Sundance Film Festival, Part II, Park City, Utah

Welcome back to Park City and the Sundance Film Festival as we start the downhill glide to the finish on Sunday.

By the way, I have no idea why half of this Postcard font is in one color and black in the other half...go figure.

I have so far worked two memorable nights that I'll describe for you whether you like it or not. And give you a couple of movie reviews.

That is my unheralded arrival on the Red Carpet last night. And on the right are some guys who came in after me to attend the screening of "Nowhere Boy" about this musician named John Lennon, when he was just a young man in Liverpool with a wooden guitar and a harmonica.

Last night, January 27, I worked what is called Entourage, where we make sure the "talent" and Special Guests, get in and out of the theater with their clothes and bodily parts still in one piece and much like they left their hotel rooms.

The other movie last night was "Douchebag" and I left after a few minutes as it wasn't all that interesting about a soon to be bridegroom who initially makes you think all "green" and organic and pure of mind. But he's not. They lost my train of thought early on and I didn't have to stay in the theater if I didn't want to. So I went out and chatted with a really interesting volunteer that lives half of her time in Park City and half in England, where she is originally from.

The movie "Sympathy For Delicious" was playing upon my arrival and I saw nothing but the credits. Mark Ruffalo directed it and had a major role, with his pal Christopher Thornton who wrote and starred in it. The movie is about a young man who is injured and confined to a wheelchair, finding he has the power to heal but cannot heal himself. It got a standing ovation and will be a player in the final awards I suspect. We had to make sure Ruffalo and Thornton could get to the stage as Thornton really is in a chair. Then we make sure they get out of the theater itself and out to their waiting limos.

For "Nowhere Boy", Sir Elton and his partner flew in from London. Since I was working Entourage we worked with Elton's security staff to get them in and out of the theater. No one in the audience was supposed to know they were coming though there had been sightings.

Image right, from www.Zimbio.com

Elton John---well, he is shorter than me and I stand 5' 6" now…and the mileage on his odometer is climbing as it is for all of us. He wasn't outgoing to the staff around him but he certainly isn't obnoxious. He just is Sir Elton who lives a life where he has an entourage and they know their place and it isn't in his circle of buddies. For me he remains the generous man he is reputed to be.

Now one of his skinny little front/security woman in a black wool jacket was obnoxious though. I am doing my job, in my Volunteer vest, assigned to Entourage, and standing behind his seat area in the aisle to keep the lookie-lous at bay. She jabs me in the ribs with this boney elbow and tells me to "step back" and remain flush against the aisle theater wall….well, that didn't set too well. I smiled my required Sundance smile and said, "sorry, just doing my job here where I am assigned…you could ask first"…she just snarled at me like she hadn't been fed…but then she didn't look like she ate either.

When it is announced Elton John is attending 1400 people sucked in their breath and gasped and you could hear every seat squeak and moan and they are all looking down where he is. Pretty cool.

So, Sir Elton and the director, stars, producer, sit through the intro for the movie, and leave for dinner to return 93 minutes later for the end of the feature. I didn't watch the movie, my feet were tired and I didn't give a big rat's patoot (I'd been skiing all morning as well) at that point…but we had to make sure they snuck out of the theater as only 30 people can do in the dark and leave through the front to go to dinner….then, they returned for the last 10 minutes and we had to sneak them back in a dark theater where they sat through the Q&A for 30 minutes and then, BLAM! Out the side door bolting for the car.

As he was obviously there the lookie-lou's came running down the aisle with everything from Blackberries to Nikons to get his picture and I and another man are the "front line" before the security folks…including Elbow Woman… I am holding my ground when this Asian chick gets in my face, about mid-20's and says"please, please, let me in next to Elton and I promise to come back soon"…this chick wouldn't stop and all you can do is smile and say "no, no, no"…"no again"…put your arm out and bar the aisle….these people go nutso. As if I am going to let her rub up against Sir Elton!

The rest of the evening was really uneventful.

Now being a volunteer at the Eccles theater, which is a premiere theater, is quite a treat. We get fed pretty well and it all happens at the Green Room door where "talent" hangs out before their big to do's. Saturday night Bill Murray was in for his premiere. He came through and looked in the food room which is really the janitor's closet and spotted a tray full of cupcakes (our desert). He put $40 in the donation kitty to buy the cupcakes and then handed them out to the cast in the Green Room. Jan, a 25 year veteran of Sundance and our food mother, was even star struck by his actions. She and Bev have, in the past, fried hamburgers for Brad Pitt when he was here and caught a whiff of food being made.

Now Sunday night was really fun and interesting. I was guarding the "talent" door where the entourages come into the theater and go to their reserved seats. There you get "seat crashers" who want to rub up on the talent and aren't allowed. They come flying up, make no eye contact because that is what talent is supposed to do, act like they are someone and muscle their way through as many layers of the security as they can without a proper ticket. Some try to BS their way in and that doesn't work well either.

I saw three movies; yes three, in one evening. Two were "red flag" premieres that were pretty hot tickets. The house was packed all day.

The first was "My Blue Valentine" with Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain) and Ryan Gosling. It is a love story running in parallel, their meeting and "courtship" and then about 5 years later as they lose their way. It is nicely acted, but the movie drags, is about a ½ hour too long and is shot so tight at times that is makes your brain hurt and then, in some love scenes, which are pretty graphic, makes you feel too much like a voyeur. I can say with a great degree of certainty that Michelle and Ryan were quite fit when they made this movie. Very fit. Ahem. This will make it to theaters but unless they edit it down, it won't get a lot of stars.

Next up was the World Premiere of "The Runaways" which is the bio-pic of Joan Jett, who was there in person and produced the film. She might be 5' 2" in her high heel boots. Now, this movie is really good. Dakota Fanning plays Cherie Currie, the teenaged lead singer for the Runaways in 1975 and Joan Jett is played by Kristin Stewart (both do their own singing). Both actresses will someday get Oscars, not sure that this is the one, but Dakota Fanning proves what a great star she already is. Pretty graphic at times but it was tolerable for most people. You might not want to see this with your Granny unless she is pretty hip and thinks drugged out women in lip locks and such is cool.

After the screening I walked the director out. Floria Sigismondi, couldn't find her way out of the back theater to get to her car out front. So, after I took her to the ladies room, we made our way out and she is beyond friendly and gracious. Out front I ask if she is in contact with her driver and she says "no, I drove myself, I'm parked over there and can get there now. Thank you so much". She has to be the only "talent" that I know of that didn't have a limo.

I took John C. Riley out of the theater to the back door for his limo as well. He's far taller than I would have imagined by the way, and very nice. His movie, "Cyrus" got a lot of talk, though it had played the night before and I didn't see it. He just came up to me at the private door and says "can you get me out of here?" "You bet".

Last for the evening was "The Killer Inside Me" with Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson and Jennifer Alba. I know it was "film noir" but this movie made me so angry I would have taken shots at the screen had I been packin' a gun. Gone Jamaican on them. (In Jamaica they will shoot at the screen if they don't like the movie and now they have put in cement backstops and the bullets ricochet back.)

Left, a Winter Montage

"Killer" is supposed to be a "lit film". I think it is one that should have stayed in book form, like "In Cold Blood" or been treated with less stark, demeaning and gratuitous violence towards women and girls. A little of the graphic sex and violence could have gone a long ways with a heavy dose of using your imagination. The first, opening scene is the rape of a young girl by the villain. There is gratuitous killing and the film lingers on women's private parts far too graphically and long for a feature (versus porn) film. One sexual spanking was more than I needed to see to understand what a creep the character was; but by the 4^th or 5^th time I was up to my eyeballs in tired of it. Anyone can tell the story of the creep, page by page from the book…which this director did. But to use true film noir imagination, 50's style, would have said a lot about his ability to gauge the audience and tell a story for normal people. This is neither palatable nor marketable in my opinion. They had to the right to make it, but they shouldn't expect many card carrying normal people to want to see it.

Casey Affleck and Kate Hudson did not come. And Jennifer Alba bolted for the door as soon as the lights came on.

The audience Q&A was mixed and several voiced their dislike of the movie and especially the constant violence towards women. Of course you can walk out…but I couldn't as I was guarding a door that cannot be opened. I would have if I could have.

So unless you are into S&M, child molesting, by a murderous cop who whispers sweet nothings in your ear, then I'd avoid "Killer" if it ever makes it to a theater or video store near you. Check the "x rated" aisle.

I'll leave you with some Park City area images since as a volunteer, I cannot take pictures on shift. Below, Lou and Nancy inspect a giant icicle hanging off the front porch.

Park City and the Sundance Film Festival

Welcome to Park City, Utah and the Sundance Film Festival. This is the second year I will be volunteering at the Eccles Theater, where all the hottest movies will premier during the evening shifts. Last year was a blast, and I expect this year will be filled with more fun stories and experiences.

As you can see, Marley has his volunteer credentials and cool shades to hang with other celebrities. For those of you who don't realize it Marley does have a movie credit as he appeared in the movie "The Retrievers" in 2001 and has been seen in "Times of the Islands" magazine and the "Fresno Bee". He has been a spokesdog for K-9 Quencher and is a spokesdog for Central Bark groomers in Fresno. Though he does not have a SAG card, he thinks he should have one. Marley will be trolling Main Street during Sundance, giving out paw prints and allowing wannabe's and other potential celebrities to rub his ears.

I'll be working the premiers of "Blue Valentine", "Twelve", "The Runaways", "Douchbag", "Howl", "The Killer Inside of Me", "Sympathy For Delicious", "Nowhere Boy" and the final night where the Grand Prize and Audience Grand Prizes are awarded. I'll keep you posted which stars I see and anything that might be worthy of public consumption.

I have had a little bout with Mountain Altitude Sickness. That slowed me down for a day. But I am adapting.

We drove to Utah from Fresno in one day. Even with a speeding ticket in Nevada for doing 85 mph, we made good time. The cat settled down and turned into the tourist she is by Madera. Eddie has taken over where she left off last year, and is enjoying kitty snow shoeing, Marmot hunting and bird watching.

Joel has been keeping occupied with snow blowing, not quite in the nude, but close. When the sun shines here even in winter, it is wonderfully warm and dry. Marley loves to hang with Joel when the snow blows.

Today, Thursday the 21^st, is the opening of Sundance and we have two feet or so of fresh snow to greet everyone. Of course that will make some things problematic, like waiting in line outside for admission to the theaters.

Joel and Lou are going skiing, but I'm staying home as my knees still function correctly. Two feet of fresh snow sounds great, unless it is being skied in a white out of clouds and fog, which the top of Park City Mountain appears to be from our back windows. I think my manicure sounds more enticing.

For those of you not familiar with Park City, it was a venue site for the 2002 Winter Olympics. We are at about 6700 feet here at the house. The area is an old silver mine location that went into disrepair until after WW II. Then it was discovered as a ski resort. Through the years it has developed into not one, but three major ski areas: Park City, Deer Valley and The Canyons.

It is located about 40 minutes east of the Salt Lake City airport and about 8 miles south of Interstate 80. It is very convenient actually. We have a Whole Foods, Walmart, couple of major grocery stores and lots of charming little shops and restaurants. Great restaurants actually.

It is pretty low key much of the time, unless Sundance or the World Cup events are in town. Then traffic can be backed up for hours if you don't know back roads, short cuts or have friends with open bars near major thoroughfares and are home to let you hang out while traffic subsides.

I'll keep you posted on Sundance after I pull some shifts.

Dora Belanger: A Brief Walk Down Memory Lane

A less detailed obituary appears this week in the "Fresno Bee". Though not a "postcard" of our travels, I'd say the road our mother traveled in life is worthy of a postcard entry.

Left click on any image to see an enlargement.

Dora Mae Dennie Belanger was born on February 4, 1923 to Agnes Goble Dennie and Donald Dennie, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dora passed away on December 26, 2009 in Gilroy, California.

Growing up in Fort Wayne, our mother went to work immediately out of high school for General Electric as an assembly worker. It was the beginning of World War II and many of the members of her small high school class went to war and never returned. She was determined to join the war effort, see the world and leave Fort Wayne.

Dora, right on high school graduation

On her twenty-first birthday, Dora decided it was time to act on her dreams and enlisted in the Navy as a WAVE. Having always hoped to be a nurse, Dora became a medical corpsman (as even women were then called) and almost made RN status before the end of the war. She saw New York City and Washington DC in her pre-assignment travels and training. Her duty station became the medical facility at Mare Island Naval Hospital in Vallejo, attached to the Amputee Ward of the hospital. When the hospital ships came in the staff worked around the clock until every injured soldier and sailor was stable and in a bed. Mare Island Naval Hospital was lauded for its progress and work with amputee’s and prosthetic device development.

Being a veteran was one part of Dora’s life that she was immeasurably proud of. Not many women had the nerve to enlist and leave the safety of their hometowns. Several years ago she participated in an educational research project on women in World War II and the military for which she felt quite honored.

At Mare Island she met Johnnie Belanger, a dashing Marine Corps sergeant who was in charge of the main gate at Mare Island. He spotted our mother while checking the ID’s of nurses coming and going through the gate. He completely embarrassed her one day by ordering all the WAVES out of a jitney except Dora. He ordered her to stay behind for “interrogation” purposes. He sat down, chatted as only our father could, asked her out on a date, then reloaded the jitney. Our mother said “yes” to the date, but was perpetually mortified. See the Veteran's Day Postcard below for more on their service.

Dora was a member of the National Rifle Association in high school and claimed to be a crack shot, reportedly her only sport, as she couldn’t throw a ball or ride a bike to save her life. She did play in the snow once as confirmed in this image from what looks like the 1940's.

Dora and John Belanger married on November 24, 1945. As soon as they were mustered out of the Marines and Navy at Mare Island and married, they hopped in a borrowed car and came to Fresno where Johnnie had family. Dora, always a shy and reserved woman, knew only Johnnie when she came to town that first time on a foggy Thanksgiving evening.

Mom told me they first lived in a boarding house near Palm and Belmont as many couples did after the war. They had a bedroom and brief kitchen privileges. When she became pregnant with Pat in 1946 they had to move out.

The young couple bought their first home on Fedora just west of what is now Manchester Center in post-war housing. Manchester Center was a fig orchard and the far north edge of the city. They then produced two children. Our mother never forgot walking to the trolley on Wishon to ride downtown to the Physician’s Building for doctor appointments, pregnant and dragging a three year old as well. She would point out the corner where the bench was anytime we passed by and relate that memory.

Right, the house on Hayes with the 1951 Plymouth, circa 1957

Our father, a retail route salesman for Borden’s, and always an aspiring farmer and carpenter, talked our mother into buying 15 acres west of Fresno in 1951. Back then Hayes Avenue might as well have been in another country, especially with one car. Mom said when Pop went to work that first day, she sat with us under a cotton wood tree and cried her eyes out. It was hot, dry and dusty and she could not imagine why she ever agreed. We just played in the dirt and adapted. So did Mom as she was always wont to do.

Left, under the cotton wood tree on another day

Our mother worked in packing houses and made draperies until we were off to school. She then worked for Chicago Furniture as their bookkeeper and office manager allowing us to spend summer days downtown. She loved Coney Island hot dogs, Norm’s Drive In and the lunch counter at Grant’s, which always was our special lunch treat before a double matinee. In the mid 1960’s she decided to try her hand at her lifelong dream of being a nurse and was accepted into the RN program at Fresno City College. For the mother of two, it was an impossible task, and she eventually chose family over school.

Together our parents turned a little two bedroom farm house into a large and well furnished home and ranch. We nick named the place Puncture Vine Hill as the weeds were relentless. For 18 years our parents worked full time, farmed and built up our home. Our mother made our drapes, upholstered and refinished furniture and made many of our clothes. Home always seemed in a state of remodeling and the sewing machine always out. They were a team.

Below: About 1958 at Chicago Furniture
When they sold the farm in 1968 to move to San Luis Obispo, our parents began a journey of moving every few years searching for the perfect place to live. In 1984, they returned to Fresno to stay, and bought their last house to renovate and enjoy for once. It was actually a finished
project for our father but Mom always had an eye to the next project.

Below, the new dining room Pop built and Mom furnished

Perpetually busy, Dora went to work for my law firm, and learned word processing and computer accounting programs in her late 60’s. Always a good cook, she taught herself gourmet cooking and baking.

Dora led a remarkable life and stayed active until her final retirement in 2007 at the age of 84. Though shy by nature, she loved the camaraderie of the office, being financially productive and the challenge of working in law.

Left: Always creative, she sewed these dresses out of drapery material; Right is Pat's wedding in 1966-height of fashion


With our father’s passing in 2001, Dora continued to work and maintain her home in the historic Fresno High area. Dora moved to Morgan Hill in 2008 to be closer to Pat for the next phase of life and enjoy retirement community living out of the fog and heat of Fresno.

Left: Mom and Pat and right, in about 1956

Dora is preceded in her passing by her husband, John F. Belanger in 2001; her father Donald, her mother Agnes, and her sister Marilyn. She is survived by her son, Patrick J. Belanger of Morgan Hill, his wife Julie, and their children Brian Belanger, D.C., Jason Belanger, Lacy Green and Nikki Green; her daughter Michele Belanger-McNair of Fresno, her husband Joel McNair, and their children Corey McNair and Heather McNair; and Dora’s brother Donald Dennie of Fort Wayne.

Left: Christmas, 1950 (I'm brand new and Pat is a little miffed)

Dora’s family would like to thank the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Fresno, especially Audra Iknoian who took such special care of her and the Veteran’s Medical Center in San Jose. A special thank you goes to the loving staff of Village Green of Gilroy who cared for Dora in her final days.

Right: With first grandchild, Brian, 1972

A celebration of Dora’s great life will be held at on January 9, 2009 at 1 pm. Call 559-222-7282 for information. In lieu of flowers, Dora’s wish would be a contribution to the Veteran of Foreign War’s Charitable Fund, The Disabled Veterans or the American Diabetes Association.

Left: Dora as a majorette, 2nd from left















Right: Irv and Jan Perlitch (Pat's In-laws), Dora and John