I am motivated to address this subject again from a recent experience I had just last week. For the past four years I have worked the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Do not confuse Slamdance with Sundance, which is 20 years old compared to seven years old. I personally credit Slamdance with beginning and fostering the interest and attention to independent film making. I am Slamdance’s Merchandise Manager, basically that just means I am responsible for their tee-shirt sales. I continue to do this each year because it affords me the opportunity to keep my fingers on the pulse of the film industry with minimal effort. I can see it all basically by just standing around.
Slamdance fosters first time filmmakers, which means most of them are quite young, usually fresh out of school. I, of course, am always an exception to the rule, any rule for that matter. Rule 8: Don’t follow others, make your own rules. You’ll have to read the first "New Rules" article to get the first seven rule suggestions.
Anyway, to continue, every festival has the usual gala festivities of parties and happenings, celebrity sightings, etc. Since Slamdance is so much younger than Sundance, the parties are a little more outre or more along the lines of "rave" affairs. This year Martin Landau attended a Slamdance party, along with an entourage and a few requisite, much younger, tall blonde females. For those of you who don’t know or remember who Martin Landau is, look him up. He starred in the 60’s Mission Impossible television series.
The following day a couple of my co-workers were talking about Martin Landau. They were saying that they hoped that when they reached his age they would have better things to do than to attend a rave party and look totally out of place. It’s true, he did have a very pained expression on his face, as if he wished he were somewhere else. Rule 9: At least look like you are enjoying yourself, out of curiosity if nothing else.
In contrast, Lee Majors, the "Six Million Dollar Man," also an old television series, who attended a screening because he starred in a festival short film, looked happy to be there and was thoroughly enjoying all the chatting and picture taking. My extreme compliments to Mr. Majors for not altering his face with plastic surgery, all saggy, baggy and beautiful. He never stopped smiling, and that twinkle in his blue, blue eyes still got more attention than was comfortable I’m sure. Also, make note, he didn’t have to make any show of his virility by attaching a blonde on each arm. (Sorry, I don’t mean to offend any blondes here, it just seems to be a standard Hollywood formula for success rating.)
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