Backstage at Sundance : Celebrities

Oscar Win for Once's Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

amy brock — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 02:12:00 GMT

Angela LoSasso
Web Content Manager, Imaging and Printing Group, U.S.

Congratulations to Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova for their Oscar win tonight for Best Song, "Falling Slowly" from the film Once (the 2007 Sundance World Cinema Audience Award winner).

HP has a special place in its heart for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, as they were gracious enough to give HP a live performance of this Oscar-winning song on a snowy January day during the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Take a look and listen.

Technorati Tags: sundance, sundance film festival, sundance film 2007, hp, hewlett packard, robert redford, once, glen hansard, marketa irglova, columbia records, oscars

Quincy Coleman & band perform live at Sundance 2008

amy brock — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 07:05:00 GMT

Matthew Caldwell
Creative Director - HP Newsgram

This Quincy is one cool cat.
Her song "Afraid" was featured in the academy award winning film "Crash".
More recently her song "Give it Away" can be heard in the Keri Russel film "Waitress".

Her dusky vocals and rustic, bold style are modern yet classic.

Ms. Coleman was accompanied by Jeff Pearlman on guitar and Stuart Cole (a brave trumpeter... can you imagine playing a trumpet at thirteen degrees).

They treated HP to an exclusive performance at the crossroads of Sundance, off Heber & Main.

QUINCY COLEMAN LIVE AT SUNDANCE 2008

Quincy Coleman Website

HP interviews Amy Redford

amy brock — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:25:00 GMT

Matthew Caldwell
Creative Director - HP Newsgram

Sundance's favorite daughter sat down with HP to talk about her new film The Guitar.

Watch the interview with Amy Redford

Amy Redford, daughter of Robert Redford grew up in New York City with Summers and holidays spent in Utah.

At 37 she has enjoyed an extensive acting career in films and on TV.
The Guitar marks her directorial debut.

The film, written by Amos Poe, is about a woman (played by Saffron Burroughs) who learns she has terminal cancer. She decides to spend her last days surrounding herself with her favorite objects.

We caught up with Amy on a bright tuesday morning and asked her about her film, her life under the Sundance kid and who she's listening to on her ipod.

Another kind of picture-maker

amy brock — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:07:00 GMT

by Lisa Tucker
WW Interactive Communications

Besides the many people at Sundance calling themselves filmmakers, there is another genre of folks here also taking pictures. With so many celebrities on hand, there are massive amounts of photographers here taking photographs. One such person is Todd Williamson, freelance photographer working Sundance on behalf of WireImage.

Williamson got into the photography business just 5 or 6 years ago when he decided to quit his job on Wall Street to go to film school to become a director. When he saw that no one in film school was getting a job, he took a job as a production assistant on the set of a VH1 show where he tried his hand at shooting video. That job lead to a job shooting corporate videos, and eventually to shooting stills. He soon fell in love with still photography, and that is where he has remained.

But he didn’t stop there.

A cover shot for a now defunct magazine, led Williamson to the idea of starting his own magazine. The idea was realized last year with the first edition of “h” magazine.

In its eighth month, the magazine is a publication in the same vein as Vanity Fair or W. It includes celebrity profiles, movie reviews, sex columnists, and a conspiracy column. It is a free, LA-based magazine, the second largest of its kind in the city, with a circulation of over 25,000. It can be found in over 500 locations through LA, including Blockbuster, Bally’s, coffee shops and grocery stores.

Set in large, tabloid format, the magazine is stunning – showing off the prowess of its chief photographer, Williamson. He has shot such well-known celebrities for the cover such as Bryan Greenberg, Sam Rockwell, Lili Taylor, Mira Sorvino, Michael C. Hall, and next month, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Williamson and the magazine’s editors choose the cover models based on reasons other than how big of a star they are.

“We like to profile talented people – people who don’t normally get a lot of press,” said Williamson. “You won’t see Lindsay or Paris on our cover.”

The goal for Williamson is to continue shooting freelance, but also to break even on the magazine, eventually even making a profit. But more than anything, says Williamson, “We want to make a magazine that leaves an impression on people.”

If you live in LA, pick up the magazine next time you are in the grocery store. If like me, you live in a fly-over state (ha!), you can still subscribe to the magazine via the website – Hmonthly.com.

Need a Feel-Good? Henry Poole is Here

amy brock — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:31:00 GMT

by Lisa Tucker
WW Interactive Communications

I had an opportunity to see the movie, Henry Poole is Here the other day at Sundance. Before I could even blog about it, I heard that Overture Films just bought the rights to the film for a cool $3.5 million. So, it looks like everyone is going to get a chance to see this movie in your local theater. Would I recommend you do so? Well, it depends.

You see I went into the theater to see this movie by myself on a cold afternoon in Park City feeling a bit melancholy. I admit freely that I really needed a feel-good movie pick-me-up. Since I’m not an actual movie critic by trade, I figure it is okay to tell you that I enjoyed the movie if for no other reason other than my state of mind. (Perhaps that happens to all critics, but they just don’t tell us…)

Anyway, in a nutshell, the movie is about this guy, Henry Poole, played by Luke Wilson who finds out he has a terminal illness, so he quits his job, leaves his fiancé and mother and moves to a house on the street where he grew up. He does what many of us would do in that predicament – he eats Krispy Kremes (and other junk food) and drowns his sorrows in alcohol. He doesn’t want anything to do with his neighbors, or the local supermarket checkout girl, who all try to befriend him. His pesky neighbor, played by Adriana Barraza discovers a “miracle” on the wall of his house that leads multiple people (including her priest, played by George Lopez) to touch the wall in order to experience miracles in their own life. All the while, Henry remains skeptical that the wall is anything other than a bad stucco job.

The movie has many touching parts to the story – especially the story line around the little girl next door who no longer speaks due to trauma in her life. The equally charming supermarket checkout girl with the degenerative eye disease is also very touching.

The end of this movie is very predictable, even a little sappy. But the message is a good one, and there are many times in the movie where I laughed out loud. The pesky neighbor, played by Adriana Barraza perfectly personified the role of the modern-day Mrs. Kravitz. And the real estate agent, played by Cheryl Hines, absolutely steals the show. I can think of no one better to play a perpetually perky real estate agent than Hines – hilarious.

This movie contained a very different role for Luke Wilson – it was a serious role for him and he played it very well. After the movie, during the Q&A, Wilson was pretty low-key, trying to stay out of the limelight as much as possible. Screenwriter Albert Torres spoke a bit about why he wrote the film, explaining that he had stopped writing for a time, and found himself a bit lost. It was not until he picked up writing again – this time writing what he knew, and what he wanted to write about – that he began to feel good again about his craft.

So, all in all, if need a little a pick-me-up on a cold winters day, or a hot summer afternoon (depending on when this movie comes out), this movie could be for you.

A comedy starring a man, his lost cat, and an HP All-in-One Printer.<br> HP interviews the directors of "Goliath".

amy brock — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:21:00 GMT

Matthew Caldwell
Creative Director - HP Newsgram

Film poster, Nathan Zellner & David Zellner - © Wireimage Rachel Thurston

"Hey, you know what?
An HP printer is prominently featured in our movie...
and it's a close up... it's like... totally free, hardcore product placement!

I mean, you see everything on this printer, it's practically a commerical.. and you know what? It's actually our printer... we use it every day."

This is how our interview with writer / director David Zellner and his brother Nathan (writer / actor) began.

An HP All-in-One printer is used to print out missing cat leaflets, which the main character posts around town.

Still from the film Goliath - ©Zellner

The Zellner brothers' wry comedy, "Goliath", centers around a man with a serious case of the blues. He has recently lost his wife and now his beloved cat.

The cat means everything to the man and he's determined to get it back.

David & Nathan Zellner at Sundance 2008 - ©Wireimage Rachel Thurston

HP sat down with the Zellner brothers and asked them about their new film, "Goliath."

HP: Tell us about your film?
It's about a man going through a bitter divorce and the only relic left of his marriage is this cat. The cat gets lost, so it becomes extremely important for him to recover the cat. The cat is really a way for him to hold onto his marriage... and, things go crazy from there!

HP: What was the spark that helped bring the idea for this film to light?
We've done Sundance before with some shorts for a few years in a row now. We've been trying to get some bigger projects going, but this was a story that had been sitting with David for awhile. We decided this summer to flesh it out. It was kind of an experiment for us.

The cat is the thing. Peoples passions aren't consistent. With cats, there seem to be extremes. They love them or they despise them. There's no middle ground.
We're playing with that. There are tons of dog movies, feel good things. Our film focuses on universal empathy... it's a little more ambiguous than that.

HP: How would you classify your films?
All our style straddles the line between comedy and drama. We like humor, but we strive to have some real human moments in them too. We try not to be condescending or too schmaltzy. That's what we're trying to work towards.

HP: When was the film shot?
Over this past summer, July.
We edited as we went along.
We had lots of help from our friends.

HP: You wrote it, directed it, acted in it, edited it and more. Do you have any tips or tricks for how you get it all done?

Spreadsheets! (laughing) Nathan is really good at organizing the schedule.
This is how we've always done film, so it comes naturally to us.

HP: While shooting this film, what's an average day like?
The night before was all about cameras. Charged and ready to go.
Next, we'd set out props and costumes. We did a lot of the shooting in our own homes in Austin, Texas. Some days we'd drive out and do scenes.

HP: In your film, what do you have to say?
First and foremost, we want to entertain and let people have fun with it. After that, we let the audience decide. We don't have an agenda. The audience will take away what they want. We learn a lot by watching the audience react.

HP Backstage at Sundance

Premiere: Sleepwalking starring and produced by Charlize Theron

amy brock — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:27:00 GMT

Matthew Caldwell
Creative Director - HP Newsgram

It was a packed house at the Eccles Theatre, in Park City, as the film "Sleepwalking" premiered.

© Wireimage Pimentel

Producer Charlize Theron introduced the film, thanking the cast and crew and delivering extra kudos for director William Maher who couldn't make it due to a sickness.

Nick Stahl ("Sin City", "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines"), AnnaSophia Robb ("Bridge to Terabithia", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") and Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron ("Monster") star in "Sleepwalking", a moving drama about the deep familial bond that develops between a 30 year-old man and his young niece after the girl's mother suddenly leaves town.

© Wireimage Pimentel

Directed by William Maher from a screenplay by Zac Stanford ("The Chumscrubber"), "Sleepwalking" also stars Academy Award nominees Dennis Hopper ("Hoosiers", "Blue Velvet") and Woody Harrelson ("The People Vs. Larry Flynt").

© Wireimage Pimentel
After the film, stars Dennis Hopper and AnnaSophia Robb conducted interviews in the HP Broadcast Studio.

Mr. Hopper said of his young co-star:

"I believe that AnnaSophia is one of the finest young actresses, in all of film, at this time."

The creation of the film "Sleepwalking" got off to a slow start.

Writer Zac Stanford tossed the first draft in a drawer for 5 years and forgot about it. But when another of Stanford’s scripts generated interest in Hollywood, he met director William Maher who took an interest. The two friends knew creating the film would be difficult, but then Charlize Theron read the screenplay and signed on. With her backing, the film really took flight.

With a star studded cast set in the unique, gritty landscape of snowy Saskatchewan, Canada, "Sleepwalker" is a visually rich and original film.

Dennis Hopper in the HP Broadcast Studio

Dennis Hopper in the HP Broadcast Studio

HP Broadcast Studio

HP Broadcast Studio

HP Backstage at Sundance

2008 Oscar Nominations

amy brock — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:23:00 GMT

Angela LoSasso
Web Content Manager, Imaging and Printing Group, U.S

The 80th Annual Oscar nominations were announced on Tuesday, and two performers from films featured at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival earned nods from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Congratulations to Best Actress nominee Julie Christie in “Away from Her” and Best Actress nominee Laura Linney in “The Savages”.

Julie Christie

Laura Linney

Technorati tags: sundance, sundance film festival, 2008 sundance film festival, hp, hewlett packard, oscars, julie christie, away from her, laura linney, the savages, best actress

Filmmaker Michel Gondry on the Drums - at his own Premiere Party

amy brock — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:40:00 GMT

Matthew Caldwell
Creative Director - HP Newsgram

The French love Jazz. And they play it well.

French filmmaker Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Science of Sleep) surprised the crowd at his own premiere party on Sunday. People had gathered to celebrate the premiere of his new film "Be Kind, Rewind," and were treated to a surprise performance by the film's director/screenwriter.

He was also accompanied by a fantastic French piano player (who’s name we failed to get). The two played several traditional jazz songs for the delighted onlookers.

There’s a big buzz about Mr. Gondry’s new film Be Kind, Rewind. The film stars Jack Black and Mos Def as video store clerks who, through a freak accident, end up erasing their rental tapes. To make up for the lost movies, they recreate popular films like Ghostbusters, Driving Miss Daisy and Robocop themselves.

See Michel Gondry play the drums and more, in the popular HP Commercial.

A feel-good flick: The Great Buck Howard

amy brock — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:49:00 GMT

Angela LoSasso
Web Content Manager, Imaging and Printing Group, U.S.

Photo courtesy of WireImage/ Vespa

I didn’t go into the theater expecting The Great Buck Howard to “move” me – and it didn’t. But what it did well was entertain me for about and hour and half. And that’s a success in my book. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a feel-good movie that has solid performances from actors I enjoy watching.

“Mentalist” Buck Howard (John Malkovich) is a throwback to the golden age of television, an entertainer infamous for his 61 appearances on the Tonight Show – “with Carson”. His “great” days are behind him, but he’s the only person who doesn’t know it yet.

Colin Hanks (Orange County, Untraceable) plays the law school dropout Troy Gable who reluctantly accepts the position of Buck’s road manager/personal assistant. “Caring” for Buck initially involves the typical entry-level, earn-your-stripes stuff – such as arranging the rental car and acting as stage manager and running through preshow routines with whatever bush league venue they’re playing.

But as the story unfolds with predictable and some semi-predictable turns, I enjoyed how the “caring” evolved (the feel-good part). Malkovich nails the cheese factor – his head- and shoulder-tilt during the piano and singing portion of his road show reminded me all-too-well of real-life lounge lizards I’ve encountered in long-forgotten Holiday Inns – and yet conveys a vulnerability that’s entirely believable. Hanks builds on his foundation of solid performances to date. Much like his father Tom but very much in his own way, this Hanks exudes an “everyday” quality that makes him immediately acceptable in that there’s something there in his looks, in his voice, and in his reactions that elicit recognition of someone you know and like.

I wouldn’t say this movie is date-night material, but it is worthy of a pick-me-up matinee.

sundance, sundance film festival, 2008 sundance film festival, hp, hewlett packard, john malkovich, colin hanks, the great buck howard

Star power, days 1 & 2

amy brock — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:43:00 GMT

Angela LoSasso
Web Content Manager, Imaging and Printing Group, U.S.

We love film. We love providing the technology and know-how to power the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. But we’re human, too. We love to do a bit of stargazing while were here. Check out the photos of the folks who’ve hit the premieres and happenings in Park City so far…

Photo courtesty of Wire Image/ Pimentel	Actor Colin Farrell attends the “In Bruges” Press Conference.
Photo courtesty of Wire Image/ Pimentel	Actress Maria Bello attends the premiere of “The Yellow Handkerchief”.
Photo courtesty of Wire Image/ Jeff Vespa	Photo courtesty of Wire Image/ Fred Hayes

Sundance Film Festival Juror and actress Sandra Oh at the Sky 360 by Delta Lounge Wire Image Portrait Studio (left) and at the Jury brunch (right).

Photo courtesty of Wire Image/ Jeff Vespa

Actress Patricia Clarkson and a playful director/star Stanley Tucci of “Blind Date” at the Sky 360 by Delta Lounge Wire Image Portrait Studio.

Photo courtesty of Wire Image/ Pimentel

Actress Kristen Stewart at “The Yellow Handkerchief” premiere.

Photo courtesty of Wire Image/ Pimentel

Actress Paz de la Huerta, actress Saffron Burrows, and Robert Redford at the premiere of Amy Redford’s film, “The Guitar”.

Technorati tags: sundance, sundance film festival, 2008 sundance film festival, hp, hewlett packard, Robert Redford, colin farrell, sandra oh, maria bello, patricia clarkson, stanley tucci, kristen stewart

Robert Redford: What do you have to say?

amy brock — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:48:00 GMT

Angela LoSasso
Web Content Manager, Imaging and Printing Group, U.S

Photo courtesy of Wire Image/ Pimentel

Change is inevitable – and often welcome and needed. But some things are fine just the way they are. No single image better represents the spirit and independence of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival than festival founder Robert Redford. But Redford has change on his mind. We were lucky enough to be invited to the Opening Press Conference, and we asked Mr. Redford about change and his thoughts on inspiring creative expression.

According to Redford, this festival presents more new filmmakers than any other on record, a fact that he attributes to a generation coming of age that possesses a “spirit to set themselves apart from the baby boomers”.

Another change Redford spoke about is how there’s a noticeable shift to embrace and incorporate other artistic forms into the film medium, but it’s a shift that Sundance celebrates because this festival “has always been a place for discovery” and that “Sundance will always be committed to showcasing” new voices.

So how do you encourage young minds to find their voice? I specifically asked Redford:

“What do you have to say about how parents, friends, and family can ignite or inspire creative expression in kids and others?”

(I really wanted to ask him this, not only because Redford has helped ignite the careers of many filmmakers, but also because his daughter Amy Redford’s film, “The Guitar” premiered here earlier this week.)

“I don’t know if there’s anything a parent can do to grow it – the passion is either there or it isn’t,” he said. “It blossoms or it won’t. If it’s there, it shoots upward like a blade of grass” because the stories or art or whatever come from within. Redford said he “encouraged his own family – all of them – to be independent” and to be happy in what they do.

If you want some inspiration, Sundance is good place to find it. If you can’t make it to Park City, HP wants to help you find your voice.

-- Get free creative projects inspired by Gwen Stefani

-- Build the story of your business and improve your brand with ideas from Jake Burton

-- Share your ideas and your passion for creative expression or see what others are creating at the HP Community Wiki

Technorati tags: sundance, sundance film festival, 2008 sundance film festival, hp, hewlett packard, Robert Redford, amy redford, the guitar

HP helps indie filmmakers with HP Broadcast Studio

amy brock — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:58:00 GMT

Angela LoSasso
Web Content Manager, Imaging and Printing Group, U.S.
Video by Kate Sheofsky

The most satisfying aspect of attending and sponsoring the Sundance Film Festival is the opportunity to help filmmakers succeed. Year after year, directors and producers have told us about how challenging it is to get publicity and media coverage for their films. We knew we could help. So HP created the HP Broadcast Studio – a high-def, miniaturized SmartHome set that gives filmmakers a complimentary turnkey solution to record and walk away with their own interviews to share with press and publicists. See what HP Broadcast Studio hosts Arnold Say and Linda Morton had to say on day 2 of the festival:

Technorati tags: sundance, sundance film festival, 2008 sundance film festival, hp, hewlett packard, HP Broadcast Studio, high definition, HDTV, digital, smart home

HP’s Tales from the Cannes Film Festival!

amy brock — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:06:00 GMT

Angela LoSasso
Backstage at Sundance Blog Editor
Home and Home Office Web Content Manager

Did you know that in addition to Sundance, HP is also the Official Sponsor and ‘Digital Entertainment & Graphic Arts’ Partner at the Cannes Film Festival?

From May 16 through May 27, 2007, the most famous, luxurious, and prestigious film festival in the world celebrates its 60^th anniversary unlike any other. And HP is stationed on la croissette to bring you every barrage of flashbulbs as the hottest stars, directors, and producers walk down the red carpet …

plus, perhaps, a few faces that are familiar inside the halls of HP:

(That is Vyomesh Joshi – VJ— Executive Vice President of HP’s Imaging and Printing Group in the middle of the HP pack on the red carpet.)

According to our colleague Jenny Amanquah-Sauter (who is burning up the keyboard for HP’s Tales from Cannes), “HP has printed the iconic banners decorating the Palais des Festivals and turned the surrounding streets into a series of outdoor galleries, featuring digitally restored photographs of the stars who have graced the red carpet at the Festival since it began. The photos are part of a special exhibition organized to mark the 60th Festival.”

And.. “We’ve also redesigned the Cannes Film Festival website to create an intuitive, indispensable guide to all the films and news.”

Not a bad gig, if you can get it!

If you’re like us and are stuck in North America (or elsewhere) whilst the stars shine in the south of France, be sure to visit HP’s Tales from Cannes to get your daily dish.

Technorati Tags: Sundance film festival, Hewlett Packard, HP, Cannes, Cannes film festival

Tips for celebrity sightings at Sundance

amy brock — Fri, 11 May 2007 01:43:00 GMT

Suzy Pollock, Cindy Maestas, Susan Dininni, Ashley Houk
Interactive Marketing Team

Sure, the focus is on the films here at Sundance, but with so many big names converging on this small patch of real estate, the odds are pretty good that you are going to see some famous faces. The big questions are who and where… because you just might run into Antonio Banderas, Gwyneth Paltrow or even Robert Redford.

One big tip: Go to the movies, especially premieres! The screenings typically will have the director introduce the film and will have the director and cast (if they’re available) close the premiere with an audience Q&A. It’s a fabulous opportunity to get to know these famous faces off the big screen. You could get lucky – especially if you are watching a film like "King of California", starring Michael Douglas (Suzy traded this ticket away and was really bummed that someone else actually got to see Michael Douglas!).

If you decide to take a break from movies to shop or dine on Main Street in Park City, keep your eyes open! Watch for those stretch limousines or VWs–you may see Justin Timberlake. Or, watch the balconies – sometimes there are interviews going on up there, too.

The Sidecar balcony is a hot spot for interviews; and Sidecar’s “backroom” is frequently reserved for private parties. Rainn Wilson (from NBC’s The Office), Anthony Hopkins and Dave Matthews were sighted there in 2007. Take a peek inside -- we did and tried the official 2007 festival martini…highly recommended!

The Delta Sky Lounge, a private venue, is another great spot for celebrity sightings. The official Sundance photography studio, Wireimage, is located there. If you keep an eye on the front door you might see John Cusack, Justin Timberlake, Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci, who were spotted this week coming by for interviews and photos. (Insider tip: The bigger name celebrities might sneak out the back when their session is over.)

An exclusive dining venue to check out is ChefDance at 427 Main. For 10 festival nights, celebrity guest chefs orchestrate dinners to a select list of 250 industry executives and celebrities (rumor is it’s quite a feat to get on the invitee list).

Some other hotspots for star spotting are the hard-to-find and very restrictive People Magazine’s Luxury Lounge (which is only open early in the festival) and the New York Lounge. Of course, keep an eagle’s eye on the swanky ski and clothing boutiques.

The films are the best part about the Sundance Festival, but the chance of seeing a famous face is definitely part of the magic. We hope these tips come in handy!

Technorati Tags: sundance, sundance film festival, sundance film 2007, hp, hewlett packard, robert redford, justin timberlake, antonio banderas, john cusack, samuel l. jackson, dave matthews, christina ricci, anthony hopkins