Ministry of Gossip: Sundance Report
Stars bundled up. Studio execs forked over cash. Everyone got headaches from altitude (and hangovers). The Sundance Film Festival’s opening weekend has come and gone again, leaving a trail of exhausted but excited independent filmmakers and happier, swag-laden celebs. Here’s a guide to who partied where in Park City, Utah.
Bing Bar: With deep leather couches and three floors of open bars, the Claimjumper Hotel was transformed by search engine Bing to house film junkets, cocktail parties and a performance series that included stand-up from Aziz Ansari and concerts from Cobra Starship, the Civil Wars and the biggest party draw — a 45-minute set from rapper Drake. Famous fans dropping by included Quincy Jones, Ryan Kwanten, Will Forte, Aubrey Plaza and Aaron Paul.
Tao: The New York and Las Vegas star haunt comes to Sundance every year offering a late-night (and we mean late) haven where a coat check is as vital as free booze. With DJ sets by Samantha Ronson and the beloved DJ Kaskade, it attracted music stars including Mary J. Blige, festival talent Lizzy Caplan and lovebirds Kirsten Dunst and Garrett Hedlund. Superdry and Google Music hosted an intimate gathering at the joint for director Spike Lee and fans like Common, James Marsden and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Blue Door: Grey Goose’s dimly lighted temple to cocktails and exclusivity glowed an electric blue on Main Street, hosting media days for the likes of Sean Penn, who showed up to promote “This Must Be the Place,” and Richard Gere for his bank-world potboiler “Arbitrage.” By night, it hosted the likes of Seth Rogen and wife Lauren Miller, Ari Graynor and Justin Long to cheer the comedy “For A Good Time, Call…”
Nothin But “Luv”: The aforementioned Common, rapper and celebrated actor, was also in Utah with “Luv,” his intense portrayal of an ex-con giving his nephew unusual life lessons. He celebrated the film (costarring Dennis Haysbert and Charles S. Dutton) by performing a collection of his hits at nightlife pop-up Sugar.
Vevo Power Station: The online music-video haven provided the daytime partying, with a design concept from the folks at Dwell magazine, flowing champagne and a dash of swag. William H. Macy popped in rocking (ouch) a major bandage across his nose. Free boots from Sorel likely eased the pain. Also spotted in the lounge: Ty Burrell, Lil Jon, Jason Ritter, Jamie Chung, Danny Masterson and Anthony Mackie.
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