay in "Capote." She rocked "Tales of the City." Now, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney join forces in the family dramedy "The Savages." She looks way cute here, thanks.



Diego Luna's all shagged out. (I mean his hair, people.) And he's in Park City. Nice!



Women get all "Delirous" over lesbian icon Gina Gershon. Her new film "Delirious" is debuting at Sundance. I approve. "Delirious!" I like that...



Remember the brooding son from "American Beauty"? Yep, it's Wes Bentley (missed ya!), back in the Slamdance film "Weirdsville."

And yes, only at Sundance do even info kiosks become little weird showbiz opportunities. Cue the faux muppets!



And of course, there must be a camera crew or two on the scene...

Coming later on Saturday: More gay info and news! Plus, just so you know... I’ve already lost one wintry knit hit, but I’m keeping warm. So far.