I haven't forgotten about this blog!

Life is crazy right now.
Work is off the hook!
Plus, I volunteer for the Arizona International Film Festival.
It starts in a couple of days! YIKES!!!
April 16 - 26!
I am twittering about the fest.
Yes, one more thing to do.
I am AZFilmFest on twitter.
I will try and post photos of the fest here too.

More info on fest- www.filmfestivalarizona.com

If you see me at the fest, please say HI!

Sundance starts today!

[All the photos on my blog are taken by me unless noted.

The top photo was taken by a nice stranger in Park City, Utah]

The Sundance Film Festival starts today (1/15) in Park City, Utah!

Growing up and watching Siskel and Ebert talk

about the Sundance Film Festival,

I never thought that I would be able to go to Sundance.

It seemed so far away from Indiana.

I started working with the Arizona International Film Festival

(AIFF) in 2002.

"Are you going to Sundance with us?" they asked.

"What?? anyone can go to Sundance?"

"Yes, if you have the money."

I couldn't believe that I was going to Sundance!

Everyone working with the Arizona International Film Festival (AIFF)

asked me what I wanted to see at Sundance.

Well, for me that was a no brainer,

Roger Ebert!

They all laughed.

"He doesn't eat, go to restaurants or parties. He just sees films.

That is all he does and you will not see him."

Although I was little broken hearted, I was still excited about going to Sundance.

Finally, I got to Park City!

It was incredible.

Not as cold, town a little smaller and air a little thinner

than I thought it would be.

Getting up at the crack of dawn to get in the wait list line

for the 8:30am film was no problem for me!

I was too excited to sleep!

Watching films all day, including the midnight show

takes more energy than you can imagine.

On the first day, we went back to the condo and talked

about the films we saw until 4am.

While great, it was hard to get up at 7am to start the process over!
But hey, I was only there for 3 and half days and I can sleep when

I get home!

Finally, on my last day I was hanging outside of the

Egyptian Theater wondering if there was ANYTHING I needed

at the top of the hill before I went down again.

After a couple of trips up and down that hill,

you really think before you go down.

There is nothing worse than having to go back up after you got to

the bottom of the hill.

So, I am hanging out and I see a crowd around the Egyptian.

Standard deal, a lot of the media shoot in front of the Egyptian.

I wandered over to see which filmmaker or celebrity was getting interviewed.

To my surprise, it was a crowd of people around Roger Ebert!

People were getting their photos taken with ROGER EBERT!

He was trying to get to his next screening.

I grabbed my camera out of my bag.

"Please Mr. Ebert, may I have a picture too?'

"I really have to get to my screening."

I grabbed the person closest to me and told him to take our picture.

The guy didn't how to work my camera but I saw that the shutter opened and closed.

That would have to be good enough.

And IT WAS!

No one believed me that I actually saw him, until. . . .

I showed them this photo.

I have been back to Sundance in 2005 and 2007

but the 2003 will always be my favorite because I met

Roger Ebert!

To my Arizona International Film Festival friends

that are going this year (without me!) -

may you have TOO MUCH FUN!

And if anyone see any of my AIFF friends, say HI!.

They may have something to give you!