“Sundance” was a lot of fun!

It was our first one even though we have live here for 10 years now. I know we suck, which I have stated before too. On Sunday the 21^st in Park City, Sue & I got to see our first film “White Light / Black Rain". Very well done! (Discussed in last weeks blog.)

Monday the 22^nd Robbie & I got to go see the documentary “A Very British Gangster” in SLC. It was well filmed, but I still don’t understand why it was made. I always thought documentaries were to bring an issue to light, discuss the issue then show, or offer some type of a solution. At the very least it should get you thinking about how you can get involved on some level if you choose to. I don’t feel that this was much more than a bunch of thugs and especially their leader, bragging about running a town or neighborhood the any way they want to and getting away with anything they choose. It did show that the local police force is completely incompetent and ineffective, and therefore the populous has come to view the gang leader as almost their king. It seems to me to be a pretty ignorant community. So, apparently I just didn’t get it.

Tuesday the 23^rd we got to take our friends the Doxey’s, along with Anna & Sean out to dinner then we went to see “Dark Matter”. When we got up to the theater in Park City we were pleasantly surprised and met up with some other friends too. It was the “premiere” so the “stars” were there. The writer, director, and the main actors, all except for Meryl Streep, who was working on a project with Robert Redford at the time.

I really enjoyed the movie, I think we all did. So the question is did I get to see myself? Let me first say that I really enjoyed the movie period. I would have enjoyed the movie even if I wasn’t in it. But being that I was - all the better. We were in the front row just taking in the experience and enjoying ourselves with two of our kids and some of our friends. Sue and I looked at each other when we first saw me, and we just kept watching, all of a sudden there I am, big as life, (bigger than) making a face that I thought was funny as hell. Sue and I just laughed, and enjoyed the rest of the movie. The movie was very well done, wonderful acting, spectacular locations from all around Utah. There were some very cute, funny, tender and frightening moments with a surprise ending.

After the screening the director, writer and the main cast went up on stage for a discussion on the films history then did a question and answer session. As I said we were in the front row, so at the conclusion of the Q & A, I went up on stage and walked over to Aidan Quinn and then up to Erick Avari, who were both very gracious. Erick told me that he recognized me from the scene we were both in. Then the writer “Billy Shebar” came up to me and said he recognized me from the movie. OK so that was the coolest part of the night for me! I was just an extra, but they did get me into a few shots, and I was only on the set for one day this summer.

On Saturday the 27^th Sue, Robbie, Sean & I got to see the “Documentary Spotlight”. There were five short films shown and two really stick in my mind. OK three, the first one sticks because it was so bad. It was so very stupid, another “I don’t get it”, or “why”. I’d have to say in conclusion on the first one: If you grow up stupid and are allowed to be stupid and you do stupid things, you might just grow up and be stupid too.

The second one was a build up from a quiet calm to a spectacularly shot, adrenalin pumping film showing a tuna fishing catch. They finished it off by using sepia tones that gave it an old world, historic type of a look and feel. This was one of my favorites of the week.

The last one of the shorts was about a lady, a former police officer, dying of cancer and her fight to leave her benefits to whoever she chooses. She happened to be a lesbian who had a life partner who loved and cared for her for years. Paid her bills, cooked her meals, cleaned and maintained their home, loved and cared for her and transported her to and from the many doctors and specialists . She did everything a loving spouse would do.

I’ll be honest I had never given it much if any thought before. As I watched I got to thinking hey what if I decided to leave my life insurance to whomever, what business is it of yours! What business is it of mine that you worked for thirty years earned those benefits yourself, benefits to care for your wife or husband or children after you die. They are your benefits to do with as you see fit. Who am I to tell you who you can donate your time or money to, it’s yours, not mine. I didn’t earn it why should have any say. If we work for the same company or city or municipality and we earn the same benefits why can you assign your benefits to your wife and I can’t assign mine to whoever I damn well choose.

In this matter, I think we as a people should get our noses out of each others business. Because you may not agree with my style of paint, or how I mow my lawn, or shovel my walk, the car I drive, or maybe we don’t share the same church, religion or faith: why does that matter? This clearly is discrimination and it is not right.

She finally won her case after years of fighting and just before she died. She got to see her dream realized. Good for her! This was a very powerful documentary and I did shed more than a few tears during the film. After the film I got to go and meet one of the people responsible for making it and I got to say thank you. That felt great.

Sunday the 28^th we went to see the two films I was in. That was fun but it didn’t actually start until 10:30 pm so a lot of people had to leave before it started. We had fun playing pool while we waited, and bonus, the bar was in fact open! As soon as I get a copy of them I’ll figure out how to post them online so all can see.

This has gone on very long, but it has been a while, sorry.

See Ya,
Bill