Sundance Labs 2008

I got to spend a couple of days up at the Sundance Resort in Utah this week for work, which I always love. It was the end of the Screenwriters Lab and middle of the Documentary Edit and Storytelling Lab. Most of the pics are from the last night of the Screenwriters Lab at the "Script Burning Party." I don't want to give too much away b/c it's their story to tell, but it was really fun and held at this huge cabin on top of the mountain. After the script burning, I played a lot of pingpong and Erin sang a lot of show tunes around the piano. It was great to meet all the Fellows (the people selected to come to the Lab and work on their scripts) and get to see some of the ones I already knew. They are all so young (some are 25!), talented and smart. Just full of energy and life and ideas. Also - I finally got to ride the chairlift up in the summer since I've only ridden it in the winter to ski. I also saw a screening of the documentary film Attica about the prison uprisings in the early 1970s. Bit depressing. The screenings are always really special b/c they are films I would never have the chance to see otherwise. They take place in the Resort's Screening Room and are introduced by the director or someone from the film. The Sundance Summer Labs are in full-swing. This month was the Directors Lab, Screenwriters Lab, and DocEdit and Storytelling Lab. Next month is the Theatre Lab, Composers Lab and Producers Lab. I got back from the Resort on Friday. On Saturday, I went to a pool party in West Hollywood and then Amanda and I went to the closing night party of the LA Film Festival (screening of Hellboy 2). Happy, but I'm a little tired.

More LAFF

Monday night, Jen, Bridgette, Siohban and I went to a party at the W in Westwood for the LA Film Festival. There are some atmosphere shots and one of Jenn and Bridge getting free hand massages from Bliss. Jada Pinkett Smith was supposed to host, but then Jeff Garlin replaced her at the last minute. I actually missed all of Jeff Garlin's speech b/c I was getting my free hand massage then. The gift bag weighed about 25 lbs b/c it had this huge coffeetable book about the beginning of color in movies. Also had blank DVDs, a pen, two mini wine bottles, a candle, dish soap and kitchen cleaner, a rubber hammer (no idea) and two chip clips. I threw away the 100 calorie packs of Ritz crackers and some weird puzzle. Also, it seemed like all of the free appetizers were fish products - tuna tartare, sushi, etc. However the cheesecake "popsicles" more than made up for it.

Sundays in the Park with Dave

Well, actually Saturday. And we went to a gay wedding and then an outdoor screening of Mystery Science Theater 3000. First, a friend of Dave's from Malcom In the Middle had a small wedding ceremony and reception. It was really sweet and especially meaningful now that gay couples can legally marry in the state of California. Then we went to an outdoor screening of MST3K as part of the LA Film Festival. It was pretty nerdy, but the theater was gorgeous. Then we went to Diddy Riese and got these amazing ice cream sandwiches (huge, made with fresh-baked cookies for only $1.5o!). Obviously, the ice cream sandwich did not last long enough for me to take a photo. Silly.

McGee Care Packages - For Tate

Ever since I moved away from home (starting when I left for college), my parents have sent me regular letters and care packages. My best friend (and dorm roommate) Tate used to get a huge kick of these. When I lived in Chicago, I continued to get them (even though my now ex-boyfriend used to think I was TOO OLD for care packages). Now that I live in LA, Tate is missing out on the McGee Family Care Packages, so I thought she'd enjoy. Here's the most recent package from earlier this month. For you, Tater:)

Opening Night LA Film Festival

Thursday night Hollie, Angi and I went to the opening night of the LA Film Festival. The film was WANTED (although I'm still horribly depressed that we missed seeing James McAvoy on the red carpet AND at the party.) The flick was pretty good. It was action-filled and filmed in Chicago, so it was fun to see the El train and the part of lower Wacker Drive that's always in movie car chases (Blues Brothers, Batman). The food and DJ were great; and the atmosphere was really great b/c everything was outside and the trees were covered with those white, twinkly lights that I like. Weather was fantastic, as usual. We didn't see any celebrities (unless you count Ben Lyons and Jason Kennedy from E! although Ang and Hollie had no idea who they were, so I'm not sure it counts. Ben Lyons was actually v. cute and tall.) The Festival is headquartered in Westwood, which is one of my favorite areas in LA. It's pretty self-contained with restaurants and shopping, and the movie theatres are these great old movie palaces, so it's the perfect place to see a movie.

Another Saturday in Southern California, Another Bonfire on the Beach

Saturday we celebrated Burke's (in photo roasting hotdogs) birthday with a bonfire bbq on Dockweiler beach. It's so so nice to sit out on the beach and watch the ocean and talk to friends. It was a bit cloudy, so we didn't get much sun, but it was another nice Saturday in Southern California.

Go Cubbies

So, I think I'm allowed to have the Cubs and Cardinals as my favorite baseball teams. Others seem to disagree, but those are my favorite teams. I've now seen both of them beat the Dodgers. Big group of us went to the Cubs/Dodgers game. The picture above is Bridgette, Jen and me. I had another Dodger Dog and it was great. Also, Burke let me listen to AM radio after the game, which always reminds me of my dad.

Opening Night - Sundance at BAM

Some fun pics from Opening Night at BAM, including the party, my boss and I, and the event chairs - Maggie Gylenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard. Brooks and I are standing outside for the Grafitti Research Lab demonstration (sort of like powerpoint grafitti on the sides of buildings). My job that night was to escort any press and photographers and make sure they got the interviews/photos that they needed. By this point, most of the really hard work had been done (pitching stories, setting up interviews, etc). It was a great party, if I don't say so myself.

Sundance at BAM!

So I spent the last six days in Brooklyn and it was fantastic. (Sorry - took very few pictures!). We put on the Sundance at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Festival. Opening night of the Festival was great - the documentary American Teen opened the Festival. It's a terrific film about a group of teens in their senior year of high school in Indiana (sort of a true to life Breakfast Club). I'll post some of the best pics from Opening Night next posting. The next day, spent some time in Soho for a Sundance short film event at the Apple Store. I browsed the street vendors and ate at the Mercer with Brooks before the event. Spent some time walking from Soho to the West Village - my absolute favorite (albeit obvious) places in the city. One of the pictures above is the line around the block for Magnolia Bakery cupcakes on Bleeker Street. Sex and the City made this place muy famosa and the line was enormous. That night, I went to see Gypsy on Broadway and then to this super cool burlesque show (the women were all super cool, smart chicks - like Cindy Sherman meets the Pussycat Dolls). Got doused in glitter from backstage and spent the rest of the night swing dancing, covered in glitter with a cute boy in the back of the bar. THEN I found out my boss was leaving Sundance. It was a little emotional since she's the one that hired me and moved me out to LA to begin this little adventure. The next day I went to the Brooklyn Flea Market with my dear friend Sherisse (who happened to be in Brooklyn for a few weeks). She has great taste and I ended up buying this vintage cotton dress with little sleeves and pockets. It spoke to me as a cross between bored 70s housewife and something that Chrissy from Three's Company would wear. Then, we went to see Sex and the City the Movie (I don't really care if it's silly - I wanted to see the movie in NYC). The Sundance theatre program put on a really nice event the next night with some Broadway singers from Sunday in the Park with George and Mary Poppins. Later, Sherisse and I spent some time exploring Williamsburg (the birthplace of hipsterville). Seriously - have NEVER seen so many skinny jeans. The whole week/weekend was the epitome of a work hard/play hard situation. I had to share a room at the Brooklyn Marriott with Cathy (nonprofit budget constraints) which ended up being totally fun. Every morning we could recap the festivities from the previous night - I felt like I was still living in the Tri-Delta house in college. I am pleasantly exhausting from working like crazy, running all over the city and drinking bottles of white wine at cute little outdoor cafes and beer gardens. There really is nothing like walking around New York City in the summertime. It's pretty wonderful.

Memorial Day Beach Volleyball

Go Redbirds!

So, I've been a bad blogger. I know it's been awhile, so I'm starting with some pics from a few weeks ago when I went to my first Dodger's game. It was fun, but the field doesn't even compare to Wrigley Field. It's more family friendly and located in the middle of nowhere along the highway. The Dodger dogs are delicious, though. They are about a foot long...wish I would have taken a picture!! And the Cardinals won, so the evening was a success.